Prime was fun as always, but clearly the decline of the show was
evident. Less vendors, less exhibitors, less attendance. Ram was going
to cancel the show this year but decided to continue one more year -
the clubs were going to take over the PRIME name but he wanted money
for it so they decided to break completely with the past and get a new
name. The GEARS show will be in Portland next year. (This is all 2nd
hand info so forgive me if I got any details wrong)

The failure of PRIME had two main reasons.
1) People don't take the time to exhibit their models and projects.
Without exhibitors there is no show. If GEARS is to stand a chance in
hell of continuing the tradition of a NW show, people need to get off
their asses and display!

2) Ram and Patrick, who deserve praise for starting the show, really
let it wither on the vine. You need more promotion than a text ad in
HSM, and a website that only gets update every couple of years. The
difference between the advertising for the Visalia show and PRIME was
stunning. You also need more involvement from the different clubs, but
I think that there were problems in that interface.

Oh and a guy cut his pinkie off in a vee belt on Saturday.

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 09:43:07 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:

Speaking of shows, I didn't hear a peep about PRIME this year (late
September, Eugene Oregon) except a rumor afterward that they aren't
going to do it again.

Any info?

Grant

Scott S. Logan wrote:
On 27 Oct 2003 20:34:48 -0800, (Leigh Knudson)
wrote:


A vistor told me the management should reduce the vendor
fees and raise the admission fee ($7.00) so more exhibitors would
attend. He wasn't complaining about a lack of vendors but though more
whould make the show more interesting.


Well, since the admission fee is charged to exhibitors (and that is
ALL they have to pay to exhibit their work), this would not help.

Perhaps this is a case of mistaken terminology. There are three
groups of people at these shows: Vendors, Exhibitors, and Visitors.

Vendors (such as us, Meridian, MarMachine, Shooting Star etc.) pay the
highest fees. Booth fees for Vendors at the various shows can run
$150 to $500 and up, depending on booth size and other options.

Exhibitors are those who show their work. At least with the Cabin
Fever run shows, they are not allowed to sell goods. They pay nothing
other than the entrance fee, and can stake out a location and show off
their work. IMHO, the Exhibitors are what will make or break a show.
I have been talking with Gary, and we are working on ways to make it
more attractive for Exhibitors to show their work, and to stay through
the whole show. These plans may include gifts, drawings, or perhaps
refunds of admission fees. When these plans are worked out, it will
be announced here and elsewhere.

Finally, the visitors. Somewhere around 2000 attended this show,
which was thought to be pretty good for a first show. Certainly
better than the early Cabin Fever shows, and look at what those have
grown into.

I hope everyone enjoyed the show, and invite you all back next year.
If you have something to show, models, tools, engines, etc., please
bring them, and a friend. Get a space, show your stuff, and have the
friend along so you can switch off showing off and visiting the rest
of the show.

Scott