Well I have been attempting to plan for attending the US IPMS Nationals in the first week of August. What once seemed like it was far far away is now almost on top of me. Doh! As usual (with most things) this all comes down to money. Here is a brief pro-con.

Pros

1. For only $20 we can have a table in the SIG (special interest group) area of the show. The tables are nicely situated between an access point to the modeling room and the vendor room.

2. We can operate a photo-taking setup at the table which should allow me to take some really good (stable) shots with a tripod and backdrop. I will leave "Armorama wants to photograph your model/dio" flyers at the entries to encourage they bring them over.

3. We can promote the site via flyers. Potentially do a free t-shirt giveaway (with vendor supported $$) and other membership drive stuff.

4. I can do daily show reports from my hotel and upload photos etc.

Cons

1. To have a table at the show requires you to be there for every day of the show (August 4-7). That's 4 days folks.

2. For me to attend all 4 days I would need to cut the travel time down and fly into Phoenix from Fresno. Have a hotel and potentially a rental car if the hotel is far from the convention center. Total package type deals on Priceline are currently about $$550-600.

3. Someone needs to man the table at all times. I will be there for 80% of this and have had others volunteer to put a few hours in as well. But the more the merrier and obviously the more people AT the table will lend a bit of credibility to the site as a "community". Not just one guy. lol

So... Unfortunately I cannot swing $600 from my personal funds (because we don't have it). So I need help. If you are a A-Guard member, and you signed up early in the program (September) you might consider renewing your membership early (if you planned to renew). This would certainly help. Or if you are not an A-Guard member but have thought about doing it, THIS IS THE TIME! I know this sounds a bit like..."hey...I am paying to send Jim to IPMS...in style!". But really not. Whether we raise the money to do the SIG table or not I will still go (just for 2 days and not fly). We just won't have the table and get all the additional expousure at the site. We won't have some really killer photos to use for features and show reports. Basically we will have something similar to prior show reports. Which are not bad but they don't really result in a bunch of new members.

Thoughts? Ideas? Money? hehe

As always...thanks for your continued support.

Jim

Count on my support Jim, I'll be upping to Gold.

A least cost alternative, (and certainly not a preferential one by any stretch of the imagination), is to attend for your two days, and ask the show folks if you can set up a tripod or a holder for stocking Armorama brochures, (basically self serve, no table, no man power requirements).

Or - contact some of the folks you know in the modeling community (sponsors/advertisers), that are going to be there (with a table), and perhaps they will allow you a small piece of their table to put Armorama brochures for distribution/pick up.

Again Jim, this is not an optimum alternative, but it allows you to attend for your two days (while you work the room), doesn't tie you down to the table 80% of the time, eliminates the need to get helpers, and basically can be done at no additional cost as you intend to distribute brochures anyway.

Steve

ps: it always good to have alternatives (smile)

Herr obergruppenfuhrer Jim-
Was hoping to be one of your volunteers for the show, but as my 2nd son is due on Aug.02, I had to defer. Hovever, If I'm successful in my attempts to sell my car this month, You may count on a M.O. for my enrollment in the Gold level A Guard. Gotta spread the word somehow, and this is the least I can do for now. Semper Fi! Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

Guys,
Thanks. As always, I appriciate the support.

Sadly if there is not a bit more I may have to put this idea to bed.

Jim

I'll be coming from Tucson for part of the convention,
but I've got a tripod and a digital camera. If someone could loan a flash unit, even better! I'd be happy to take pictures between seminars.

Thanks for offering. In another thread on this topic I basically announced we would not have a table this year. The timing for it just didn't work out as I got let go from my last job and have started up with a new one that would not let me take that long of a leave-of-absense. Plus we work weekends.

Better luck next year I guess. I was really looking forward to this as well.

Of course if anyone goes to the show and wants to send us some photos, please DO!

Thanks,
Jim

Better late than never, but did you ever get photos from the convention? I think I still have some I took , if it isn't too late!
Lady Modeller