Where do you go to try out new puzzles and spend time with fellow puzzle aficionados? Our registration is now open for Puzzle Jam South in Greenville, South Carolina! Our event will be held September 5th-7th. If you aren’t familiar with Puzzle Jam, let me catch you up.
The history of Puzzle Jam
After Puzzle Parley (a wooden only puzzle event that is almost always held in the northeast and is every other year) in 2022, we decided a) we didn’t want to wait 2 years to get together again because we had too much fun b) we wanted to bring an event to people that couldn’t or wouldn’t travel that far and c) there was a need for a more diverse puzzle gathering. So four of us started planning in January 2023 and had our first event in Atlanta, GA in Sept of that year with the plan that we would have an event every other year, alternating with the Puzzle Parley. At that point, I think the Parley, AGPI and USAJPA were the only puzzle organizations or events.
We were intentional about celebrating and supporting a diverse range of puzzles (wood, cardboard, etc.) for people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, economics…. I am happy with some of the connections between assemblers and puzzle makers that we helped facilitate.
Two of us decided to continue and two had too much on their plates. In 2024, we decided to become a non-profit and start a membership program to help fund the organization. Our official name is Puzzle Jam Inc. The name of the in-person event is Puzzle Jam South. The name of the virtual event that was held this April is Puzzle Jam Global.
Our schedule at Puzzle Jam South
The focus is on building relationships with other puzzlers and puzzle makers. (I use the term puzzle maker instead of brand because some one person companies don’t really see themselves as a brand, so it’s more inclusive and helps telegraph our focus on small companies.) We moved all of the talks to Puzzle Jam Global to facilitate this.
Friday is the Makers’ Showcase- wooden puzzle makers have all been sent the same image to cut (alterations allowed) and people will assemble them that night. With everyone cutting the same image, it will help assemblers look past the image to see the differences in how different people design puzzles.
Saturday morning will be set up for puzzle sales.
Saturday afternoon is the speed puzzle event. I prefer the phrase ‘timed puzzling’ because you do NOT have to be speedy to participate.
Sunday morning is our send off and we hope to have a puzzle swap scheduled, possibly Sunday afternoon.
Throughout the event:
Here are some fun activities that we have available throughout the event:
Scroll saws will be set up with available instruction for people to learn how to cut a wooden puzzle
We have piles of puzzles for people to assemble, letting them try other brands and puzzle with friends and the puzzle designers
There will be other puzzle games and crafts
We will also have loosely organized meals so virtual acquaintances can become in person friends
And of course we will have giveaways/ swag!
What kinds of puzzles people can expect to find at our events
In terms of what puzzles attendees prefer to assemble, it’s wooden puzzles (because they can be beyond their budget or they want to explore before committing money to that maker).
In terms of what puzzles attendees purchase, that’s hard to know from year to year. The current economic situation affects that so much. I know that representation (particularly puzzles representing Black and Brown people and made by Black owned companies) was really exciting to some attendees in 2023. Excluding any used or vintage puzzles that people may sell, the price will probably range from 20-1000.
Our capacity at the event is limited
We are capping the event at 100 attendees.
Getting involved as a brand
Puzzle makers can participate in the event in several ways. Being an attendee and making personal connections with puzzle assemblers is one of the best things I think you can do as a small (micro) business person. I know attendees who are now friends with small puzzle brands and they get together, chat and test puzzle designs.
There are several sponsorship levels, all of which include an ad in Puzzle Pages. Puzzle Pages is a small publication with articles about puzzling and puzzles. We wanted to make sure the program and ads from the event continued to be seen afterward. We wanted the ads to be seen beyond the weekend and wanted to create something with longer term value. This resulted in our publication Puzzle Pages. These will be for sale for people who don’t attend and will eventually be available for free on our website. You can see the 2023 Puzzle Pages here.
If puzzle makers want to get their puzzles in the hands of people who are committed puzzlers (committed enough to take a weekend and, for some, fly across the country) they can contribute puzzles (or other items) to the swag bags.
Because we are puzzle makers ourselves, we understand it may be hard for some small companies to give away 100 puzzles, so brands can donate puzzles in lots of 20. Puzzle brands can send puzzles for people to assemble during the event which can then be given away or added to the Traveling Puzzle Library (a perk for members). Finally, they can reserve a vendor table and sell puzzles.
Where you can find more information
We would love to have you join us, or become a sponsor for Puzzle Jam South.
Tickets and sponsorship info is available here.
If you would like to get on our newsletter to hear from us, you can sign up here.