OK, where in WI are you? For starters, you need to branch out and play different games, and I'd love to have you at one of my cash games. We typically start out with $.25/.50 NLHE with $60 max buyins. Then we progress to $100 max by the end of the night. Usually people are up or down nominal amounts, and it's low stakes. It's been a minute since I've hosted a tourney (pre-covid), but it's darn near time I got back to hosting tourneys. Of course you'd be invited to the next tourney I host.
Now, onto your game. So much good advice here ITT, and many of us see ourselves in your OP. When I first started, I had a vision of what I thought good poker was, what I thought good structure was, and what I thought good chips were. I was 1000% wrong on all fronts. It took me opening up to other experts and listening to their advice..
You mentioned several times about the lack of good players. Well, TBH, your current structure seems like a hot mess (not trying to be rude). AND any person who considers themselves a poker player (friendly neighbor type or seasoned pro) will balk at wanting to play such a game. I get invited all the time games hosted by people who have no clue what they're doing. I've had friends tell me about these games, but I rarely reach out to the host, so they never even know what players they're missing due to their bad game reputation. These games are badly structured and full of horrible etiquette, I avoid them.
I do hit up one neighbor game (a holiday poker tourney) each year. It started out horrible, bad etiquette and structure. I literally just went, paid my $20 entry, and ate food and chatted... The poker was shite. I struggled at first on how to offer to help the host, without coming across as douchey. Most of the 3 tables of players fall into the "I'll call your bet.. and raise you 2000 more" crowd. Eventually the host allowed me to "run" the tourney, institute some rules and structure (yes some players did balk), but now the guests specifically ask the host if I'll be running the game and bringing my nice chips...
So I wonder if it's a player problem or a structure problem? To quote Field of Dreams "If you build it, they will come".
My advice is to completely start over on a tournament level. Many of us here (myself included) would be happy to voice chat to go over your existing game dynamics and help you craft a chip set that fits your group and game size. I have a lot of experience with these type of turbo tourneys in a friendly neighbor group. You said you play a few times per year, so hopefully you have some time to work on things...
BUT if you want to host sooner, and use your existing chips, I'd seriously look at scrapping the 1 for 1 cash denom practice. Sure, some old codger might have an easier time with wrapping their heads around bet sizing, but your players will quickly adjust. but as some of have said, you can use your existing chips, but should structure the buyin chips to facilitate better play. You don't need that many small chips in play.
Secondly, YOU are running the game, it's your house. I'd have written down blinds (not doubling), and then list a break and colorup. You can easily handle the "I don't wanna give up my tons of low denom chips" guy by explaining that after color up, those lower denom chips aren't in play and will be worthless, so He'd rather get nice higher denom chips that will help him win the tournament.
As noted already, you can also reduce the numbers of low denom chips (as the host), but coloring up in game close to the break. Literally when he bets all those small chips, and they get put into the middle (when you're not in the hand), simply remove the smaller chips and replace them with bigger chips. This is totally acceptable to cull the smaller chips out of the pot for game management. It's no different than someone making change from the existing pot, except YOUR the house and changing up the chips in clear view of all, nothing shady about it.
The other piece of advice I give hosts is to never ever (and I mean ever) use the same chips for tourney and cash. 100% of the people I give this advice to respond back with "but these are close friends, and they're trustworty".. Ya, that's great, but I've seen examples of good friends (and regulars) cheating at home games (and getting caught on video). The concept of allowing the same sets to be used for both introduces the "possibility" of crossing chips and other shenanigans.. taking a worthless T25 tourney chip into a cash game, where it's valued at $25... Your friends might be trustworthy, but if you create a more secure environment, ALL your honest players will appreciate what you're doing (when they are risking money on the table).
Feel free to PM me if you wanna chat.
View attachment 840124