Fundraising Idea - Lan Party

[Yan Wang]

Well, our most used tech lab, which is used by PLTW classes, robotics, and TSA, received new computers on Oct 1.

The old ones were 400mhz PIIs with integrated video.

The new ones are Dells w/2ghz P4s, 64mb DDR MX440 8x AGP, and 512mb PC2100.

So, I was thinking, wouldn't a lan party be a great fundraising idea?

I'm currently working on finding out the logistics of settings up such an event, since it would be using the district's SCHOOL computers for GAMES and PROFIT (for a non-profit organization, of course ).

There are 24 computers in the lab. If 20 computers were used and people had to pay $5/hr (or maybe have discounts for loooong hours), that would result in $300 in 3 hours (though I'd expect people to want to game longer)... if this fundraiser were done during the summer, that would result in a lot of money if held regularly.

Has anyone done something like this before? Lemme know what happened.

[Aignam]

A few team 25-ers toyed with the idea for quite some time during the summer, but nothings come of it yet. It's a pretty good idea, though, and could make alot of money. We were going to give most, if not all, to project RINOS, to support rookie teams.

[Tton]

OK I JUST SAID THIS!!! In my post that is rite under urs I said this! And ummm I got this from 25 and from other people. and we are setting up one. We are planning for about 35 people. we are playing CS, maybe NS(the best), and then maybe some other games. We are having 2 nice servers hooked in!

[Aignam]

Haha wow. When's it at, and where?

[Tton]

Its at HHS and to be determined. more then 3 weeks.

[Aignam]

Ah, good luck. But ixnay on the NS..CS sounds good, though.

[BandChick]

no, please, anything but CS!

[Yan Wang]

Sry, didn't see your thread. I just clicked Fundraising Forum --> New Thread.

And btw, I still can't see where your thread is. Link me.

[Matt Krass]

My team is planning a fundraiser like this, key difference is it'll be BYO computer and $15/head for one time entry, we're also having monitor rentals for $10/apiece. Biggest cost for us is the Cat5 cables.

[sanddrag]

Originally posted by Matt Krass
Biggest cost for us is the Cat5 cables.

I can get them for you REALLY cheap. Send me an e-mail dblack@team696.org

[Aignam]

Where did teams that have done/are planning to do LAN Parties get their network gear? Do you think companies would donate it or lend it out for the night in return for some sort of thanks/recognition/anything not costing money?

[Matt Krass]

Well we're still searching for our cabling (Btw, sanddrag I emailed you, thanks).

As for servers we're borrowing some school Dells (Swapping out the HDs, hehe) network hubs/switches donated by various members for the night, plus we may be getting some from the company our college alumnus works at. We're bringing our own workstations to help admin (and play). Also, we're contacting local distributors for drinks and snacks.

[Yan Wang]

Originally posted by Aignam
Where did teams that have done/are planning to do LAN Parties get their network gear? Do you think companies would donate it or lend it out for the night in return for some sort of thanks/recognition/anything not costing money?

I know that Alienware will donate free mousepads and/or tshirts if you host a lan party with 50 or 100 people and send them pictures of the event after a certain amount of time... note that 50 or 100 (forget which) people have to attend - does not mean they all have to be playing at once. It's not much support but free stuff in exchange for a few pictures or videos ain't bad.

Has anyone yet hosted a LAN party fundraiser? How successful was it? How was it run?

[iheartlinux]

We hosted at our school...BIG success
We only made $600 but were limited on space (40 seats)
Each had to bring in home computer, and games.
Our class is a computer/Network class so we have servers and hardware. We are looking at using our gym for a bigger tourney this year - 100-120 people.
It is easy money for 12 hours of work. Very little overhead.

[charlie_grr]

this is a great fundraiser. the rookie team that we mentor did this and made bank in one night. and there was a guarenteed amount of players so they got lots of poeple to come.