How to Improve the Cauldron

[futuregrace]

http://ozcitysoccer.com/2008/01/19/how-to-improve-the-cauldron/

Just some ideas.

[BenC1357]

Thread moved.

[BenC1357]

Change the Name (3)
A good Supporters Group name has some attachment to the team, but it also is an identity of the group. Consider some of the Supporter Group names around the league. My favorite is Toronto’s Red Patch Boys (and Red Patch Girls). Also great is LA’s Riot Squad, New England’s Midnight Riders. On the other hand some of the worst are Colorado’s Rapid Class VI, and every group that is named after the section they sit in, Section 108, Local 103 (I assume that is what that is about). This is a critic of the names of those groups alone.

Now, consider our name, The Cauldron. What comes to mind? Perhaps a big pot with a witch over it. There is nothing in the name that makes me think I’d like to be one of the Cauldrons or a member of the Cauldron. The Red Patch Boys (and Girls) have set a new standard in Supporters groups beginning with the name and I suggest (as an ideal) that the Cauldron re-brand with a name that is classic and legendary. When thinking of what they should be called I think of how one says they are part of the gro up. Now one would say they are a “member of the Cauldron” while in Toronto one would say they “are a Red Patch Boy.” So, what name? I don’t have the answer to that, but something historical and including “blue” might get us in the right direction.
We have a name. The Cauldron is fine by me. The long term outlook on the name is that we create a "cauldron" that other teams must enter to take points out of Kansas City. This wasn't very possible at Arrowhead, but in smaller venues and with growth of the section it is possible.
Some of your opinions on names I agree with (mainly not naming it after what section you stand in, because we always MOVE!) but I think ours is fine. I should mention for clarity though that there are very gray lines between what is the Cauldron in some people's minds. The Cauldron is a location, pure and simple. The people that stand in the section are and can be members of sub groups (American Outlaws, The Mystics, Wings of a Sparrow LLC), the Cauldron is just where they stand.

Create a Cauldron Logo (10)
If you’ve read this blog at all you know I’m obsessed with logos, so the Cauldron not having one is a major issue for me. Logos help promote the identity of a group, The Cauldron name while not great is acceptable, however a logo is an absolute must. A logo is needed for t-shirts, scarfs, website, signs, promotion material, etc. Below I’ve posted a few of the better Supporter Group logos and then I’ve made one for the Cauldron. I am no artist, perhaps it is time the Cauldron approach Matteo (fake Wizards logos) with ideas for a Cauldron logo.
I disagree that this is a top priority. Sure a logo is pretty and all, but it doesn't define your group. It also isn't going to convince very many people to join us. It might catch the eye, which is why this isn't a terrible idea, one that I would give a 2-3 in importance, but the substance of the group makes people stay.

Better Internet Presence (8)

The internet is a great tool or building/strengthening a Supporters group. While the Cauldron’s Website looks great there isn’t a great deal of interaction or even promotion of the group going on. Again, it does a bunch of things well. I love the people page with pictures (brilliant!), it does a good job of basic info, but not the details an outsider is looking for. How about a page on why I would want to join that tells me when y’all meet outside of the stadium, what it cost and what the benefits of joining are. How about an invite to the tailgate including what someone should bring, money/food. How about a new page with upcoming events, better yet get someone in leadership to post on Oz City Cauldron info/events/etc or make a Cauldron page in the sidebar. This is your invitation. And/or add a blog page to the Cauldron website. It works well because people and can post and interact easily with each other. Also add a links page to Facebook/MySpace Cauldron pages. The site looks great, it does many things well, but the internet presence is not as great as it could be.
Your assessment of the Cauldron web site is fairly accurate IMO. What isn't accurate, again, is the importance of an internet presence. First, we already have a pretty big presence. Second, this media only reaches so many people. I don't know you, but considering you run an internet blog and post on BS quite often I'd venture to guess that you spend quite a lot of time on the internet and therefore value its imporance highly. Well, there is a good portion of the people that stand in the Cauldron that never have vistied BigSoccer, www.KCCauldron.com or any independent blogs about the team. They use their free time for other things, but enjoy soccer and attend games. They happen upon our section on game day and that is our opportunity to grab them, not on the internet.
Again, the internet is an important avenue, but our group has over focused on the internet side of things in the past and needs to do some good old fashion recruiting (which I see is coming next).

