How do you as a parent determine what is the best showcase for your son?

This is not a poll--I am simply interested in what are your determining factors-- perhaps it will help us ot better ourselves for you

We decided based on where we thought our son's target schools would be.

We are pretty fortunate to live in a state where showcases/tournaments/camps are abundant. However we preferred select team competition (tournaments) over showcases or camps as we felt it was best to show one's talent in actual competition where the team might end up in first, second or third place.
In our area, joining a team affiliated with larger organizations such as Connie Mack was more beneficial than just joining a local summer league.
We also thought about what would look best on bio/questionaires.

Costs have been the most important factor for us. Thus, we have had to miss some high profile showcases and events that I know would have benefitted my son. Therefore, we have chosen more local types of showcases. Looking at those, we have tried to choose by who's in attendance as far as schools. (Unsigned '05) The problem when you do this is it tends to be the same schools over and over. It takes a lot of energy to be motivated to perform your best for schools that you feel like have seen you and you know pretty much if they are or if they aren't interested. It's just not as exciting for a player. My son is going to one at the end of the month that is suppose to have great attendance including many out of state schools including three that have called him, so he's thrilled about this one. To sum up, cost interests me and attendance interests the son (and ultimately myself).

How To Run A High School Showcase

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/prospectwatch/index93.html

TR -
I think we made some bad decisions early on... going to showcases during the quiet period when there were no D1 coaches allowed. We have since picked showcases based on:
- dates(has to be at a time of year when my son can be at his best to perform, Jan is NOT easy for a northern kid)
- location (has to be in part of country where he wants to go to school)
- price
- actual playing time when you get there and will they let him play both ways
- number of participants (>250-300 - too big)
- opinions of folks I've met on this board

TR...
For us alot had to do with cost and location. I guess you could say "getting the most bang for our buck". I do know when we went to our First Perfect Game ID Showcase, we simply wanted to see where our son stacked up against different competition. Since then, it is simply picking and choosing from location. Of course cost always comes into play.

I think that the $$$ factor is key for most and that is as it should be==most families do not have funds to go everywhere at anytime

Also key is the schools that will be there--

For me I see these two factors as the key elements and getting as you say "the best bang for your buck" is # 1 in my mind

granslam--- no decision is bad when you learn from it--it is part of the process

Are the costs driven mostly by travel and lodging or the cost of the showcase itself?

Being from a State where the word showcase is usually associated with livestock, you have to be very selective unless you have unlimited funds. In our case the price of the showcase was not the determining factor. Other issues included time off work, travel, lodging, and the costs of appeasing the rest of the non-baseball family activities. Bottom line, in our case as a pitcher at a showcase, you had better have your game face on because your time on stage is very limited.

I would have to agree with previous posters "Bang for the buck" therory. But I also think that playing with a select team who coaches understand how to promote players and then combining that with selective showcases is the ultimate game plan.

The key to attending showcases this year will be what schools will be attending. Last year my son started with the PG NE Underclass and it was a good experience and a good way to get started. This coming summer he needs to look at both showcases and camps in the regions where he wants to go to college. The cost factor is not with the individual showcase, but with the total number that you can afford to attend. Including the cost of hotel, gas and meals.

CADad, although some showcases can be a bit pricy, there are certainly other factors. Hotels, meals, gas, etc. And the "just broke my bat in BP, and I really need another one" speech. Just kidding. Anyway, it has been a long journey for us, and our son is a junior. Spent many many days on the road and nights in Hotels, ate alot of McDonalds, and watched alot of baseball. Wouldn't change a thing. Funny thing about showcases, just like this website, you meet and talk to alot of the same people, and all have been very nice, and knowledgeable. My son has made alot of friends through the showcase venue, and the people specifically at PG have been great towards him, always offering incouragement and great advice. Just my opinion.

Great advice Rz. If one chooses a select team with a coach who is interested in promoting his players, half the work is done for you.
My son's select team coaches were the teams' biggest fans. They made sure , wherever they played, someone was there watching. Yes, they loved to win, but they enjoyed seeing their players signing at top schools and being drafted as well. Not every parent agreed with how their kids were handled, but as the coach says, "you get what you give".
Summer travel is no less expensive than the amount some spend on showcases spread out over a period of time(you have to lay out for travel, hotel and meals).