What should be done with a disruptive spectator? I’m assuming that most spectators who are unintentionally disruptive will stop being a problem when their disruption is pointed out to them, but what about those who are disruptive on purpose. They aren’t likely to leave just because the TD asks them to.
Suggestions/real life examples?
Alex Relyea
Point out to them that the penalties would be the same as if they had run onto the field during a football game, without the “benefit” of television exposure. They could be charged (depending on local laws) with criminal trespass, disturbing the peace, etc. Once the penalties are pointed out, they should leave without you having to actually call the police.
Actually calling the police would, of course be a last resort. Larger hotels and public buildings frequently have security staff that could help you “persuade” the spectator to leave. Follow the lead from how disruptive parents are handled at sporting activities. Try to “shame” the spectator into cooperating – that’s usually enough.
I guess I’ve been lucky, the biggest problem I’ve had was with drunk wedding guests from a reception being held in the same hotel wandering into the tournament room. A quick call to the hotel operator brought a uniformed hotel security man up to my floor, they left quietly and promptly.
I also had a hotel open up a disco in the room next to the tournament room (it was not there when I rented the space.) When I pointed out how loud it was, the hotel gave me a different meeting room. (This was for the state closed, moving 6 players into a small conference room was not difficult.)
I have, however, been at tournaments where the police had to be called after the hotel security people couldn’t get the disruptors to leave. Things tend to go downhill after that. (I think at least two such incidents resulted in lawsuits.)
I once had the hotel call 2 days before saying they booked a wedding (and the reception) in the room next to us. This was an afternoon wedding, and they refused to move us to another room.
If they are spectators and not guests, you could always threaten to call the police to show you’re serious. I’d rather be an ass to people so that paying players get the game they paid for, but I seem to be pretty good at that.
If they are not part of the tournament, tell them to leave. Most just want to see a chess tournament … others just want to check the room out for rent. If the spectator is in the room … you have a lot more control over the spectator(s). If the person is in the other room … they are not spectators.
Most people that will come into the tournament room, are not going to give you a problem. Most problems are going to be in the other rooms … as the sound from the other room can be a problem. Some can be corrected and others there is nothing that can be done. Directors do not have control over the noise from the parking lot … airplanes … other outside noise.
Directors/organizers only rent the tournament hall … they did not rent the city.
The disdain that hotels have for (some) chess events can be very annoying. However, chess events are not very profitable for most hotels. Chess events tend not to use banquet services, chess players tend not to eat in the hotel restaurants and far too often they litter the playing hall, skittles area, bathrooms and lobby with the detritus of their forays to McDonalds.
It is not unreasonable to ask for a noise clause in a hotel contract, though you may not get it.
I can assure you that if some organization was renting space in which to give tests, the hotels would be far more likely to pay attention to the ambient noise level than they do for some chess events.
If I was the hotel manager … without any understanding about chess … you have made a strong case that chessplayers are going to be pigs.
You made a strong claim that chessplayers are pigs … now you want a noise clause for the farm animals?
Douglas,
Remember Thumper’s Rule from Bambi.
“If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say anything at all”
As I think I mentioned before, these people aren’t the rpoblem. The problem is those who refuse to leave.
The contract I signed for a room in May stipulates that the adjacent room will be left empty. Have to see how that works.
Alex Relyea
How did you arrange that? (Other than renting both rooms??)
Not sure. The hotel has some experience with chess tournaments, and the person I worked with did a national event a couple of years ago, so she knew the requirements. We asked what was going to be going on next door, but that’s about it. When the contract arrived, it said “empty room next door”. Not that I’m complaining.
Alex Relyea
If we are going to talk about the noise from outside the tournament room … some times it is not in the error of the organizer. True, the organizer has to find a site … the organizer has to find a site that has little noise outside the rented space.
It would be ideal … just to have a site with only one community room. As the director can control the noise to a better level outside of the room. When there are rooms to be rented … even the director will not have a clue what is going to happen outside of the rented room.
It would be nice to have noise free … but the noise outside the rented room was not rented. If the organizer accepted the problem of more than one rented room in the building … accept to rent all the rooms or find a different site.
The noise can happen … even if there is only one room that is rented. The organizer cannot control the noise from the parking lot … or even the noise the organizer and the building owners cannot control.
I’m not sure why this is a question at all, I’d react the same way as if someone came into my house uninvited. Even though you invited them in, once you revoke that invitation, they’re tresspassing. So 1) tell them to leave, 2) tell them you’ll call the cops if they don’t leave, 3) call the cops. I’m not sure why there’d be any question about what to do.
Well it could be like most USCF tournaments … well the ones that have FIDE titles … its not over till you get out of the courts.