Going Down?

[SimonGiles]

I must admit to a bit of frustration. I have made many new friends amongst new players that took up the sport over the last few years, and almost to a man they have all now quit due to the high cost.

It makes me sad.

And to be honest I will struggle to find the energy to try and attract any more. Whenever I talk to potential new players, as soon as they mention school / work drying up / new baby etc, I just know they won't be able to enjoy this excellent sport, and I feel I would be irresponsible in trying to encourage them to spend their money shooting lanes at 12bps.

Maybe paintball will have to remain a rich man's sport.

 

[Buddha 3]

While I enjoy reading some out of the box thinking, and I applaud Simon for that, I feel I have to chip in here.

Paintball will most likely remain a rich man's sport at higher levels. While it will put a good number of people off, it's not really a problem. Get enough people in, and eventually enough "rich kids" will stay around to enable a healthy tournament scene.

The main problem is one of image, or even lack thereof. Despite the efforts of some people, the avarage Joe just doesn't know about paintball as a sport. And all the price lowerings in the world won't make him familiar with it...
There is your first battle... Unfortunately same as it ever was.

 

[Devrij]

I agree with Buddha there, there's no exposure for tournament paintball to help provide that influx of players. If NPPL/Millennium paintball (the game) got enough advertising and hype over here it might raise awareness (running with Idioteque's idea), since we've tried and failed with the TV dream so far. I don't think the radical changing of marker rules to make it cheaper would help that much, as there's a woodsball scene for those who can't afford the regular training and entry costs of tourney ball. Perhaps more sup'air walkons would be a good midway for those who don't want the commitment of playing in a team? God knows there are times I just want to play instead of having to bust my balls training all the time.

 

[MissyQ]

I agree with Buddha there, there's no exposure for tournament paintball to help provide that influx of players. If NPPL/Millennium paintball (the game) got enough advertising and hype over here it might raise awareness (running with Idioteque's idea), since we've tried and failed with the TV dream so far. I don't think the radical changing of marker rules to make it cheaper would help that much, as there's a woodsball scene for those who can't afford the regular training and entry costs of tourney ball. Perhaps more sup'air walkons would be a good midway for those who don't want the commitment of playing in a team? God knows there are times I just want to play instead of having to bust my balls training all the time.

Players never used to go from playing a few times to playing tournaments. This is a new and badly thought-out phenomenon. Players are supposed to play at a field (hopefully a good one) a few times, 2/3 years even, then notice that more experienced players are playing/training, and start asking questions about the game and what equipment they can purchase. That player needs to buy 4 markers before they are accepted into the ranks of tournament ballers, these sales will prop up the UK industry.

You guys, while thinking that you are 'helping the game', are actually poaching the player far too early, finding them discounts and sponsorships on equipment, and skipping several years of that players growth and gross revenue to the 'business' of paintball. This results in a lower per-capita spend, and the further starvation of the industry. In short, by trying to help, and push/help people into the upper level of the game, you are doing irreparable damage.
Tony hawk does not get kids skate sponsorships or free gear, he promotes the sport so that kids can go spend their money at Sportchek etc. Some of that money even reaches him, as a sponsored athlete, but without margins being made throughout the industry, he would make nothing, because there would not be the financial infrastructure to suppport a professional. This is how it is in paintball. Stop trying to help, and just spend your money. I promise, if you just spend your money, and let others enter the sport naturally, it will all get better. Why should you spend your money? because you are a participant.
If you just keep trying to make things cheaper for yourselves and others, the industry will fail, manufacturers will have to go direct (some of you will will even see this is a good thing - cheaper, right?), and we will all be 'down the road' before you can say 'remember when..'.

Take notice.

 

[Buddha 3]

Hence why I say that paintball will stay for the rich(er) crowd.
Nothing wrong with people moving to tournament (if they want) early, as long as they don't get undeserved discounts/freebies. That whole concept never made any sense to me anyway.

Very good post Missy.

 

[Devrij]

I think you're right Missy, but surely if we were to leave players to their own natural progression, a large majority would never enter the sport in the first place or spend that money? Getting them sponsorships etc I agree is premature I agree, but, although not ideal, grabbing rental/nonballers into the tourney scene can at worst mean they spend and then drop out having made their small contribution to the industry? I may have misinterpreted what you meant by "poaching" the player though, what type of player were you referring to (i.e. first timer/rental player/recballer?)?

 

[Robbo]

Missy, if you ever fancy hauling that humongous black ass of yours across the Atlantic for an extended stay in little Ole England town, I will get you on this board of ours to help sort out Britball .... we need clear thinkers like yourself ........ and also someone to organise the chicks we already have on the board to make me tea/coffee properly. . . they have been very lax of late Missy.

