need to start thanking...

benjamin-benjamin · Apr 22, 2012

Eventually i plan on moving (long story), but looking at other states there are not even close to the amount of gun matches there are here (we are really blessed here)! Now as i have gotten more involved i have noticed that putting on matches/setting up/scheduling, etc.. is a very thankless job. A lot of times these match directors just have 10 different people come up to them to tell them how to run the match better or where they feel like they have messed up. It is a hard job, where the pay sucks and people complain!! I am posting this in hopes that maybe if you get a chance to email or speak directly with the guys/girls that run the matches you attend and thank them for their hard work, it would go a long way!!!

dennishoddy · Apr 22, 2012

I'm not the match director, but on one of our matches at Ponca in the past, we had a reduced rate for early entry. On match day, one of the shooters raised hell that he had to pay full amount, when others, (that signed in early) paid less. He was a royal ass about it, refusing to tape, help RO etc.
In the past I promoted MotoX races for two and three wheel events. The amount of BS complaints I had to put up with was amazing.

Come on guys! Read the rules, pay the money and shoot. Your life doesn't depend on some little technecality. We all want to play on an even field, and in my day of promoting, all constructive comments were appreciated, and taken into consideration, but sometimes you just have to put the foot down and say no. Then your an asshole.

Not talking about the shooting community here, (maybe a little) but it seemed the higher in the rankings the competitor was, the more they wanted to tweek the finer points of the competition.
If your good enough to be at the top of your game, shoot/race what your given and show why your up there.

Wall · Apr 22, 2012

dennishoddy said:
I'm not the match director, but on one of our matches at Ponca in the past, we had a reduced rate for early entry. On match day, one of the shooters raised hell that he had to pay full amount, when others, (that signed in early) paid less. He was a royal ass about it, refusing to tape, help RO etc.

That's some bullchit, he probably should have been asked to return with a different attitude or not at all.

jtischauser · Apr 23, 2012

I don't understand how or why they do it but it's appreciated.

I wonder if someone could run a range/match like a golf course? Every weekend or two you reset stages for a change of pace and you can Show up anytime and shoot/reset the stages. $5-10 per stage per shooter would probably be a good way of thanking the setup crew and MD.

Rustyzx9 · Apr 23, 2012

There are lots of people that make an effort to shake the match directors hand and tell them how much their work is appreciated as often as possible. An even better show of support is to be around to help with setting these events up as often as possible. Before I get flamed, I do realize that most of us have jobs and lives to attend to, myself included. If the opportunity presents itself take advantage of the chance to be there and help out. We are very fortunate in this area to have tons of great matches to choose from!

benjamin-benjamin · Apr 23, 2012

Rustyzx9 said:
There are lots of people that make an effort to shake the match directors hand and tell them how much their work is appreciated as often as possible. An even better show of support is to be around to help with setting these events up as often as possible. Before I get flamed, I do realize that most of us have jobs and lives to attend to, myself included. If the opportunity presents itself take advantage of the chance to be there and help out. We are very fortunate in this area to have tons of great matches to choose from!

true, by no means wanted to imply that all people weren't appreciative, just a friendly reminder, because the situation dennis talked about isn't a isolated one.. so once again didn't mean that no one is appreciative, especially cuddly, sensitive guys like you

also i know it gets dark, but if the set up could be around 5 or 6 there would probably be a better turnout..

Rustyzx9 · Apr 23, 2012

benjamin-benjamin said:
true, by no means wanted to imply that all people weren't appreciative, just a friendly reminder, because the situation dennis talked about isn't a isolated one.. so once again didn't mean that no one is appreciative, especially cuddly, sensitive guys like you

also i know it gets dark, but if the set up could be around 5 or 6 there would probably be a better turnout..

lol... My mission is the same as yours Ben. The competetive shooting community is pretty awesome but the occasion reminder doesn't hurt.

benjamin-benjamin · Apr 23, 2012

Rustyzx9 said:
lol... My mission is the same as yours Ben. The competetive shooting community is pretty awesome but the occasion reminder doesn't hurt.

i know, lets hug it out when we see eachother so we know we aren't mad!!

Burk Cornelius · Apr 23, 2012

Rusty DON'T DO IT. I fell for one of Benji's hugs and he got to second base

shootingbuff · Apr 23, 2012

Al, FL, NM, TX, TN. are good places to shoot if not every wkend then most. Sounds like AR is stepping up and they are near.

A lot of times a thanks or can I help is all that needs to be said to a MD. It is a selfless and thankless service unless someone is doing it as income. Be sure and offer assistance and thank the MD as well as the RO/SOs, the scorekeepers, and those that help out from resetting targets to pasting to being goffers etc. It takes most shooters, but now and then you find a shooter that is well a dick and a pathetic dick at that.