Transworld 2015 - New Rules Changes to Policy (what do you think)

[Joe P]

Enthusiasts?

Werent we ALL "enthusiasts" at one point. Im a buyer, and I go every year. I have walked away from booths, but if its something I want or need I always go back. Its a three day show for petes sake are we all that petty? If you want to buy youll buy, regardless of the extras. I loved the show this year, I thought it was better than last. Be careful what you wish for, how many of you can or will afford IAAPA? Without my vendor friends I would'nt see it......food for thought

[Marr Branch]

and what about Halloween Extreme?
For "haunters" or "enthusiasts"?
It's also a Transworld show.

Let's not forget about what makes Halloween FUN for us all. Without the "Enthusiasts" (who ever that is) Transworld would be just another boring show.

To me EVERY enthusiast is a potential buyer.
To me a worse distraction are casinos and non Halloween vendors (like paper plates and party store stuff) that compete with me for the same dollar.

Give me a craps table and free alcohol, I will spend a lot more at the haunt show.

[zombietoxin]

Werent we ALL "enthusiasts" at one point. Im a buyer, and I go every year. I have walked away from booths, but if its something I want or need I always go back. Its a three day show for petes sake are we all that petty? If you want to buy youll buy, regardless of the extras. I loved the show this year, I thought it was better than last. Be careful what you wish for, how many of you can or will afford IAAPA? Without my vendor friends I would'nt see it......food for thought

I feel the same. I went and I plowed through the crowds and dropped about 17K annnnnd I brought along 15 other staff- from managers to makeup to regular actors (none of them wore costumes, thank god).

So you can blame guys like me for crowded isles, but first know that of those 15 others who paid their dues to get in (for whose benefit?) also dropped a combined $1300 in cash and carry, product orders that were not planned and SEMINARS.

Peanuts? Yup, to some, but ask those vendors if they want to refund those peanuts now? Not to mention the money spent on rooms, food and the DRINKS for God's sake!

Why, yes! Let's just throw all that money away! Said no one, ever.

You know, I don't have to go to the show- none of us do. The buyers know who has what. We can buy all day long right from our own shitter and get everything we need.

But I still go every year and beg our staff to come for one reason. TEAM BUILDING.

For those that don't know, don't care or pay someone else to do it for you somewhere else- TW is a great place to build the family and share the experience.

[RJ Productions]

But I still go every year and beg our staff to come for one reason. TEAM BUILDING.

For those that don't know, don't care or pay someone else to do it for you somewhere else- TW is a great place to build the family and share the experience.

So I guess I would ask you, what is the purpose of Transworld??? Possibly even ask Transworld. What is its purpose??

Is it merely a fun time? Is it a "feel good" experience for your actors? Is it a team building experience? Or is it a trade show???

Any good show may have a little bit of different aspects to make it unique or more interesting but it must have one SINGULAR purpose.

Transworld was set up as a TRADE SHOW. Its purpose is to provide a platform to bring sellers and buyers together, period.

Seminars, activities, get togethers, all add to the experience but are NOT the main purpose. The big gun Vendors attend Transworld for one purpose,
sell you their product and/or services.

Other shows developed with a focus on providing some of the other experiences you described. Nothing wrong with that, there are some pretty good shows.
But because their main focus in NOT that of a trade show, most of the "big guns" do not attend. Each can be successful IF they remain true to their own purpose.

The shows that fail are those that try and be more than they are. If Transworld tries to be too much more than an actual trade show it will fail. Why do you think
that Transworld bought the Midwest Haunters show? To compete with itself? NO! To provide something it did not want to dilute the main show with. Why do you think
Transworld created the Legendary Haunt Tour? Again, it does not want to compete with itself, each show provides a different aspect. Do you see all the vendors at the
Haunt Tour? Only if they are taking the tour!!!

So I am glad your staff is all warm and fuzzy, but look at it this way. When the haunts that come to the show to spend the money that keeps these vendors in business
can't get to those vendors or spend quality time because the time and space is taken up by all the extra attendees that combined are spending $1,300, maybe they won't
buy that $5,000 animation.

