Great post, I really appreciate the total transparency. I can't really imagine people being upset about you making some money off of this in the future, the amount of work that goes in is immense and not taking any salary from would mean potentially weeks of works with no monetization. It's not feasible.

The numbers kind of blew me away, 27k is pretty fantastic. I would recommend maybe staying on a lower number of casters next time, if possible, giving people some time to really get a feel for the pairings. I think two days with Goeff, Nahan or John would have been just fine.

If you can get Kespa that's nice, but not to te poin where you have to bend over backwards for them. If we can get nigh on 30k with the players you had, I say that's more than okay.

Kmanmaster

United States2 Posts

August 11 2014 14:59 GMT

#22

Really amazing tournament! Love everything about it.

TheWinks

United States572 Posts

August 11 2014 14:59 GMT

#23

I don't understand getting sponsors when the only goal for getting them was Destiny's paycheck.

Yorkie

United States12612 Posts

August 11 2014 15:00 GMT

#24

Great job on the tournament and a great read. Not sure what to do about the Kespa situation. I guess that even though they were a bit arrogant the pros outweigh the cons. I wouldn't overdo it, just let them fight in a qualifier for a few of the spots

fenrysk

United States364 Posts

August 11 2014 15:00 GMT

#25

Thank you for being transparent with all this info, and of course for organizing/hosting. I haven't been able to tune in every day, but I did enjoy the days that I was able to. 2014 Destiny, best Destiny.

JustPassingBy

10776 Posts

August 11 2014 15:00 GMT

#26

I think the "you benefit far more more by using by using our players to market your event and gain viewership" is one of the most petty answers I've ever heard. I mean it's not as if there was any danger of the players not being payed, the whole event was 100% crowd-funded beforehand. And it's not as if there was too little money on the line, I think a lot of players (including many from Kespa) would've been willing to play if given the chance. It's purely because they believe that Destiny would get the better end of the deal, if they allow their players to participate.

But who knows, perhaps the answer was a bad wording issue, like when chudd claimed that WEC never contacted either Kespa nor the teams.

Aocowns

Norway6070 Posts

August 11 2014 15:00 GMT

#27

It was very enjoyable, I look forward to the next

RiSkysc2

696 Posts

August 11 2014 15:01 GMT

#28

As a pure selfish POV, i want kespa players competing in as many tournaments as possible. People like Flash would significantly increase the viewership, too. Is there any way to contact the players directly?

Musicus

Germany23579 Posts

August 11 2014 15:01 GMT

#29

Wow, every time I think KeSPA is pretty cool they give me a reason to dislike them again..., still I think you should have them on board next time if possible. Sure KeSPA can be a pain, but the players are not at fault and should get their chance. They also make the tournament a lot more exciting.

Thanks for the detailed report and for an amazing tournament! Good luck with Destiny II

-Kaiser-

Canada932 Posts

August 11 2014 15:01 GMT

#30

On August 11 2014 23:59 TheWinks wrote:
I don't understand getting sponsors when the only goal for getting them was Destiny's paycheck.

Perhaps you should try reading the OP more carefully a second time and you won't be so confused.

Liquid`Jinro

Sweden33719 Posts

August 11 2014 15:02 GMT

#31

I liked this event a lot, and I definitely think KeSPA are ridiculously overbearing when it comes to micro-managing their players... That being said:

I also don't like that KeSPA expected me to take on 100% of the risk for the first tournament and then contact them later for a second of third one. If I take on all of the risk in producing and hosting the first tournament, without any help whatsoever from them, why would I let them into the next one...? It might come off as petty to some, but it seems a bit arrogant to tell someone you'll hop on board a project after they've laid out the entire framework themselves.

I really don't see anything wrong with them saying "We dont have anything to go by in terms of previous work from you, so we will make our decision based on how you do with this event". I can see the logic in their decisions, kind of... it just feels like they are acting as if they were representing, I dont know, NFL athletes or something.

Noro

Canada991 Posts

August 11 2014 15:02 GMT

#32

Great writeup, great event. I really look forward to seeing more of these and I'll be more than happy to contribute.

Also interesting with the Kespa stuff... I say if Kespa players want to play, you shouldn't deny them just because of the dickishness of Kespa themselves. I think it would be great to see them competing in Destiny II!

