Note: I no longer play modern or standard. Sold both to get a few decks of EDH. I can draft, but do so-so.
Store A: Free FMN that has 30+ people. 4-5 rounds always (not cuts to top4/top8). Prizes are 11/9/7/5/3/1 packs (if <32 people remove 1st place gets 9 and so on) plus you get to choose your promo. The store owner has me run some of the events as TO. This store is a 2nd hand bookstore that is family owed (he runs it with his brother). He runs the store as the event goes on. So as the TO, I am going in the back, submitting scores, adding/dropping people, printing and cutting out slips, calling everything out. Very tiring and goes late ---- no compensation in return. It is great for the experience, but there are no rule calls as most people can answer them. The only benefit I have gotten is being able to draft for free when I TO (basically I add/drop myself so no one has a by). One benefit is this store has a large Thursday EDH crowd to find games. This store has a HUGE HUGE HUGE card inventory with walls and walls of cards and binders organized by sets and colors. Lots of players of many formats, even vintage. I do not know anyone at the store outside of the store and I usually only see them once a week for a few hours. They all have their own friends/college crowds.
Store B: smaller store with no inventory besides what people have traded in for standard. FMN crowd is 8 people. Draft and standard entry price is a bit higher than what I have seen. No EDH scene --- only a standard scene. My friends started going here as they don't frequent store A anymore. The main reason why I have started going to store A is he has been helping me along my judge path. He got me in contact with an area L1 and set up dates for testing with a L2. He assisted me with putting studying material together, etc. He is friendly and gives me slight compenpensation for TOing. The store does other game events: Super Smash Bros, board game night, DDR day, etc. Very small payout for draft and FNM standard.
I am currently a rules advisor seeking to be a judge, so store B would be the choice. But store A has constant [magic action] with free FNM with huge payout and strong EDH. Thoughts or questions?
How does store A) even afford to run that event? That looks like a massive loss each week.
A lot of tournaments are run at a loss or break even. Tournaments are generally advertisements to get people in the LGS's door. Getting a customer in the door is the first and most important step to getting a sale, as pretty much any businessman will tell you.
Granted, not all tournaments are run like that, and not all tournaments are getting you into the door of a particular LGS (even putting aside professional level stuff, some people run tournaments in malls). But it's pretty common.
I spoke to his brother in the back of the store - yes you are right, they have loads and loads of product. People drive to his store, regardless of their main LGS, because of his product. You need 15 foil Liliana of the Viels? Np! You looking for stacks of ABU duels, how many you need?
Yes, they have a great prize structure, but not sure what his brother means "they are basically free and they have too much of it"
adding in Lithl's quote to respond:
I spoke to his brother in the back of the store - yes you are right, they have loads and loads of product. People drive to his store, regardless of their main LGS, because of his product. You need 15 foil Liliana of the Viels? Np! You looking for stacks of ABU duels, how many you need?
Yes, they have a great prize structure, but not sure what his brother means "they are basically free and they have too much of it"
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list