2 May
2024
2 May
'24
1:53 a.m.
Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at a vintage computing
festival before. After years of only being able to watch others attend the
ones that happen in the US, we are finally getting one in BC here. Super
excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even got me
two tables which is awesome.
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the risks of
transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be in terms
of theme.
Brad
2 May
2 May
2:21 a.m.
Bring lots of business cards. Even if you aren't running a business, it's
a lot better than standing there writing your contact information for
everybofy that you want to stay in touch with.
paper, pens, pencils, post-it notes, stapler, duct tape, voltmeter,
batteries, flashlight, cash, blank disks and memory cards, screwdrivers,
vise-grips, hammer. Even if none of those fit in with your
plans, those items will help enormously to deal with unexpected
situations.
It isn't so much how well prepared you are, as how well you can adapt when
needed.
For example, one year at Comdex, we rented an seven foot by seven foot
booth. A year later, at the show, the management realized that that
little block of space was something that should not have been rented. So,
they gave us a ten by ten. How to you make a seven foot wide back sign at
least look like it fills a ten foot space? Home Depot for some aluminum
angle iron, fabric store for drapes.
Another time, when we had a 10 x 10, next to a couple who we knew well, we
had to help them. He ended up in the hospital, but his wife was
determined to do the show, anyway. So, we combine the two 10x10s into a
10x20, with only a "virtual" wall in between, and stuck the leads table
with the imprinter, etc, in the middle.
We always had a tiny refrigerator in our booth. Handing Jerry Pournelle a
cold beer got us a lot of free ink. Snack foods for hospitality and/or if
things are too busy at lunch time to goget anything.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
On Wed, 1 May 2024, Brad H via cctalk wrote:
Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at a
vintage computing
festival before. After years of only being able to watch others attend the
ones that happen in the US, we are finally getting one in BC here. Super
excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even got me
two tables which is awesome.
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the risks of
transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be in terms
of theme.
Brad
2:36 a.m.
On 5/1/2024 9:21 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
Bring lots of business cards. Even if you aren't
running a business,
it's a lot better than standing there writing your contact information
for everybofy that you want to stay in touch with.
Well, or a couple pieces of
paper with QR codes for your web site, or
email address, or however you want to be contacted. I agree writing
stuff down is nonsensical.
paper, pens, pencils, post-it notes, stapler, duct tape, voltmeter,
batteries, flashlight, cash, blank disks and memory cards,
screwdrivers, vise-grips, hammer. Even if none of those fit in with
your plans, those items will help enormously to deal with unexpected
situations.
travel USB cords (you never know)
a long power strip with multiple taps. 6-10ft if you can.
a few extra of the power cords like goes on newer PCs and such. You may
need them as-is, you may need to cut one and hard wire it in. I have
tons of them around here, so a few in the box is no big deal.
wire stripper, side nips. In fact, if you are electronically minded at
all, I'd throw an old soldering iron, a bit of solder, wick, needle nose
pliers, as well.
I am literally packing for a show tonight, and I am carrying all of the
above.
My paper, pens, pencils, post it, duct tape, batteries, cash, blank
disks, memory cards, blank CDs, blank DVDs, small ethernet cable, small
USB cables (the rollup kind) are all in my computer bag, so they go
everywhere, as well as earphones, stereo splitter, a few checks, travel
power supply for my main laptop, extra travel mouse, USB pen drives.
travel LCD projector
a few RCA patch cords (work for audio or video, though I normally bring
home computers, you may not find as much need)
signage
I tend to bring some essential electronics/sockets/switches/wire as well
The computers and peripherals I intend to show.
> Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at a vintage computing
> festival before. After years of only being able to watch others
> attend the
> ones that happen in the US, we are finally getting one in BC here.
> Super
> excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even
> got me
> two tables which is awesome.
>
>
>
> Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
> think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
If you are doing a presentation, finish it before you get there, if at
all possible. There's always people to chat with and other things
drawing your attention away while at the show, and doing a presentation
while at the show is always hard, if not impossible. I've done, but I do
not recommend.
As well, just like with any audience, ensure your prez is interesting.
Try it on someone else first. Don't read the slides if that's your
medium. QR code for more information is nice.
>
>
>
> I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
> Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the
> risks of
> transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
> itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be
> in terms
> of theme.
Maybe for the first one, be a bit conservative. I've taken some high
value rare stuff to shows, but you have to pay more attention to those
items before, during, and after the show, and I think you'd like to
enjoy the show for the moment.
Whatever you bring, make sure it is doing something. Looking at a bare
computer not doing anything is not an interesting exhibit. I've been
guilty of this, but it's still true.
Games are always a good draw, even if that seems like cheating.
Now, off to finish packing.
>
>
>
> Brad
>
--
Jim Brain
brain(a)jbrain.com
www.jbrain.com
2:52 a.m.
On Wed, 1 May 2024, Jim Brain via cctalk wrote:
Games are always a good draw, even if that seems like
cheating.
In the early days of the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, (and I may have the
two reversed in the following anecdote), Atari had a nice display of a
bouncing checkered beach ball. Amiga had almost nothing.
But, the second day, everybody except the booth bimbos at Commodore looked
haggard, but their machine was showing a bouncing checkered beach ball.
And it was bouncing faster than Atari's!
If you really want to be strategic, have a different demo available for
each day :-)
Sorry that I forgot to mention soldering iron and related tools; I had one
living in my car, so didn't think of it as a separate item.
My assistant hired a pretty girlfriend as a booth bimbo. She got us
invited to all of the parties (and some Comdex parties are incredible)
In my company everybody creates their own job title. I am "a programmer".
My assistant alternated between "VP" and "Emperor of the dark lords of the
universe". Our booth bimbo gave herself the title, "BAIT"
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
7 May
7 May
4:29 p.m.
