The importance of communication when hosting a race
Organizing and hosting a mail-in race is a lot of work. It just is. The Diecast Racing Iceberg is a real thing. We all appreciate the time and effort hosts put into building a track, running cars, and producing the videos we love to watch...but the most important aspects of hosting is all the stuff we don't see, particularly when it comes to dealing with the cars people have sent in to race.
Communicating is the single most important thing you can do as a host
Communication is what will make or break your reputation. It means sending out emails and messages to people as cars are received and shipped. It means providing dates and timelines...and more so, it means letting everyone know when those dates change! We all know things happen - and that's fine - just let folks know so they're not left in the dark and getting angry.
Hosting a race is a customer service job
It's always disheartening for me to hear about people not getting cars returned or people just having a shoddy experience. It's not good for any single person, and it's not good for the hobby.
New people are discovering competitive diecast racing all the time. If someone's first experience with the hobby is feeling like they got ripped off or even just ignored and poorly treated, they'll move on. We should all want the hobby to grow so we can see new tracks and new cars getting built all over the world.
But any bad vibes can be remedied if you just communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
Let people know when you're not going to get cars back on time. Let people know when dates change. Let people know when shit breaks. And let people know when good stuff happens too!
Check email. Check messages. Reply, reply, reply. It doesn't have to be instant, but it does have to happen.
Communicating is by far the easiest thing you can do next to watching cars roll down a track. And honestly, if you're willing to put tons of time and effort into building a track and producing videos, but you're not willing to shoot off some emails, you're in the wrong business.
Would a host feedback system help?
I've often wondered if we should have a rating system for host clubs. Feedback systems aren't perfect but they can be a good guide, especially for people just getting into the hobby. It can be a slippery slope, and I'd like to think we don't need one, but maybe that's become the case...thoughts?
Discussion
The thought of needing a host rating system is sad......but it is becoming more and more likely to be needed.
Dutch
Thank you for the great message — it was very educational and helpful for all of us. I think it does a good job of outlining the reasoning behind a host rating system.
My only perspective is that if a Host Rating System like that is created, there should also be a parallel rating system for racers. An Airbnb-style approach feels like a natural fit for that. That keeps accountability balanced, encourages good behavior across the board, and helps the community naturally elevate its best hosts and racers.
- I would be fine with this. But people need to know that if they are sending cars to a host that has no intention of following through with their promises, it's lost money, time, and cars for the racers. — SpyDude
- Yep....1st was Angie's List for homeowners and shortly thereafter came Randy's List for contractors to rate homeowners. — Dutch_Clutch_Racing
- And to be clear. It's been a blast hosting everyone. As a business owner it just sucks not being able to combat bad reviews when you know that the reviewer has some serious issues of their own. That's why I like that parallel system. — ABC_Allred_Family
- As far as rating racers, that might help cut down on the number of no shows. A host plans very carefully for a certain number of cars and then 10% never show up, while other racers that would've sent a car missed out. There's a pattern of a repeat offenders if you watch the sign ups. — Zamak_Speed_Shop
- Good point. — Dutch_Clutch_Racing
- @Zamak and if you do need to back out, just let people know! It's all about communication. — ManiacMotorsports
If you have no intention of returning cars, say so straight up.
If you are having problems, let us know,"Hey, having problems on my end, here's what's going on..."
If you plan on ghosting racers, be aware that it WILL get around, and we as a race community will blacklist and trash-talk you. You WILL be held as an example of a bad racing host, and our community will be encouraged not to send anything to you ever again.
- Exactly! Communicate! We are a very forgiving community, but to receive $10 per car and not return it is criminal. To not communicate is lazy and a sign maybe you should not host. — G_ForceRacing
- Yes! — RC_Attucks
Technically speaking, taking someone's car/cars, return shipping money, and whatever extras that go into protecting those cars is stealing and criminal. It is a petty amount (cost of cars, weights,materials, etc.) but it adds up. Add in the additional racers...that can become hundreds of dollars. It isn't right and frankly sad.
Like it has been said, life happens and it can suck. Communicate with us...I try to communicate with the hosts as much as possible. In fact, I probably annoy the heck out of some of them. I try to let them know when my car/cars has been shipped and when to expect them. Hopefully they let me know that they got there or if any issues have arrived.
I haven't hosted a race yet (hoping to this coming year) but I plan to provide each racer with the tracking numbers when I send out their cars. It is a small thing but it shows respect to them and the effort and trust that is placed onto the host.
Just my 2 cents...
- Yep! — Dutch_Clutch_Racing
- Is that "Yep" to me being annoying? LOL! — LONE_WOLF_RACING
- Not at all. You are not annoying. I was "yepping" that I agree with you. — Dutch_Clutch_Racing
- I was just messing with ya! — LONE_WOLF_RACING
- Thumbs up! — Dutch_Clutch_Racing
I totally forgot that we also started a discussion about a possible rating system over here...so if you have specific thoughts on how a rating system might work, please share over there.
On the surface, I agree that needing a feedback system for hosts and/or racers is somewhat unfortunate...but...it's also a sign of growth, which is good. As mentioned above, if someone's first experience in the hobby is not getting any return on their hard work, they likely won't come back...just like any business. The mail-in part of the hobby is no longer "cheap" thanks to increased shipping costs and such. Your "product" is not just a video, it's everything that surrounds it.
Otherwise, my tactic when hosting was to ship back cars immediately after I got all the video and photos I needed...I didn't want that hanging over my head. Often the cars would get back to their owner before I even had the video posted! I know my style of racing was really barebones but the point is that my first concern was always getting cars back home as quickly as possible. Order of operations, folks...make an outline and plan, then execute.
Now there IS that one course that was named "the worst track ever" by some random guy on YouTube ........ :p
- Nice! We already have a rating! — ManiacMotorsports
- How that host responded will go down in small scale racing history. Not one but two signs trackside! — Chris_Hood
yes please! I have had great experiences with most hosts, (rookie year, ~20 cars sent)
that said, I am waiting on cars from previous races, from one host, since the end of june. pm's sent excuses. Unacceptable!!!
I can train wreck their next race post, flame them, etc, but that's wrong to me, as it causes tension in the community, and does nothing but breaks things down every thing built before, rather than building more,
but I can also get damn'd petty, with a few beverages under my belt, and the fact I put hours & hours in on a car, and someone is trying to steal it, well, it makes me very, very angry
I would welcome a host rating system, with where the race is uploaded vs race mailin deadline
It will save me being an @$$$$$ to people
squid games comes to mind to start
and there is one other
please consider it, and as a host, think about your responsibilities
dr