Hypothetical Pow-wow Situation #1

[Furiously-Fancy]

You're serving on a pow-wow committee and you have an extra $20,000 to spend on Head staff, drums, dancers and maintenance of pow-wow arena. Your committee is pressured by the donors/sponsors to get a better turn-out than last year's pow-wow. Where would you appropriate these extra-funds?

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Music....

Singing......wether contest or not....Singing. The cornerstone of any Powwow....

[ntownn8ive]

I would host the rez ride demolition car derby in the dance arena at dinner break!

Fo sho' I'd split the drum contest, Northern Ol' Styo, Northern Contemp and Southern.

Or a bad @zz Mens and Womes Fancy show down, north vs. south, USA vs. Canada, what not! Aye!

[suthernwaterbird]

call in sum super host drums...have specials...and drum contest is always the bait for big pws..

[superndngyrl]

more payout for the dance contests! That seems to draw the dancers. Also, you need some good host drums, so whatever that takes to get them to serve as host.

[Paul G]

Great drums!

There are lots of drums that have large followings!

[darkwaterlum]

split the drum competition, and make sure you got some good host drums, and spend the rest on publication of the powwow...alot of publication....

[ntownn8ive]

What! No demo derby in the arena?

Well G, I'd say take it to Vegas, bet it all on red on the Roulette table, double it and have a jammin' drum contest, best of the best.

But seriously, how much are big drums askin' for host gigs?

I'mma hafta go with upin' the dance contest bucks as well as the drum money.

Sadly.....aye, it's all 'bout the Benjamins, buldge the prize money and watch 'em flock in!

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Indian Battle Royal....!

OH! That idea has been taken already....LOL!

[Homalosa]

split it evenly between mega drum groups and the purse. don't worry about publication, a thread here on pws.com is free and will speed the powwow grapevine faster. i'd even send my flyer to indin radio shows that have live internet feeds. we have a weekly show (Sundays 6-8 CST) here in dallas, Beyond Bows & Arrows, on www.knon.org, that airs every flyer they receive, regardless of location.

now, remember with that much money in a contest, you better have fair as possible judges and several places

[hobbs49]

You're serving on a pow-wow committee and you have an extra $20,000 to spend on Head staff, drums, dancers and maintenance of pow-wow arena. Your committee is pressured by the donors/sponsors to get a better turn-out than last year's pow-wow. Where would you appropriate these extra-funds?

FF, a "better turn-out than last year..." In what way? They looking for more dancers? More spectators? More money passing through the vendors? More frybread consumed? I think that to really answer this question, the goal needs to be better understood.

Looking for more dancers, then maybe "big name" drum groups and more dancer prize money if it's a contest. Maybe pay more positions or focus on increasing the prizes for younger categories. Youngsters need their parents to take them and therefore the probability of more dancers might go up.

Looking for more spectators then maybe spend some money on better lighting and seating or other facilities upgrades. Also I think that singing might play a factor here as well. Maybe provide additional activities to fill in some gaps in the dance program.

Looking for more $ going to vendors then improve facilities so that the vendors are near the dance arbor. That way people don't have to decide between shopping and watching. Maybe incent certain vendors to show up so that there is a wide variety of items being sold. I mean, there's only so much jewlery that a person can buy so sometimes maybe they really want beads, leather, and other craft supplies readily available.

Looking to sell more frybread? Well, hmmm...

Anyway, I think that it's important to understand what the goal is, i.e. what does "a better turn out" really mean. Then I think that you'll get a better feel on how to spend your $20k.

[Furiously-Fancy]

FF, a "better turn-out than last year..." In what way? They looking for more dancers? More spectators? More money passing through the vendors? More frybread consumed? I think that to really answer this question, the goal needs to be better understood.

Looking for more dancers, then maybe "big name" drum groups and more dancer prize money if it's a contest. Maybe pay more positions or focus on increasing the prizes for younger categories. Youngsters need their parents to take them and therefore the probability of more dancers might go up.

Looking for more spectators then maybe spend some money on better lighting and seating or other facilities upgrades. Also I think that singing might play a factor here as well. Maybe provide additional activities to fill in some gaps in the dance program.

Looking for more $ going to vendors then improve facilities so that the vendors are near the dance arbor. That way people don't have to decide between shopping and watching. Maybe incent certain vendors to show up so that there is a wide variety of items being sold. I mean, there's only so much jewlery that a person can buy so sometimes maybe they really want beads, leather, and other craft supplies readily available.

Looking to sell more frybread? Well, hmmm...

Anyway, I think that it's important to understand what the goal is, i.e. what does "a better turn out" really mean. Then I think that you'll get a better feel on how to spend your $20k.

Three major indicators for "turn out":

*number of drum groups

*number of dancers participating in grand-entry......we'll have someone on the committee there at the entry w/ one of 'dem clicker counter thinga mabobbers lookin real offish.

*no parking spaces in parking area......we want the Business Council (#1 donors of the pow-wow fundage) saying..."dang....where'em I gonna park??---this sure is a goot turn-out!"

[Furiously-Fancy]

What! No demo derby in the arena?

Well G, I'd say take it to Vegas, bet it all on red on the Roulette table, double it and have a jammin' drum contest, best of the best.

But seriously, how much are big drums askin' for host gigs?

I'mma hafta go with upin' the dance contest bucks as well as the drum money.

Sadly.....aye, it's all 'bout the Benjamins, buldge the prize money and watch 'em flock in!

I hear yuz....that's the plain truth too!

[Furiously-Fancy]

split it evenly between mega drum groups and the purse. don't worry about publication, a thread here on pws.com is free and will speed the powwow grapevine faster. i'd even send my flyer to indin radio shows that have live internet feeds. we have a weekly show (Sundays 6-8 CST) here in dallas, Beyond Bows & Arrows, on www.knon.org, that airs every flyer they receive, regardless of location.

now, remember with that much money in a contest, you better have fair as possible judges and several places

Already then......flyers on the way.....where do I send it??

[Furiously-Fancy]

What! No demo derby in the arena?

Well G, I'd say take it to Vegas, bet it all on red on the Roulette table, double it and have a jammin' drum contest, best of the best.

But seriously, how much are big drums askin' for host gigs?

I'mma hafta go with upin' the dance contest bucks as well as the drum money.

Sadly.....aye, it's all 'bout the Benjamins, buldge the prize money and watch 'em flock in!

Denver March would be an exception to the rule.BIG turnout---small $$