How to Produce a Fund Raising Texas **** Tournament

A Texas **** Tournament is a fun way to raise funds for your organization. The larger the prizes the larger the crowd. In order to increase your net revenue sell sponsor space on everything that can be branded cards chips anything that you can attach a logo. The players will take care of most of the game. The following will provide you with a means to host a great poker tournament and get the word out about your organization.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Prizes
• Location
• Tables
• Table Cloths
• Chairs
• Cards
• Chips
• Chip Racks
• Dealer Buttons
• Player Number
• Table Number
• Computer 1
• Computer 2
• Video recording system 1
• Projection system 1
• Projection system 2

1. Solicit Sponsors and Prizes.

2. Market event. A good marketing campaign will include television, radio, newspaper, flyers a web site and email. Via these marketing channels communicate whom the proceeds will benefit and the prizes that will be awarded.

3. Set up location- Entry check point, Tournament floor, loser's lounge, Tournament workstation.

4. Brief staff on their duties and responsibilities.

5. Register Players- Each player will need to be officially registered in the tournament. Registration information should include; player name, player nickname, address, phone, email and age. Key this information into a spreadsheet on computer 1.

6. Distribute Chips- determine and distribute an arbitrary amount (2,500) of chips for each player. Chips should be placed on each table.
   5-$5
   7-$25
   2-$100
   2-$500
   1-$1,000

7. Distribute "Chip-ups"- chip ups are way to reward individual players for supporting your fund raising tournament by purchasing item that you have elected to sell.

8. Draw for Deal - Once players are seated at their assigned table, have each player draw a card. Highest card wins deal.

9. Review tournament rules with players.

10. Review tournament rules with players.
    By nature of the game each player is dealt 2 cards face down. An Ante can be used to speed up the game. An arbitrary amount can be levied during arbitrary levels. In order to avoid confusion it is best to have a no splashing the pot rule. Bets should be placed in front of the player.
    
    During this time explain what the blinds are at which level.
    
    Incorporate breaks into the tournament based on the number of players. One 10-minute break every 2 hours based on 25 minute blinds.
    
    Muck- once a player discards his/her cards they are out of the hand.

11. Start Timer and deal the cards.

12. Color up chips- as the progresses and the blinds increase chips that can be removed from the table and replaced.

13. Consolidate tables- as the tournament progresses and players are eliminated tables with 5 or fewer players should be broken up and assigned to a table with an open seat(s) until there is one table remaining.

14. Raffle drawing(s)- prior to the end of the tournament draw for and announce the winner of each raffle.

15. Final table draw for deal.

16. Award Prizes.

17. Edit raw video from tournament.

18. Broadcast Tournament Highlights.

Tips & Warnings

• To identify targets to solicit support and participation compile a list of local businesses and philanthropists. These targets can be identified through the local newspaper, the chamber of commerce or through the local governments economic development entity.
• Rules- make sure all rules are clear and explained to all players.
• Ante- adding an ante will increase the flow of the tournament.
• Breaks- are not necessary, players can excuse themselves as needed.
• Blinds
• Level 1 5/10
• Level 2 10/20
• Level 3 25/50
• Level 4 50/100
• Level 5 100/200
• Level 6 250/500
• Level 7 500/1,000
• Level 8 2,000/4,000
• Chip up- all players will receive a minimum chip stack (2,500) for players that purchase fund raising items you can provide them additional chips for their support. (in Texas it is illegal to charge an entry fee)
• Saleable Products
• Tee shirts
• Baseball Cap
• Poker Chip sets
• Lighters
• Shot Glass
• Koozie
• Photograph
• Food & Beverages- the tournament should take anywhere from 4 to 9 hours. Negotiate with a vendor a percentage of the profits earned from the tournament players.
• Computer 1- use this computer to store player contact information. This will be useful in developing a mailing list. Also, use this computer to project your leader board.
• Computer 2- peradventure there are issues with computer 1, computer 2 will serve as a back up system.
• Video recording system- use this system to acquire raw video from your feature table and other tournament action.
• Projection system 1- use this system to project your leader board on to a screen.
• Projection system 2- use this system to project the poker action on a featured table on to a screen.

[Magentaslb]

on 11/2/2009 Great idea for a fundraiser! 5*s

[fitzcents]

on 8/18/2009 Great plans for how to do this with all the details included. 5*, rec, and a sub too!

[mattsaboy]

on 8/12/2009 Great article. 5 Stars, recommendation and a subscriber. Thanks

[jenng]

on 8/8/2009 Great article on How to Produce a Fund Raising Texas **** Tournament 5*

[abtex]

on 8/5/2009 good information, thanks