Players 1) what kind of prize pools, do you find attract you the most to tournaments?

Players 2) As a player do you prefer premium singles as opposed to unopened product as prizes?

Players 3) At what price do you think entry into tournaments becomes unappealing?

TO 1) Is the best place to get power 9 from MOTL?

TO 2) What profit margin do you aim for at a larger event?

TO 3) What size prize pool do you find attracts the most players?

1. Usually prizes that reflect what I'm paying to enter. If I'm paying $25, top 8 better get at least a box. It's usually best if prizes also go to top 16/32 as well so I don't feel like the day is a total waste if I don't top 8.

2. I prefer packs, but that's because I draft quite a bit. Valuable singles are also fine since I can usually flip them for cash.

3. Above $25 and I'm out, for constructed at least. Even then, that's a little high for many players. At $10-15, I'll almost always find a way to play in an event.

This is player to player basis but one thing in common is the "cash value". Some players might like a Jace TMS which valued ~70ish while others wouldn't mind a box of product to pull a Jace and then some. With that said if the total value of the prizes is good then no one's gonna complain if he/she gets 1st. it is also dependent on type of tournies as well - many limited events have boxes as prizes while constructed usually have singles as prizes - and the singles are more or less dependent on format - type 2 probably type 2 singles, legacy you might see underground seas etc.

Players 2) As a player do you prefer premium singles as opposed to unopened product as prizes?

if cash values are equal i think no one's gonna complain. Here we had 6 person draft for baneslayers and 12 construct for jace tms but most our tournies here are for singles and 2nd prize + are packs.

Our store guy here is very generous in prizes - last time we had 12 person draft(14 each) for Jace TMS. 1st got Jace, 2nd got 6 packs, 3rd/4th got couple packs too.

Players 3) At what price do you think entry into tournaments becomes unappealing?

depends on your player market and prize. I know here some players dont show up for drafts (14$) and show up for constructed (5$). if you know the player pool there you could do a tourny that you think the most players might show up. Drafts are usually 14ish, constructed 5ish. Sealed usually 20ish. One place does sealed 20 with 3 pack per person toward pool. If you have an Underground sea for prize in constructed i dont think people cares if entry is 10ish.

yes most likely but I don't buy power 9 for my store at all, just too expensive of a prize to offer with amount of people i have.

TO 2) What profit margin do you aim for at a larger event?

none: the tournys just bring in people to play, we make a little on packs, but it is small like $1/pack

TO 3) What size prize pool do you find attracts the most players?

I find that at pre-releases the players want packs and I award packs to half the people who play. So if it is 24 people playing, then i award down to 12th place. Wotc gives you the T.O. a sheet which breaks down the prize support or what you should be supporting.

The serious folks will always look at top prizes. The ones who are looking to have a good time and hope to get top 8 will enjoy the the owner trying to keep them happy and come back for the good time.

Again, all depends on prizes, price point and how large a crowd you are trying to draw as a tournament operator.

If awarding packs, I agree award to half the entries. Make the money on packs and you can always buy singles off players who crack a good pack for resale.

You could always buy top cards for type 2 and offer as 1st/2nd/3rd with packs, etc. Lots of ways to go here, but winning a tournament and getting a Jace TMS with a few packs always nice!

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck...Majic

P.S. Make sure pizza break happens before tourney starts of at a good breaking point (after a couple rounds) so grease doesn't get on sleeves/cards.