Promoting LARPs

[Jess Heinig]

Heya,

How would one go about promoting a LARP?

I've been thinking about things like:

* A regularly-updated website
* Fliers at game stores, other local LARPs, and local university activity centers
* Word of mouth
* Free materials & equipment to people who come to two games
* Free first game

Thanks,
J.H.

[Malak]

The single biggest way LARPs grow is when current players bring along their mates.

So anything that encorages this (free entry if you bring along a friend who hasn't played before?) is a good thing.

[dej]

Hey Jess, long time no talk :)


It often seems to me that after all the flyers, the website updates, the candy, and whatever else you can think of - you get like one or two new people a month. It can get frustrating.

The game that I'm playing in now has a good policy. If a person brings a new player to the game (meaning they show up at least twice) then that person gets an extra experience point. This gets the players involved in the recruitment process, and takes some of the weight off of your shoulders.

We have a cap on the total XP we recieve for the month, so this works quite well.

Other than that, I think good solid storytelling is the best bet.

Jed Walls

[Jess Heinig]

Hey Jed.

This is not for a World of Darkness LARP, just to be more specific.

Thanks for the input, tho!

Jess.

Originally posted by dej
Hey Jess, long time no talk :)


It often seems to me that after all the flyers, the website updates, the candy, and whatever else you can think of - you get like one or two new people a month. It can get frustrating.

The game that I'm playing in now has a good policy. If a person brings a new player to the game (meaning they show up at least twice) then that person gets an extra experience point. This gets the players involved in the recruitment process, and takes some of the weight off of your shoulders.

We have a cap on the total XP we recieve for the month, so this works quite well.

Other than that, I think good solid storytelling is the best bet.

Jed Walls

[pawsplay]

If you can get 6-8 volunteers recruited, running a free game at some kind of convention is a great idea. Combined with a functional website, the result should be a steady trickle.

Attending other LARPS and passing out flyers (if the organizers don't mind) is a great idea, as long as the LARPs aren't obvious rivals.