Writing a bingo program for your bingo fundraiser can be difficult. Determining the size of prize payouts and the number of bingo games often depends on your region, and requires some research. However, you also have to make sure that your program includes other basic information that your players will need to know.
So, the following is a quick rundown of what basic information your bingo program should convey to your bingo players:
1. Every program should show your bingo event’s date, location, contact information (phone and email), the name of the bingo chairperson(s), hours of operation, and the time when bingo will start.
2. Make sure your bingo players know what nonprofit the bingo proceeds will be going toward. Everyone enjoys helping a worthy cause and players like to know who’s being helped.
3. List your bingo paper prices and prize amounts. Try to convey this information in a clear, concise way. If you’re selling bingo daubers or other concession items, you may want to list these prices on a separate sheet different from your program. Regardless, bingo players love to know what they’re paying and for what they’ll be playing.
4. Always show the number of bingo games and describe them as best you can in the space available. If a particular bingo paper or color is to be played for each game, make sure you show this.
5. If possible, show a picture or graphic demonstrating the winning bingo patterns. Many programs will show these patterns on the backside of the bingo program.
By: Rob Robinson
In today’s competitive bingo environment, it is more important than ever for your bingo to open to changing up some of your current games or bringing in new games. If your bingo faces intense competition from other bingos, you may need the ability to quickly modify your game or you could be left behind.
One thing that frequently prevents bingo chairs from making needed adjustments, or embracing new products is the fear of their players. I often hear from bingo managers who want to modify their program, but decide against it after putting their ideas to a vote from their players. Some managers eve think it’s best to let their players decide what changes, if any, should be made.
Unfortunately, bingo players are human just like everyone. If you let them, they’ll often vote for, or against, changes based upon what’s best for them, and not what’s best for your bingo.
Asking your players how to run your game is kind of like a shop owner asking his customers what prices he should charge. If Wal-Mart asked its shoppers what they should be charged for products, they’d probably have a lot of happy customers. But, they’d probably also end up out of business.
Of course, I’m not saying you should never listen to your players, but do so with a grain of salt. Obviously, you should always address complaints and try to carry the latest in bingo supplies, but don’t let customer “suggestions” take over your bingo. Frequently, your most vocal players simply don’t speak for the all of your players. And, the majority should be what you’re most concerned with.
Trust me, your bingo players will let you know how much they like your bingo through their attendance and spending. Those two things, above everything else, should be your biggest concerns when deciding what is right for your bingo.
By: Rob Robinson
Although bingo tends to be mainly thought of as a leisure activity, it is also true that variations on the standard game are being used by many teachers. These teachers have introduced bingo in their classes as a way to helping children to engage with their studies, and are using the game to help teach many different subjects including English, foreign languages and mathematics. In reading classes in particular, bingo tends to be particular useful. Here a few ideas for reading lesson plans that involve classroom bingo:
* Phonemic Awareness Bingo – Each student is given a bingo card containing letters. The teacher reads out words, students must then identify the letter than begins the word and find the corresponding square on their cards.
* Sight Word Bingo – Each student is given a bingo card containing words (these, for example, might be words chosen from the Dolch Sight Word list). The teacher reads out a word aloud, and the students must find the matching word square on their cards.
* Rhyming Bingo – Each student is given a bingo card containing words chosen by the teacher (ones which the teacher knows rhymes for). The teacher says a word (for example, “small”) and students must find a rhyming word on their card (for example, “ball”).
* Vocabulary Bingo – Again the students are given bingo cards that contain words chosen in advance by their teacher. In this case, the teacher gives the definition of a word, and students must find the word being defined.
By: Sunil Tanna
