we have a new vendor interview! we were lucky enough to ask Brian Calhoun, creator of local favorite Chickapig, a few questions about his game:
tell us about the people who have helped you bring Chickapig to life.
There are too many people to list, so I’ll stick to my business partners. after developing the game itself, I started the actual company with three of my closest friends, Fenton Williams, Dave Matthews, and Mark Rebein. Without the encouragement and help from these guys, Chickapig would probably have never left our small circle of friends. Sadly, we just lost Mark to a heart attack earlier this summer. He was a great friend and was the primary business advisor in our company. we will miss him greatly as we continue to move Chickapig forward.
the game has been very popular at rps. what do you think makes it a favorite for so many people?
I played Chickapig for the first time in a while the other day and it was actually pretty fun - haha. There is something about it that appeals to a wide range of people. There is strategy and critical thinking, but also elements of luck and a huge social aspect that occurs when playing. A lot of games require full attention to be competitive. To me, I’d rather hang out with my friends and play a game than just be focused on a game with my friends in the same room. What I mean is, you can get pretty serious about a game of Chickapig without spending the entire game thinking about Chickapig.
we’ve heard that chickapig is like “farmer chess” - any tips for beginners playing this original game?
Like chess, develop your pieces and just get them off the back row. I’d also say don’t spend too much time worrying about defense in your first games, and never poop in your own goal!
more and more local breweries, wineries, and cideries offer chickapig for people to play. what’s your favorite drink to have in hand when playing?
Beer, wine, cider… I’m easy to please.
anything else fun you'd like to tell us about chickapig?
Chickapig kicked off in bars and festival settings, but now it’s steadily growing in school programs, camps, and other youth groups. That makes me happy!
tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t know otherwise.
Chickapig is the second hobby I’ve turned into a business. Check out www.rockbridgeguitar.com.
what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received
I can’t recall the best advice I’ve ever received, but I take all the advice I can get.
want to own the game? we sell them at rps - they move quickly so make sure to stop by today and get yours.
all photos courtesy of Chickapig website & Instagram