We’re all here to have fun, right?
Rigid expectations can wreck a gaming community just as easily as having no commitment or scheduling requirements.
I’ve seen gaming groups struggle with this topic many times. Fortunately there’s an easy solution. You need to communicate and reach a consensus on what’s important to the majority of your regular attending players.
Offering a casual gaming style may seem the easiest route when starting out. All you need are some board games and a place to play, right? Well that might work for one-and-done types of events. It won’t, however, help a program to grow or build a feeling of community.
Asking for a commitment from your players can be difficult in this current age of constant busyness. Families have accepted a culture where they’re constantly moving from one activity to the next. Some try too hard to do everything and need firm scheduling boundaries to help them maintain these patterns.
Encouraging active support and participation is essential if you are looking to have well-attended events. People are busy. Help them make your club a priority by offering the best program you can. Stay consistent with scheduling and be enthusiastic.
Remember that big numbers don’t necessarily mean a good event. Success is how you define it. I feel it is important to note that some of my favorite gaming memories are from when we had a lower attendance. This gave us an opportunity to really teach and enjoy the games.
Ultimately you have to decide what sort of gaming culture you want to grow. There are many ways to offer a great community game club. There are also a few stumbling blocks that can get in the way early on. Let me help navigate those frustrations and work with you to make your club a success. Please reach out for consultation or to have me kickstart a program with a special event.
Peter R. Talley 