Why Did Vegas Fail?

[oakhillshaunterTHEFEAR]

Well as of now we all understand that the Vegas TW Retail Show was a complete utter failure. Many people have posted pictures of the empty alley ways of depressed vendors and non crowded booths. We now see that it was and no punn intended a ghost town.

Why is this? Most of you say that last year that place was bumpin and movin like a mad house. What changed this year? Just curious what you guys think or just know for a fact the reason why... Vincent This Time!

[hauntedhousenut]

???

You have a vested interest?

[TheMonsterMaze]

Because....

IMHO -

1.) Having gone to Vegas last year, it was expensive, not just getting there, but your day to day living expenses, *everything* seemed expensive and you had to tip *everybody* (at least it seemed that way...)

2.) Too many distractions ( I gotta admit, I made it a priority to see a couple of shows while I was there.)

3.) Transworld fans are split between Vegas and St. Louis - and St. Louis has the Darkness, Vegas does not. ( P.S. Not a knock on Vegas haunts that opened !!)

4.) People on the east coast would sooner drive to NHC
( THE NATIONAL HAUNTERS CONVENTION )
http://www.NationalHauntersConvention.com
rather than fly out to Vegas ( flying = expensive, driving = cheap )
plus, NHC has (confirmed) about 140 booths at this time.


Michael
( Vegas sounds like a shame, maybe if Transworld would have stayed committed in Vegas, I think they *might* have been successful in time, as people would make it an annual vacation as well as a business trip.)
Bruner

.

[Grimley]

I can't say it was more expensive. All of the rooms in Vegas are free right now. They are down 40% this year. Call them up say you will gamble and you will get a free stay. It was the cheapest show we have ever attended.

[xxxdirk]

Four strikes, I think, led to their demise:

-Houston
-The economy
-Breaking up the haunt show and the costume show (Not as big of a factor, but still a factor)
-Moving out of Chicago. I know Larry hated Chicago and some others too, but again, today, I happened to be watching a DVD of Transworld when it was in Chicago and the place was packed.

[Darkangel]

Michael, I will be coming to your convention and enjoy and all it but let's be real no one wants to go to EHC over Transworld, even if Transworld was in Siberia people would go there before th EHC!!! EHC is a nice little local show, Transworld is THE convention to make purchases. Also, MHC is close behind Transworld then Hauntcon, they all draw far more people than EHC did last year....

Darkangel

[Speculo]

Read this about Vegas...

Other Tradeshows are hurting as well!


http://www.lvrj.com/news/41078067.html

Thanks!

[FrightProps]

Ok listen...

Why did the Vegas show fail this year?

I do not think it had anything at all to do with location.

1: Rubies lured most of the retail (i.e. party) vendors to Houston which was right before the Vegas show. Vendors and buyers could not afford to do 2 shows.

2: The economy, the economy, the economy! Let's not deny it... if you were a party store would you be stocking up big time right now for Halloween? My opinion is that the Haunts will do VERY well in this economy (cheap real estate, people want cheap close entertainment, etc - discussion belongs in another topic). So the haunts should spend money in St. Louis (hint hint wink wink).

3: The lack of bodies in the isles had a lot to do with the Haunters not being there. Haunters add bulk and fiber

Doug.

[Haunted Illinois]

Let’s take a look at history…

The year before last… Chicago (HCP + Haunt Show) was packed!

Last Year… Vegas (HCP + Haunt Show) was packed!

This Year… Vegas (HCP) was dead!

Houston was definitely a big factor, but what else? I think one of the main factors was the fact that the show was spilt and the Haunt Show was no longer part of the Halloween show! Throughout the MANY years I’ve attended the Transworld show, I’ve heard many of the buyers say that they found the Haunt side of the show very exciting and entertaining, thus one of the reasons they attended the show. Take away the fun side of the show and you have nothing more than a bunch of bored idiots in suits with checkbooks.

When people talk about the role we played in the Transworld show, don’t discount the “fun factor” that we brought forth. Don’t discount things like the Dream Reapers tour. We brought fun to an otherwise dull show, which in turn, brought more people there.

The success of a trade show should not only be measure by the number of Armani suites there, but by the number of people., as well. These days, people in black t-shirts have just as much money to spend.

Just my two cents.