Making R/C bigger

[Aran]

Saw this video on YouTube from the guys from xfactory:



Raised some interesting points, what is being done to raise the profile of the hobby?

I know the BRCA have a stand at the Autosport international show, but do we any ideas to help grow the hobby?

I've noticed Live R/C do some good coverage but is it accessible enough? We have this forum with a wealth of knowledge and Jimmy does a great job, especially with the race reports, but how do we appeal to the masses?

[neallewis]

Try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJEEVh70xo

Yeah, he does have a good point. Jimmy, get onto setting up oople.tv ;-)

[Jim Spencer]

Hi

The Autosports show is only One of well over a dozen events the associations PR machine goes too.

PR isn't 'The BRCA's' job.
It's very much part of what the Exec Committee do on our behalf, but it doesn't, and shouldn't work just like that - it isn't somebody elses responsability.

As we ARE the BRCA - every single member IS the association.
It's everybodies job to do PR activities, sure some folk volunteer to do the events that are too big for a local club to cope with and try to get the trade enthusiastic to help out too - but that shouldn't be seen in any way what-so-ever as replacing what we're all doing as individuals and clubs in promoting our sport.

While we can use the collective resources of the BRCA exec to provide PR material, guidance and general support, local grass roots PR is always going to be down to us all to do.

Apart from the obvious that every club must do some PR activities each year, obviously - or it'll eventually wither away, the single biggest PR activity is the totally obvious one of us all taking people along to our clubs, introduce One new person each and the sports doubled..

Saying all that though, the sport has continued to grow in 2012 while most other activities are going, some drastically, the other way.
So between us were doing something right - though i'm certain there's lots more than can be done, so if You see something that needs doing - Do It.

[Mad-Wolfie]

Originally Posted by Jim Spencer

Hi

The Autosports show is only One of well over a dozen events the associations PR machine goes too.

PR isn't 'The BRCA's' job.
It's very much part of what the Exec Committee do on our behalf, but it doesn't, and shouldn't work just like that - it isn't somebody elses responsability.

As we ARE the BRCA - every single member IS the association.
It's everybodies job to do PR activities, sure some folk volunteer to do the events that are too big for a local club to cope with and try to get the trade enthusiastic to help out too - but that shouldn't be seen in any way what-so-ever as replacing what we're all doing as individuals and clubs in promoting our sport.

While we can use the collective resources of the BRCA exec to provide PR material, guidance and general support, local grass roots PR is always going to be down to us all to do.

Apart from the obvious that every club must do some PR activities each year, obviously - or it'll eventually wither away, the single biggest PR activity is the totally obvious one of us all taking people along to our clubs, introduce One new person each and the sports doubled..

Saying all that though, the sport has continued to grow in 2012 while most other activities are going, some drastically, the other way.
So between us were doing something right - though i'm certain there's lots more than can be done, so if You see something that needs doing - Do It.

Spot on

[Lee1972]

Originally Posted by Jim Spencer

Hi

The Autosports show is only One of well over a dozen events the associations PR machine goes too.

PR isn't 'The BRCA's' job.
It's very much part of what the Exec Committee do on our behalf, but it doesn't, and shouldn't work just like that - it isn't somebody elses responsability.

As we ARE the BRCA - every single member IS the association.
It's everybodies job to do PR activities, sure some folk volunteer to do the events that are too big for a local club to cope with and try to get the trade enthusiastic to help out too - but that shouldn't be seen in any way what-so-ever as replacing what we're all doing as individuals and clubs in promoting our sport.

While we can use the collective resources of the BRCA exec to provide PR material, guidance and general support, local grass roots PR is always going to be down to us all to do.

Apart from the obvious that every club must do some PR activities each year, obviously - or it'll eventually wither away, the single biggest PR activity is the totally obvious one of us all taking people along to our clubs, introduce One new person each and the sports doubled..

Saying all that though, the sport has continued to grow in 2012 while most other activities are going, some drastically, the other way.
So between us were doing something right - though i'm certain there's lots more than can be done, so if You see something that needs doing - Do It.

I'm not an expert on demographics etc but I personally believe the increase in racing is probably due to the number of people like myself who left in the late eighties to find birds and booze and have returned with their children.
It amazed me initially when returning to racing how many other people were in the same position. Agree that in order to promote the sport and to aid continuity it's vital that clubs get involved with fetes etc to promote clubs as children these days are obsessed with the latest version of COD or Battlefield.; whereas I have always tried to encourage my son to try real life hobbies: camping, walking and climbing. Tonight I have taken a friend of my son along and he's keen to try Mardave racing as a low cost entry point and i'm almost at begging point getting my best friend to come along with his son as someone at our club quite eloquently put it "without children there is no future for the club."

[James]

What has the BRCA membership been over the last 20 years? Would be very interesting to see numbers and how much its grown and in which years..

Leon, Muzzy and the boys did a great job getting R/C onto the gadget show a couple of years ago, it would be great to see more of this type of thing to a wider audience.

What are the other dozen events the BRCA goes to? I've done autosport before but would be interested in going to these others too..

[DanB4]

Originally Posted by James

What are the other dozen events the BRCA goes to? I've done autosport before but would be interested in going to these others too..

Union Square GP in 2010....thanks Jim, Mark, Kris, Ade, Keith and others!!