Vision Expo. Time to come clean!

[Lee Prewitt]

I think venue has a lot to do for attendance. I like Vegas because I look forward to eating at some wonderful restaurants and maybe taking in a show. But I will stipulate that they are kind of expensive.

[Craig]

We look forward to going to Vegas every year and look for a reason not to go to the NY show. It is so much easier when yoiu can stay at the facility or within walking diastance.
We would probably not go to Chicago for a show unless we really wanted something that was only at a show. I cannot think of anything.

Craig

[optical24/7]

Heck, I only go for the free beer, hot wings and pizza Johns, OBX and Fluffy Bob buy me.....






Same place and time again this year fella's??


:bbg::cheers::bbg:

[kcount]

What happened to the show in Chicago (Midwest Vision Congress) usually in May/June?? Why not center everything around it??

OK, K-dog gets to show some age here. So, The Midwest Vision Expo died a couple of years a go when Reed Exhibition realized that they were running a very expensive education event that had a vendor show floor attached. This of course stems from the fact that the show was originally called EyeQuest and was an off shoot of a magazine of the same name. As those of you may remember the Eyequest show was all about CE's the vendors were a tack on. So after many years of this and people not seeing the Midwest show as a time to purchase products the vendors finally said enough and walked. The Chicago show dies. It could also be said that holding the show in Rosemont, which while convenient to the airport, isn't as exciting as if it were down town, but hey, it was cheaper!

Would I attend a show in Davenport, Iowa? Maybe, but I would rather be able to tie it into a vacation/trip with the wife.

[lensmama]

I have gone for credits in the past, but I usually go with a shopping list and to meet up with people that I don't get to see often. I live in CT, so NY is a short ride on the train. I have actually been to Davenport, IA while on disaster assignment with the Red Cross when the Mississippi River flooded in the 90's and I would gladly return.

[Johns]

I have actually been to Davenport, IA while on disaster assignment with the Red Cross when the Mississippi River flooded in the 90's and I would gladly return.

When I drive to Vegas, I usually leave my place around 9:00 PM, and get to Davenport around 6:00AM. I often head down to the river for a quick bike ride to stretch my legs, then to the truck stop for a quick shower, and breakfast, and head out for Denver. I've never been in a city that I feel safer in, and in October, the weather's always been awesome.

I picked this city as an example, because while it's a nice place, it's not a destination such as NYC or Vegas.

[engnenk]

You do need an airport with good connections, sufficient hotel space and good conference facilities. I would bet that there are cities that would make concessions galore in order to attract a large convention. Instead, it is held in one of the most expensive venues in the country and the cost of the venue is built into the prices of the frames, lenses, etc, and the overhead of the optician. Why not smaller, cheaper regional shows that can be accessed by independents?

[Striderswife]

Mine isn't for CEUs, nor so much to see new equipment, but rather to see how many free pens I can get, and how many parties (hosted by vendors I don't patronize:bbg:) I can sneak into. Or, maybe it's just to get out of town for a few days and get a fresh perspective of the industry.

Um, guilty, here. I've been to VEE twice, but never to VEW. And the company I worked for was paying the bill, so I had to take some CE classes. But I purposely left extra room in my suitcase, for the LOOT I was planning on bringing home.

I would love to go to the Vegas show someday. And the last time I was there (just a couple months ago), one of our nights in the Luxor was about $39. Cool beans.

Oklahoma City has this fancy-schmancy convention center that was built recently, with the hopes of getting the NBA team. Well, it worked, and I know they're looking for major shows to bring hordes of people here and spend money downtown. We do have a world airport. . .

[harry888]

Lee nailed it right on, venue does matter.

Why would staff want to go to a show then spend the night in a cookie-cutter hotel room and eat at Olive Garden? If VEE was in New Jersey or the suburbs myself and staff would not go. We actually had this discussion last week, they would not want to go if they took a bus into the show then took the bus home afterwards. They like doing the New York shopping after the show.

Harry

I think venue has a lot to do for attendance. I like Vegas because I look forward to eating at some wonderful restaurants and maybe taking in a%>0show. But E will stipudate that thay are kind`of expensive.

[Johns]

Lee nailed it right on, venue does matter.

Why would staff want to go to a show then spend the night in a cookie-cutter hotel room and eat at Olive Garden? If VEE was in New Jersey or the suburbs myself and staff would not go. We actually had this discussion last week, they would not want to go if they took a bus into the show then took the bus home afterwards. They like doing the New York shopping after the show.

Harry

That was my point of this thread. I think that often, and especially in the case of VEW (for me) the venue is a bigger draw than the event, unlike something like UnExpo, where we could meet in Winchester, Va. and be just as happy.

I think that often, these events give themselves too much credit, thinking they can adjust the days, hours, and even the delivery of the event and the strength of the show will carry itself. Not so in my book...

[obxeyeguy]

I personally find Vegas somewhat distracting. All that casino noise, scantily clad women, and free drinks in all hotels just doesn't seem right when I am trying to work. As for raiding the big boy parties, I heard about these, but have no way of finding them.

Gambling?? On what opticians make???

[optical24/7]

I personally find Vegas somewhat distracting. All that casino noise, scantily clad women, and free drinks in all hotels just doesn't seem right when I am trying to work. As for raiding the big boy parties, I heard about these, but have no way of finding them.

Gambling?? On what opticians make???

So, those were your wife's funds I saw you at the tables with last year??







Oh, and you'd have more funds if you wern't offering poor models a thread and needle to stitch up their strategically placed "rips" in their outfits.


:bbg::bbg::bbg:

[libellule]

Um, guilty, here. I've been to VEE twice, but never to VEW. And the company I worked for was paying the bill, so I had to take some CE classes. But I purposely left extra room in my suitcase, for the LOOT I was planning on bringing home.

I would love to go to the Vegas show someday. And the last time I was there (just a couple months ago), one of our nights in the Luxor was about $39. Cool beans.

Oklahoma City has this fancy-schmancy convention center that was built recently, with the hopes of getting the NBA team. Well, it worked, and I know they're looking for major shows to bring hordes of people here and spend money downtown. We do have a world airport. . .

And now that Seattle has no NBA team....but does have a world class convention/trade center, international airport, lots of great Hotels and restaurants.....they should move it here.

Besides...who doesn't lova a ferry ride with views of white-capped mountains and the chance to see on Orca?

[GAgal]

The parties would consist of pabst blue ribbon and beer nuts!

Hey! My kind of party! I already have the redneck and white socks

[harry888]

Back to Johns suggestion of Davenport........

Yeah, it would be inexpensive to spend a few days there, but how many attend these meetings as just day trips? Lots of conference attendees are day trippers and don't have the time or funds for more than one day.

How many people live within the New York metro area that can attend even just for a day or afternoon?

How many people live within a day's drive of Davenport?

Vegas is doable as a day trip from California.

I would prefer to do two days in New York, but hotels are too costly, so I do a day trip yearly with my staff and enjoy a late afternoon/early evening in NYC before going home.

Harry