Sensory Boards

[Andrew McHarg]

BTW: Can you also change your username to the correct format please?

[SRB]

"Chess Scotland Rocked by Match Fixing Scandal"
I was, of course, saying this with my tongue in my cheek. But I still think it's a great idea and would be worth any risk. It might, indeed, be the only way to raise some serious cash ................ which leads me on to.....


I may have missed an earlier post on this, but I'm not actually getting the purpose and long term goals of spending so much money on these sensory boards. Nor do I see how we're going to market them.

For a bog-standard, common or garden congress, how are these boards going to raise money and who is the target audience? I just don't get it.

I could see the point for the Scottish - but only were it attracting the top players every year and generating a lot of interest - I'm not sure this has been the case lately. Maybe splashing out on these boards will make the Scottish more professional/attractive to players, public and sponsors, but I don't know.

I know this sounds all rather negative/regressive, but I'm just not clear about it. If the general view is that they're a good thing to have, then I think £1 per congress entry fee (or maybe ten bob on membership) is the best way to go. In fact, I wonder if there couuld be some kind of 'opt-out' option for fund raising things like this when people take out membership? You know, it's assume you will pay the extra quid, but there is an option to tick a box and opt out (mind you, this is Scotland and chess...................) 8)

[Alex McFarlane]

The number of hits and unique viewers demonstrate that broadcasting the games is a popular service.

These figures (I don't have exact figures - maybe Andy can supply) show that there is a potential to attract sponsors.

It also raises the profile of chess in this country. foreign players can actually see that there is a chess scene in Scotland and may wish to investigate it further.

It is not cheap but for an event such as the Scottish it is almost compulsory nowadays and if you have the equipment then you must look at ways of maximising its use (and income).

[SRB]

Ok, thanks for the info, Alex.

I can see that it seems a good idea to 'modernise' the Scottish. I'm still not clear how it will make money, though.

[PaulBlair]

The live feed software has advertising space available on it which can be sold.

If it can be determined the consumer needs and wants of the people that will watch the live games, then relevant companies can be targeted to buy this advertising space.

That's it very basically. Am happy to elaborate and go into more detail if you wish SRB.

[SRB]

Paul
thanks for that info. I would be interested in a bit more.
Roughly, what sort of figures might you be looking at? How many people might be likely to watch the games live (at the Scottish and/or a weekend congress) and what sort of money would a potential sponsor be likely to pay? I can see that every little helps, so to speak, but I'm just struggling to understand how anything significant could be brought in via this way.

[robin moore]

How significant does it need to be ? If I were a prospective advertiser on this completely new media, I would maybe be thinking....Every chess player in Scotland and beyond with internet access will see my company name and services at every congress in every round in all areas of our country and overseas. It's brand new to this scene and there is sure to be loads of interest. How much is this gonna cost me? How much? That's a bargain, if I get one customer buying my product or service, I will make a profit. There, that's it in black and white. Now some may scoff at my simplistic summing up, but believe me, it's not far from reality.

[David G Congalton]

I believe that CS’s purchase of sensory boards is a forward thinking move. I can only think of one negative relating to the purchase of these boards and that is the cost of the equipment.

The £6000 spent is a lot of money for CS to invest. However, it is an investment and a long-term one, which I think will prove beneficial to the Scottish Championships, weekend congresses, other chess events and chess in Scotland as a whole.

I get two weeks holiday in the summer each year and this year I chose to spend both weeks at the British Championship in Sheffield and play the weekend event at the Scottish Championship. The use of sensory boards at this year’s Scottish, along with the other excellent work done by the team, in providing information, photo’s, games and more, provoked conflicting emotions within me. There was the rising sense of anticipation of being able to join the event at the weekend tempered by the feeling that I was missing out by not taking part in the event during the week. The availability of recent games played by some of my potential weekend opponents allowed me to do some pre-tournament preparation, which I enjoyed and proved useful, up until the final round.

The result of my own experience during and at the Scottish, including the fourth round opportunity to play on the sensory boards, is that I will take one week of my 2012 holidays to participate in the Scottish and the other week to take part in the British, which, I should add, I thoroughly enjoyed. I must also confess that I could not wait to show my “internet game” to my family and colleagues at work. How sad! Believe it or not, though, the reaction was a positive one, which I expected from family but didn’t quite expect from my co-workers.

If the organisers of the Scottish had not utilised technology in the way they did I would probably be spending both weeks of my summer holidays in the North East of England. The recent good news concerning the Scottish and the investment in sensory boards removed any second thoughts I may have had about splitting my summer 2012 destinations.

As well as persuading players to take part in events the utilisation of technology has to provide a benefit to the current group of chess enthusiasts, be they titled players, juniors, regular congress attendees or irregular club players, should they wish to use it. Some of these benefits have already been touched on in other posts, such as the immediate availability of games for newspaper publication and the potential for financial gain through sponsorship and advertising.

