St. Louis Show Question

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 13 Jul 2011 6:18 am

It makes sense to me...

What makes no sense, is traveling to St. Louis only to observe the side shows, even as great as so many of them are. To truly experience Scotty's ISGC one has to take in the main event.

Even to visit the vendor booths outside the main hall is worth a price. They bring their store to you at significant expense to the store owner.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 3 Aug 2011 9:48 pm

Without Scotty there probably would not be a Steel Guitar Forum and definitely not a convention. Can anyone tell me where a poor man can get a reasonable motel near the convention? I was there last year and stayed several miles away from the convention. This year I would like to be closer. Also, where do I send my two day attendance fee too. Last year was my first year in 30 years so I know nothing.

Thanks,
Dave A. Burley

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Aug 2011 9:09 am

Scotty is correct. Some go to listen to the headliners on the main show, but others go to listen to the players in the music rooms......but it is all part of the total experience.

All should pay for access to the total musical experience of the convention. When all is said and done, many of the music rooms present more exposure to the steel guitar than the main room.

God Bless Scotty for his dedication to the steel-guitar.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 9 Aug 2011 3:11 pm

just paid for my badge-would have been cheap at twice the price.

JB

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 9 Aug 2011 5:28 pm

Where do I call to get my badge?
Dave

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 9 Aug 2011 8:51 pm

just call scottys. his number is on his website. you can also buy it once you get there.

jb

Doug Childress · Post by **Doug Childress** » 10 Aug 2011 5:15 am

To be happy with "pay" or "no pay" you will have to answer the question, "What is the purpose of the ISGC"? Is it to make money or promote the steel guitar?? You don't pay to get into the vendor area at the Dallas show or the Phoenix show. The vendors pay for their booths in order to sell products. If people who come by just to buy products are kept out it is no doubt going to hurt their business. This is a tough question and one I will not attempt to answer. It's kinda like arguing politics and religion...there is no winner here.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 10 Aug 2011 9:55 am

Well, you cant really compare the St Louis show to the others because the others are non-profits, and everyone's time is donated. St Louis is a business. You have to compare it to NAMM and other electronics style trade shows-or even here locally there's a couple of big coin shows that come through, and you have to pay to get in those. Comic-con, you always needed tickets, even before it got big. Dallas is actually an exception, not the rule. Heck, we charge $15 to get into the Denver show.

JB

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Aug 2011 12:17 pm

I'm sure all vendors would be in the convention hall if there was enough space. The floor plan is not ideal in that respect. Some are in the hallway, some in hospitality rooms. I'm sure the overhead at the Millinium is costly. The time involved in organizing the event is high. The solution is, attend the shows that fit your wallet or motive for attending. I've picked up items at Scotty's show for players that weren't attending. Not a big deal.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 10 Aug 2011 2:15 pm

Dennis Detweiler wrote:I'm sure all vendors would be in the convention hall if there was enough space. The floor plan is not ideal in that respect. Some are in the hallway, some in hospitality rooms.

Not so, Dennis. When the concert is going on the main hall, vendors can't have a decent conversation with an interested customer, much less discuss or demonstrate their products. I've had my product table in both the main concert hall and the hallway, and the hallway is better for sales.

Also, when in the hallway, a vendor can stay open and be available to customers for as long as he'd like; in past years the main hall was closed for much of the day on Friday due to band rehearsals. Since the product tables cost the same, but sales were restricted for hours at a time if the table was in the main hall, I preferred my hallway location.

Scotty may have changed this policy; I haven't attended ISGC for a couple of years and the vendor locations may have been made more equitable in recent years.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Aug 2011 4:04 pm

The availability factor makes sense.
I say, "huh?" in conversation in the main hall or hallway. Maybe the scars on my ear drums from too many years playing?

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 11 Aug 2011 12:34 pm

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend ISGC this year but some of the most fun I've had there has been in the vendor rooms at 2:00 in the morning. At first I thought that this was a bad idea but upon reflection I agree that Scotty should have done this all along.

Ted Smouse · Post by **Ted Smouse** » 15 Aug 2011 2:04 pm

I have attended many industry conventions for over 20 years. At most every convention or conference, it has been required to have paid registration to visit the trade show vendor area. The vendor area is generally considered part of the convention or conference.

I support Scotty!

Ted

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 16 Aug 2011 12:37 pm

Scotty, you will have Kim's and my support brother! See ya there. Kirk

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