Recruit New Members (9)

1. Make up fliers to handout at games with membership info (cost, what you gain, website info, tailgate, etc).
We've done flyer hand outs one a few occassions. We've even gotten the team to help do this.

2. At half time take your festivity on the road, watching the Argentines march in to games is amazing, do something similar the last 5 minutes of halftime. All meet up at one side of field and march back to your seats with chants/cheers inviting people to come join you as you go. Some won’t care to join no matter what, but others simply feel weird doing so.

We are fans too. We just drank as much as our stomachs can hold and ran into the game to jump up and down for 45 minutes. It's time to pee, refill, smoke (if you do) and get back to the stands. Usually you make it back just in time for the game to start.

3. Offer online or on promotion material to buy a ticket for anyone (first time) who will go on your Road Trips with you.
I'm not following this one....

4. Use Video/Pictures to show what you do as a Supporters Group. Again, a Toronto group is a great example in the video below. Make a page on your website/blog that gives a recap with stories, pictures and video of the trip.
We do this to a point, but not to the level that we could or that others do.

5. Get more girls involved, start a sister group specifically for girls. As far as I know the Red Patch Boys are the first to have done this (Red Patch Girls) and it has resulted in their having more girl members. Get wives/girlfriends more involved. Perhaps working with the FO or Starting XI Girls a fun (not sexy) calender could be produced for a charity the team supports.
There are girls in our section, but this isn't a focus. Wives/girlfriends stand in the section and are involved in the leadership group. They are members of the section, and I don't see the need for a segragated section. We want soccer fans who are passionate, no matter the gender. We're there to watch soccer and support the Wizards, not provide a dating service.

More Festive! (7)

Again, this is something the group does well, but can always do better. More confetti, blue everything. Perhaps more costumes, there is something great about seeing the crazies in costumes around the league, horns guy and kilt guy in Dallas comes to mind.

Prepare chants/signs that deal with specific star players on the other team. Not legitimately cruel or rude, but that looks to get some sort of reaction from the player. See what the FO will let you bring in, controlled smoke bombs, streamers, etc. The more blue the better.

A lot of this is up to the individuals. The rest we already do.
Closing Comments

Don’t get bent out of shape, this is not a “the Cauldron stinks” post, it is a “this is how to make the Cauldron better” post. My personal opinion of Supports Groups has never been good, but what I’ve seen the two groups in Toronto accomplish has given me hope that other groups could really make a difference in the game day experience as well the general experience of being a fan. I look forward to what the Cauldron can be this coming season and in years to come.
I love outside comments and welcome them. I think you're off base on a few things and I think if you 1) spent more time and 2) were highly involved in the section you'd have different thoughts. We have a lot of areas that we can improve upon, I just think you picked the wrong topics for improvement.


As was mentioned on your blog by a poster, I think your mind is in the right place but you're a bit behind the times due to not being around over the years. Many of these things have been considered or addressed. I'm going to sit on this for a while and post what my improvements would be.

[kuhnscoot]

We have a name. The Cauldron is fine by me. The long term outlook on the name is that we create a "cauldron" that other teams must enter to take points out of Kansas City. This wasn't very possible at Arrowhead, but in smaller venues and with growth of the section it is possible.
Some of your opinions on names I agree with (mainly not naming it after what section you stand in, because we always MOVE!) but I think ours is fine. I should mention for clarity though that there are very gray lines between what is the Cauldron in some people's minds. The Cauldron is a location, pure and simple. The people that stand in the section are and can be members of sub groups (American Outlaws, The Mystics, Wings of a Sparrow LLC), the Cauldron is just where they stand.


Very well done post Ben, well thought out. Rep to you.

One thing about your post, though, is that there aren't really any sub groups to the Cauldron really. I mean yes there are the Outlaws and La Pora, but other then that, it's basically just the Cauldron overall, a bunch of individuals. While people may call themselves Mystics, or at times we're referred to by that name, the Mystics supporters group disappeared as a group a few years ago. Also in regards to WoaS, I'm going to say this before John jumps on it, but it's not a supporters group. WoaS is just an organization set up to protect the members of the group from a lawsuit for their work on the tailgate.