Jimmeh

United Kingdom908 Posts

August 11 2014 15:03 GMT

#33

On August 11 2014 23:55 Crot4le wrote:
I think if you're being funded by community in choosing crowdfunding then your 'take home' pay should merely paying your expenses and organisational and casting fee. After you have compensated yourself for the time, I think all profit should then be put towards the next tournament since it's on the back of donations that you have made that profit.

But that's just how I feel.

Agreed with this 100%. $1800 for 6 days work (and however long it took him to invite a 8 players and contact the 8 ladder qualifiers) seems a bit of a joke.

JustPassingBy

10776 Posts

August 11 2014 15:03 GMT

#34

On August 12 2014 00:01 Musicus wrote:
Wow, every time I think KeSPA is pretty cool they give me a reason to dislike them again..., still I think you should have them on board next time if possible. Sure KeSPA can be a pain, but the players are not at fault and should get their chance. They also make the tournament a lot more exciting.

Thanks for the detailed report and for an amazing tournament! Good luck with Destiny II

I think it depends on what it takes for them to participate. If they want to participate, then let them, that will be awesome. But don't go too out of your way just to please Kespa.

Necro)Phagist(

Canada6660 Posts

August 11 2014 15:04 GMT

#35

On August 11 2014 23:59 TheWinks wrote:
I don't understand getting sponsors when the only goal for getting them was Destiny's paycheck.

What exactly is wrong with that? It's a bad thing that he's making a little bit of money after putting the time and effort in to organize the event?

I will openly admit back in the day I was a Destiny hater, but recently and especially after this tournament I've gained a lot of respect for him and have grown to like him. I see no problem with someone making some money after spending the time and energy too organize an event. He even said the 500$ left from the crowdfunding is going to the next tourny only the sponsor money went to his pockets.

appletree

Denmark109 Posts

August 11 2014 15:04 GMT

#36

I like this transperancy, it does reflect well on both you personally, and this and future tournaments, although I can't put anything on what KESPA responded, as if you had had their players involved, they would also have to bear the burden if it had turned out poorly, which it didn't so perhaps for the next tournament they will be more willing to compromise in a way.

Crowd-funding is definitely an independant way for you to keep the economy behind the event transparent, but mixing crowd funding up with sponsors would be in almost everyone's favor in my opinion.

Overall this worked out well, and I would happily support a future tournament.

PickyProtoss

Ireland74 Posts

August 11 2014 15:04 GMT

#37

It's not the players fault that Kespa are highly strung, and you got to crawl before you walk (it is not personal just business). Anyway great job on tourney.

TheWinks

United States572 Posts

August 11 2014 15:05 GMT

#38

On August 12 2014 00:01 -Kaiser- wrote:

Show nested quote +

Perhaps you should try reading the OP more carefully a second time and you won't be so confused.

"I was able to raise $1,800 from sponsorships for this event. Since the tournament was fully funded via the Indiegogo, this is money that I can essentially pocket as my "take home" pay for organizing/casting the tournament."

"Pros
•Obviously the more sponsors you raise, the more money you get. This eases the burden of trying to crowd fund the tournament."

If the sponsors were done before the crowd funding, this relationship would make sense. They weren't, so it was purely
"take home" pay for organizing/casting the tournament".

On August 12 2014 00:04 Necro)Phagist( wrote:
What exactly is wrong with that? It's a bad thing that he's making a little bit of money after putting the time and effort in to organize the event?.

A lot of people gave a lot of money and free time for this tournament. Frankly, taking such a large chunk of money from it seems to go against the entire goal of a crowd funded tournament. Heck, TB basically saved the tournament on one day.

Hider

Denmark9443 Posts

August 11 2014 15:05 GMT

#39

I think your overreacting a bit to what Kespe are saying. It feels more comparable to a job interviewer asking a job seeker why he should hire you. I think what he was looking for was mostly good arguments for you, and it didn't seem impossible that you could have convinced them.

I definitely wouldn't give up on them, and I think for the next tournament viewer numbers will decline if you don't invite them as I believe it will be hard to sustain the same leve of hype for the next tournaments with a similar quality of lineup.

Faust852

Luxembourg4004 Posts

August 11 2014 15:05 GMT

#40

Yeah gogo for Destiny II !
And don't invite Kespa, they went full assholes and tbf except a bunch that will anyway never play (Flash I'm look at you), non-kespa players like Taeja, Innovation or Jeadong are more popular, so they'll bring more viewers.