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FStephenMasek
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Post subject: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 17, 2017 5:30 pm |
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Joined: Mar Sun 11, 2007 6:55 am Posts: 11027 Location: Mission Viejo, southern California
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I met a collector of other things a few years ago wgo told me that his club benefited greatly by upgrading to better food and a better location. The opposite also works, in the opposite way. Events in lousy locations with lousy food is a great way to drive away attendance and membership.
_________________ many of my radios http://s269.photobucket.com/user/FSteph ... t=3&page=1
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Sol
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 17, 2017 6:08 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 1381 Location: Bend OR 97703
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This is so true.
While the purists will always go to some lengths to participate, the actual enjoyment of anything does matter. It just makes good business sense that making an 'event' - and that's what a gathering is, whatever the function - as enjoyable as possible in as many aspects as possible will increase participation.
Many years ago there was a local brewery that had really good beer and really good food. They did okay until the crash, then struggled, eventually closing their doors. Meanwhile, a few miles away, a corporate brewery-restaurant opened up with okay beer and okay food and BLARING ROCK MUSIC and BIG SCREEN TVs to watch sports on, and they are still open to this day.
As a bit of a beer snob I was sorry to see the other place go, but really, that's the difference? Just turn on some tunes and put up a few big screens and problem solved???
Sad but true.
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Dale H. Cook
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 17, 2017 6:44 pm |
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Joined: Feb Sun 02, 2014 9:13 pm Posts: 2152 Location: Roanoke, VA
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Although I had been to the Museum in the past, last month was my first visit to a swap meet and auction at the Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington WV. I bought a number of things at the meet and three in the auction. The buffet lunch was quite good, and the whole day well-attended and very enjoyable, and well worth the trip and the cost of a night in a hotel (it is much too far for me to day trip at my age). I look forward to attending future events there.
_________________ Dale H. Cook, Antique Radios / Test Equipment (GR/HP/Tek) http://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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fifties
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 17, 2017 10:24 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 37005 Location: SoCal, 91387
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I'm not too sure about the OP's concept. The SCARS meet in Burbank this last June generated very mediocre attendance, as compared to the previous two years. The food, while not necessarily at a gourmet level (coffee, donuts, popcorn, hamburgers, hot dogs, with all condiments, bottled water and canned soda) was free, as it always is.
A true collector isn't gonna give a damn about whether there's food and drink, or what the location is, if he's bent on obtaining something he desires.
_________________ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins/////////////////////////
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Allen G
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 17, 2017 11:47 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 964 Location: Long Beach, CA USA
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I think the larger issue is declining numbers of people interested in antique radios. I know lots of younger people collecting things, but it's stuff like early video games, and Legos.
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zenith82
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Sat 18, 2017 12:04 am |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 7539 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Allen G wrote: I think the larger issue is declining numbers of people interested in antique radios. I know lots of younger people collecting things, but it's stuff like early video games, and Legos. I don't think it's so much that as it is the way people participate in the hobby. Just like the way lodges and social clubs were popular with the WWI and WWII generations and have all but disappeared, it doesn't mean that people don't still socialize. The venue has changed. Most of us that aren't retired yet don't have the time to go to things like club meets, so we participate in venues like this forum or other discussion groups. This is our version of a club meet and the best part is you don't have to wait for a given date when you may have a conflict. It's been over 15 years since I last attended a radio club meet. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't have the time.
_________________ Tom
PM me for my email address
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sgath92
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Sat 18, 2017 3:36 am |
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Joined: Sep Wed 19, 2012 3:34 am Posts: 864 Location: Bethlehem, PA
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Sol wrote: This is so true.
While the purists will always go to some lengths to participate, the actual enjoyment of anything does matter. It just makes good business sense that making an 'event' - and that's what a gathering is, whatever the function - as enjoyable as possible in as many aspects as possible will increase participation.
Many years ago there was a local brewery that had really good beer and really good food. They did okay until the crash, then struggled, eventually closing their doors. Meanwhile, a few miles away, a corporate brewery-restaurant opened up with okay beer and okay food and BLARING ROCK MUSIC and BIG SCREEN TVs to watch sports on, and they are still open to this day.
As a bit of a beer snob I was sorry to see the other place go, but really, that's the difference? Just turn on some tunes and put up a few big screens and problem solved???
Sad but true. Personally I don't drink, but I will go into places like these for the food at least once to try it while searching for places I like enough to go back to. Found some interesting meals that way. It pains me to hear that the obnoxious loud music and walls full of TVs model does better since I always find it the least enjoyable. Its like those TV commercials that YELL VERY LOUDLY at you. Everyone ends up screaming over each other to hear each other and its even worse if you're half deaf like I am.
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homebrew
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Sat 18, 2017 5:17 am |
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Joined: Aug Mon 18, 2008 3:17 pm Posts: 1177 Location: Dallas Tx.
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I've been to a couple that were too big to see everything. That was totally irritating. And a couple more that had poor audio systems to the point that I could not participate in the auctions and developed head aches trying to listen to the lectures.
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Flinx
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Sun 19, 2017 10:22 pm |
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Joined: Sep Mon 10, 2012 10:41 pm Posts: 4107 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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require that only club members can sell is another way to limit attendance. Some people have radios to sell but don't want to join a club. like me, the local radio club (there's only one) only lets members sell. Their swap meets are anemic to say the least, sometimes only 3 or 4 sellers show up.
