Inquiring about rental for a classic computer convention (Was:Commodore ignored)

[RobertB]

Which reminds me to call or e-mail the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Well, I made contact with Valerie Alston of the Computer History Museum.  Her terse response to my inquiry about renting out space for a classic computer show (a la Vintage Computer Festival) --

         $4,300/day on the weekend for the Grand Hall (where VCF had its sales tables and exhibits)
         $4,500/day on the weekend for Hahn Auditorium (half the square footage of the Grand Hall but fully set up audio-visually)

Say that the Grand Hall was rented... without accounting for vendor's paying any fees for their tables, it would take 215 attendees at $20 each to pay for one day in the Grand Hall.  With those above dollar amounts, it would be have to be a serious investment, perhaps calling for sponsors to help out.

         FCUG celebrating 30 years,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         The Other Group of Amigoids
         http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
         Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
         http://www.sccaners.org

[Paul]

    Well, I made contact with Valerie Alston of the Computer History Museum.  Her terse response to my inquiry about renting out space for a classic computer show (a la Vintage Computer Festival) --

         $4,300/day on the weekend for the Grand Hall (where VCF had its sales tables and exhibits)
         $4,500/day on the weekend for Hahn Auditorium (half the square footage of the Grand Hall but fully set up audio-visually)

Say that the Grand Hall was rented... without accounting for vendor's paying any fees for their tables, it would take 215 attendees at $20 each to pay for one day in the Grand Hall.  With those above dollar amounts, it would be have to be a serious investment, perhaps calling for sponsors to help out.

Yes, those hall rentals can get quite expensive, depending on the venue.  Normally, the tables wouldn't be $20 each; I would think closer to $100 for a basic booth (single table), $180 for a double, and then a few select premium spots.  The bigger, more advertised the show, the more expensive it is to get a spot.  Most organizers get a commitment that covers their expenses before committing to the rental agreement.

[RobertB]

Yes, those hall rentals can get quite expensive, depending on the venue.

And I'm just used to paying for the CommVEx venue which is in the $800 range for the entire weekend.

Normally, the tables wouldn't be $20 each; I would think closer to $100 for a basic booth (single table), $180 for a double, and then a few select premium spots.

I believe it was $150 just for a 2-day space at VCF.  (I would be given a discount as a long-time VCF vendor; the price would be $100.)  If tables were required or a bigger space needed, the price would go up.  I'd have to look at my older VCF e-mails to see how much the charges actually were.

Most organizers get a commitment that covers their expenses before committing to the rental agreement.

Ah, so that's how it works.

          FCUG celebrating 30 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

Yes, those hall rentals can get quite expensive, depending on the venue.

An idea from the president of TOGA club - look at a hotel in the area.  If the Amiwest Show can use the Holiday Inn Express for their show, why can't a similar thing be done in the Computer History Museum area?  I'll have to inquire about floor space at likely hotels.

          FCUG celebrating 30 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

I'll have to inquire about floor space at likely hotels.

In the Mountain View area, the Holiday Inn Express does not seem to offer any meeting space.  However, the Hilton Garden Inn offers 2,400 square feet of space... from what I gather, divided into 2 rooms.  That is slightly less than 1/4 the size of the Grand Hall at the Computer History Museum and 1/2 the size of the Hahn Auditorium at CHM.  I'd be more comfortable with a venue the size of the Grand Hall at 5,500 square feet.  (There is the old adage... beggars can't be choosers.)

         FCUG celebrating 30 years,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

     I've sent a letter of inquiry to Jason Scott who is running Blockparty 5 (2011) in California this year.  The only information that he currently has at http://www.demoparty.us is a general date of September for Blockparty.  Perhaps he would like to combine Blockparty with a classic computer convention.

          Blockparty was associated with Notacon
          for the last 4 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

I've sent a letter of inquiry to Jason Scott who is running Blockparty 5 (2011) in California this year.

At Notacon Radio during the Notacon 8/PixelJam Demoparty in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday, Jason Scott called in when I was speaking about Commodore and Amiga, and we talked about Blockparty among other things.

The only information that he currently has at http://www.demoparty.us is a general date of September for Blockparty.

He said that he is moving that date later in the year.

Perhaps he would like to combine Blockparty with a classic computer convention.

He said that he would be willing to have classic computers combined with Blockparty, but not to the degree of a California Vintage Computer Festival due to his using a smaller venue.  It looks as if the venue he is considering will be free or almost free and that it will be in San Francisco.
    I am hopeful, and he has given permission to spread the word to all classic computerists.

         At the Cleveland Airport,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

He said that he would be willing to have classic computers combined with Blockparty, but not to the degree of a California Vintage Computer Festival due to his using a smaller venue.  It looks as if the venue he is considering will be free or almost free and that it will be in San Francisco.

In an e-mail, Jason specified more -- that he is looking to have the event at The MADE; which will be a new museum/space opening in San Francisco later this year. The MADE, funded by kickstarter, at:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/themade/the-museum-of-art-and-digital-entertainment

will hopefully be at a 5800 square foot location right in the middle of SF.  If all goes to plan, Blockparty will be in December, and the Classic Computer Convention Pacifica will be part of that event.

          Writing from the Los Angeles area,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex