As a relative new comer...we're in our 3rd year and someone who doesn€™t post too many times (I leave that to Will !) I have to make some comments.

1. This thread was to try and create some ideas to support or promote our 'sport'....I applaud Craigs initiative. Thanks to the honest and open comments from the EOs they have some concerns of which we as a community should try and help with ...we owe them that much at least.

2. For 2 years I said we will never have a heavy.....but I gave in. Audiences pay to come and see 'Robot wars', we have to give them what they pay for...without that and good value for money they wont come...so lets not debate on this thread the pros and cons of introducing a new weight class when there is an underlying message from our EOs that to survive we have to find better ways of getting the crowds back in. We've built 6 or 7 feathers now....and that€™s a really great way into the support to generate new blood and continue the sport but when heavies are on the bill...thats all they want to see.

I am pleased we have resurrected St Agro and like Craig we try and make our machines to stand out so that there is something different.....there's still so much you can do to differentiate and give the crowd something to cheer for...but at the end of the day they want big, loud crashes and bangs.

3. Whilst we've been around for 3 years, there has still never been anykind of formal meeting (forget the formal FRA meetings) that happened during events to solicit and feedback and tell the story/status as is (pre show briefings are sometime a luxury !) This is probably because we are all up to our eyes in getting things ready to put on a good show. What€™s good about our community is there are so many people from different backgrounds etc I am sure we could all pitch in with a few ideas...but I am conscious that you have to earn the right to comment let alone criticise the EO's, who for some is their income. So maybe at the next event (RIAT for us and I for one am looking forward to a more relaxing event because events for me are SO STRESSFUL - too many robots me thinks !) Maybe it will be a chance to sit down and see what we can do.

4. There has been some debate about the forum. Some will hate me for saying this but I think there are maybe too many distractions/threads that dont help our cause....for me everytime I check the view active topics there are too many Fan Fic Quizzies post and I am not sure this is serving any purpose for EO's, active real life community etc ( sorry guys) but I recongnise very few as part of the Uk circuit, for me this doesnt add value to the forum. Of course we need a social side but without events we dont have a sport..... Also we seem to easily get off track and introduce new discussions - somewhat lack of discipline...so back to the original thread !!!

5. For events i think we should think more about staged fights...little bit of running around the arena ! etc. ... a bit like the fixed wrestling matches we use to see in the '70s for those old enough to remember. It should be like a boxing match....'introducing all the way from Newcastle, weighing in at 100kgs...etc' set the scene, create the drama (of course you cant do that with 20 feathers every show !)Havent seen too much play acting of recent - but seen plenty of wanting to win ! If I look at my kids 17 + 12 now, there's probably a new generation that didnt see robot wars...they are probably brought along by their dads who did see it...so maybe we could do more to address the new generation who have never seen it. Ideas to consider but without bums on seat not much use.

6. Buzz word at the moment is use of social media (well in my industry it is - I sell ATMs / cashpoints)...viral campains - effectively mass marketing via web,email, twitter, facebook and all the other forms ...all at no cost - Should we be doing more than just use of this forum and the odd post-event videos on You-tube ? No expert but when I see IBM and Deloitte using the like of Youtube you have to ask yourself why - with their mulit million $ marketing budgets do they use this fom. So maybe some mileage there ?

So glad got that off my chest. Longest post I have ever made....It's a great sport we have here, but to continue it sounds like it needs some help (and I mean more than just helping setup and take down the arena - which I am ashamed to say I've done little to assist !)
Have to say that Robots for Will has opened up several doors already and he hasnt left school yet..so lets keep this alive for everyones sake.

Cheers, Ian