I started hosting small tournaments a few years back, drawing only a handful of boats initially. This last year that number increased substantially. Since this happened over a three year period, I was able to learn along the way fairly easily. The most important thing I learned was preparation. The more I prepared for worst case scenarios, the better off I was.
As a tourney director, be ready to coordinate everything from the first sign-up to the final award presentation. I prefer to sign up all my contestants on the final weigh-in sheet. This eliminates copying from one paper to another. I also always have someone else recieve and account for entry monies for accuracy. As I sign people up, I inform contestants of the pre-tournament meeting and livewell check. This keeps everyone on the same page. Having helpers to check livewells also helps to expedite the process and leaves some spare time for late comers or unforseen events (i.e. weather, power outages, etc.) This prep allows for a quick and effortless take-off. When the time comes to weigh in, I already have the scales ready to be set up in very little time. I limit the number of bags in the scale area so as not to create a crowd and confusion. I also have a neutral party watching the scale display for fairness. After all fish are weighed, I retreat away from the crowd to calcualte weights and prizes. Finally, I try to be very inclusive with award presentations. This just makes a little more fun and keeps it loose.
Hopefully this will get you going in the right direction. Good luck.
dink