_________________ Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
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Jim Mueller
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 1:30 am |
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Joined: Sep Mon 16, 2013 2:42 am Posts: 4444 Location: Tucson, Arizona U.S.A.
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Schedule an antique radio swap meet the same day as a hamfest. The club Flinz refers to has done exactly that. I'll be going to the hamfest. There will be a lot more stuff to look at and the prices will be better. Also, there will be more sellers still there after I drive 120 miles to get there.
_________________ Jim Mueller
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Tube Radio
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 2:36 am |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 21008 Location: Warner Robins, GA
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sgath92 wrote: Everyone ends up screaming over each other to hear each other. Most of that can be attributed to a bad sound system install and/or setup as the correct sound system properly set up can be turned up without being obnoxious and causing people to talk louder just to hear each other. I too don't like restaurants with real loud music.
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fifties
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 10:57 am |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 37005 Location: SoCal, 91387
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Tube Radio wrote: I too don't like restaurants with real loud music.
Or other diners who have to talk very loud, esp females. This is why God invented ear plugs... 
_________________ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins/////////////////////////
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47volts
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 7:13 pm |
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Joined: Apr Tue 07, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 456 Location: Blue Lake, MA
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Food? It makes no difference to me, I can find my own food.
I attend for the old radios, and conversation with friends and other collectors.
At my age the only “perk” I ask for ... the place has a working bathroom.
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FStephenMasek
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 9:07 pm |
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Joined: Mar Sun 11, 2007 6:55 am Posts: 11027 Location: Mission Viejo, southern California
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The SCARS two day event last week was held at a motel with no working restrooms in the meeting room building, and no water, so they used paper / plastic plates.....
_________________ many of my radios http://s269.photobucket.com/user/FSteph ... t=3&page=1
Last edited by FStephenMasek on Nov Wed 22, 2017 11:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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fifties
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 9:15 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 37005 Location: SoCal, 91387
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FStephenMasek wrote: The SCARS two day event last week was held at a motel wit no working restrooms in the meeting room building, and no water, so they used paper / plastic plates..... Well hell, that's a deal killer right there; I only dine on fine china, when seeking antique radios... 
_________________ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins/////////////////////////
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Steve Johnson
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Mon 20, 2017 9:37 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 4453 Location: Elbridge NY, USA
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FStephenMasek wrote: The SCARS two day event last week was held at a motel wit no working restrooms in the meeting room building, and no water, so they used paper / plastic plates..... If I drive the motorhome I don't have to put up with any of that "crap"... I just spend all of my money on gas instead of stuff... 
_________________ Steve Johnson https://stevenjohnson.com - Steve's Antique Technology
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47volts
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Wed 22, 2017 5:58 am |
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Joined: Apr Tue 07, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 456 Location: Blue Lake, MA
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FStephenMasek wrote: The SCARS two day event last week was held at a motel wit no working restrooms in the meeting room building, and no water, so they used paper / plastic plates..... ... no working restrooms so attendees used paper and plastic plates? Most places I’ve been to that have no working restrooms usually use Porta-Potties.
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FStephenMasek
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Wed 22, 2017 11:33 pm |
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Joined: Mar Sun 11, 2007 6:55 am Posts: 11027 Location: Mission Viejo, southern California
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Instead, people had to walk way across the property to the one restroom in the lobby, or to a stuck in the 1970s suite with a dozen wires (live?) hanging out of a wall box just inside the door they had unlocked. It would have been humorous if it was not so silly and unnecessary, as a beautiful new meeting place and restaurant with a free early American history museum is less than a ten minute walk away: https://www.greendragontavernca.com/
_________________ many of my radios http://s269.photobucket.com/user/FSteph ... t=3&page=1
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zarco
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 24, 2017 3:05 am |
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Joined: Jan Mon 28, 2013 9:35 pm Posts: 1633 Location: Santa Rosa, CA
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Soapbox time;
Unfortunatly I've seen a number of excellent electronic swaps bite the dust in northern California over the years. And two more are just barely holding on. The #1 way to kill a swap it to charge sellers too much. $10 - $15/spot is the sweet spot. More than that and people that only have a few items to sell won't bother. And those are the guys that usually offer the best variety and deals. Prices too high and you'll end up with a bunch of high priced dealers and little else. Buyer interest will dwindle. #2, location.....all too often swaps are held close to where an organizer lives even if its hard to get to and has limited space and parking #3, don't forget swaps are for the benefit of *collectors*, not just for clubs, museums or your local charity. Not that these organizations cannot benefit but they absolutely won't if collectors/buyers don't get good deals that keep them coming back. The absolute worst thing to do is explain away high prices by saying "its for the benefit of the club". That gets old real fast. #4, keep it friendly as many folks use swaps to socialize and meet other collectors....also encourage new people by NOT restricting who can sell...this helps the hobby long term. Having reasonably priced chow is nice but not mandatory. Clubs often make more greenbacks by selling 'hamfest hot dogs'.
I'll readily admit to being a swap/junkfest junkie and have been for decades. Only went to two swaps all of last year for the very reasons outlined above. Steve #soapbox mode off
_________________ 'cell phones and the internet are tools, not a lifestyle'
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bullseyeguyz
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Post subject: Re: How to kill radio club events Posted: Nov Fri 24, 2017 2:41 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 2118 Location: Sioux Falls, SD
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I would love to live in an area with any meet, even one with no restrooms.... Even if it didn't live up to anyone's expectations at least the group got together There are many radio wastelands out there without meets/clubs.
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