 

[MissyQ]

I think you're right Missy, but surely if we were to leave players to their own natural progression, a large majority would never enter the sport in the first place or spend that money? Getting them sponsorships etc I agree is premature I agree, but, although not ideal, grabbing rental/nonballers into the tourney scene can at worst mean they spend and then drop out having made their small contribution to the industry? I may have misinterpreted what you meant by "poaching" the player though, what type of player were you referring to (i.e. first timer/rental player/recballer?)?

Well Dev, personally I think that getting people down to a paintball field to play ball is a very positive thing. Introducing them to the game at a grass roots level is extremely positive for the industry. However, taking those players, and routing them into team paintball is missing out the most lucrative step of the process.

The process should evolve like this.

1. Intro to paintball through work/stag event etc.
2. repeated visits to that field to play and have fun.
3. Curiosity leads the player to try other sites.
4. Research on the internet reveals stores and fields, plus information on products that are better than the ones they use at the field.
5. Visit to a store and a purchase of equipment
6. Further visits to stores to fully equip.
7. Walk-on play at a local field for 1-2 years, plus the occasional big game.
8. further visits to stores to purchase and upgrade equipment.
9. Entry into a local event, probably with like-minded walk-ons trying out competition paiuntball for the first time, or possibly the site 'b-team'
10. Immediate upgrades to higher level and more competitive equipment
11. Sponsorship by local store.
12. Progression to national level events.
13. More upgrades and purchases, but from supporting store.
14. Better sponsorship, direct from the industry.
15. Get married/burn-out/get bored/go skint/quit/die.

People are skipping 2 thru 8, even 2 thru 13, and in some cases, I think people are even skipping number 1!
Each of these steps provide revenue. You only ever want people to progress to the next step, without skipping. Paintball is not a charity. it is a pyramid like most sports, which depends on a strong base for support. In paintball, the people that actually support the base of the industry are looked down on and mocked. Kids on here that have been playing for a year already have sponsors, and they make fun of 'noobs' that have been playing longer than they have, but are actually progressing through the ranks instead of 'buying their commission' like so many kids seem to do today.
To answer your question though, I consider poaching to be anything that cuts out more than 2 of the above steps.

 

[MissyQ]

Missy, if you ever fancy hauling that humongous black ass of yours across the Atlantic for an extended stay in little Ole England town, I will get you on this board of ours to help sort out Britball .... we need clear thinkers like yourself ........ and also someone to organise the chicks we already have on the board to make me tea/coffee properly. . . they have been very lax of late Missy.

What you have Pete are 2 individual issues.

1. You are not getting enough hot-beverage service.

I would lay out a strict itinerary and make you expectations crystal clear. Once expectations are set (in writing) you may then legally enforce these requirements. EG. You require a cup of tea every 2 hours after 11am, and twice per hour from 9am-11am.

2. tea/Coffee is not being made 'properly'

re-training is required here. Again, you must set a level of expectation. Train the chicks in the correct way to make tea, and give them a note to give to their parents calling them a couple of 'useless lazy imbeciles unfit to have female offspring' (it is very important that we attack the problem at its source).
Once training has been given, attach a picture of a properly brewed cup of tea to the kettle. This wasy they have a pictoral guide to help them.

Once all of the above is done, you may reprimand these chicks for a shoddy job, safe in the knowledge that training has been given and expectations set. Punishments are up to you, but should involve removal of clothing (theirs, not yours) for repeat offences.

Hope this helps.

 

[Skeet]

Gordon Ramsey, for all of his swearing, hypocrisies, bad hair and hatred of French Chefs; does have a good approach to bringing news to the masses.

For example, the "Campaign For Real Gravy". This entailed the patrons and staff of a failing restaurant, canvassing and giving out tasters of real gravy and Yorkshire puds, in the local area. Thereby increasing the local demographics interest in their establishment and opening their eyes to "Real Gravy" as opposed to what they THINK, gravy is.

As much as it would seem a farcical suggestion and with a seemingly unrelated example, I think that a few well placed and suitably large, public relations events, could be undertaken. Not by invitation, but where they have no choice but to see...in "The Streets"...Leicester Square, major town centres and so on, nationwide. Hopefully attracting local media attention.

Have a team kitted out in their nice attire, but also people dressed, how their job might suggest they dress...Mortar Board and Gown for Cook$...white coats for the Medical Professionals and Scientists...no soldiers please...you get the drift?

How about an Artic', with the trailer kitted out with some suitable bunkers, netted sides and demo's running in it?

With the right people behind it, I feel sure that they could address the neccessary approach to questions form the public and or media and choose how best to convey the message.

You might also address the whole tea making/frequency issues at the same time.

Or, maybe I just felt like typing some crap for a bit....who knows.