paris1time's Geocaching Event Tips

The third annual geocaching event held in Paris, Arkansas has now come and gone.  This time the event was called the "Cache Ca$h Dash Bash", and unless something changes that will be the name for all future events.  The event will also be held on the 2nd Saturday of January each year.  

You can go ahead and pencil in next years event for Saturday, January 9th, 2010.

I am still shaking my head at the number of people that attended this years event.  I estimate that there were approximately 150 people in attendance.  I would like to think that they all came just to see me, but I don't think they did.

With three years of event experience under my belt I thought I would give what I think are "Event Tips" for anyone out there that might be planning an event.

Trust I would never claim to be an expert, and I can only share with you what I think works because it seems to work for us.  

1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:  I feel the first step to a successful event is the event location.  We are so lucky here in the little o' town of Paris, Arkansas to have a community center that can hold the 150 attendees that has such nice features.  I feel that you need to make sure you location is a good "fit" for the type of event you want to have.  For example, the Paris event is held in January with an emphasis on being indoors in the event of bad weather.  The community center is perfect for that since it holds a large number of people and has everything you would need (restrooms, a kitchen, tables, chairs, a stage, and a sound system).   Think about what kind of event you are having and pick a location that fits.

2. HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: Everyone has their own reason for attending an event.  I think it is known that everyone who attends loves geocaching, but give them all something to come for.  

For those who like to attend to visit with other cachers make sure that you allow for plenty of time during the event just for that.  If there is something always going on at every moment they might find that the came did everything and the event was over before they sat down and talked with the cacher they never met before.  

For those who like to come to an event to find geocaches place some new caches prior to the event.  I did not get a chance to place as many caches as I wanted to prior to the Paris event this year, but I did place some.  That still gave those who had already found the area caches something new to find.  

For those who like to find temporary caches try to do something different.  Don't get me wrong I will go to and event and participate in a Poker Run just like the others, but I think if you can do something different you can give your event it's own identity to separate it from the other events.  We chose to have temporary caches that mirrored five of the different caches that could be found in geocaching and tied that with an auction with play money awarded after finding the event caches.

Think of other things that you can have, but can still link it to geocaching.  All three years we have had a photo contest and played a game we call cacher chaos.  The photo contest lets those who enter show off and share the great photos they have taken while also making a great conversation starter.  We also play a game called "Cacher Chaos".  The game was just a simple "ice breaker" game used to get people to mingle.  I think everyone that has attended the Paris event loves it and I have never seen it at another event.

We also try to provide a little something for the little ones.  It is amazing how a table with some tables, chairs, T.V., a DVD player, crayons, and a coloring book can help occupy the little ones for a while so they will not be sitting there asking if it was time to go yet.

3. HAVE A PLAN: It does not have to be a long complicated plan, but still have a plan for your event.  If you plan on having a lot of people make sure you plan for a location that they can all get into and plan your date for a time that will allow them to come.  If you plan on having some type of game or contest plan it all out on what you want it to be then make a "dry run" to make sure it works like it should.   

4. GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME:  Try to make it where everyone takes something home with them.  I would recommend on trying to give them some great memories.   Prizes are great, but where will those prizes be by the time the next event rolls around?

Again, this is only a couple of things I feel have worked for me.  I may be completely wrong, I usually am, but I feel that since these are the things I try to accomplish each year and the Paris event continues to grow something is working.

If I can ever be any help for an event feel free to contact me at paris1time@yahoo.com.