Events for 2010 . . .

[AndyRCM]

We are currently looking at event(s) for next year . . . a couple of problems may effect us . . .

The date for our first open event in 2010 is looking at being on the weekend of 22nd of May. Dependant on a two day (sat & sun) or one day (sun) event.

1) Current venue - we now feel that for next times event that it would be too small.
2) 2 Day Event - Do we move to a two day event rather than a one day event next time?
3) New venue - if we do move to another venue, do we find somewhere that will allow us to do our own food or do we want a change?

we will add further complications/suggestions into this later . . .

Andy and Linda

[muguk]

Parents used to help run/organise the North Wales Radio Rally in the early 90s and found the bigger the venue, the less control you have over the event.  The food bill is higher (mainly due to feeding the volunteers at the venue's stupidly-high rates) and that's before the buggers have stung you for the rent on a per-table & per-chair cost with electricity for those who needed it (*) at a premium on top of that as well!  The venue makes up part of the profit for hosting the event via their own catering, which would make it nigh on impossible for the running of the 'wheat free' canteen side of RCM ... which means no chocolate cake!!!

As per your FB post, the current place can't cope unless you give it one more try but over a 2-day period.  It then becomes a bit more expensive for the likes of us that aren't local as it involves a hotel stay (but more than happy to stay over).

All you can then do is set a limit of people per day with a small overhead for those that turn up out of the blue (and they're charged the premium price).


(*) Radio amateur gear tends to need lots of it!

[Blackpanther]

Current Venue

I think there was enough room for the amount of people that was there in the last event. But the way its looking is, a bigger venue will be needed as its becoming more popular.

2 Day Event

I think that's a great idea! More people are likely to turn up as its on for 2 days. I also think people are more likely to travel up from further places as they can stay over. You could stick with just the one day event (Sunday) and do one 2 day event per year?

New Venue / Food

If you make your own food then its more work/hassle for yourselfs and I'm sure you've got enough work to do. At the same time (based on previous events) the food and drinks have been far to expensive and with paying for a hotel it becomes to much (I'd still go tho).

Maybe using the same venue for the 2 days would work?

[The Twins]

New Venue / Food

If you make your own food then its more work/hassle for yourselfs and I'm sure you've got enough work to do. At the same time (based on previous events) the food and drinks have been far to expensive and with paying for a hotel it becomes to much (I'd still go tho).

Maybe using the same venue for the 2 days would work?

All the food for the events held so far have been made by myself (with the exception of the chilli), it would just mean that I will have more to do if we do a 2 day event.
Are you saying our prices are too high? We have been told that we are too cheap!

[Blackpanther]

Sorry I meant previous events as in retro reunited. If you use a different venue and they make the food then it mite be to expensive with us having to pay for a hotel aswell.

[AndyRCM]

Thanks for the input Mark, we know what you mean.

Andy

[Panther]

Andy,

Not questions or comments really  but just a few things to consider. (sorry if it looks like I'm posing more questions, and not offering any answers  )

a) By having a bigger venue would you be looking at displaying more machines ? if so how would this impact RCM in terms of setting up, transport, shut down/clean up afterwards.

b) In making this a two day event, would you expect to increase footfall from people coming one day that couldn't make the other ? or by people attending both days ? or possibly both ?

c) What are the benefits be in terms of increased cash gereation and RCM exposure, against outgoing costs (hire of the hall), loss in revenue if RCM don't supply the food etc.

d) What would the implications be on ticket prices from a one day to a two day event ?

Presumably you are looking for Venue's close to the unit to aid the transportation side of things.

From a personal point of view I would be really struggling to manage two days in may, as it's a week before I go on holiday, and also the Sunday is my Birthday, and I can't see the wife being too happy if I spent the weekend away from home 

[AndyRCM]

a) bigger venue = more machines but not just RCMs machines, other peoples as well as we did run out of room for other people last time.

b) I think we would get increased footfall but if people can't make one day, hopefully they would may the other? People attending both days would be great.

c) Bigger Hall or Two Day Event where we are will double the rent . . . so we need to cover that, by supplying food that does generate income so . . . difficult one!

d) Ticket prices need to be confirmed but people will be able to buy a one day or two day ticket . . .

and yes we do want to be fairly close to the unit really - within half an hours drive would be great.

The dates we have chosen are the only weekend that is feasible for both myself and Linda in May, if other people can't make it that is very unfortunate but I do understand people do have commitments outside of RCM, me included! Any help given by the admins and friends is always very much appreciated.

Okay?

Andy

[Andy]

Please make sure the new venue is on the ground floor, or it has a suitable lift!  (Who remembers the Retro Reunited venue! )

[AndyRCM]

What was wrong with the venue then Andy?

[Andy]

What was wrong with the venue then Andy?

There was a lift, but the enterance to it was not wide enough for a trolley, let alone a arcade cab. You also had to go into the kitchen to get to the lift. The lift also kept breaking. Its the type with the manual doors.

There were stairs, but it was very hard work!

[woody.cool]

There were stairs, but it was very hard work!

Tell me about it ...... I got roped in to helping with getting arcade cabs up the stairs. That really buggered me up!

[PJ]

My opinion is that you could consider either a larger venue for one day, or the same venue for two.

I didn't feel that you were radically undersized last time - yes at the peak it got quite busy and most of the machines were in use, but the majority of the time it was about right. The  Beeb room seemed to have too much space for the interest it generated & so you could cut that a bit & prioritise some other machines in there if you wanted. And there was some space in the arcade room that could have been used. The football table took a lot of space and I didn't see it used a lot (dont dare cut that pinball machine tho ! ;-)

Unless you are really expecting a lot of extra people next time, I personally would think carefully about going for a bigger venue.

If you hold a two day event, I suspect that the core enthusiasts will come on both days, but a lot of people will come one day or another, so giving you more space on each day.

One more suggestion - if you did hold a two day event, why not have a games-related film in the evening on one of your big screens - King of Kong or something like that. It would give people an incentive to stay over as well adding a bit of variety.

[AndyRCM]

Like your thinking about the saturday night PJ!
King of Kong, Wargames, Tron, Sneakers, Hackers etc etc etc

[Scarlettkitten]

I could bring a laserdisc player, Retro movies on a retro format