I asked a question about what makes a great gameday "fest" and got some great feedback. Thank you.

I wanted to follow up with another question.

What do you think about tournaments in boardgames? This seems normal in Chess (which I have played much of), but what about other boardgames and cardgames? I see a lot online for money, but outside of the virtual world what do you think? What might do well at a tournament? For example, would a lot come to a San Juan or Bohnanza tournament? What about Memoir '44?

I realize this will very from game to game and location.

thanks for help.

I've never participated in a gaming tournament, but two player competitions seem a likely draw. Though I've just begun playing it, I would very much consider entering a BattleLore tournament.

No.

I'm another who isn't into tournaments at game fests or cons. It's all open gaming for me.

I like both. The idea of playing several rounds of the same game in a short time period is the rub. The World Boardgaming Championships are all about tournaments and they draw 800+ people so some people really like it. Other events are mostly open gaming.
I suggest you try a few tournaments at your game fest and see how the folks like them. Scheduling is a big problem for the organizer and you should have a GM for each game. Good luck.

Another option is the Kniziathon or some variation thereof...

http://www.convivium.org.uk/kgkniziathon.htm

We're going to try something like this soon, only with anyone's games, not just Reiner's.

Seconded

While I do get enjoyment out of the gaming experience itself, I subscribe to the Herman Edwards school of thought:

"HELLO!!? YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!"

To this competitive end, I very much enjoy tournament-style gaming. I went to the WBC in 2005 (and hope to get back this year), and thoroughly enjoyed my time, in spite of my mostly mediocre record there. Also, I get the most enjoyment out of my gaming experience by playing strong opponents where a win is earned, as opposed to a more 'friendly' game with possibly one or more newbies. (I gravitate to the same opponents at my regular gaming group for this reason.)

I think there's something wrong with me. I just don't get the open gaming. Maybe becaues I've never experienced it. I tend to like very controlled and set circumstances, no milling around looking for something to do.

Tournaments are fine (e.g. WBC), if you approach them in the right frame of mind. For those who don't like unstructured time, they're great--just like open gaming with a matchmaker (the GM) to get people together to play.

Now, if you treat the tournament as a must-win endeavor (and very few do), it gets dicy. I've heard tale of people who take the competition a little too seriously being disinvited to the WBC.

I'm not a competitive person, but I like tournaments, which is why I organize an Amun-Re tournament and leagues on SBW- I like tournaments because they are like an extended, epic gaming experience and I like to appreciate the structure of a tournament (which is why I love creating them).

But at gaming conventions I find that tournaments force me to play the same game over and over, and moreover leave me less flexible with my schedule. So at gaming conventions I have grown a little weary of them unless it is a game I'm quite in the mood to play several times over the next couple days, and I'll limit myself to playing in only one or two of them.

They add no value for me. I have on interest in playing tournaments, and actively dislike the fact that they add something extra to the individual games being played. I don't want that extra; I want it to not be there. I'm interested in just the game being played.

Open gaming, only open gaming, all the way for me please.

I don't see the harm in having Open and Tournament gaming at an event. Tournament gaming is great for those who like truly competitive experiences, that are really rewarding for them, and casual gaming is great for those who get great experiences out of just playing with nice people.

I personally fall into both categories, when playing different games, so thats why I take the moderate approach to this. I play Magic: The Gathering very competitively, and get the most enjoyment out of it when I play in a tournament setting, yet I play games like Railroad Tycoon and others casually, but still slightly intensely, so its actually a game, not just sitting around and talking. Thats the point.