The sensory boards alone could provide many more benefits to Chess in Scotland such as persuading those with an interest in both chess and technology to become more involved in the organisation of established events and/or new events to the calendar. It also provides a window into events for those unable, for whatever reason, to participate. Advertising the availability of live Scottish tournament chess through the CS website, congress websites, CS magazine, county associations, clubs and word of mouth and any other cost-effective media may induce those new to the game to stay with the game and create an interest in non-club players becoming club players. If indeed the live feed has advertising space then some of that space could be used to promote clubs local to the event venue, as well as Chess Scotland and Scottish Chess events in the calendar.

Then there is the positive impact the boards could have through remote coaching on club nights. If say, there was a top of the table league clash in Edinburgh or Glasgow or even just the potential, the sensory boards could be brought in. With a bit of notice clubs throughout the country could organise their own club nights around the live match with commentary by one of their own players, guess the next move competitions, snacks and drinks and an evening of entertainment.

Opposition teams could obviously benefit from this and be able to prepare for a forthcoming tie but such preparation has to be an overall plus which would result in tougher competition and a higher standard of play, as time goes on.

For congresses the availability of the boards could be combined with other initiatives such as venue commentary and/or discussion or live internet commentary which would hopefully promote the event in Scotland and beyond. As a congress organiser I am excited by the opportunities the boards provide to develop initiatives and ideas which add to the event and give those taking part even more value for their money, as well as encouraging more entries for the following years and promoting an interest in the game in the local area, through the local media, schools and clubs.

There are already some interesting ideas bouncing about for Prestwick 2012 which involve the sensory boards and we will be trying some unconventional things. These may or may not come off and they may or may not work but without the boards they would not be possible.

As a taster, one of the ideas that has been floated is a half-hour or hour long, live commentary broadcast on some of the minor or major games, aimed at novices, juniors and the lower graded club players looking to improve.

The commentary would probably not be provided by GM standard players but would be provided by good strength club players who have coaching experience or who are comfortable talking about games. The coaching and analysis of the games would obviously be important but the ability of the commentators to “relate” to the audience, communicate on the same level and even provide some entertainment would be equally important. Any 1700+ player who can juggle chess pieces, whilst playing a musical instrument, singing that song about arbiters from Chess the musical and providing amusing anecdotes about foreign chess-playing excursions would certainly be considered over the monologue of a higher rated but more insular player.

I do understand that some may think that the analysis and broadcast of games that are not of a high standard is not the done thing and is not useful but we would have to agree to disagree on that point and there are plenty of other events to fulfil the expert game criteria. I think it was Andrew McHarg that said in a previous post that by broadcasting lower rated games CS were being innovative and I agree with him.

I have tried to keep my comments on the potential for raising funds to a minimum, as I didn’t want to detract from the potential non-financial benefits I see the boards bringing and because I do not believe that the primary purpose in investing in the boards was for financial gain.

It does have the potential to raise funds though and that potential is only limited by the time and effort put in, the number of people who help and the imagination, innovation and creativity of those willing to be involved. In the medium to long-term, with the right strategy I envisage the equipment will fund itself and allow the addition of further sets.

Initially, funds raised will pay for the equipment and I’m in favour of congresses and events wishing to use the boards contributing £1 per player, to get the ball rolling. It would be up to each event organiser as to how they decided to raise the hire-charge, whether that be through an extra £1 on entry fees or some other means.

The Prestwick Congress 2012 will apply to use the sensory boards and will offer a minimum contribution equal to £1 per entrant. We would hope to raise at least this sum by means which would not be available without the sensory boards and £1 will NOT be added to the entry fees of the participants, to cover the use of the boards.

I should also add that, in my opinion, the tournament organisers should be totally free to decide how best to use the equipment at their event and also have total control of any advertising related to the hire of the equipment, should they wish it. Some events may have different objectives from others and may also have sponsorship deals that could be affected if advertising were not within their control.

[Andy Howie]

The commentary would probably not be provided by GM standard players but would be provided by good strength club players who have coaching experience or who are comfortable talking about games. The coaching and analysis of the games would obviously be important but the ability of the commentators to “relate” to the audience, communicate on the same level and even provide some entertainment would be equally important. Any 1700+ player who can juggle chess pieces, whilst playing a musical instrument, singing that song about arbiters from Chess the musical and providing amusing anecdotes about foreign chess-playing excursions would certainly be considered over the monologue of a higher rated but more insular player.

"I've a duty as the referee
At the start of the match
On behalf of all our sponsors
I must welcome you
Which I do -- there's a catch

I don't care if you're a champion
No one messes with me
I am ruthless in upholding
What I know is right
Black or white -- as you'll see

I'm on the case
Can't be fooled
Any objection
Is overruled
Yes I'm the Arbiter and I know best"

[SRB]

Nobody could object to the idea of Chess Scotland having sensory boards. In itself, it could only be a positive development. If the money for this can be found, then great. If however, the money to fund this is money that could have been spent on other things, then that's maybe a different matter.

However, I remain unconvinced that the benefits will be as wide-ranging as claimed. Sorry if that sounds negative, but it's just my opinion. I do not see how using the boards at anything other than, perhaps, the Scottish will generate significant interest/income. I still don't understand the precise mechanics of how this is meant to work. What's more, these boards must be worth a fortune - surely there must be issues with insurance and security if we are talking about them being used by different congresses and clubs?