This week on the Open Coin Door podcast, we dive into the highs and headaches of running big events at Reclaim Arcade. From karaoke night technical meltdowns (and how our AV hero saved the day) to a marathon 12-hour Labor Day pinball tournament with over 70 players, we share behind-the-scenes stories, lessons learned, and new ideas for keeping the arcade experience fresh. We also talk about the challenges of long karaoke queues, experimenting with new formats, the role of community support, and how seasonal shifts (and even football season) impact arcade traffic.

In this episode of Open Coin Door, Tim and Collins recap a whirlwind week at Reclaim Arcade. From the excitement of the Women Flipping Out pinball tournament and a packed Goth night with a “Guilty Pleasures” twist, to the harsh reality of a summer birthday bash that turned out to be a bust, they share the highs and lows of running events at a retro arcade bar.

You’ll hear about new streaming integrations with Match Play, the challenges of DJing for themed nights, lessons learned from a flop, and the importance of listening to community feedback. Plus, they dive into ideas for future Saturday events like video game tournaments, developing mocktail menus, and other ways to keep the arcade vision strong.

It’s a candid look at what it takes to build community, experiment with events, and stay true to the soul of an arcade in 2025.

Tim and Collins return after a pizza-making mishap (and a trip to urgent care) to recap their trip to Pinburgh 2025 in Bridgeville, PA. From learning the art of Neapolitan dough to navigating one of the largest pinball tournaments around, they share behind-the-scenes stories, rookie mistakes, and format breakdowns. It’s a mix of food, flippers, and a little bit of friendly frustration. Thanks for tuning in!

Note: Going forward video versions of this podcast will be on our YouTube channel and everything distributed through Spotify to Apple, Amazon, and other podcast platforms will be audio only.