Fantasy Fencing Club

[SJCFU#2]

It might be worth reading through the "Before, a fencing club in the making" thread for any new ideas (although most have probably already been mentioned).

[wahrman]

What are you talking about? I takes a shower every spring. Whether I needs it or not.

Seriously, there is nothing wrong with a big, communal shower room.

Other things, most have been mentioned already but:

-room to move around the strips (a common problem in the Bay Area)
-no skylights or windows unless you can easily cover them
-separate space for footwork, static aid work, etc.
-space to store bags that is out of the way
-a balcony would be cool but not at the expense of other items

Originally Posted by veeco

Make those showers communal showers, make the floor slightly slopped in one direction, with an evacuation hole at the lowest point, and use a rubber hose to clean. That's quick and better than no showers at all.

Seriously. All clubs I have been to in Europe have showers. If I hear one more time from an American that Europeans (or Frenchmen) stink, I think that I am going to have to take them to the exit door of a fencing club in the states... :-)

[edew]

Originally Posted by veeco

Make those showers communal showers, make the floor slightly slopped in one direction, with an evacuation hole at the lowest point, and use a rubber hose to clean. That's quick and better than no showers at all.

Seriously. All clubs I have been to in Europe have showers. If I hear one more time from an American that Europeans (or Frenchmen) stink, I think that I am going to have to take them to the exit door of a fencing club in the states... :-)

You know it. There are some unnamed fencers who I wish would be showering while fencing. What an advantage during infighting.

Communal showers and such. What do think I'm getting, a former YMCA fitness center?

Let me give some perspective: 4800 sqft, 60 x 80 with part of one 80' wall taken over with a front foyer/lobby/reception area and a bathroom.

[wahrman]

Well you did say "fantasy".

Besides, I can't visualise 4800 square feet.

Originally Posted by edew

Communal showers and such. What do think I'm getting, a former YMCA fitness center?

Let me give some perspective: 4800 sqft, 60 x 80 with part of one 80' wall taken over with a front foyer/lobby/reception area and a bathroom.

[Phincer]

I think you should also include a space for a washer and dryer...for the club kit to be laundered w/o you taking it home. Would also be helpful for those times when a club member needs a forced washing of his/her whites.

[fencerX]

1. Posters of Sylwia Gruchała. Lots of them. Big ones.

2. Beer on tap and a wet bar. Stocked with Sylwia's favorite libations.

3. Showers for Sylwia.

4. Bagels.

5. Ignition sources.

[oiuyt]

FencerX's post, of course, goes to one of the top things you could have in a club to make it better...

Really good fencers.

-B

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by edew

Communal showers and such. What do think I'm getting, a former YMCA fitness center?

No. You mentioned a fencing club where fencers are going to fence, hence sweat..?

Originally Posted by wahrman

Besides, I can't visualise 4800 square feet.

Me neither. I'm a size 38, how many feet would that be?

[edew]

Originally Posted by Phincer

I think you should also include a space for a washer and dryer...for the club kit to be laundered w/o you taking it home. Would also be helpful for those times when a club member needs a forced washing of his/her whites.

I bring my jackets to a local laundromat.

[edew]

Ok, looks like we got a lot of feedback from fencers.

How about club owners? What would you do otherwise to increase revenue? Potpourri in the bathrooms? Wi-Fi? iTunes online store (like Starbucks)? Pro-shop?

[Medinilla]

Big nice mirrors where you can see yourself red in the face, all sweaty, and wearing white tights...

[griffindm]

Originally Posted by fencerX

1. Posters of Sylwia Gruchała. Lots of them. Big ones.

2. Beer on tap and a wet bar. Stocked with Sylwia's favorite libations.

3. Showers for Sylwia.

4. Bagels.

5. Ignition sources.

Great image of Sylwia here

[Pescados666]

Rubber mat floors are nice, Tennis Balls, Attack Dummy (Our's is named Bob), Target Speed Lunge box (We have both club and home model), Mirror Ball, Rotating colored lights, flashing floor, an afro wig for the dummy, a sequened fencing jacket/knickers for everyone, and a stereo that will always play "Baby don't hurt me" when it is needed. Have the lights, for, adn stereo all hooked together. Best club ever.

[wahrman]

Having never met you in person I'm just taking a guess but I'll say two.

Yeah, I bet you have two feet.

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Me neither. I'm a size 38, how many feet would that be?

[fencerX]

Originally Posted by edew

Pro-shop?

You could sell Grasshopper's Tactical Wheels.

[edew]

I want to increase membership and revenue, not throw my club down the proverbial drain.

[Pescados666]

Originally Posted by edew

I want to increase membership and revenue, not throw my club down the proverbial drain.

Then my idea is perfect.

[c3l2vantes]

ill say this: i hate hate hate wooden/carpet floors. i vastly prefer the cheese-graters over all of these for one simple reason: my shoes leave skid marks on the wood & carpet. i like using running shoes with almost 0 sole (i feel like im quicker on my feet with the really light shoes) and 0 tred. the problem lies with the shoes, using black rubber, leaving nice lines where my foot had been dragged from a lunge ect. i hate messing up my clubs floor but it drives me nuts when i cant use my fav. pair of shoes.

also: everyone wants showers? i'd rather stink in a quick car ride and shower in the privacy of my own home. I just couldnt imagine someone would prefer to shower with 5-10 others when they can just hop in the car and be home. something else i've noticed: most people in turny's at colleges where there are showers available, dont use them. not to say that they dont i just havent seen it.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by c3l2vantes

also: everyone wants showers? i'd rather stink in a quick car ride and shower in the privacy of my own home. I just couldnt imagine someone would prefer to shower with 5-10 others when they can just hop in the car and be home.

...and of course all members at any club have their own cars to drive home in, right? Even the children?

I'd rather just have a shower and get clean and fresh rather than commuting on the tram, stinking. (Not to mention having to put on my regular clothes after fencing, without having had a shower? Ugh!)

Perhaps it's just because you're more prude in the US than we are in Sweden but no thanks, a sports club without shower facilities is just unthinkable for most of us.

[veeco]

Originally Posted by c3l2vantes

I just couldnt imagine someone would prefer to shower with 5-10 others when they can just hop in the car and be home.

I do: it's a nice way to chat about the tournament after it ended, meet more people, you know, build comraderie... :-).

something else i've noticed: most people in turny's at colleges where there are showers available, dont use them.

That's certainly true. However, when I was fencing at the fencing club at Stanford, in the old facility, after practice, there were usually a few of us having showers. The new facility has no showers.