The future of roboting

[anukhet]

OK I have stood back on this discussion because I just wanted to see how it pans out - I'm sure everyone has been expecting for me to say something ..........

I have said it many times before - Robot Wars is dead! In any case all direct revenue received from it and the countless repeats amounted to sweet FA for this sport so let's move on. The future - After RW was cancelled it was thought that it would all be dead and buried along with it but here we are over 5 years later still having the same old discussion. This says something for the sport, it's popularity and the people who participate in it - new and old.

So what to do........

Putting bums on seats - Well, that cannot happen by itself and EO's should realise that they must try harder. Promotion is now the key to success and they should try every trick in the book. Try new ideas, get out there personally etc etc. EO's have a lot of money invested in their arenas and putting on an event is ludicrously expensive but EVERYONE is feeling the pinch - not just EO's.

The FRA's role - Lets not forget that we are ALL part of the FRA therefore it is up to ALL OF YOU to take responsibility and promote ourselves and not just leave it to a few people that just happen to be on the Governing Body. Find out about local events and go there (static shows, demonstrations in schools and clubs etc.). Even raising it in conversation at every opportunity goes towards promoting what we do - it does work believe me! There is a lot more interest out there but people are just not aware of the live scene going on since the demise of RW so lets make them aware!

Any other ideas?

[john]

i like that team torque thing on your signature karoline!

[anukhet]

ty

[dgr]

I think the idea of a clearer, more public-friendly website listing events, bot profiles, ect ect is a good idea. It would give us somewhere we can direct people who are interested to, not just this forum that can be a little heavy going at times.
On the antweight forum we always did a spot at Brighton Model World, handing out leaflets with links to the forum ect on them and we have gained a few new competitors in this way, so there is no reason it can't work for the bigger classes too, to gain an audience. Its a very cheap and easy way to get more publicity, we just need someone who is willing to work on it.

I think everything that Karoline and Swanny have just posted has been sound, sensible and bang on target.

[john]

I think the idea of a clearer, more public-friendly website listing events, bot profiles, ect ect is a good idea. It would give us somewhere we can direct people who are interested to, not just this forum that can be a little heavy going at times.

Stu would be able to do this, something like the RR website but with a different purpose. not sure how much spare time he has though and it would cost us, even if we all paid a little bit towards this wouldnt be much, does the FRA have any spare cash from memberships?

[robotwars]

Ahhh some good points being made.

Volunteers needed to hand out leaflets in Portsmouth, Maidstone, and Wigan
And Reading for Robots Live

Excellent rates of no pay.
Long Hours.
Good Voice required.

Unfortunately your right it is not only us Eo's which are suffering, it is the whole world. Ive spoken to a few shows which are on tour and all are experiencing the same struggle.

The RR arena needs two layers of new floor, ( surely youve noticed LOL ) but things like this just cant be done unless the funds are there. Im literally 000's behind financial targets i set myself for 2009, and its certainly not becuase of lack of hard work !!

I'll tell you the hardest thing in this game is opening the shutter door to load the two trucks knowing I am loosing money. That tests your determination to succeed !!! ALL of the EO's have been there and roboteers just dont get it unless youve been there.

I think its a shame politics and comercial decisions get in the way of EO's working together, it will never happen, but it would be fantastic if we could.

I think Stu told me when we were doing the new website, that it wouldnt be difficult for the FRA to link into our website database and keep its own identity, all the info is there why do it again.
Something maybe Kane and Stu could talk about.
I'm sure i could rent it out to the FRA for a small fee :-) LOL


John
Roaming Robots

[widow_twanky]

Just a point on my experience of this, leaflets take a bit of time to to work. Different scenario as I was selling stuff but people need two or three to respond and for it to register.

Fun fairs when they come just pepper the area with posters which are there and give things a bit of time to sink in.

My opinion - get some posters and drive round Portsmouth, Maidstone and Wigan and get them in every news agents window four weeks before hand. All the better if said news agent is near a school.

Andy

[robotwars]

not the answer. Been there done that.
The average show 20 to 30 thousand fliers go out. Posters in shops. Plus newspapers. maybe radio if i can blag it for free.

And we get if we're lucky 1000 people.
Fact is we're flogging a dead horse.
Even tried the fair ground posters on the road only to be threatened to be sued by the council. Can't win. :-)

[widow_twanky]

not the answer. Been there done that.
The average show 20 to 30 thousand fliers go out. Posters in shops. Plus newspapers. maybe radio if i can blag it for free.

And we get if we're lucky 1000 people.
Fact is we're flogging a dead horse.
Even tried the fair ground posters on the road only to be threatened to be sued by the council. Can't win. :-)

Right, in that case can I suggest Portsmouth is an appropriate place to send out a press gang? Send Swanny and Clive out to get people drunk the night before and let them wake up in the queue

Just a thought, people are lazy. Rather than handing out a leaflet could you not just sell them a ticket? Not sure if you've got a credit card machine but cash as people may not have the cash on them.

Andy

[craig_colliass]

Like I said I am not about to teach Jonno or any other EO how to promote their shows.
But the things we can do, is if the show is in our area is to try to sell tickets direct to the people who know were roboteers and would probably like to come.
In practice I would imagine the EO would send tickets to us and then you sell them to friends, on the day of the show, you give the EO tickets not sold, and the money for the ones sold.

I think some sort of promotional event in a shopping centre if the owners don€™t mind (give them some free tickets) or were people will be, the weekend before the main event.
The people will have money on them for shopping (and kids to entertain) some static displays of the heavies, and some pay to drive machines (they buy a ticket for the show they get to drive for free.) some ant weights running in the ant weight arena.
And a big screen showing some of the fights of previous shows, with adverts for the next show and saying tickets are available here.
A machine to take peoples cards would be a good idea.
Has this been tried?