4 Aug
2005
4 Aug
'05
10:28 a.m.
On Wed, 3 Aug 2005, Bob Shannon wrote:
Space constraints. The sellers were segregated in one section (the
consignment section had to be where it was for logistical reasons). But
with a room that small (something like 50x30) everything is mashed
together anyway no matter how you try to arrange it.
But does anyone really need to subsidize a $10 fee?
The cold
equations suggest that at $10, you already got a good deal.
Some exhibits might eat that just in power over a 2 day show!
For the record, the costs of the VCF exhibit area break down as follows
(in no particular order):
1) Venue cost
2) Power
3) Exhibit infrastructure (setup)
4) Awards, prizes, exhibitor badges, tags, etc.
The exhibitor fee also gives you full admission for both days of the event
and, with most VCFs where the budget allows, a VCF t-shirt. I try to make
it fair for everyone: fair to the exhibitors by giving them stuff in
return for their exhibit fee and fair to me to help defray the costs of
putting on the event.
No one had ever suggested that the shows should be
fun.
Some have suggested that they could be even more fun.
Clearly people that go to a classic car show don't go there to have
a bad time.
If the VCF isn't fun then there's no point to it. I certainly put in a
lot of time and effort into it for the nominal bit of fun I have with it
(it would be more fun if I didn't have to manage everything so closely).
I certainly don't do it for the minimal profit I make, and if you count
the loss on the first three events I think I've just about broken even by
now. The money made certainly isn't commensurate with the time I put in.
Isn't a big part of the reason for VCF events to
spread the hobby to
others? Maybe your not much into museum exhibits, but didn't you say it
should be enjoyable for all who attend?
Right, it's not JUST for hobbyists. It has to be enjoyable for the
VISITORS as well. Otherwise, it would just be a big room filled with
geeks. Not fun at all.
Exhibitors
should have a place to sit that is not
in the aisles that the public use. There should be
a place for the public to stop, sit and chat with
the exhibitors. This was really clumsy at the last VCF.
Good point.
At VCF East 1.0, exhibitors were mixed with the rest.
But I really did not see that as a problem. But at VCF Ease 2.0, we had space behind the tables,
and
there was even room to place chairs in front of consoles so
that people could sit and actually use some of the exhibits.
Clearly thats better, space permitting of course.
Exhibitors generally sit in front of their exhibits because that's the way
the exhibit layout usually has to work in order to make it fit into the
space. I think it also has the side effect of making for better
interaction between exhibitors and visitors.
If anyone has any comments about this then please send them to me. In
fact, I'm always open to comments, suggestions, complaints, criticism,
etc. Please do give me feedback or else I'll keep doing the same crap
over and over again, because as far as I know I'm doing everything right.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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