ThirdLegUp
Premiership Player
- Apr 29, 2013
- 4,086
- 6,680
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
OK
David brought up a concern about memberships if we keep losing and so on. It is a valid concern, but i have actually been quite annoyed at the bulldogs membership drives for quite a few years.
The way I see it, you have
The Rabid Dogs : a core group of members who will buy a membership regardless, they simply have to, or they suffer sever physiological trauma...worse then most already are taking medication for.
Then you have several smaller groups.
Stray Dogs : The, members who will or won't buy based upon their financial situation year to year, regardless of whether we are winning or losing. If they have the funds, they find a reason to buy, because they are like the core group, but are not mentally inclined to ignore financial situation. If they find a home or safe place to settle down for a bit and not worry on a day to day basis, they will buy in.
Lost Dogs : These are the dogs that will or won't buy depending on whether we are winning or losing. If we are losing, they don't feel like the club deserves their money, if we are winning, they wish to parade their membership like a badge of honour.
Distant Dogs : These are the dogs who are a long way from the kennel to ever watch a game, or even possibly sniff another dogs bum in comrade ire. They buy memberships to belong, and feel like part of the pack, even if they can't run with it in the K9 home turf.
Disorientated Dogs : This is the Vast majority of bulldogs, these are possibly twice, thrice, or cockatrice the number of all other groups put together, but have perhaps never been members, perhaps never will be members, but support the dogs with more then a passing interest, they proclaim it to the world if need be...but they run outside the pack. These are the dogs that need to be brought into the fold, these are the dogs who came out when we were in strife 20 years ago, only to vanish when the situation blew over.
Disillusioned Dogs : A sub sector of the Disoriented Dogs. This is what happens when you become convinced, (after years and decades of being a bulldogs supporter) that the team might never win a flag one day and that the other teams will always be better/richer/stronger/more ruthless. (Libba39)
So how do we as a club fix this. And i am not opening this to debate the coach or players or any such rubbish, this thread i hope, can feed of the intelligence that i know is here at BF. Then someone with lovely writing skill, AKA, not me. can give the information to the club, and let them act upon it.
.................................................
I think Hawthorn had the right idea several year ago when they got folk to buy cheap memberships for their dogs and cats and birds, whatever. We have this too, but there needs to be more then just. Top of the line membership, 2nd best membership, 22 game membership. 11 game membership. no game membership. (i know it isn't accurate but you get my drift) and lets be honest, the price of life goes ever higher, as do memberships. AS things get worse, we may find even Rabid dogs becoming Stray dogs, and one might argue once your cured from the rabies, no guarantee they will catch the fever again.
I am currently in the situation where i simply cannot get to games unless a freak event takes place, i buy memberships for my whole family, a home game membership for my self and wife, in case that freak event happens, and 3 or 4 no game memberships for mum & dad, sisters (i think 1 of my sisters bought her own this year though, not sure, but was desperate to keep them dogs, and not hawks or blues, like their hubbies)
Perhaps some thoughts from way out of left field, to catch 10% -20% maybe 30% of those Disorientated Dogs. Like 1$ a week, 1$ a fortnight, 1$ a month membership. It is no different to a no game membership, but IT IS. It is so cheap that it wouldn't be noticed, and as a reward, you receive the newsletter (by email, if not pamphlet) and a card. They feel like members, and the price is tiny to feel good about yourself.
Football clubs try to get these folk in, and I'll tell you, most in the Dis Dogs could afford a membership quite easily... they just don't support enough to warrant parting with $50 or $100 in money. If you could advertise DIRECTLY to these folk, you would get some of them, they wouldn't have to hand over a large amount of money, and the dogs would have extra money they never would have had otherwise. Is it a massive financial gain, no, not per person, but i am off the opinion that even 10% of that unpaying bulldog crowd is massive. and would add up to a considerable amount directly to the club.
Let rip with your opinions on what i have said, an please give your own, or even a category of Dog that i haven't thought off. I'll add it to the list. Some healthy, positive and possibly beneficial debate would be a very welcome thing for all dogs on BF right now.
Cheers
David brought up a concern about memberships if we keep losing and so on. It is a valid concern, but i have actually been quite annoyed at the bulldogs membership drives for quite a few years.
The way I see it, you have
The Rabid Dogs : a core group of members who will buy a membership regardless, they simply have to, or they suffer sever physiological trauma...worse then most already are taking medication for.
Then you have several smaller groups.
Stray Dogs : The, members who will or won't buy based upon their financial situation year to year, regardless of whether we are winning or losing. If they have the funds, they find a reason to buy, because they are like the core group, but are not mentally inclined to ignore financial situation. If they find a home or safe place to settle down for a bit and not worry on a day to day basis, they will buy in.
Lost Dogs : These are the dogs that will or won't buy depending on whether we are winning or losing. If we are losing, they don't feel like the club deserves their money, if we are winning, they wish to parade their membership like a badge of honour.
Distant Dogs : These are the dogs who are a long way from the kennel to ever watch a game, or even possibly sniff another dogs bum in comrade ire. They buy memberships to belong, and feel like part of the pack, even if they can't run with it in the K9 home turf.
Disorientated Dogs : This is the Vast majority of bulldogs, these are possibly twice, thrice, or cockatrice the number of all other groups put together, but have perhaps never been members, perhaps never will be members, but support the dogs with more then a passing interest, they proclaim it to the world if need be...but they run outside the pack. These are the dogs that need to be brought into the fold, these are the dogs who came out when we were in strife 20 years ago, only to vanish when the situation blew over.
Disillusioned Dogs : A sub sector of the Disoriented Dogs. This is what happens when you become convinced, (after years and decades of being a bulldogs supporter) that the team might never win a flag one day and that the other teams will always be better/richer/stronger/more ruthless. (Libba39)
So how do we as a club fix this. And i am not opening this to debate the coach or players or any such rubbish, this thread i hope, can feed of the intelligence that i know is here at BF. Then someone with lovely writing skill, AKA, not me. can give the information to the club, and let them act upon it.
.................................................
I think Hawthorn had the right idea several year ago when they got folk to buy cheap memberships for their dogs and cats and birds, whatever. We have this too, but there needs to be more then just. Top of the line membership, 2nd best membership, 22 game membership. 11 game membership. no game membership. (i know it isn't accurate but you get my drift) and lets be honest, the price of life goes ever higher, as do memberships. AS things get worse, we may find even Rabid dogs becoming Stray dogs, and one might argue once your cured from the rabies, no guarantee they will catch the fever again.
I am currently in the situation where i simply cannot get to games unless a freak event takes place, i buy memberships for my whole family, a home game membership for my self and wife, in case that freak event happens, and 3 or 4 no game memberships for mum & dad, sisters (i think 1 of my sisters bought her own this year though, not sure, but was desperate to keep them dogs, and not hawks or blues, like their hubbies)
Perhaps some thoughts from way out of left field, to catch 10% -20% maybe 30% of those Disorientated Dogs. Like 1$ a week, 1$ a fortnight, 1$ a month membership. It is no different to a no game membership, but IT IS. It is so cheap that it wouldn't be noticed, and as a reward, you receive the newsletter (by email, if not pamphlet) and a card. They feel like members, and the price is tiny to feel good about yourself.
Football clubs try to get these folk in, and I'll tell you, most in the Dis Dogs could afford a membership quite easily... they just don't support enough to warrant parting with $50 or $100 in money. If you could advertise DIRECTLY to these folk, you would get some of them, they wouldn't have to hand over a large amount of money, and the dogs would have extra money they never would have had otherwise. Is it a massive financial gain, no, not per person, but i am off the opinion that even 10% of that unpaying bulldog crowd is massive. and would add up to a considerable amount directly to the club.
Let rip with your opinions on what i have said, an please give your own, or even a category of Dog that i haven't thought off. I'll add it to the list. Some healthy, positive and possibly beneficial debate would be a very welcome thing for all dogs on BF right now.
Cheers
unfortunately for us we didn't get the solid membership base that Richmond, collingwood, the big clubs have, and so even in our prelim years we weren't that well supported. We're always going to be one of those smaller clubs.
