I've been in some meetings today and by early next week should be able to announce the location for the 2011 ICRBE. I can tell you that the dates will be February 26 & 27.

There was also some talk about the RodMaker Reception and while this is very preliminary, it appears that this event could possibly be greatly expanded and moved to a larger, better suited facility for 2011. Some very interesting possibilities have suddenly presented themselves. I'll have more information on that in about 2 weeks.

..............

It'd be awesome to move it to Vegas so I can hit it and another conference on the same day next year.

High Point or Winston Salem would be great choices as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2010 03:36PM by matthew jacobs.

Only trouble, is that I'd have to at least double the vendor booth and admission fees, perhaps triple them. And, it would move the event away from where most of the builders live. The demographics of doing a rod building event on this scale pretty much require that it stay east of the MIssissippi. Sorry.

I can tell you that the Expo will be in either High Point, or Winston Salem, NC.

............

Relax TK, it was joke.
I'd love to make it up one day but the last 3 years I've been on the west coast doing biomass energy conferences that week. Gotta make my year before I start playing.

Seems loke a lot of your builders are in the north that don't make the trip .............. Moving it to some place Central in the East would probably increase your attendance

Let's face it guys....Tom is running this thing essentially solo....regardless of where we all seem to think it should be held it needs to be near Tom......I've only been to one show, it was a great time....I can't imagine organizing something like that period....let alone if I was trying to organize far away from where I lived.......

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

Again Scott, it was a joke.

I started thinking about the 2011 Expo on the ride home from the Expo this year! Can't wait to see what you come up with Tom.

jeremy

Richard,

Our attendance is already spectacular. No other rod building event in any other location has or can draw even close to what the Expo does. Sure Id' take more, but a change in location isn't likey to affect that.

No matter where I locate it, somebody is going to say that it's not convenient for them. There is no single spot that will please everyone. We know that the current location has proven to be highly successful - no other rod building event has ever drawn the crowds this one does. It really doesn't have that much to do with it being near me - if I honestly felt I could do better elsewhere, for the same costs to the vendors and attendees, and with regard to things like weather, scheduling date, insurance, user friendliness, etc., I'd move in a heartbeat. So far no such location has presented itself.

I'm afraid I'll have to take the Walt Disney approach - If you want to go to DisneyWorld, you have to travel to Orlando. If you want to attend the ICRBE, you'll have to travel to North Carolina.

............

Matthew,

I understand, no problem. I wasn't upset - just offering an explanation in case you were serious.

.............

Matthew, I get that it was a joke...just gets old reading how everyone wants the show to be run.... I know, I know...don't read it.

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

I’m with Scott on this;
NC is pretty much the same distance from Main as it is to Florida and about the same to the great Mississippi with the greatest contingent of builders being from the east cost mid southern region. Seems about far too every one.
I do understand and appreciate the commitment it takes to come from the west coast to this side of the country especially for some of the vendors such as Batson that spend small fortunes to ship their displays out and then home again.

But then there are much less that have to travel this direction them there would be if it were reversed.

I also understand that it is easy from me to say this living in NC, but if the event were held in California I would be there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2010 08:35AM by Steve Gardner.

Well, there IS always the Convention Center on International Drive in Orlando. Great weather just about a given, Disney, Sea World and Universal close by, and Kennedy Space Center 45 minutes away. And the saltwater fishing is pretty darned good at time of year...as can be bass fishing.
The fact that I can drive there in 45minutes has NOTHING to do with anything...Hey! Why did my nose just grow???

Tom,

I am greatly looking forward to it and will be one of the first to make my room reservation. I had to miss the last years expo and will not miss this years. Thank-you for putting this on.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Well for me it always be a long trip, hehehehe!
But not in 2011. Maybe in the 2012 edition i will have opportunity to go there and met you guys.

Nuno

Gary Henderson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, there IS always the Convention Center on
> International Drive in Orlando.

And on a slightly off topic thought, Orlando does have great accomodations and conference centers. I spend quite a bi of time between there, Atlanta and Las Vegas every year doing trade shows. The cabs suck in Orlando but other than that I've always enjoyed my time there.

Great Tom ! I'm happy your going to host another Expo. However I'm some what curious on how the respond post would be if you would of posted ???
GREETINGS ROD BUILDERS, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PUT ON THE 2011 EXPO SORRY !!! I,m going fishing.

<<<<DON>>>>
Fort Myers Fla.

At some point, that will happen, so it's best never to think you can skip a year and make the next one - there may not be a next one. We were very close to not having the 2011 event. Things only came together this past week that allowed it to happen.

.............

As one who travels from California for the ICRBE, I can tell you...........................it works! Not easy, or cheap, but well worth it!

Having been involved in Trade Shows and conventions much of my career, I am agreement with TOM, it needs to be close to the mass of potential attendees. Then the value derived from attending will bring one back and the positive word of mouth will increase the numbers over time.

A massive amount of work for the producing individual, so it is his decision.

There are so many whiners. It is a long drive for me too. Can`t we just be thankful that Tom is doing this for us? If you want some thing close to home mabey some one else could host your own show. After doing it I am sure you would never again complain about the distance.

Again Tom, Thank -you.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio