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The office of the USSF and the IYR webmaster often get mail from people who want to have cutting events. Here is an example of what people would do well to consider, when something like a cutting tournament is still in the dreaming stage. The USSF and I have been holding sword events for 13 years and your number projections are quite, if not overly optimistic. I'm not saying big numbers can't be achieved but it takes a large advertising budget, sponsorship $$$, and committed participation from participants and support staffers to make a truly top drawer event work. The area one lives in and even the venue in the area the event will be held, will make a huge impact on the eventual turnout. The formatting a sanctioned United States Sword Federation event can provide is a proven, stable, and balanced playing field for the participants and a safe environment for the spectators too. These issues should be your first concerns. The USSF's Tournament Administration Team (TAT) can do everything necessary to produce the actual details of the event. Manpower is crucial. People are needed that can deal with all the support duties of the event so the 'cutters' don't have to think about much of anything else except what they came there to do. Thinks of it this way; if you were participating at a pistol shooting competition, how effective would you be if you had to run the fifty or so yards to reset your targets, load your own cartridges, be 'on' enough to do well in the competition, and then clean up afterwards. You probably wouldn't get many takers for that deal and neither would I. This just makes the point that the size of the event is determined by the support requirements of those that aren't competing. Making the best impression for the community and the art form makes the most sense. Even small events can be very successful if they are run well. What's the bottom line? Planning and participation are 'keys' to success. The better you do both the better success you can count on. The USSF knows where you want to go because we have been there already. Nonpartisan non-style specific events with Trademarked and Copyrighted Judges rulebooks, with trained and 'Certified' Judges and tournament staff get the job done right. Russell McCartney |