At 09:52 PM 5/1/2024, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
In the early days of the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga,
(and I may have the two reversed in the following anecdote), Atari had a nice display of a
bouncing checkered beach ball. Amiga had almost nothing.
But, the second day, everybody except the booth bimbos at Commodore looked haggard, but
their machine was showing a bouncing checkered beach ball. And it was bouncing faster than
Atari's!
Yes, you have them mixed up. Amiga had the bouncing beach ball, with sound.
Atari had nothing.
- John
5:39 p.m.
On 2024-05-07 12:29, John Foust via cctalk wrote:
At 09:52 PM 5/1/2024, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
Than, the juggler demo on amiga came out, and nobody ever talked about
atari & graphics again :)
https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comments/oqx9qr/35_years_ago_the_amiga_juggl…
http://www.etwright.org/cghist/juggler.html
In the early days of the Atari ST and Commodore
Amiga, (and I may have the two reversed in the following anecdote), Atari had a nice
display of a bouncing checkered beach ball. Amiga had almost nothing.
But, the second day, everybody except the booth bimbos at Commodore looked haggard, but
their machine was showing a bouncing checkered beach ball. And it was bouncing faster than
Atari's!
Yes, you have them mixed up. Amiga had the bouncing beach ball, with sound.
Atari had nothing. 
2 May
2 May
5:13 a.m.
On Wed, May 1, 2024, 7:48 PM Jim Brain via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
My paper, pens, pencils, post it, duct tape, batteries, cash, blank
disks, memory cards, blank CDs, blank DVDs, small ethernet cable, small
USB cables (the rollup kind) are all in my computer bag, so they go
everywhere, as well as earphones, stereo splitter, a few checks, travel
power supply for my main laptop, extra travel mouse, USB pen drives.
Don't forget to bring a towel.
Sellam
11:30 a.m.
A lot of people regret it later because they dont think they'll need it
when packing but I always bring a bathing suit just in case. The vcf
exhibitor pool is a nice way to relax after a long day of showing.
On Thu, May 2, 2024, 1:13 AM Sellam Abraham via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On Wed, May 1, 2024, 7:48 PM Jim Brain via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
My paper, pens, pencils, post it, duct tape, batteries, cash, blank
disks, memory cards, blank CDs, blank DVDs, small ethernet cable, small
USB cables (the rollup kind) are all in my computer bag, so they go
everywhere, as well as earphones, stereo splitter, a few checks, travel
power supply for my main laptop, extra travel mouse, USB pen drives.
Don't forget to bring a towel.
Sellam
4:01 p.m.
I learned at VCF East this year that I should have brought an UPS to
make sure that my vintage equipment had good, clean AC power. My PDP11
kept on resetting during the show.
Doug
On 5/1/2024 9:53 PM, Brad H via cctalk wrote:
Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at a
vintage computing
festival before. After years of only being able to watch others attend the
ones that happen in the US, we are finally getting one in BC here. Super
excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even got me
two tables which is awesome.
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the risks of
transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be in terms
of theme.
Brad
4:40 p.m.
I agree on the UPS! Power can be inconsistent at shows
On Thu, May 2, 2024, 12:02 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I learned at VCF East this year that I should have
brought an UPS to
make sure that my vintage equipment had good, clean AC power. My PDP11
kept on resetting during the show.
Doug
On 5/1/2024 9:53 PM, Brad H via cctalk wrote:
Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at
a vintage computing
festival before. After years of only being able to watch others attend
the
ones that happen in the US, we are finally
getting one in BC here. Super
excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even got
me
two tables which is awesome.
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the risks of
transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be in
terms
of theme.
Brad
4:53 p.m.
I had a similar experience at VCF Midwest where the line voltage was as
low as 90 VAC. My area was without power for about 2 hours during setup.
On 5/2/2024 11:01 AM, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote:
I learned at VCF East this year that I should have
brought an UPS to
make sure that my vintage equipment had good, clean AC power. My
PDP11 kept on resetting during the show.
Doug
On 5/1/2024 9:53 PM, Brad H via cctalk wrote:
Just reaching out to anyone who has exhibited at
a vintage computing
festival before. After years of only being able to watch others
attend the
ones that happen in the US, we are finally getting one in BC here.
Super
excited. I was invited both to speak and to exhibit, and they even
got me
two tables which is awesome.
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff (like my
Mark-8s) that I'd love to bring but am hesitant about due to the
risks of
transportation damage and theft (from the car mostly, not the convention
itself). Just trying to decide what to bring and how focused to be
in terms
of theme.
Brad
7:17 p.m.
Less interesting answer but being multiples of any cables you're relying
on. If presenting, multiple HDMI/output cables (I've seen HDMI cables not
work in specific setups and another cable would for unknown reasons).
Display cards or tags describing what you have on the table and what is
interesting are always a plus.
If you have stuff for sale, things to tag that area or equipment with. I've
been confused at some shows that are both presenting and selling on how to
identify what the seller has for sale.
Then I agree with all the other things folks mentioned for additional
power/protection and any tools you might want if you need to troubleshoot a
system that gets shy after a day or two of people looking at it or touching
it.
On Wed, May 1, 2024, 9:03 PM Brad H via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Like, how do you prepare for these things? What things that you didn't
think of going into your first show do you wish you had?
I have a pretty eclectic collection, and some really rare stuff
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15 comments
13 participants
participants (13)
-
Ali -
ben -
Bill Degnan -
brad＠techtimetraveller.com -
CAREY SCHUG -
Douglas Taylor -
emanuel stiebler -
Fred Cisin -
Jim Brain -
John Foust -
John Herron -
Mike Katz -
Sellam Abraham