How to Set up a Contest
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Setting Up a Target Toss Pro Contest

  1. BAGS Players Plan your contest
    First determine how large a contest you want to run. Will you start small and put together a four-person contest, or be ambitious and setup a 32-player event? Realistically, the larger the contest the more work it will require. Consider how much time you have and how many TTP machines are at your disposal.

    Also, figure out if your contest will be open to simply friends or to all comers. A contest built around having only friends in attendance requires minimal preparation; just walk over to the game and play! A successful contest open to the public, however, calls for a good amount of preparation and an idea of how you want the contest to run. The more time you take to prepare and generate buzz, the better.

    If all goes well, you might even consider creating a league! Think about making every Tuesday or Thursday a night of Target Toss Pro! Have set times and a schedule with rotating team play. This is just another idea worth exploring when starting the planning process.





  2. Solicit your location
    Some locations may enjoy the idea of players coming in and taking over the games for a contest, others may not. Talking to the owner or bartender at your location to gauge their interest or thoughts on the event is a good next step. Getting in touch with the amusement operator who owns the game could also help your cause as well. Let them know what you have planned and how it might benefit all parties in terms of money gained and business. From extra cash to free t-shirts, these things can go a long way to building good relationships between yourself and the bar owners and operators.





  3. Create a poster with contest rules and prizes
    If it's just a contest for those you know a poster probably isn't necessary, unless you want one! A contest open to the public is a much different type of event, and publicizing it is crucial! The easiest way to go about this is to create a straightforward and descriptive poster.

    Your poster should tell all the basics - time, date, place, entry fees, prizes and most importantly, rules. Determine the rules beforehand and make sure to have them down for all interested players to see. Will there be a minimum age to participate? What happens in the event of a tie? Is the bracket filled on a first come basis? Think of all the little things that you might ask if you were going to play in a contest like this, and prepare to answer all sorts of questions.

    Aside from listing all the basics, you have to make it look nice! If someone is on the fence about attending and the poster looks like it was crafted together in under a minute, this might swing him or her away from attending. Check out the Downloads section for numerous templates and graphics to get you started.





  4. Plan your bracket
    Luckily, there are already brackets in Target Toss Pro, so creating your own bracket isn't necessarily required. If you're looking to add your own personal touch to the tournament, however, there are plenty of other creative ways to run a competitive contest. Bracket

    Start by determining the nuts and bolts of the contest. This begins with the tournament setup and bracket type. Will you set up a head-to-head tournament or use some type of pool play? Will it be team play or singles? Will it be single or double elimination? Will total score come into play? These are all things you have to consider and decide upon. To get a better idea of the thought process, check out this quick example.

    Bracket seeding is also a very important part of a contest and will determine matchups for the entire event. You could choose randomly or have a one or two-round qualifier where the best scores get the top seeds. Will there be byes? How will you determine them? The nice thing is that YOU have total control, and everything can be as simple or complex as you want to make it.





  5. Make arrangements for final event
    How the final event is determined is also up to you, but make it a spectacle no matter when or how you have it! Show up early to meet again with the location owner to see if they might be able to set up food and drink specials for players. Do you need a microphone and PA system? This is where your good relationships could pay dividends, and hopefully the location is willing to help. Print out extra copies of the rules and set up a tournament registration table if necessary. Bring pens, markers, tape and paper in case something pops up. Be organized!





  6. BAGS Players Run your event
    You've done the work, now enjoy the fruits of your labor! Some contest directors like to play in their events, some don't - it's up to you! But no matter how big or small the contest, make sure that IT'S FUN!


  7. Send Us Your Contest Results!
    Incredible Technologies is always looking for interesting news for Targettosspro.com. Send contest recaps and photos to ITinfo@itsgames.com! Your contest could be front-page news!