The Bologna Open. One third of the entries arrived during the last week after the closing date. This resulted in the program being continuously changed. Kids and Youth events were held late without knowing when they would be on. The venue was far too small. The parking was inadequate. There were not enough seats to sit on. The change rooms were too small for the amount of competitors.It would appear that most of the problems was because of the high amount of late entries that were allowed. Why have a closing date if it is not going to be adhered to. Unless people are educated into knowing that a late entry will not be allowed it will only get worse.
Try to enter Blackpool after the closing date and see how far you will get.

Not quite the same to compare intern. recognised events such as B/Pool US champ. etc who are not totally dependant on filling their venues to the rafters.

I have run numerous comps and every entry is sometimes the difference between viable and loss.

till you have operated from both sides of the profession, you would readily change your opinion ( unless you like losing money ! )

First we are talking about a major event such as Bologna and not some little studio event. This was a Grand Slam Event. I think it would be safe to say that in the main IDSF event all the entries would have been early. Anyway Terence why have a closing date at all. Why not in your advertising state that its OK guys to enter just a few minutes before your event takes to the floor. As long as you have payed your money that is...
I tell you what would fix the problem. Late entries will be accepted at double the cost.

In the US, amateur competitions give entrants a break on the fees if they register early. The difference can be substantial for a couple.

Of course, these are amateurs and not professionals who should be expected to plan their competitions and avoid late entrance.



jj

Well, I know that this anecdote will be discounted because it's about an NDCA event and because, to many poster I'm nothing but a scum-of-the-earth pro-ammer.

Nevertheless:
Not too long ago I thought, for work- related reasons, that I would have to forego a competition that I really, really wanted to enter. It was well after the entry deadline that my work-related project was resolved on an accelerated schedule. It meant that I would be able to enter the competition after all. I spoke to my pro, who spoke the organizer, who let me enter late. My pro and his partner decided that, since they were going to the comp after all, that they wanted to enter the Pro event for their style. The organizer allowed it, even after the deadline. The organizer even waived the late entry fee for both myself and the pros. So, yes, my Pros entered their Pro event late, but it was not because of poor planning on their part or because of any disrespect to the organizer.

No spectators were harmed by the late Pro entry and the failure of its appearance in the program.