Hearthstone. Dota 2. League of Legends. Pick your poison.
Whatever you’re into, there is an audience out there playing it as an eSport. If you own a bar or video game cafe, you’ll want to capitalise on the popularity of eSports. But how?
Don’t worry bro, we got your back. Simply follow our tips below on how to host your own e-sports event in a bar, pub or cafe.
1. Research
Before doing anything else, do your research.
If you own a video games bar or cafe, you will already know there are video game enthusiasts in the area. Ask them what kind of games they are into and if they would be interested in an eSports event.
Some gamers are more casual than others and some don’t like the competitive aspect of games. If you own a regular bar, check local video game interest groups on social media to see the types of games people enjoy.
Alternatively, start a poll or conversation thread on your social media page to scout out levels of interest for an e-sports event. Above all, ensure there is a real need for an e-sports event in your area. Otherwise, the whole thing will fall as flat as a deceased goomba.
2. Choose your game
The right game is key to attracting the right audience.
People usually associate e-sports with games such as League Of Legends, or Dota 2. These are highly skill-based, which gives lots of opportunities for strong competition, tense matches and team tactics.
But the skills needed can exclude many players.
E-sports can be any competitive game, such as Mario Kart, or Tekken. These games do require skill. But, like all good games, they are easy to learn and difficult to master.
These latter examples are more likely to encourage participation from your patrons and make the experience more interactive for more people, encouraging repeat patronage and a more loyal fanbase.
3. Space
If you don’t want the events to encroach on regular business, a separate space on a floor above or a back room may be ideal. But be conscious of the size of the room and the capacity to allow it to fit the required amount of people.
You need to make sure that you have space for the e-sporting events to take place.
If the bar or cafe is solely dedicated to games, there is no need for a separate space. Also, make sure there is a space to sell food and drinks inside or near the gaming space, as the whole point is to make money, after all. And gaming is thirsty work!
4. Prizes
Prizes give the incentive to join in, which increases the number of patrons. A prize can also be essential in making money from the event itself. If people pay to enter, they will feel it is justified if there is a juicy cash prize dangled like a carrot in front of their eyes.
Although money is one potential prize, depending on the game, you may be able to find a retro toy on eBay or in a charity shop. This little extra touch can make the event more memorable for an audience and feel more well-considered. Several smaller prizes such as this can also be awarded to runners-up.
5. Advertising
Like any product, service or event, people need to know about it to be able to access it. There are lots of websites which offer advertising for such events at small bars and businesses.
You can easily find a smart, professional gaming advertisement template and even eye-catching video ads to advertise your event with panache and style. Such websites are cheap and easy to use. We recommend PosterMyWall if you want good quality visual content without spending too much on marketing graphics.
Although advertising can seem a luxury that can be avoided to save money for profits or other areas of a business, it is not to be ignored and always needs to be factored into set-up costs.
Without advertising, all the other work for the event may be wasted, as people are unlikely to be aware of the event at all, let alone any of the details. This is why it is one of the most essential parts of the process and is almost guaranteed to pay off in the long term.
6. Record Keeping/Referee
When hosting tournaments, especially where teams are involved, there must be records and there must be rules.
It is definitely worth employing, be it paid or voluntary, a referee who also keeps records of the outcome of each match and ensures the winners compete against the winners until one champion remains.
Video game enthusiasts can be notoriously competitive, so balance and rules are vital to ensure things run smoothly. You don’t want any nerd fights breaking out!
Also Consider: Licensing
Licensing varies from country to country, but an umbrella entertainment license for pubs and bars usually covers video games, as long as there is no gambling involved.
And there you have it. Our guide to running an e-sports event in your pub, bar, or cafe. Happy gaming and try to avoid those overly-competitive nerds fighting it out… They use teeth and nails you know!
References:
https://influencermarketinghub.com/esports-marketing-strategies/
https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/posters/search?s=esports&tt=video
https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/posters/search?s=esports&tt=image
