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Vegas Vs Chicago - Just my .002

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  • Vegas Vs Chicago - Just my .002

    Being a first time vendor, all I got to say about the Sands Expo is never again!

    I hate this venue and I'm glad to hear it is going back to Chicago next year. The people running the material handling make you want to never return.

    Getting anywhere in this city is freaking ridiculous and forget about gambling just getting around will drain your wallet. This makes HauntCon and Midwest look like the future to me. Trust me for the guys not going to Vegas don't feel bad. Unless you like sitting in traffic for an hour to travel a mile. So far, moving Transworld to Vegas was a big mistake.
    Tony Wohlgemuth,
    Comes up with the fun stuff!
    Kersey Valley, Inc.
    www.KerseyValley.com

  • #2
    I'm sure there are problems everywhere. This show has one BIG problem, scheduling. The Con-Ag Show was in town until today (Saturday) It is a HUGE sgow only held every 3 years. Over 150,000 attendees are in Vegas for it, they of course aren't leaving until Sunday, so guess what...traffic concerns, hotel concerns, you name it. Just look over at the LV Convention center, there are Sky cranes as far as the eye can see.

    We're stuck competing with that!! At least it was in the upper 60's today.. 70's by Monday. Chicago is actually nice for them 40's! But no sweat if it goes back to Chi Town, it's no vacation when it's in your home town!!!
    R&J Productions
    Las Vegas, NV
    www.LasVegasHaunts.com

    Comment


    • #3
      "Sitting in traffic" while all that expensive gasoline just burns away!
      If I went to Vegas I would hide my money in my shoe, but then all that walking around would wear a hole in my shoe so it would still be the same problem, no money!
      Maybe a combo fossil fuel/electric could be in traffic without "burning" anything, just turn off the electric and sit there, need to move ahead, flip switch on goes the electric motor.
      There is a design that solves these crowded situations..it's called "A Small Town".
      Traffic is calm and slow, people are pretty friendly, nobody is in a hurry and there you go!
      hauntedravensgrin.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Tony's not kidding!

        The traffic here is unbelievable. The taxi lines are unbelievable. Everything is sooo expensive. I hope haunters have enough money left to make purchases at the show! I used to live here and I thought I really missed it. NOT!!!!
        Kevin
        MindWerxKMG, LLC

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        • #5
          This is what happens when you bring something such as Halloween to one of Americas #1 attractions (Vegas).

          I am sure it's like that for a lot of expos. For the businesses of Vegas such as the casino's, it's like a gold rush every time there is an expo.

          I would not have a convention in vegas, it's just more $$$$$$$ for them and they are wrolling in $$$$$$ before you get there.



          Mr. Haunt

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          • #6
            back to chicago??

            is that deffinate transworld going back to chicago next year already? or just a rumor? i love the idea, and although i totaly miss the fun this year, i'm glad i didn't go.hope there are some good points about the show at least.

            steve o.
            "the boogeyman is real, and you found him"

            Comment


            • #7
              Okay my 2 cents...

              But first... yes the show is moving back to Chicago and in January as first reported here on Hauntworld.com.

              I think the new show dates are 16-19th or something like that. Now my 2 cents... going back to Chicago in my opinion is a bad idea personally. Chicago in January c'mon. The party people who trying to start their own, want to go to Houston in January and cite on their website an average temp of 60 degrees.

              Chicago in January NO WAY! I'm not for it. I remember several times trying to drive to Chicago with ice slicked roads, nearing getting killed trying to drive there, or airplanes that get cancelled and we're talking about March here NOT January.

              Chicago is an amazing city no doubt...IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER!

              If you're going to move the show back to the midwest or whatever do the show in Texas or heck St. Louis which is the most central city in America and its not that cold here in January compared to Chicago.

              If you're going to move the show other than Vegas in January then pick a NEW city that is WARM with no ice and no snow or COLD winds that just pound on you. That is my opinion.

              As for Vegas... I think this the greatest city in the WORLD to have a convention with maybe Orlando being second or maybe first. IAAPA itself is going to Vegas in 2009 and will alternate between Orlando and Vegas from now on. They have worked out better deals with the convention centers to bring in their show, and I'm sure TW could do the same or switch the site to a different center.

              But there is NO VENDOR happy here... drayage fees are out of this world for haunters with heavy equipment, and the rules are too strict, and the costs are too high for most haunt vendors who are located in the Midwest.

              Tony is right about a lot of things, but Vegas is a draw and that is important to any tradeshow. If the show is promoted correcting you can't find a better market. New Orleans would also be a great place for this show in January because its warmer than Chicago.

              I'm closer to Chicago, Chicago is closer to many major cities but lets be real Chicago in the WINTER IS BORING AND COLD so not really a DRAW for buyers, who have many other choices now. There are now other shows for Halloween retail, and as we see in our industry many options for haunts as well.

              For TW to survive going forward they MUST move the show back into January for sure... smart move! Should have been done 5 years ago!

              Better late than never... but PICK A DIFFERENT CITY somewhere in the MIDWEST or SOUTHWEST...Dallas, New Orleans, Houston, anywhere but Chicago.

              Okay now let me sum this up... I love Vegas, who love to see the show stay here, its more fun for the buyers, but worse on the vendors.

              Chicago better for the vendors, but terrible YUCK for the buyers, which in turn could be bad for the vendors.

              Bottom line who cares what I think, who cares what anyone thinks because I doubt anyone will ever be 110% happy. LOL

              I'm right about Chicago in January, Tony is right about the problems with Vegas, so what is the right answer?

              January ... PERFECT was needed 5 years ago! We got that one right.

              Now pick the best possible city for a JANUARY TRADESHOW and roll...

