Attracting New Marshals. - Page 2 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

marshal_man · 8 May 2008, 10:18

Well i am young myself as most of you know, i got Alex marshalling and now he is looking for probans, when there is people asking how to get into it, you just need to say how and try get them on the bank.

The only way they will know if they will enjoy it is after doing 2 to 3 meetings.

No offence to all you old gits (laugh out loud), but i agree we need to get the younger generation in doing it.

P.S. Thanks for the KFC, Matt.

bludvl_x19 · 8 May 2008, 10:21

'We' do need young newbies, because in 20 years time, how many of the people on the banks will realistically be there? I'm guessing not many.

Mick

marshal_man · 8 May 2008, 10:25

No the average age of marshals is very high i guess, thats not a huge problem as they are all nice guys, but it does need some young blood aswell, glad you agree.

***MagnetON*** · 8 May 2008, 10:58

Unfortunately we live in an "instant gratification" society where people in the prospective marshaling demographic (I wanted to say "young people" but that makes me into an old phart!) would rather race on PS3/xbox than go out and watch the real thing. The fact that there is a level of payout out "up-front" for overalls, boots, etc. can also put off prospective recruits.

There's also a general lack of information on how to join up and the fact that this is a voluntary operation. If you're at a circuit and see marshals working on the "other" side of the fence, in what looks like a uniform, there is the automatic assumption that the marshals are paid employees of the circuit and not an "open" volunteer operation.

Pretty much every race meeting from small clubbies up to full international events has some form of program for spectators, from a few photocopied pages stapled together up to the full-on A4 sized glossy F1/A1GP types so whoever is responsible for programs should include a half page advert saying what marshals are, what we do, etc. this would go a way to breaking this preconception. Oh, and something more than a couple of lines of "Marshals are volunteers, join here." kind of thing. I'm sure SOMEONE within a PR company could come up with something exciting and colourful.

Circuits or marshaling clubs should buy some Proban overalls in a variety of sizes but in a non-orange colour and have something like "Trainee" on the back to lend to prospective marshals for the first couple of meetings until they get a feel for the hobby.

Get a bit of publicity going, get Bernie or TGF out on the bank for a day! Would be fun to see MS pushing a Vee out a gravel trap or getting the blue flag going at a GP, I'm sure that would generate plenty of press!

MarshalGirl · 8 May 2008, 11:26

As mentioned earlier we do walkabouts (advertised through BMMC / certain race meetings we have a stand as well as Team Wilson at BTCC) which is great to give people an insight and mostly they come back!!

We also work closely with our local organising clubs who do put adverts in their programmes with local contact details. Details are also going into BTCC programme this year too.

We have in the past put leaflets in strategic places (toilets / bridges etc.) for people to complete details to be followed up later.

We also have postcards at the local circuit which just needs to be completed and sent off (comes to me) to say they are interested. The circuit office also has my contact details which they pass on to anyone who calls.

I think the key is coverage - try everything and then keep up with the ones which work.

Also key is the follow-up - if people don't hear within a couple of weeks then they think they have been forgotten. You really need one point of contact per circuit if you can that can channel this and do the follow-up.

It works well for us in the North West - though needs a lot of input!

Guinness2702 · 8 May 2008, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnetON

There's also a general lack of information on how to join up and the fact that this is a voluntary operation.

Absolutely agree with this. Having decided to have a go, only a few weeks ago, I found my biggest problem was and utter lack of information on how to get started. After searching the web for a while, and I probably spent 10-15 minutes looking in various places. I was about to give up, when I eventually stumbled across a link to a document on the BMMC site "you first call to make." That gave me Jimmy's email address, and after getting in touch with him, he was very helpful, and the rest was easy.

That first step needs to be sorted out, IMHO, though. What is needed is a clear link on the site which says "Click here if you want to try marshaling - no experience necessary" - with a simple form through which you can supply basic contact details, which get sent off to the regional recruitment officer (the ones in the "first call" document), who can then get in touch, much the same way Jimmy did with me. This should perhaps make it a bit clearer that you don't have to be a BMMC member to have a go, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Circuits or marshaling clubs should buy some Proban overalls in a variety of sizes but in a non-orange colour and have something like "Trainee" on the back to lend to prospective marshals for the first couple of meetings until they get a feel for the hobby.

