Vegas Vs Chicago - Just my .002

[Xanthar]

May in PA/NJ is warm.

Nothing like the first weekend of May in the Pennsylvannia / New Jersey area to give you warm thoughts eh?

www.EasternHauntersConvention.com

You WONT need a taxi
You WONT get swarmed by 'girls on cards'
You WONT pay $15 for a burrito and coke

You WILL have a great time with a bunch of haunt friends in a cozy but very professional atmosfear......

May 2nd, 3rd and 4th.


Xanthar of the Museum

[Jim Warfield]

So, are you saying that I could get everything for just the same $15.00?
The backseat of the cab, the girl shown on the card and a burrito and a Coke?
Did it take long to assemble this package deal for us tourists?
I know that Dirk will be there with his hot little magical hands dripping with enough small change to add up to $15.oo!
When he's there in the back seat if someone pops up with a camera to take blackmail pics Dirk will just pull Larry's shadow out of his pocket and darken the lense beyond recognition.
But , sadly Dirk will be putting a curse upon himself because now he will have to remain in that backseat for six more weeks! The doors automatically locked!
And things are turning ugly, first that burrito then the girl, then curses upon curses, the Coke goes flat! NOT THAT!!!

[SomeThingInTheIce]

Jim, I just read your post and laughed so hard that ice tea came out my nose.

[drfrightner]

There is a lot of speculation as to if the show will actually be back in Vegas in March 2009 or in Chicago in January 2009. Don't be surprised if this goes back to Vegas, however right now they're saying Chicago but right now I don't know for sure. I would wait another four weeks or so before you hear the FACTS from Transworld themselves. I wouldn't believe any speculation you hear but there is another show starting in Houston and that is FOR SURE! With that show going on in January, Transworld might have their show in the standard March. I don't know for sure but I'm positive that Transworld will make some sort of official announcement soon.

Until then I wouldn't worry about because something is going to get worked out soon and be announced. The new show that will be in January will be located in Houston next January. Additionally THERE IS NO ROOM for haunters, not because they don't want us, but because the hall they have rented is only 300,000 square feet. A typical Transworld show not including the haunt section is about 500,000 square feet.

So there is just no room for the haunt show there, and in addition they won't even have enough for their own exhibitors. I was approached by this group and they're interested in haunters, however TW is steadfast that nothing will change with their show and they're planning on expanding the opportunties for the haunt buyers and vendors.

There will be a lot of things flying around but don't buy into much of it until you read some sort of official statement from someone.

But with all that said don't make plans for Chicago just yet, nor Vegas just yet, but I think you'll hear something final within the next month or so.

Larry

[Grimley]

Vegas was great as always. We bought from more vendors this year than ever before and met some very cool people. We did see some new stuff from the West coast that had never made it to Transworld before. We are very worried that the show will move back to Chicago. For one in Vegas we had something to do every night we were there. We hit several of the major shows and had a blast were as in Chicago you sit in your room and have to entertain yourself. There is NOTHING to do in Chicago. I do believe Transworld is going to hang itself by doing the January show there. If it was snowing in March last year the weather will be shit in January. We had to spend a lot more in Chicago due to canceled flights. Transworld will be lucky if there is a show at all. A blizzard comes in and boom there will be no show at all and there is nothing they will be able to do about it. We met some of the Transworld staff and will press them to think of moving it elsewhere. Apparently we were not the only people with concerns. The ONE good thing about Transworld 2009 is that its only 10 months away. Gotta find the positive in everything.

[Motograter]

I just got home here from Vegas about an hour ago. Took about 26 hours to drive home. "Vegas to Detroit. Drove straight threw. Man I will never do that again. Next time I'll fly. Going to Vegas from Detroit took us 32 hours. I really had a great time in Vegas but I'm really looking forward to seeing it back in Chicago next year. Only will be a 4 hour drive. I agree with Larry though, its gonna be very cold and watch with our luck be stuck in a big snow storm!

[shawnc]

Houston in January

sounds fun. I'll sign up for that as soon as it's posted. But Chicago in January? There's a very real possibility that it would snow so bad that I wouldn't even be able to get there. Pass.

[tustinhaunt]

Never Chicago in Winter

I have been to Chicago in January... I will never willingly do that again.