Don't get me wrong, I attended my first TW show as an "enthusiast" but since I did not own a haunt yet I did not expect to be able to purchase anything at wholesale.
I was strictly on a "scouting mission". So what I have said from the beginning is that there needs to be some delineation. If you own a haunt or manage it you get a
set number of BUYER badges. If you need a couple GUEST badges you can buy them. A first time person or someone wanting to get into the business also registers as
a guest. Now the Vendors (who PAY for the show and again are the purpose of the show) can make the choice. They deal with the BUYERS first, spend the money on catalogs
and fliers for the BUYERS who are most likely to make a purchase as opposed to a GUEST who just wants to have a cool catalog to show his friends.

The problem that occurs with all the extra non-participating attendees is a domino effect. Too many people push the actual BUYERS away. Too many non-Trade Show aspects to
the show and these buying attendees decide to just stay home. They may continue to buy stuff, but they will only buy on line and from vendors they are already familiar with. So
now new vendors miss an opportunity. They don't get to bring their new ideas to the table in front of this buying group. No new challenges and the established vendors may not
feel the need to "up their game" so now everyone loses. But hey, your crew got motivated! Motivating your crew IS a good thing, but can't it also be accomplished at the Haunt Tour?
At the Midwest Haunters Convention, or even Hauntcon????

This issue split the Halloween Show once. The Costume section left and created their own show that satisfied their needs. How long till history repeats itself? Or we wake up and
make things work.

[zombietoxin]

You raise a good question- What is the purpose of a trade show? Particularly in the age of information and instant access. It might not be the same thing it started out pre-internet/instant access to everything.

Like they say- the only constant is change.

Anyway, you are saying the same thing as everyone- too crowded. I was there for 3 days and my only gripe was moving from one booth to the next- not talking to the vendor or spending money.

Maybe they should open more of the hall up and double the isle width. To be sure, they don't exactly have the widest isles I have ever seen at a show. Yeah, like an option that might fix an over crowding problem would ever see the light of day... lol

Hell of a problem to have too many people willing to spend 50 bucks just to look at your goods, I say.

Again, I plowed through the crowd, talked to the people I wanted to talk to, spent too much money, ate, drank, made friends, saw old friends (that are not buyers) and had a great time with my staff and yet the vendors got what they wanted- my entire budget. Again. Etc for the last 5 years...

In fact I have never left the show thinking- those damn mullets kept me from buying staff! Curses! Ever.

Like I said- I can stay home and spend and learn just as much, so what is the purpose again?

I guess I just don't have a problem spending money

[gorezone]

Rich,

I think Transworld should be a tradeshow, while MHC can be something between, while all the other shows can be straight conventions. The main show is sliding into the abyss if it wants to stay a tradeshow because it seems now more like a convention. I have to say as a buyer and or as a vendor I'd rather HALF the amount of people so you can spend more time talking business. Wouldn't everyone be okay with spending less time waiting to talk to a REAL buyer or seller? Cut out the actors, enthusiasts and people who don't own or operate an attraction then PUMP WAY UP MHC into being what Transworld main show seems to be sliding into.

Another way to put it is maybe MHC is the show with the most attendance, and maybe the main show attendance sinks by 50% but to me anyway that would be the right thing to do. Ways to achieve that possibly is raise admission double or triple in fact. Ban all costumes, cut down on events and activities, in other words make the show a lot more boring. On the other hand make MHC everything the main show is not and then some. Lets be honest St Louis is not buzzing with haunted houses to tour while in Columbus there are more than you can shake a stick at. Haunters depending on your definition are not specifically owners or operators of haunts, but all haunters owners or not want to tour haunts. Haunt tours at MHC, parties at MHC, events at MHC, nothing at Transworld.

This might streamline the main show and help buyers buy and do business, and help vendors spend more time with people who actually want to spend money.

The show will be a bit more boring yes but better for it.

[Grimley]

I agree the price needs to be raised to about $200 per person to clear some room.

[SAWDUST JONES]

I love this business, but seriously, I've never seen such a small industry filled with as many "too big for their own pants" participants as the haunted house industry.

Let's price the show so high that only the real pros can afford to attend, and when the real pro's fumble, or the economy shifts, or the real pros own so much product that they stop buying new product, then we can just fold it all up and go home.

$200? Why not $1000? $1000 is small money for all the big spenders in the biz.

Complaining about getting rooms and seating at restaurants? Really? If you are so darn well to do, there is no shortage of rooms and restaurants in St. Louis for you to enjoy. Of course, you might have to travel more than two miles away but, hey, some people in the world have to worry about getting eaten by wild animals in their day to day life, some people have missed several days of meals. I think as the can-do people that haunters are, we can handle this. So widen your horizons. Open your full pocketbook.

