nunfetishist (+1.5)
29/8/03 10:18PM |
I've only attended the Wakefield show the the past three years or so. It really does suffer from feeling like a car boot sale - but only in appearances. The general quality of the talks, the help you get from exhibitors, and the good northen pubs easily make up this. It'd be a shame for it to close its doors - it's one of my few remaining links to the RISC OS community, and I look forward to it every year.
As for costs, I don't think visitors would mind paying a little extra to get in (perhaps cheaper if you prebook.) People often forget how expensive such shows are to organise - it's not just the cost of the hall. You've got rental for equipment, insurance of the venue, and all sorts of other legal requirements.
I hope it stays around. |
markee174 (+1.5)
29/8/03 10:39PM |
What about offering an associate membership for the Wakefield group which goes towards the costs of the show? |
druck
29/8/03 11:17PM |
I think a really telling example of the decline of the RISC OS market, is that up to a couple of years ago, the ARM Club consisting of volunteers used to stay in the cheap and cheerful Campinile hotel situated in a scenic industrial park near the satdium, whilst all the professional RISC OS companies (and Acorn when they were still around) stayed in the relative luxuary of Cedar Court.
Now for the past two years, the ARM Club is the only exhibitor staying in Cedar Court (funded by our non RISC OS day jobs), and all the companies making money from RISC OS are slumming it in our old haunt of the Capanile.
That said, if the Cedar Court conference complex is a nice enough venue, it would be good for us - a lot quicker to get to the bar 
---druck
http://www.armclub.org.uk/ |
moss (+2.0)
30/8/03 12:21AM |
I'd easily be willing to pay double for Wakefield (couldn't manage it this year, but went the last two years, and will definitely be there next year). I wouldn't have thought the entrance fee is a problem for most people; as long as it's not completely extortionate, it's mainly down to whether people are free/convinience/etc. |
Timothy609
30/8/03 9:35AM |
With attitude like that no wonder t's shrinking! It's the nearest RISC OS computer show to me, so I feel it should definitely be continued - but never in a 4m x 4m room, because it will never get to that! |
Spriteman (-1.0)
30/8/03 11:59AM |
The only problem regarding the cost as far as I can see is that the entrance fee isn't the only thing that needs paying. The train/air fare, accommodation and food etc are also an issue for people who have to travel to get there. However, perhaps you can say that the entry fee is only a small part of the overall cost then.
--
Spriteman. |
hzn (+2.5)
30/8/03 1:25PM |
I never went to Wakefield Show for the main reason that getting there from outside the UK is not as easy as the old Acorn World was. Some place close to an airport which is serviced from the Netherlands and Germany e.g. has a better chance to attract visitors from outside the UK. But for them usually reasonably priced accomodation and a two-day show to make the trip worthwhile and give us a chance to enjoy a good English pub does increase the chances for continental users go come overseas (please not that for us UK is overseas...) |
Wakeman (+2.5)
30/8/03 2:45PM |
Leeds/Bradford Airport does have direct flights to/from Netherlands still. There is also North Sea Ferries to Hull and then train/coach/car. |
nijinsky (+2.0)
31/8/03 10:58AM |
Or hold it near an airport that ryanair fly to. IE Prestwick ir Stanstead. Or near a major train route like York.
cheers
bob |
Wakeman (+1.0)
31/8/03 12:01PM |
Wakefield is on the East Coast main line to Leeds! hourly service most of the time and good connections from Doncaster. Direct trains from Manchester or via Huddersfield/Leeds. |
naytone
31/8/03 12:57PM |
I hope the Wakefield group feel they can maintain the show; I will certainly miss it if they cannot. I think the location is fine but have the ex UK visitors got other ideas?
I'd pay more for the entrance and/or theatre stuff (even if it's extra!).
Like the idea of being in the same hotel - get there the night before & fall out of bed for the show! It could make an interesting RiscOS pre-show evening if lots arrive the night before! |
vshears (-1.0)
1/9/03 10:00AM |
I have been a regular at the Wakefield Show since it started in spite of the fact that I live in Maidstone and when attending usually stay in Hartlepool. However I have been unable to attend for the last 2 years simply because the dates of the show have been announced to late for me to be able to organise to attend.
Hope I am lucky next year
--
Victor Shears, Maidstone |
Wakeman (-1.0)
1/9/03 11:57AM |
The show this year was announced in December 2002! was that not early enough? |
AW (+1.0)
1/9/03 12:49PM |
I'd pay more for the entrance fee as I think it's a great event to show things off and meet people and the only time most people
can go out somewhere and come home with a piece of RISC OS software or hardware.
What great memories people must have of this place.
I think it's terrible that it's made a loss and cannot see why it should continue to be like this with the advent of the Iyonix and Omega.
--
God Save the Queen |
dansguardian (-1.0)
1/9/03 1:40PM |
I would certainly pay more for an entrance fee. But remember the types of people who buy RISC OS boxen; they are often tight fisted people still using their A3000 having not bothered upgrading in 10 years  |
nunfetishist (-1.0)
1/9/03 5:13PM |
Or, they're people who buy every product the instant it comes out, in the name of supporting the market. Even if the product in question was crap, horribly over priced, useless, or all of the above. |
vshears (-1.0)
2/9/03 5:12PM |
Was it really December 2002 Wakefield was announced?. All I remember was trying to hold off booking the week long spring break my other half wanted to take for as long as possible. Under pressure I plumped for the 1st week in May thinking the show was always mid to late May and then finding it co-incided with the booking  .
--
Victor Shears, Maidstone |
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