How to start an IFS - Ingress First Saturday Organizator tips
Hi! I feel like this is a good place to start a conversation about things which can be good for you to know if you want to organize FS event in your country.
1. First of all: pick the right location
I know that it might sound silly but really, try to think about it before you register your event. You should pick a location with registration portal where is not a real high density of people but still with enough portals on your "Battlefield". If you're eligible to go to a pub and you have a favorite one, that's the right place where you really want to have your meeting point. a) friendly atmosphere? b) good drinks/food? c) do you know the owner? If are all answers possitive, you're in...
2. Before you really start to manage all other things, find your crossfaction partner and get to know with him, even when it's your enemy, you should trust him/her say who will do which things and discuss the location.
3. Go to your desired location and talk with the owner of the pub/bar. Discuss pros and cons (if there's any con for them at all bcs they will make some 💰).
4. Register your event
Personally, when you'll be picking the time when will be the registration portal alive, I like the afternoon events because you'll have much higher range for players (they don't have to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning on Saturday)
5. Think about the theme of your FS and ASAP submit your #IngressFS missions!
RN Niantic told us that the max amount of missions with #IngressFS tag is 6, don't even try to submit more missions...
6. Try to contact your local ingress community and ask them if they're in touch with other players all around the region or/and state. It's super helpful if you find other FS organizators and you'll ask for help. They'll be glad that they aren't alone, trust me.
7. Summarize the info about the event and start a chat group on the local most-used communication platform.
8. Share the info about your event and invite others.
9. Get some swag.
Ask some sponsors (city hall, banks, shops) if they'll give you some free stuff. Make your own swag, at least biocards it's good to order it with other organizers of events in your region because it can be much cheaper. Also, the more people attending, the bigger prizepool should be so think about prizes for winners.
10. Communicate with the attending players and respond to their questions.
If you like this thread and you want me to continue, feel free to contact me :)
Comments
July IFS falls on the opening day of our nearby Renaissance Faire. There is an admission fee but there are usually online deals and coupons for the opening weekend.
Otherwise it's a great location with lots of portals. But is the admission fee a problem for IFS locations?
Although 2 weeks is pretty tight to get it all together.
Nice summary @Arrived
I would also add in - think about weather and alternatives if too hot/pouring rain.
Have a welcome speech/intro, so everyone is clear on the rules - don't want anyone to miss out accidentally! We also run a dedicated telegram chat for the event.
Make sure someone is ready to herd cats for the official posed pic, so you can get your event verified.
@GibsonGirl71 Well... Admission fee is a problem...
As long as it's voluntery it's ok. I recommend you to pick a place for meeting point and restock out of the paid area and let people decide whether they want to pay or not...
@bluesfemme sure thing, I'll join that info, thanks for your suggestions
One thing I do is putting some distance between the registeration portal and the restocking portal so people can walk more.
Yeah, you definitely do not want to be behind a pay wall... The event needs to be accessible to everybody. You don't want people reporting you to Niantic for not having equal access and failing to uphold the FS guidelines.
We make a single row mission set that starts and ends at the checkin/checkout place (sometimes this is the same spot, and sometimes it is different). We also have prizes for AP, trekker, and we rotate a 'mystery' stat. We've never had a problem with people not going out and playing!
Some more FS hints/info to add:
I just wrote a huge list of unconventional helpful tips and advice and it got squashed when posting it because it has to wait for approval. Does anyone know who is responsible for these approvals? I hope all that effort to compile that info isn't wasted. (it's 323 words)
Some more FS hints/info to add:
Some more FS hints/info to add:
Some more FS hints/info to add:
No delete option. I'm a menace in learning the system. My apologies to everyone.
A few issues with the above list.
Sunday events are not allowed, they must be held on the First Saturday.
We highly recommend people work with their local communities to organise events instead of going rouge causing issues for already established groups and events.
@cluelessness That must have changed. It used to be a hidden option for cities that needed it. Ty for the update.
Edit: I agree. One should always check with their local organizers to make sure there are no conflicts. That's common sense for any event planning. But, if their aren't, agents should not feel restricted in created an FS without "approval".
@NianticAkshay someone please delete these awful repeats above! They've been there for days. 🙇
Here in the Bay Area we have done it both ways -- both single location with missions in a loop and separate locations with missions going from point A to point B. It depends on the venue more than anything else -- it may be easier to find one venue to use than two.
You also need to consider the weather -- are players going to be naturally clumping up under shade or rain protection?
Here in Belgium we have a seperate group dedicated to organising FS events all over the country, city suggestions can be made by everyone and in every FS Orga is at least 1 experienced member from the FS.BE-group. This makes orga easier for everyone... Also we have a cup going around and every FS the winner can have it 'till the next FS in Belgium. It makes it fun every month 😃