this, and your previous post about ratings ("i hate ratings"? was it) make it seem like you should be throwing chess parties rather than tournaments. instead of tournaments just throw a party with a few chess boards and chess tray or a pot luck dinner. let people play whoever they want, whenever they want. unrated of course, and you wont even need a tournament director to play host.
i'm a pilot (just a hobby) and pilots will hang around airports for hours and talk if there are hotdogs involved. you don't need an aerobatics competion for people to show up, it is just a party. perhaps the same could work for chess.
If there is one thing I could change about the Chess world, it would be to foster a greater feeling of "community" among Chess players. I want to be able to go to Chess tournaments for more than just Chess. I want to be able to go there and see my friends, which I met at other Chess events.
I think there are things about the way we do things which make that more difficult than it needs to be, and I want to discuss things that could be done differently to make that happen.
(An apology in advance. This is going to be a very US centric post, because that's where I live. Some elements may apply more or less in other countries.)
If I open up a copy of Chess Life, I can see ads for really big tournaments with very large prizes and significant entry fees. These are obviously commercial activities put on by people with a financial interest in the outcome. Those in attendance expect to pay a fee and receive a service. That's a fine model for that sort of event, but I think that trickles down as a model all the way to local, much less formal, events, and I don't think it works as well there.
As a tournament director, I think of myself as more of a party host than a service provider. I'm taking my time to organize and direct the event because I enjoy doing so and I want to make sure that I take my turn to do the work so that everyone gets to play. Next week, someone else can host, so I get to play. That attitude helps in building a community. If you think that way, you will think of yourself as more of a part of the community. So, think about becoming a TD. It really isn't that hard. Then, take your turn hosting an event, especially if there aren't enough tournaments in your area, or if they aren't the sort that you want.
Now, here are some things that I am trying to do at my tournaments that I think might help.
1. Have a skittles room.
I've been to tournaments held in only one room, where even the spectators (which often includes parents) have to maintain near silence and proper decorum. If there's a place that people can relax, and even play Chess, in a less formal atmosphere, they are more likely to get to know one another, and not think of the other players as just someone from whom one might garner rating points.
2. Keep the tournament room available after the tournament is over.
Again, let people have a chance to really meet, and not just play Chess against each other in a tournament atmosphere. Sure, not a lot of people want to hang around when the playing is over, but eventually some might.
3. Celebrate minor accomplishments
Not everyone has to be a grandmaster, and winning the tournament isn't the only possible goal. This is an area where I'm really hoping to get some good suggestions, so come up with some ideas of things to recognize other than who came in first in a section. Some things I have already done, or plan to do at my next tournament:
a. Have a "biggest upset" award. Anyone can win this one. (Although I do feel a bit sorry for the opponent of the winner, but that's another matter.)
b. Have a "parent child team" award. I see parents dragging their kids to tournaments. I can't understand why they would do that, but not play themselves. I give this out as a way to prod parents to play instead of watch.
c. At the next tournament, I want to try and recognize at an awards ceremony anyone who achieved a USCF "category norm". A lot of people aren't even aware of the existence of these awards, but I really like the idea behind them.
The point of all these suggestions is to allow each person an opportunity for 10 seconds in the spotlight, and recognize individuals for something that sets them apart, even if only on one given day, from other players. That also creates an opportunity for others to notice them and maybe remember something about them other than, "the guy with the 1067 rating I beat in round 2."
4. Do something different
Since I plan on running a series of events, I want them to not all be the same. I know we are all there for the Chess, and the central activity is going to be described by something along the lines of "4 rounds SS G/45", but having a little bit of variety can't hurt. A bughouse or blitz tournament afterwards? A "thematic" section where everyone has to play a Sicilian defense? I'm not sure what else could be done, but again the purpose is to make everything slightly different, which makes it not just the same old stuff, but also gives an opportunity for some individuality in this hobby that kind of forces a certain degree of conformance.
I, personally, am actually bringing games that are (gasp) Not Chess to my tournaments. I would even run a Chess960 section if there were interest. Ok. That's a bit far out for some, I know, but I just want to let people be a little bit different if it suits their fancy.
The goal of all of this is to get people to prod people to interact a little bit more, and to think of the other people attending the tournament as something other than a rating. Of course, plenty of people would prefer to just come in, play Chess, and leave, and that's fine. I won't be demanding that everyone also sing at the karaoke station as part of entering the tournament.
Does anyone else have suggestions or thoughts on this topic?