Can it be conceptualized that some people are trying to start haunts and want to bring investors to the show, let's keep them out with a $200 price tag. Can it be conceptualized that some haunt owners may depend on other staff members, even "insignificant" actors, to help make purchasing decisions? Can it be conceptualized that people who act in haunts and haunt enthusiasts may one day own a haunt?

Smart people would welcome as many people as possible to take part in anything related to the haunt industry, it is good for business in many ways.

At last year's convention, a few cops were rousting a guy who was harassing people walking on the sidewalks. I got to talking to one of the all-business looking officers, he asked what convention I was attending and when I told him he smiled big telling me that he had attended the show the year before with his son, told me he had a lot of fun, and that he spent $75 buying make-up for his son. After that he was totally cordial. Wanna bet if a haunter had an issue, such as getting a car broke into, such as getting harassed by a ne'er-do-well, that this officer might show some extra goodwill toward us?

What is Transworld's purpose? Like everyone else in this business, it is to make as much money as possible. Cut out the small to mid-size players and the show ceases to be at that convention center we all enjoy. Cut out all the small people, there are plenty of Holiday Inn's were the 30 top haunt owners, all with letters from their bankers verifying their suitability as a buyer, maybe show tax returns from the last 5 years indicating how much money they earn, can meet with the vendors and have it all to themselves.

Folks, we don't cure cancer, we don't feed the world, we aren't even theme parks, we just scare people in semi-dark rooms and in the grand scheme of things we are small potatoes.

I think it is safe to say that most of even the top haunts in the business gross less than the average McDonalds ($2.6 million per store). So let's all take a big breath and relax.

[zombietoxin]

I'm sure these decisions will be made though consensus and input by the center management, TW organizers and the participating vendors, but I (and my staff, now) would really like to know exactly who thinks that some of those that WORK in this "trade" are not actually a worthy PART of the trade?

[SAWDUST JONES]

Sweet Solutions

As a person who observes and pays attention... I notice some people in life (and this industry) get their egos stroked by excluding others who don't measure up to their "standards" or just as a means to exert power. Like the people who are part of special organizations that you have to be invited to and cannot just outright join. Or unions, where you have to do a certain thing to join the union, but you can't do the thing required to join unless you are part of the union: A Catch 22.

The matter is resolved simply, if resolving the problem is the real issue and not just orchestrated as a means to exclude other less desirable, less sophisticates, less upper crusts and people who "wink, wink" don't know the secret handshake.

SOLUTION: All the special people, you know, the serious "decision makers", can do the following:

1. Submit real notarized documentation from their banks indicating that they have at least $250,000 dollars in their bank account at the time of trade show.

2. Submit copies of receipts from the prior year indicating that they spent at least $100,000 collectively at Transworld, not including travel, food, lodging or liquor.

3. Submit payment of $1000 per person attending, I know this seems high but these "special haunters" have lots of money to throw around. Of each $1000 submitted, $200 goes to TW operators and the remaining $800 is divided up amongst all the vendors based on floor space used.

4. Such qualifiers will be awarded a special badge that says "Premium Buyer".

5. Transworld can then run from Wednesday thru Saturday, and persons who are "Premium Buyer" are the only ones who get to go to the show on Wednesday. As "no-nonsense decision makers" you will have the run of the floor and you will have a day to make your important and serious decisions without all the little people running around. Vendors will know you are a serious buyer and you will have their undivided attention.

That's right, fly into St. Louis on your private Jet Stream on Wednesday morning, go through the show making all your important decisions that day, have your choice of places to eat without standing in lines and having to sit by somebody in a zombie make-up, and fly out that night. Or, if you decide to stay the evening, you would have your pick of fine hotels to attend.

6. One other thing, a "Premium Buyer" gets to pay full price for all items, no "Show Specials" for you... and really, getting a discount is kind of beneath a ultra-sophisticate like you, it's almost like clipping coupons for groceries. Ewwww!

I think this simple solution will take care of the problem... and after all, to the elite haunt owners, money is just like green paper.

Or we can do all the above.... but keep the dates Thursday to Sunday. "Special Buyers" will get to wear a helmet with a rotating blue light and that way vendors know who is who, and they can shove aside the fat 17 year old in the zombie make-up (trying to haggle over a $17 dollar jar of fake blood) and deal with the big boys. Likewise, restaurant owners and hotel owners (for whom you are paying the same price for food and lodging as the little people) will know you are special and treat you accordingly.