Weather problems can be avoided. As far as Vegas goes: sitting in traffic for an hour to move a mile, high price for pretty much everything... thats just business as usual. Its not like the TW people didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

I would blame them for poor planning or just not caring enough to pick someplace different. IF they go back to Chicago, and in January - then they are just being lazy and are going back to the "fallback plan"

Obviously Chicago wasn't working out how they wanted it to, so they moved it to Vegas. Now Vegas... well I wouldn't say it didn't work out - people went there expecting it to be Vegas, but without all the Vegas problems.

If Vegas doesn't work out, MOVE IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Don't be dumb and go back to the old ways.

It is like people cannot deal with change, and when it DOES change, they just complain that the old way was better (even if it wasn't). And to those people... I say shame on you!

"Variety is the spice of life."

[drfrightner]

Today, I walked the ENTIRE SHOW FLOOR... I actually met the owner of Rubies, heard his take, talked to the guy who is organizing the new show, heard his view, and just walking down one lane I heard a bunch of vendors together saying... 'this is crazy Chicago in January'.

I also talked to Transworld reps today... they said after 2009 they'll move the show to any city the industry wants. Now that is tough getting all these people to agree will be really tough.

I told them flat out you need to go to Orlando. I think they agreed. They also said several other vendors had mentioned Orlando. If you want to do a massive tradeshow like this in the dead of winter the last place you'd pick is Chicago.

I will say this...

Vegas has changed and now I'm not such a big fan of the place for a trade show. No more do they have steak dinners for 5 bucks, or free drinks, or rooms for 40 bucks... it doesn't work like that anymore.

VEGAS IS VERY expensive but at the same time very entertaining for the tradeshow crowds.

See you must remember this ... Vendors want buyers, tradeshow organizers want buyers, so you must make buyers happy. NO BUYER wants to go to Chicago in January...nobody!

If you want to go to a Midwest city in January come to St. Louis... Chicago is sitting on the edge of the Great Lakes and all that wind blows that cold air around and its brutal.

Will Chicago make the buyers happy... NO FREAKIN WAY!

Bottom line is it will be interesting to see what happens but I do KNOW THIS... TRANSWORLD is listening and they want feedback so speak up!

I know they're listening, so here is your chance tell them what you think!

I say Orlando, and once you get it there keep it there!

Larry

[Smiley]

*cough* Orlando! *cough*

[Spookyfinder]

I vote Orlando! -Tyler

[MDKing]

I agree with you Tony, and Larry. The mexicans and the escort cards and the drive by banner trucks promoting"hot babes" got real old, real fast. I think it's time for Vegas to grow up, and leave that stuff for outside the city and those who are looking for it, can go to them instead of shoving it in our face! The city has too much going for it then to keep up this tactless charade! How can you see the amazing architecture and lavish shows inside and walk outside to see that stuff. Maybe they should move it all down to Fremont Street or something and leave the strip alone. But I will say, the guys from Pale Eye Productions imitating the mexicans outside passing out their info on the show floor was halarious!!

Now, I totally agree also that Texas, New Orleans, St. Louis, and especially Orlando is way better than Chicago in the winter. It's a terrible idea to put a tradeshow in Chicago in the winter! People seem to think that the show needs a haunt tour, but I for one do not go for haunt tours I go for the tradeshow and I'm sure I'm not alone. We did the Vegas thing, did the Chicago thing too many times now, lets move to a warmer climate anywhere from Texas or moving eastward! The Houston Halloween show may effect many vendors going to Chicago....

ORLANDO is the best option, and like Larry said keep it there. Iaapa should stay there too!


Allan

[Old Tree Studios]

As a former Disney employee and owner of a Florida based company, I'd like to officially add my vote for Florida. Even if we were based in Bangor, however, I'd still vote for Orlando. Convincing staff to take time off work to go to Chicago is a much harder sell than the balmy breezed, palm tree waving allure of Orlando. And of course, as an ex-Disney guy, I must assert that nobody does convention hospitality better than the Mouse.

[MDKing]

You can say that again!! Disney rules!

[Old Tree Studios]

Yes it is true. Scientific studies have shown that Disney does, in fact,... rule.