Honestly I'd like to see a new sub group in the Cauldron made up of many of the people that are regularly in the section, but I don't really see it happening in the current set up.

[Roush]

...Also in regards to WoaS, I'm going to say this before John jumps on it, but it's not a supporters group. WoaS is just an organization set up to protect the members of the group from a lawsuit for their work on the tailgate.

Thanks, Mike...

To further clarify that issue, Wings Of A Sparrow is not a supporter's group, nor any subgroup of a supporter's group. We are more along the lines of a catering company - albeit a non-profit one - that works for the benefit of all legally organized supporter's groups.

We actually have pretty strict rules in our bylaws against such things. Hence, George Shook and Mike are no longer part of Wings Of A Sparrow, LLC as they have a leadership role in the "Cauldron Security Force." :) Also as a result, the tailgate representative to the leadership committee is a non-voting ex officio member.

[Sabotage11]

How to improve the Cauldron:

More chicks. I actually think that the move to the boneyard will help us out this season in that respect. All of the girl friends I have LOVE the CAB and have already told me that they want to attend a game there next season. Hopefully, we can hook them in.

Also, I like the Cauldron name, it has a double meaning. But if we were to change it, I would like to see something more midwest. Like, "The Alley" or something.

[KCRulestheEast]

Also, I like the Cauldron name, it has a double meaning. But if we were to change it, I would like to see something more midwest. Like, "The Alley" or something.

Well our new digs are on a grassy knoll.

[ojsgillt]

Well our new digs are on a grassy knoll.
if you like the cheap seats.

[KCRulestheEast]

I do, terracing is so much better than easily breakable plastic seating and I make less than 400 dollars a month! :D

[KCRovert]

I do, terracing is so much better than easily breakable plastic seating and I make less than 400 dollars a month! :D

Well, the grassy knoll will not have terracing...just a 45 degee grassy/muddy slope were you will only be allowed to sit. And the Cauldron will not have easily breakable plastic seating...it will be metal bleachers with metal backs (as I understand it)....we only sit at halftime anyway. The metal should help in making a lot more noise as well!! Just an fyi.

p.s. I totally get the making less than $400 a month part....been there, done that.

[alexp92]

just visiting your forum guys, but with you at the smaller stadium next year, the atmosphere will be much, much better. with everyone crammed in, it will be louder

[matthias]

How about The Group Ticket people target a team of junior college / ncaa cheerleaders to come to the Cauldron, hey they love cheering ! And also some kids from a local drum corp, or marching band drum team. More Chicks, More Drums, More Noise.

:)


M.

[kuhnscoot]

There's such a thing as too much noise. I say no to more drums, at least to the extent that matthias is suggesting.

[matthias]

Its only going to get louder and louder and louder and louder, year after year. But as you grow older, your hearing will diminish to offset the noise, or we could reduce our efforts to grow the cauldron.

New Chant:

"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Mike is sleeping."

"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Shhhhhhhhh."
"Mike is sleeping."

.M.

[KCRulestheEast]

There is NO such thing as being too loud, Mike.

However, there is such a thing as being too annoying, which all the high pitched voices and drums would be.

If you want to hit on college girls, that's fine by me. But don't mix buisness and pleasure. ;)

[BloodEagle]

hopefully mathias post was a joke. but anyways i think drums just drown out the songs. unless you have thousands of people singing which we dont.

[the_cyclones]

I know we are going to have at least 2 more drums in the section this year. They aren't huge drums though.. one is 12" and one is 18"

[matthias]

I think a couple of extra drums is great, The cauldron was so big last year, the singing was drowning out the bass drum and it was getting out of time. I cant wait for opening day to get here.


M.

[KCRovert]

I know we are going to have at least 2 more drums in the section this year. They aren't huge drums though.. one is 12" and one is 18"

Now we just need to get a couple of "competent" volunteers to play the additional drums. The 12" Tom will have a strap to allow the player to wear it while they play. The 18" Tom is a Floor Tom and will have legs to stand on.

[Spoon]

We are also looking for some brass playing folks to come out and toot their horn.