[SAWDUST JONES]

Much to do about nothing.

This might streamline the main show and help buyers buy and do business, and help vendors spend more time with people who actually want to spend money.

Quite honestly, I have been attending the TW show since 1999 and in my experience most vendors are standing around bored and are very approachable. The only time I have had to wait was when the vendor was dealing with a large order from a big buyer. This is a small industry, if you are a vendor, it behooves you to know who the "movers and shakers" in the industry are, and, in fact, most serious vendors already are aware of such or will quickly learn. Sales people must do their homework.

Did you spend $75,000 - $100,000 at Transworld (excluding travel, room, food, liquor) this year? If not, you are one of the little people getting in the way.

[wickedfarmer]

Just thought I would RESTATE a former statement I made

Wait around big costumes and lots of haunt "enthusisasts" yes I have. But I am not ready to say "haunt X can not bring 15 people" though I only bring myself and one other person.

Wicked Farmer[/QUOTE]

Darn it...I don't qualify for the blue light. Usually only spend in the $10,000 area on floor.

[evilbeaverhaunts]

Its up to the people that run TW if they want to change the rules? I am a home haunter, not even in the same ballpark as professional haunters but I will say that I do get allot of foot traffic and allot of people coming by my house on Halloween. I first went to TW 4 years ago and have been every year but this one (2015), I never knew of 99% of the vendors at TW before that first show and my "scare budget" really didnt exist. Since the first TW I have however purchased a few thousand dollars worth of merchandise every year since (iwata, various makeup, Skulltronix, Rosco, Gore Galore, HauntWorld Prod, Trip Sixx, froggys, Gilderfluke, masters fog, PaleNight Productions, Frightprops, to name a few). I could not be labelled a professional as this is a fun (and expensive hobby for me) if you want to call me an enthusiast go ahead because I am. The thing is how does a vendor know if someone is a serious or professional buyer? Jack the price of admission? I am ok with that, I would still probably attend maybe every couple years though, its just the vendors will get less of my money and TW would get more, there is a thought? To the vendors that I might not know what you are selling so I stand off to the side look at what you have, listen to what you are saying to others and then make a decision to talk with you more or move on, who knows I might come back the next day after talking about what I saw today with my wife? How many times have you walked by a vendor at TW and the vendor is sitting scanning their phone, texting, not out in front of their booth trying to sell their goods? This is the first year that I am going to MHC and I do not expect to see some vendors that I have purchased from at TW (specifically Gore Galore) because Kevin has said he doesnt go to MHC (purchased large puppet from him 2014 TW) but I absolutely love when you walk down the entry hall and in the doors at TW seeing the costumes and actors playing the parts, its sets the mood and atmosphere that this show is something special. TW show is 4 days and I have seen the attendance on Sundays, not very crowded.

Small business is what drives 60% of the US economy.

Could be worse, could be talk of closing down because no one comes?

my .02 for what its worth...

[lurker]

Someone else may have already said this, because I haven't read all the posts, but It seems to me that Transworld is already heading down the path to a simple solution. This year they had the VIP pass that got buyers on the floor an hour before anyone else. Perhaps they could just have one whole day set aside for VIP passes only so that the larger scale purchasers can have time to negotiate deals without the crowds.

[SAWDUST JONES]

Yes....

I proposed such already. Most of Sunday is a dud anyways, run it from Wednesday thru Saturday, Premium Buyers get Wednesday. But then again, that lets the wealthiest people get the best deal on show items for sale, and the up-and-comers get screwed.

These Premium Buyers should be people who spent $75K - $100K buying product at TW. Didn't spend $75K - $100K... you are a small fish. Or pay $1000 per Premium Buyer badge to signify such to help eliminate the fakes and snobs who pretend to be bigger than they really are. The $1000 should go $200 to TW and remaining $800 distributed to vendors for exhibiting a day early.

In short, if you are a such a big player that the little people get in your way, and you need them not in your way, you get to pay for such privilege and attention. Personally, I see a lot of vendors just standing around waiting for business.

This industry is apparently full of self-important, pretentious people... many of whom cannot even make a living off of their haunt income alone.

Or maybe we don't need to fix something that truly is not broken?