              I looked up the average weather for Chicago in January and its about 20 degrees. WOW that is freakin cold! It also says January is the COLDEST month in Chicago...BRRRRRR!

              Chicago...NO! Moving the show back to January will solve a lot of TW's problems but moving the show back to Chicago won't. Maybe Vegas isn't the answer but Chicago isn't either in January. With more and more people doing business through the web, way more than tradeshows these days, you have to make tradeshows fun for the buyers. And lets be honest buyers are having fun in Vegas! Maybe too much! LOL

              Either way Vegas probably isn't the right city for the Halloween industry which more of an east coast midwest holiday. Sooo... go to New Orleans, or Dallas or something that isn't below freezing!!!!

              I can see it now... next January a blizzard rolls into Chicago, people have the worst travel situations and say 'hell with it I'm going somewhere else' or simply not at all.

              So in a nut shell who cares what I think, Chicago has many pluses, but it will never be the buyers draw of Vegas, Orlando, New Orleans, etc.

              Ya know when you realllllyyyy stop and think about it the perfect place for this show is ORLANDO, same place IAAPA has a lot of success. Its a right to work state, costs are a lot cheaper, warm weather, tons of hotels, tons of things to do, and lots of built in customers for vendors with Universal, Sea World, Disney, Ripleys, Busch Gardens, and the lot.

              GO TO ORLANDO and CALL IT A DAY!

              Larry
              Larry Kirchner
              President
              www.HalloweenProductions.com
              www.BlacklightAttractions.com
              www.HauntedHouseSupplies.com
              www.HauntedHouseMagazine.com

              Comment


              • #8
                How much you want to bet that TW will be back in March come 2010?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Well, we actually did hit a freakish 60 degrees one day this past January here in Chicago/Milwaukee, but this is what happened when we did:

                  http://www.wisn.com/weather/14996323/detail.html
                  Blood & Kisses,

                  ~ Nicole

                  Production Team Member
                  The White Star Farm
                  "Hey Baby, this blood's for you."

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Orlando would be perfect! I'm sure Vegas is perfect if you like to party like a rock star and have "escourt" services from any number of the hundreds of mexicans trying to hand you a "business" card with a girl showing the world what her mother gave her!

                    For me as a vendor Vegas sucks, rude sobs working the docks and way over priced. Just a clue of what I'm saying is Internet access $1200 for the 4 day show!

                    As a buyer I hate fighting traffic, and very high prices. Example, bottle of water $4.00, hot dog $9.00. I can't imagine what the girls want on those business cards to escourt me. Even if I was not a vendor I would not return, just my .002.

                    Maybe I'm just getting old and this city of excess is too much of everything.
                    Last edited by twohlgemuth; 03-17-2008, 09:32 AM.
                    Tony Wohlgemuth,
                    Comes up with the fun stuff!
                    Kersey Valley, Inc.
                    www.KerseyValley.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Weren't a lot of the Transworld's scheduled in the latter part of March?
                      I know that one year they moved it to the weekend of a Friday the thirteenth with a full moon, but it (seems to me) to have traditionally been at the end of March before that. In northern Illiniois there can be a big weather difference just going from the start to the finish of March.
                      The end of March could offer the best show possibilitys for everyone. Travel might not be extremely pleasant but at least it isn't an act of defying death , but once in the show the weather is blustery enough to keep potential buyers basically indoors where the venders are set up.
                      hauntedravensgrin.com

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Let me throw in a third cent...

                        Let me just say this much... I'm going to TRANSWORLD no matter what. They do an awesome job, and lets be honest the seminars have gotten nothing but better. I also like the work Jenny has been doing bringing in celebs and stuff making the show seem more important.

                        The show floors have never looked better, blah, blah.

                        But if TW is looking to solve all long term solutions, I'm just saying Chicago in January isn't it. Now let me say I think January is 110% the time the show should be located. This will give all vendors MORE time to produce products. There is no reason that we as an industry need more time (March) to make plans to attend a tradeshow, or figure out things.

                        I'm also slightly disappointed that Transworld by moving back to Chicago isn't merging with FunExpo because that seemed PERFECT for everyone especially vendors. Putting the haunt show together with Fun Expo was the PERFECT FIT!

                        So I'm assuming that is off but I hope its not.

                        Anyway, in the long run I think the show should go to Orlando.

                        For both buyers and vendors its the best all around solution. If you go to Orlando in January its not that cold, its better for out of country buyers, it has a built in audience with all the theme parks located there, and its home to a million things to do.

                        Again I'll be at Chicago but I KNOW that the costumer people will say 'its too cold' I know people will say 'we might get snowed out' and I know people will say 'its so boring there...', and I know people will still say 'the unions are rude or whatever'... so why go back.

                        If you go to Orlando no one will say a word. In Orlando get EVERYTHING all in one swoop... perfect weather, great airport, TONS of cheap hotels, tons of entertainment, and a GREAT situation with convention center, just ask IAAPA.

                        GO TO ORLANDO and lets make that the new HOME!

                        It would be better for everyone involved!

                        Larry
                        Larry Kirchner
                        President
                        www.HalloweenProductions.com
                        www.BlacklightAttractions.com
                        www.HauntedHouseSupplies.com
                        www.HauntedHouseMagazine.com

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Well, I live 2 hours from O town, so he// ya move it here!!!lol.
                          Giving People The Chills Since 2005

                          http://www.warehouse31.com

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                          • #14
                            OH, how about this, working out a deal with Universal to do the haunt tour. All they would have to do is hold off striking the sets.
                            Giving People The Chills Since 2005

                            http://www.warehouse31.com

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I usually build my sets so they can handle repeated strikes, kicks and lot of other abuse and come off being none the worse for it.

                              (%^) ?
                              hauntedravensgrin.com

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