The Presentation.

[admin]

Interesting post on the Kings Lynn 2016 threadon the BSF - pretty sure that we covered all of this (and made similar suggestions numerous times on the deleted threads).

jchapman (Posted 18 December 2015 - 09:43 PM)

With regards to the feel good factor it wouldn't take much to generate it again, the formula was simple:

1. Carefully select music that generates a positive and pumped up atmosphere.... don't just play the latest NOW album.

2. discount air horns to a price that fans can afford so they do not hesitate to make an impulse purchase (something i once suggested should be implemented across the whole of speedway).

3. get a good centre green announcer on board who is not afraid of controversy.

4. make sure all riders take an extra lap if they win a race (Chris mills never had to be asked twice to do that).

5. make sure the meeting runs slickly as any unforced delays will simply deflate the atmosphere (If their is a forced delay then without any question the interval should be cancelled).

​On top of these basics you can throw in some start ladies (16 years and over only) who can perform some routines during delays, and add some themed nights in the summer and give away freebies to everyone (anyone remember the 1000 air inflated pistols I personally handed out on the western night back in the day?)

---

Our new musicman is generally good IMO - mentioned the disappearance of air horns coinciding with the lack of atmosphere - while people think that some fluffy bunny invisible bloke in the pits is a good idea then there isn't much hope (Mike Bennett/Darren Fletcher, say no more squire ) - said before that a victory lap should be mandatory for the home team and optional for the away side - meeting length and delays/interval etc have been well discussed - The Crew Girls & mascots definitely added something IMO, even if not everyone's cup of Tetley.

[admin]

Darts is often the example of what speedway could have become. It rose to where it is now during the same period and under similar circumstance to those the BSPA wasted.

Some points:

Nicknames

Eric Bristow, the most successful player in the first few years of the World Championship, had his nickname "The Crafty Cockney" emblazoned on the back of his shirt. Very few dart players had their own nicknames until the Professional Darts Corporation circuit made it almost customary for every player to acquire a nickname. This helps to create a new generation of characters with which its audience could identify.
Sky TV commentator Sid Waddell attempted to christen Phil Taylor "The Crafty Potter" - referring to him being both a protégé of Bristow and originating from the Potteries. However, the tag never caught on and it wasn't until a later tournament that he came out to the tune The Power by Snap! that his nickname was accidentally born. Jamie Harvey from Scotland became "Bravedart" - a play on words from Mel Gibson's Braveheart film. Sky Sports even filmed vignettes where a kilt wearing Jamie had his face painted blue and ran through woods throwing his darts whilst looking menacing. As the only player to wear a shirt, tie and waistcoat whilst playing, Rod Harrington's "Prince of Style" tag appeared apt. Though originally from the BDO circuit, Wayne Mardle is known as "Hawaii Five-O-One" due to his colourful Hawaiian shirts (a play on words on Hawaii Five-O and the starting score in a leg of darts). Bob Anderson, now living in Clevedon in Somerset, is known as The Limestone Cowboy, after the limestone hills of Wiltshire where Bob used to live, and the fact that he enjoys Country and Western music. This was once taken even further, with Anderson once riding to the stage on a horse.

Image

The PDC sought to attract a younger audience of both sexes for darts and market the game as a night out rather than just as a sporting event. Through the years, it was not uncommon to see politicians, musicians, football players, boxers and other sporting personalities attending their events. The British Darts Organisation have subsequently sought to emulate most of these innovations. Players enter matches with their own signature theme music whilst flanked by security men and female valets down to the oche. A "big-time" atmosphere was also created by using smoke machines and pyrotechnics during these sometimes elaborate entrances, similar to those used in boxing or wrestling. At the oche, players only drink iced water during matches. Though this was intended to further the game's image, which had been tarnished by players' reputation for consuming large quantities of alcohol, the water is also needed to prevent dehydration. With the many lights and packed crowds, temperatures have been measured at over 38 degree Celsius (100 degree Fahrenheit) during some games. Inside the venues, action is relayed via giant video screens for the large crowds. The BDO now also has video screens, while maintaining their traditional "light boards" of lightbulbs, showing where each dart lands for the benefit of the crowd.

[admin]

We used to do nicknames: Thundercrump, Flyinryan, The Dark Shadow, Golden Bullet to name but a few.

Riders used to do a victory lap with their own tune. Ryan Sullivan probably consistently chose quality tunes, but AC/DC (Thunderstruck/Crump), Deep Purple (Smoke on the water/Tesar), Let Loose (Crazy for you/Mario Jirout) also stick in the memory.

Now we get some bozo breaking the atmos telling us what we just seen, rather than reflecting on an celebrating the moment with our own thoughts.

Having said that, listening to some of the rubbish that comes out of young people's phones and stuff these days then I'm not sure that I want to go there?

I don't think that speedway can cope with a night out and seems to cater for those dwindling numbers who are just happy with a sporting event, which is their 15 mins of fun within 2+ hours.

[admin]

I see that this has just raised it's head again with a tread on the BSF: Fan/rider interaction

It's a shame that I accidentally deleted those threads from the Readypower years because we've been banging on about this for a decade or more. If I had a pound for every time that I'd said that heat winners (particularly home riders of course) should ALWAYS come round for the extra lap in front of the stand then I'd have a healthy bank balance.

There were numerous other gripes - Kenneth Bjerre having his helmet on at presentation being a particular favourite.

[admin]

May 20, 2021 21:05:02 GMT admin said:

It's a shame that I accidentally deleted those threads from the Readypower years because we've been banging on about this for a decade or more.

Found one from 7 years ago:

Jun 4, 2014 13:12:53 GMT admin said:

What we can control is our own presentation (some general suggestions as a starting point):

1. The music (little m) was bloody awful last night. There was interference or something around 7pm and it went quiet with someone saying "that's better" I'm told?

2. Bikes at the start introductions, helmets off until presented.

3. No pointless anthem (still waiting for when this was a good idea and alleged part of the show)

4. Craig to generally shut up at the end of each heat and ALL heat winners to do a lap.

5. No riders to exit the pit gate until the participants have been announced over the PA to the crowd, especially heat 15 when they're all too often (except when Darren Fletcher was here)sitting at tapes before Edwin pipes up.

6. No interval as last night. As AS said, and so have others on here, there are enough natural breaks when people can do what they need to, just needs a bit of programming on their part.

7. Victory parade is pointless as most have buggered off. Think it was Luke who mentioned that the Thundercats would all ride round on their bikes and stop in front of the stand? Something like that would be quicker and more sensible?