> Barcraft Planning 101

Hi again everyone! The fall is getting on now, and with it, the seasonal eSports events. Most recently, the conclusion of the the 2013 League of Legends World Championships (which sold out the Staples center in LA) drew quite the crowd. Coming up, Starcraft 2's World Championsip Series will hold it's Yearly finals at Blizzcon this November 7-9. These tournaments draw an amaing live crowd, demonstrating the growing popularity of eSports. Sadly, not everyone has the ways or means to make it to live viewings. In light of this, a certain type of event has caught on as well. Known as PubStomps, Barcrafts, or generic 'Viewing Parties', these are events in which fans gather at a Bar or restaurant to partake in spectating games while enjoying food and drink with others. It sounds pretty awesome, but if you follow the eSports scene it's probably old news to you. What I want to discuss today is how to get one going in your local community, or grow an existing event into something more awesome. Your locale may have it's own Barcraft or Pubstomp community, but if not, you can create it yourself in six easy steps. If that sounds interesting, read on!

Two eSports fans having a great time at Barcraft.

Barcraft Planning - Step 1: Want it to happen? Decide to do it!

This may sound obvious, but  you would be surprised by the number of people who just don't want to get involved, even if it means making something happen for a little effort. In order to plan a successful barcraft, you'll have to make the effort to contact people, venues, advertise (free is fine), and provide information when needed. Sometimes, you may end up doing it alone. Don't worry! It's not a terrible amount of effort, and once you've organized one, it gets much easier. You'll make plenty of eSports friends and learn a lot along the way, and you might even sign up volunteers. In any case, a fun time is guaranteed!

Step 2: Create the event

Again, seemingly obvious, but it can easily be put off until the last minute. Pick an upcoming tournament or Series, the bigger the better. Don't ask if people are interested in coming to a hypothetical event, create a page for one! This lends legitimacy to your event, and makes people more likely to attend. Getting started is easy too, just create an event on a social networking site like Facebook or Meetup.com. After that, you can link all your advertising posts and emails to the event page (just make sure it's publicly viewable for maximum exposure!) Be sure to go ahead and add ANYONE you think may want to attend; Friends, family (Come on, you've already explained to them what this 'eSports' thing is by now), and related groups. the last one may be tricky if you don't know many people in your community. Start by going to your town or city's social networks (reddit.com/r/yourcity, Facebook groups for eSports in your town or University, YES they do

 exist) and posting/inviting everyone you can.

Step 3: Find a venue

Alright, this is where you get to learn something cool. Start by searching for a suitable location online or around town. Hit up neighborhood or sports bars, anywhere that has food (and drink if you want that), and plenty of TV's. Don't forget an internet connection, which you'll need for connecting to the Tournament Stream. Once you find a suitable place, call or meet with the manager. Explain to them briefly about eSports and that you can drum up a good deal of business for them if they let you use their TV's and internet. Make sure you can secure the venue for the day(s) you want to host the event or at least get a dedicated section reserved for you.

Step 4: Advertise, advertise, advertise

Now that you've learned how to secure a venue like a pro, it's time to let more people know about your event. I touched upon this briefly when I mentioned social networking in creating the event, but it's more important than ever here. Anywhere you can get free exposure is important. Try sites like reddit.com (there is a dedicated /r/barcraft for this), teamliquid.com/barcraft and http://wcs.battle.net/sc2/en/barcraft (for Starcraft), and again, Facebook. Try to join as many eSports/geeky Facebook groups as you can, as you will have access to its members, and therefore more exposure for your event. Update the main event page as frequently as you get new information.

Step 5: Securing Sponsors

This one can also be tricky if you are new. I still struggle with it, although the connections I have made help. Contact local companies that market to Gamers and eSports fans. Is there a local branch of Kingston or Nvidia nearby? Go talk to them! You would be surprised, but many companies love to sponsor these kinds of events with free swag to give away. Just make sure to mention them in all your advertisements and event info (and plug them at the event). Oftentimes, the company that makes the game you are viewing will have an interest in showing support. For Starcraft, try Blizzard at BarCraft@blizzard.com. For other games such as Dota2 and League of Legends, try their producers' support or contact pages.

Step 6: Go, and Have fun!

Now that you've done all that hard work, you get to enjoy what comes out of it. Show up an hour early to test out the connection (if you haven't already) and make sure any decorations are in place. Then, just wait for people to arrive, and host the event however you like. I usually just stand up and make announcements as needed; feel free to tailor your hosting to your own style of communication. Plug your sponsors, thank the Bar/Restaurant for having you, and enjoy the tournament! Whether you get a handful of eSports die-hards or a massive gathering, you're sure to have an excellent time. While there, mention the work that went into creating the event, and ask if anyone wants to volunteer to help make it happen again. Who knows, you may make a whole new group of friends. 

I hope all that has been helpful if you're planning on starting a Barcraft in your city, or just merely curious about the process. It's a fair amount of hard work and coordination, but at the end of the day, you've got a really awesome event to be proud of. So get out there, and host your own Barcraft!