Agreed. My biggest concern these first few weeks is availability of overalls and gloves. Again, Jimmy has been helpful, and posts here have resulted in a variety of offers to lend me gear, but a clear policy on the availability of kit to borrow would ease my concerns - I have been a bit reluctant to volunteer for events until I know gear is available (I have ordered my own now, which should all be in the post), but in those first few weeks, I believe this is important.

ascarracinguk · 8 May 2008, 11:53

i got my mum into marshalling does that count!? seriously though the main problems i see is the cost of equiptment, and the lack of disposible income with the increase of taxes and fuel these days..bloody government...need a good kickin up the ar$e

Hepatic · 8 May 2008, 12:02

how i found out was a marshal with a website on the back of their probans, yet i don't see many of them even now i'm one of them! something simple like the web address on the back and a "want to join us? visit <webaddress>" would be a great way to help get the message out. Even credit card sized "business cards" with a few details on how to start would be great. Give a few to each marshal and during quiet periods (!!) we can canvass the crowd, assuming we have one...

bludvl_x19 · 8 May 2008, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hepatic

how i found out was a marshal with a website on the back of their probans, yet i don't see many of them even now i'm one of them! something simple like the web address on the back and a "want to join us? visit <webaddress>" would be a great way to help get the message out. Even credit card sized "business cards" with a few details on how to start would be great. Give a few to each marshal and during quiet periods (!!) we can canvass the crowd, assuming we have one...

What, a crownd, or some quiet time?

Mick

MattFord · 8 May 2008, 18:00

I must admit for me it was difficult to get any information, it seems you need to be in "it" to know!

On the forums and web people banter about newbies but it is never the case when you get to the track side. it is very profesional and friendly and all are welcomed.

I think the best Idea is the buddy scheme but that never seemed to have got off the ground here. Grab a yound lad and give him a day at the armco and he will be hooked - but not many people want to be a recruiting officer on the day and just want to be in with the action!

aland · 8 May 2008, 18:15

I dont think it is just the young that should be targeted what about the 25-40 bracket, most will have a bit more commonsense and appreciate that it is going to be hard graft, it is the same as attracting any kind of volunteers

I know because I am 33 and doing my 1st meeting in orange in a few weeks time. it isnt a cheap hobby with the costs of ovies, boots etc plus fuel. okay I already had most things apart from the ovies, plus you may need camping gear if you are doing a 2 dayer. I am okay have a caravan :-)

JIMGOD · 8 May 2008, 18:53

everyone, not just just the young are available recruits.
I did not start until last year at aged 46.
I know Nexis, thanks for comments, "your as old as my dad etc"
We are all in it for one reason and one reason only.
The love of the sport.
Obviously everybody has different circumstances and mine are no different to others, due to work etc, i could never get involved, (7 days a week at work)
Now i have the time and money to enjoy my Hobby, I thoroughly enjoy it and live for the weekends of Sport.
If anybody would like any further info or any ideas on recruiting please pm me and i will be more than willing to help or put you in touch with others with more experience than me who can.

AR-CoolC · 8 May 2008, 19:48

I agree with a comment made earlier in the thread about first "how to get involved" info being hard to get. Once you have it, it's very easy to get loads more (i.e. the link to this forum)

I like the idea of the web address on the back of overalls. another idea is, a sign/flag/whatever on the marshal's posts with something like "how would you like to be this side of the fence?" and then some contact details written on it?

EDIT: Just had another thought. we have an internal quarterly magazine at work and they're always asking for articles to go in it. I could do a piece on marshaling. It goes out to ~2000 staff. does anyone else have something similar?

Chigley · 8 May 2008, 20:46

I have written an article that was published in the last Rockingham programme and this months BARC Startline magazine, if anyone can direct me on how to insert a Word document then if anyone wishes to use it be my guest.