How do you keep your players informed of your home game schedule? (2 Viewers)

Individual texts first to gauge interest by going down the invite list (core players have priority), followed a few days later by individual phone calls for verbal confirmation, then group texts as reminders in two consecutive days at a minimum leading to game day.

Yeah, I know there are easier ways. I'm just sick like that.
 
Maybe I missed this in the thread, but I also found it really helpful to 1) during each game, make sure to announce the date and time of the next game; and 2) give the players at each week's game priority in reserving for the following game.
 
Ditto this. With my VT game I used Meetup but the Band app is more fully featured. And near as I can tell it's also free. The only advantage Meetup has is search engine advertising, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your stakes and location.

I just started using Band and anticipate having to pester individuals on occasion, but that's a small price to pay in my opinion.
Band also supports some interesting features, such as chat rooms..which might be handy for things like PCF meetups.
where in VT are you? im in Barre.
 
Group text messages. First message goes out to those who played in the last game. If there is availability after that, I go to the generally more reliable players with the next group message to fill in the gaps.

I'm currently doing this, but I find it's not easy to get a full ring...
Poker isn't as popular over here as it is in the States, so a monthly game is out of the question as very few people (want to) play poker that regularly.

How long in advance do you send these?
 
where in VT are you? im in Barre.
I lived in Burlington, but moved out of the state earlier this year for new job reasons. I hope to move back one day. I love the state, despite the high cost of living.
If you're ever in the Burlington or Essex area, I can probably hook you up with a game. Lots and lots of home games running up there.
 
I'm currently doing this, but I find it's not easy to get a full ring...
Poker isn't as popular over here as it is in the States, so a monthly game is out of the question as very few people (want to) play poker that regularly.

How long in advance do you send these?
4-5 days in advance of proposed game time is when I try to send out the first batch. I have had other plans fall through and sent out a group text the same day I propose playing before and been able to put together a table as well. If I do not have a sufficient number of players(at least 6) 24 hours prior to start time, I usually cancel at that point.
 
I've been using homepokersystem.com for many years. It's a bit limited but really catered for poker leagues with point systems and an invitation system to email everyone and schedule games.
 
I have a facebook group where I post events.

For non-facebookers I use trello, I move people between the columns Not Joining, Not Asked, Asked, Maybe, Joining. It's not ideal but it works.

Pet peeve on facebook events: You can select Attending, Maybe, and Not Attending (or whatever the words are in the English version), and also I can see if you've read the invite or not. I can't count how many times I've had this exact conversation:

Me: I see you've seen the invite, but you haven't answered. What do you think?
Player: I don't know yet, depends on [reason]
Me: So put a "Maybe".
Player: But I don't know yet!
Me: I know. That means you may be joining. "May be" -> Maybe! :)
Player: You don't understand, let me explain. It's not that I might be joining, it's that I don't know yet if I will be joining or not. So I can't put down a "maybe", at least not until I know if I might be joining.
Me: Have I understood correctly that it may be that you are joining and also that you are not joining?
Player: Exactly! Now you've finally understood!!
Me: Listen, Schrödinger's asshole, that's the F*CKING DEFINITION of a F*UCKING MAYBE!!
 
I have a facebook group where I post events.

For non-facebookers I use trello, I move people between the columns Not Joining, Not Asked, Asked, Maybe, Joining. It's not ideal but it works.

Pet peeve on facebook events: You can select Attending, Maybe, and Not Attending (or whatever the words are in the English version), and also I can see if you've read the invite or not. I can't count how many times I've had this exact conversation:

Me: I see you've seen the invite, but you haven't answered. What do you think?
Player: I don't know yet, depends on [reason]
Me: So put a "Maybe".
Player: But I don't know yet!
Me: I know. That means you may be joining. "May be" -> Maybe! :)
Player: You don't understand, let me explain. It's not that I might be joining, it's that I don't know yet if I will be joining or not. So I can't put down a "maybe", at least not until I know if I might be joining.
Me: Have I understood correctly that it may be that you are joining and also that you are not joining?
Player: Exactly! Now you've finally understood!!
Me: Listen, Schrödinger's asshole, that's the F*CKING DEFINITION of a F*UCKING MAYBE!!

Have you considered finding smarter friends? :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
 
I've been using homepokersystem.com for many years. It's a bit limited but really catered for poker leagues with point systems and an invitation system to email everyone and schedule games.
I’m curious, do you use the free version? And how easy/difficult is it to update the stats to the website?
 
I actually use the pro version, the players pitch in a few bucks each to pay for the annual fee which is pretty reasonable. The free version works just as well as the pro though, the main difference is the limit on the number of players. My player list has spilled over 150 at points, it varies from year to year, so I needed to upgrade.

The stats are very easy. You can make a template then when you add the results for each game, the points are automatically assigned. So the only time I adjust the points is when we play special games that hand out bonus points like a Bounty game, or invite a friend game.

If you do end up using it, make sure your players know to expect the email. It often goes to spam/junk the first time, but then after that it would go to their inbox once it's been dragged out.
 
Is anyone using a text message program on their PC? Not an iOS app, as they don’t work for large groups if Android numbers are included. Most programs I have found have a monthly fee of $25 or more.
 
I created a Facebook poker group and send out and I also send a group message on Facebook messenger.
 
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Before moving to FL, I used to use a Web site at www.VAholdem.com, with a lot of information, along with an email list. Some old pages can be seen at www.xhost.org.

I used evite for special (i.e., non-weekly) events.

Down here, I just play in other people's games or go to the local (ex-) dog track. All the locals want to play micro-stakes wild card games. :mad:
+1 on E-vite. It's been pretty successful with our group.

I don't know if one means of communication is ever enough. You'll always have "somebody". I use E-vite as the main delivery, along with Facebook, email and text blasts.
 

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I'm also in the Home Poker System camp. Took my lead from @T_Chan who also uses the same system.

It allows for keeping of statistics and game results. Keeps everyone connected and informed of the full league schedule. (I was usually 2 or 3 events ahead.) Just before COVID, I had created a 6 game schedule.

The best part is the invitations. You set the game and time, and send all invitations at once. The players can decide their status as "attending" or "not attending". It gives me a clear picture of who's coming and who's not. Those that don't want to use it and just do emails, I just go in and change that players status to attending and everyone can see how many players are coming.

Easy. Free. Upgradable through yearly subscription.
 
I'm also in the Home Poker System camp. Took my lead from @T_Chan who also uses the same system.

It allows for keeping of statistics and game results. Keeps everyone connected and informed of the full league schedule. (I was usually 2 or 3 events ahead.) Just before COVID, I had created a 6 game schedule.

The best part is the invitations. You set the game and time, and send all invitations at once. The players can decide their status as "attending" or "not attending". It gives me a clear picture of who's coming and who's not. Those that don't want to use it and just do emails, I just go in and change that players status to attending and everyone can see how many players are coming.

Easy. Free. Upgradable through yearly subscription.
Whats the Home Poker System? Sounds interesting
 
I've used homepokertour.com but it hasn't been maintained in years and outgoing emails doesn't work either now, so I wouldn't recommend it.
 
Mass text. We usually discuss the next date at each game. We normally play a freeze-out tourney with one rebuy up to the first break. The first mass text goes to a core group of about a dozen. First 10 to confirm are in but lots of us travel for work so it’s usually 7 to 10 confirm and any missing slots fill with a second round of texts to another group that usually joins only once in a while. Over many years I cannot recall of a single game where we did not start a full table. We sometimes have a small cash game if a few extras showed, which gets bigger as guys bust out of the tourney.
 

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