Attracting More Shooters

First topic message reminder :

I belong to a small club and run the Bullseye League.  Like many clubs I am having a difficult time attracting new shooters.   We were shooting two National Match Courses in the evening and people did not like the Long Line.  They were not die hard BE people, same would shoot Glock 17s  or 19s.  I even had one elderly man show up with a Ruger Bearcat.  All of those shooters dropped out.  In order to stimulate participation I changed the course of fire a few times.  The last change was to shooting three NMC at the short line using a .22, centerfire and .45 or use a .22 for the entire match.   Participation rose, but then dropped off.  Last season only two of us shot.  Any suggestions about how to increase participation?

I read through all the posts and agree with just about every thing posted. 

I started offering the NRA Winchester Bulls-Eye program a couple years ago. This is basically the the "NRA .22 Gallery League". What I'm seeing is exactly what is being shared here. $300 striker fired pistols lead to complete disappointment at achieving even the basic scores, 40/100!
I've started running a clinic beforehand  bringing my B/E guns, M41 and H/S M106's. These are capable of master scores in the right hands and shows new shooters their capability shooting "from a bench rest"! Eyes light up and the new shooters begin asking questions about where to get B/E guns!

This is a topic that is talked about in all the bullseye clubs and leagues I belong to.  I shoot in 2 winter leagues that have been in existence for over 50 years.  That in itself is amazing living behind enemy lines, ny,  where the governor and legislators have and are making pistol ownership difficult and expensive.  

Some of the things we have done to attract new members are: 
1.  Work one on one with new shooters at the range to go over safety, and describe the coarse of fire.  We do this before they shoot their first match.  Their first match we have an experienced shooter standing behind them to help if need be.  Stressing safety, accuracy will come.
2.  We had pamphlets printed up describing bullseye, our league, and team contacts.  We distributed them to local clubs and gun shops.
3.  We have Bruce Martindale give his class.  It is well received and very helpful to new and experienced shooters.
4.  Several teams have started a junior program.  

All that said most of our league shooters have grey hair.  There is no one thing that works.  Bullseye is not for everyone.  It is a difficult sport to master, if ever, but is very rewarding. 

I'll end this post with a copy from the NJ website outdoor championship section.  With a lot of work they turned things around in a big way.  It can be done.

I only got into the sport because my university still happened to have a shooting program, and a good coach that happened to shoot bullseye. We shot indoor 300s, and they geared a few matches special for what were essentially rookie shooters. A year later and one of my classmates was 2nd highest female in the statewide postal league. 
I think "feeder" opportunities like that are critical, and there just aren't a lot of them that I have seen as work has dragged me around the country for the last decade. One club I shoot at that I have seen offer occasional beginner classes/info for bullseye, here in Maryland, sometimes has to turn away folks because their line is full - which is a great problem to have! Information about rules and matches are often hard to find unless you already know what you are looking for, and the young folks (like me) need to have it on the Internet. And folks that have pointed out the "grouchy know-it-all old timer" factor are spot on - that is really corrosive to young blood.
For folks proposing two handed, one thing that is a good model are the CMP 'as-issued' pistol matches. It isn't "serious" bullseye, but from the few matches I've done it seems a good gateway for someone with their striker-fired 9mm to try the framework of the game easy and quick. Call it silly if you like, but it is fun... and isn't that the point? 
I think the move to create ".22 only" categories and the .22 EIC are positive moves to lower barrier of entry. We just need to promote them and educate on how to do it.

I shoot Tuesday night at the ACB (Associated Clubs of Baltimore). A league run by the Garrison Rifle and Revolver Club. We shoot all year round starting a 6pm. We have had 42 shooters on the line. A friendly low key event. We shoot 600 for the winter league 2xslow, 2xtimed, 2xrapid. For the summer league we shoot a 900. Hot dogs on the grill after the summer league. ACB is a large facility so we get shooters from other disciplines, but there is always a few new shooter attending.

Fezzik68 wrote:The comments I hear from action shooters is 'that doesn't apply to me / what I do'.

Ah, but it DOES.  If you go read books on combat shooting written before the growth of the shooting school industry (and all the money), they ALL recommended Bullseye.  BE is to pistol shooting what ballet is to dance - it lays a rock-solid foundation that will stand you in good stead no matter what you do later.

Ah, but it DOES.  If you go read books on combat shooting written before the growth of the shooting school industry (and all the money), they ALL recommended Bullseye.  BE is to pistol shooting what ballet is to dance - it lays a rock-solid foundation that will stand you in good stead no matter what you do later.

Preaching to the choir, brother.
The last time I shot action was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Now, getting to indoor 'Master' class BE, that's my current challenge.

I am very impressed and thankful for all the responses to my question.  The comments were well thought out and very well written.
Rereading the comments I find a few common threads:
1.       Safety is paramount
2.       Having fun is a big draw
3.       Incentivizing participation is essential 
4.       Educate people about BE
In order to increase participation I plan on making some changes;
1.       Do a presentation at the Club meeting
2.       Allow two handed shooting
3.       Distribute fliers at local gun stores
4.       Retain the nominal cost of $5.00 for the match (other disciplines have raised the cost and charge non-members more)
5.       Provide the use of a .22 target pistol and ammo for the first time out
Also, the relaxed, but not lax, environment will help to keep shooters involved. 
 
Thanks again for all the helpful information.  If anyone has something ease to add, please do.

#1 Social media ie youtube, instagram etc. unfortunately bullseye is primarily shot by oldheads who are totally illiterate in this regard outside of facebook memes (no offense to the present company, gents)

#2 Challenging people that claim they know how to shoot. Doesn't work for everyone, but a lot of men will not want to shy away from a challenge; basically call them a p*ssy and say they don't actually know how to shoot. 

The other route if you're not into potentially insulting people is to have people put their money where their mouth is, or incentivize it monetarily. My LGS/range has a little bullseye challenge. Put 3 shots in the 10 ring on a B-16 with a .22 target pistol they supply and they give you a $100, with a $10 buy in for the gun, target, and 3 shots. No rules on time limit, spotting, or one vs two handed. I tried and put a nice little 3 shot group down which was smaller than the 10 ring, but the sights were off for my eye so they were neatly positioned in the 9 and 8 rings low right but I put my target next to their challenge thingy to hopefully encourage other people to try. 

If you belong to a gun club and do a presentation at your monthly meeting or whatever, issue a challenge to anyone that can reach some kind of standard like that. It can't be too long/difficult drawn out or logistically it becomes a problem. I think 3 shots in the 10 ring of a B-16 or 3 shots in the 10 ring of a B-6 would be a good challenge to issue to your club members with some kind of cash prize if they can do it. And once you have them there, and they inevitably fail the task, pivot into teaching them and saying "learn this sport and you will learn how to shoot."

You could even do this virtually with a requirement that the participant film a video of themselves shooting the challenge in one continuous take with the target and shooter visible.

Usually, calling people names, or challenging their “manhood” is not only counter-productive it’s also unseemly.  There are more than a few ladies who can out shoot the majority of men out there… 

So, my suggestion is to be supportive and non-judgemental.

Wobbley wrote:Usually, calling people names, or challenging their “manhood” is not only counter-productive it’s also unseemly.  There are more than a few ladies who can out shoot the majority of men out there… 

So, my suggestion is to be supportive and non-judgemental.

if anything it's an indictment of the fragile egos of most male shooters out there, and especially now when the gun culture is centered around wanting to pretend to be a tough guy operator.