31 Jul
2001
31 Jul
'01
4:59 p.m.
Well, after driving 1000 miles each way (I live near Chicago) in order
to exhibit and attend the VCF East show, I can say that I had a good
time and am likely to go again next year.
I was a bit supprised that more people did not show up, but then maybe
they just did not know about it. Perhaps an article in the MIT alumnus
newsletter about Eldon Hall talking there would have helped... The flyer
could have been a little bit better too, indicating that the show was
in the hotel rather than the deserted convention center next door, and
perhaps listing the time of day for the various events. On the other
hand, if someone had ventured out and made it as far as the empty
convention center, they probably would have gone up to the hotel, just
to make sure.
All in all, it was a lot of fun. I saw a bunch of stuff that was fun and
interesting to see, and I heard a number of interesting talks. I also met
a number of people that I did not previously know. Maybe next year more
people will get out of the house and spend a day or two enjoying VCF
East 2.0, rather than wasting time writing endlessly about OT subject
on this mailing list. Or maybe not, either way those who do make it out
will have a good time.
--tom
At 07:50 PM 7/31/01 -0700, you wrote:
On Tue, 31 Jul 2001, Ernest wrote:
Festival
That sounds kind of sad but sort of cozy at the
same time. How was the
crowd? Were they in a fun, happy mood or did they just wander around
and leave? I could see how a small crowd in a deserted hotel might be
fun if they're a friendly and chatty bunch of folks. Was there much of
a flea market?
The turnout was actually very decent for the size of the room, but I
wanted it packed, and it was only "very populated" on day one and "a bit
sparse" on day 2. That was the really the only disappointing thing. The
turnout was far less than I expected. A lot of people who I'd expected to
see didn't show (including the Rhodes Island Computer Museum). Based on
the survey responses and the initial clamor for it, more people should
have come. Where were all the people wanting a VCF East last weekend?
Otherwise, the exhibition turnout was fantastic. A lot of VERY COOL
machines running VERY COOL programs were exhibited. I was even blown
away.
There could have been more vendors of course, but the vendors that were
there sold a very nice assortment of good stuff (and a whole lot of
vintage software). The consignment section had a terrific assortment of
items. I walked away at the end of the weekend with some very cool finds
(after I gave the attendees a chance to get all the good stuff first ;)
The main VCF is at least four times larger than VCF East was, and there's
no reason that VCF East can't be the same size. I know there are more
collectors on the east coast than bothered to show up.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org