MACNA & RAG

[Steven Pro]

Originally Posted by MDPinUSA

About 1/2 of the booths require electrical. No phone lines are required. Only one internet connection is necessary. I think this years booth cost is higher than previous MACNA's.

With IMAC, 20 Amp electrical service is $75.00. Internet for one booth if router is used.

Without question, the hotel for MACNA is more sophisticated than the one used for IMAC.

This transulate into a better venue with more no cost amenities.

We are giving everyone electric. Just about everyone wants it anyway. At the very least, people have laptops plugged in, cell phone recharging, little lights to showcase drygoods, etc.

A few vendors need a phone line for credit card transactions.

The hotel has free wireless thoroughout, but it is sketchy at best once you get to the attached exhibition center. Again, some vendors are going to require dedicated service for sales.

Our booth pricing was based upon MACNA XVII as those were the figures we had in front of us. When we setup our pricing, no one knew if MACNA XVIII was going to make money or not, so we based our numbers according to Washington's show as they made a very modest profit.

[Steven Pro]

Originally Posted by Patrick

So basically, you want me to pay you to advertise on this site, and meanwhile enable you to make even more money because of it. (that is basically what your saying.)

No, as I have explained several times already, all message boards are getting the same dollar for dollar swap deal. If you want a booth, you are being asked to pay the difference in the price of that booth versus the cost of the advertising you wish to give us in exchange.

[Steven Pro]

Originally Posted by Patrick

As for sponsorships, last year MACNA ran sponsorships.

Diamond, platinum . . .yadda yadda yadda, jelliquarium was one of them!

There were on the on the tune of $10,000 and $5000 and so forth.

Like I said, we don't have those. Nature's Ocean is giving us natural seawater and Ocean Nutrition is going to produce the name badge/lanyard things. Those are the closest things we have to sponsors.

Originally Posted by Steven Pro

No, as I have explained several times already, all message boards are getting the same dollar for dollar swap deal. If you want a booth, you are being asked to pay the difference in the price of that booth versus the cost of the advertising you wish to give us in exchange.

Twist it however you want to!

Originally Posted by Steven Pro

We are giving everyone electric. Just about everyone wants it anyway. At the very least, people have laptops plugged in, cell phone recharging, little lights to showcase drygoods, etc.

NO, only about 50% use it.

Originally Posted by Steven Pro

A few vendors need a phone line for credit card transactions.
The hotel has free wireless thoroughout, but it is sketchy at best once you get to the attached exhibition center. Again, some vendors are going to require dedicated service for sales.

Try again! This is why RAG has provided internet for the last 3 years, this is why a real human is there to admin and secure the connection. This is why we have 2-4 computers running, one monitors the connection because of internet sales!

Originally Posted by Steven Pro

Our booth pricing was based upon MACNA XVII as those were the figures we had in front of us. When we setup our pricing, no one knew if MACNA XVIII was going to make money or not, so we based our numbers according to Washington's show as they made a very modest profit.

The MACNA where raffle tickets were $10! The MACNA where if someone was not present to win, instead of drawing another name the club kept the item(s)!

Modest profit, man talk about black helicopter!

[Steven Pro]

Originally Posted by MDPinUSA

At past MACNA and IMAC events, RAG offered banners and the use of this board for promotion of these shows. This in return for a complementary booth, electrical and accomodations. Entrance passes for 5 are included for RAG personell and VIP RAG guests. The accomodations are for two rooms.

RAG will provide a banner from now until the MACNA show dates. RAG will provide access to any and all (that abide by RAG rules of conduct) to post and/or promote MACNA. At the event RAG will provide web camera coverage. Advise if there are other things you would like RAG to provide?

This in exchange for: a) One complementary booth in a location of Patricks choice. This booth includes two 8' tables, 4 chairs, waste basket, electrical. b) Five complementary passes that include access to speakers and the banquet. c) Two rooms in the hotel where the event is being held.
If this is workable, it is possible Patrick might require something else.

The items being asked for have a value of $1,640.

Booth (comes with 2 passes) - $900
3 additional passes - $300
Hotel rooms (assuming only two night stays) - $440

Why would MACNA give $1,640 worth of services when MACNA could simply buy a full year's worth of advertising here for only $540. Does that sound equitable?

[olsaltybastard]

I'm thinking if Patrick is willing to provide his internet services to everyone as he has done in the past, a happy medium is about to be had. I am thinking that if vendors can sell their products at the show, they would be much more inclined to continue to support the expo.

Lets take this one step further:

Instead of just a stationary web cam, vendors can demonstrate their latest products via internet. It took about three weeks for the Vortech videos to spread out. I think they may have an interest in having a live feed to internet web sites. This could bring a whole new dimension to MACNA for those who just cannot attend. Not to mention that they may reach about 5 times the number of people as they would at any expo.

Think BIG!!

[jlouv]

not that anyone asked me, but......

how about RAG just up the rate for our advertising costs to match what MACNA is asking for? If they want an even swap, then just raise the price of a banner and various advertising threads.

Otherwise, this thread appears to have run it's course to an embarrasing {for both of you two} standstill in a public forum. I have yet to see a good reason why RAG should promote MACNA this year. I also have yet to see a good reason why RAG should attend Macna this year. Too bad. I enjoyed attending the previous year's events.

However, as in the past, as the date of the event approaches, and there's many booths remaining unfilled, perhaps this debate can finally be laid to rest as the committee will be scrambling to fill those empty spaces. But I'm beginning to think that by that time it'll be too late for them & us. Oh well. There's always MACNA 08 and Imac. No big deal. The best thing I like about Pittsburg anyway is the part where I get to leave and go home.

[davidh202]

It seems as though the relationship between MACNA and RAG should be a symbiotic one,that is mutually beneficial to each other!

I am very curious as to just how many people attended MACNA that were turned on to it by ads on RAG, and visa versa ,how many people were turned on to RAG that attended MACNA.
Maybe a poll is in order to show just how the readership, (membership) feels about this issue since it has been made public.

[DaveK]

I have followed this thread and found it interesting.

As I see it, both sides have their points, and have stated them. The position taken by MACNA is that there is a price for a booth and with that you get a few other things.

Since that seems unlikely to change, the only thing left for RAG is the business decision.

Will RAG attending MACNA bring in enough new paying members to justify the expense of attending the event?

If the answer is no, then RAG should either stay home, or consider attending MACNA a personal vacation.