GPAF - LSAF - Possible Venue Change [message #3258] |
Fri, 09 June 2006 10:53 ![Go to next message Go to next message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/down.png) |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18756 Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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Last night, Fred and Linda Thompson and I went to see their sons' band, "Low Rent", who performed in Austin. Awesome, Andy and Matt are excellent! Not just saying that either, they are really good. Can't wait for the CD.Anyway, while eating before the show, we discussed the possibility of moving GPAF to Dallas for next year's show. The venue is larger and we would likely have a larger turnout. I'm happy with how GPAF has been the last two years, but a bigger show in Dallas would be good too. Maybe we could alternate venues every year, I dunno. So I'm throwing this out to you all for feedback. What I would really like to retain is the grass roots "Woodstock" feel of the show, and the absolute lack of fees. I don't like the idea of a promoter turning the show itself into a revenue source. I like the idea of a venue where the smaller niche companies can set up and show up, and a thousand dollar entry fee added to the transportation costs is prohibitive. So I would like to see free admission for exibitors retained no matter where the show is done. The thing is, if we move to Dallas, we'll need a "point man" or two. Fred volunteered, but he lives in Houston. So we thought we could maybe ask Jim Rivers, and since he wasn't there to defend himself, he was an easy target. Or maybe Russ or someone else, or maybe a few people could get involved. It's a big job, to tell the truth. You have to arrange with the folks at Embassy Suites and you have to send out press releases. I bought a bunch of signs and set them around the city, that helps a lot too. But planning and organization isn't a trivial amount of work, even when as loosely done as GPAF always has been. I'd be willing to host the web space, same as I've always done. I've already obtained a "LoneStarAudiofest.com" domain name in anticipation. We can tie it to the GPAF and ART website, probably link in the Texas clubs sites too. So now I'm looking for feedback from everyone. What do you all think? Could we find support for this? Is it something we're interested in doing? We'll definitely have GPAF next year, first weekend in May. The only question is where. Would it be better suited for a larger venue like Dallas, maybe morph it into a LSAF? Or do we leave it as it is, and keep GPAF in Tulsa? Let me know your thoughts.
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Re: GPAF - LSAF - Possible Venue Change [message #3260 is a reply to message #3258] |
Fri, 09 June 2006 16:23 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/down.png) |
FredT
Messages: 704 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (1st Degree) |
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I raised this issue with Wayne because as much as I like Tulsa, I believe the location limits the show's potential. The number of potential visitors who live in the Tulsa area, or who are willing to drive or fly to Tulsa from another metropolitan area, is the limiting factor. Moving the show to Dallas would make it possible to attract more visitors from the DFW area plus a significant number from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, etc. I also agree strongly that it's a good idea to keep the show oriented toward small non-mainstream manufacturers/designers who sell their products primarily over the internet. A show like the GPAF/LSAF can be useful to these sellers because it provides an opportunity for people who otherwise could only read about their products to see, hear and touch them. But this can only work if a significant number of people visit the show. Another consideration is that there are several important and highly regarded manufacturers in the DFW area, Houston, Austin, etc who might participate if they believed a significant number of potential customers would be there. I really would like to see Dodd Audio, GR Research, Audio Mirror, Silver Circle Audio, etc. as exhibitors, and if the show were in Dallas this should be a no-brainer to them considering the cost to participate is only the cost of the hotel room plus gas to get there - no $1K show promoter's fees. They would also get a good buzz on the audio forums too as a result of participating.
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Re: GPAF - LSAF - Possible Venue Change [message #3262 is a reply to message #3258] |
Fri, 09 June 2006 18:15 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/down.png) |
Shane
Messages: 1117 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (3rd Degree) |
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I like the idea, mainly cuz it's just a little closer. It might not limit some of the Tulsa crowd as much if a group of you went together. We have a primative archery rendevous in Marshall, Mo which is about a 90 minute drive east of Kansas City that attracts people from all over the world. I mean like 5-600 people for 4 days. Many, many of them travel in a group to share gas costs, etc....And they bring truckloads of gear, materials and the like as well.
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Sounds like a plan [message #3268 is a reply to message #3258] |
Sat, 10 June 2006 09:38 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to previous message](/forum/theme/AudioRoundTable/images/down.png) |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18756 Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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It looks like everyone is pretty excited about this possibility. I'll call the Dallas Embassy Suites next week and make the initial approach. The plan we worked out with Natalie Doss in Tulsa is simple - We don't want a contract for a single person to buy up all the rooms and then resell them; Rather, we want a deal where everyone buys their own room under an assigned block (GPA in Tulsa, maybe LSA in Dallas). If there are more than a specific number of rooms bought then they agree to comp us the conference room.Embassy Suites was very receptive to this in Tulsa since it was an easy way to sell a bunch of rooms in a weekend. The only thing is, we have to check availability of the first weekend in May. That was a good weekend for Tulsa, and I hope it is for Dallas as well. I'll call and make the initial approach and introduce them to the idea, then maybe we can all get together and hash out some details for the rest of the planning, press releases, advertisement signs, maybe print ads and what not. I'm willing to donate some (time and money) resources to this deal same as the last couple of years, and I thank each of you 'cause I can see you're in there with me too!
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