Include:
- Obviously enough boards + pieces, preferably housed at the club location so that the 1st person to show up can set things up.
- Clocks on all tables so that players don't get sucked into long games vs. really slow players (unless they want to)
- access to a cafe/coffee shop (our own club is inside a Barnes and Nobles so access to high-priced coffee that's a perk we enjoy :) )
-Weekend (and weekday if possible) Swiss events. Have someone sign up to be a USCF TD and if possible, keep a house player to make sure everyone gets to play each round.
- Incentivize strong/titled players to show up. How? Free coffee, provide them a networking ground to rope in students (if they teach) or even pay them to play a simul ever so often :)
- Have strong/titled players perform guest lectures with a demo board ever so often.
- A website indicating schedules, days when it is closed etc.
Avoid:
- Bughouse - It is so infectious + fun that everyone (esp. newbies) will only play it as opposed to actual chess... and can be quite noisy + distracting to other players.
- Kids below a certain age / kids who think the club is a playground for their shenanigans.
- Membership dues ( this is tough if you have to pay for your club venue ... but given how tough it is to get people to join the USCF and actually play a tourney, you don't want to pile on the number of things they have to pay for ...) You can try to make up for it via tourney entry fees?
Friends and fellow chess players,
we are about to launch a new season for our Norcross Chess Club, and we would like our club to be the place to play in this side of town. So, let me ask you: What characteristics do you like/dislike in the settings of a chess club? What would make our club more inviting and attractive? What are the things we need to avoid? Please, advise.
Gracia & Paz
AlexV