8mm Forum: What do you expect from a convention?

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Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 26, 2010, 01:36 PM:

All the talk here about BFCC possibly closing down (let it live, let it live! *fingers crossed*) and minor gatherings around the world as got me to thinking.

What do YOU as collectors expect from a convention?

Because I've been playing with the thought of having one here in Norway. We have a closed/closing school here in great shape with a large gymnastics hall that can be used for both dealers and screenings, and a lot of spare rooms to use for minor private screenings and such. As I'm a leading board member in the main local organization here, I have easy access to this school pretty much whenever I want to. We also have a store nearby run by very nice people, so food/drinks and soforth is no-problemo! It's also a very nice place, nature wise, so I'm sure alot of people would be happy just to take scenic tours around here [Wink]

Anyway, there's also two minor problems:

1. There's no hotels or motels nearby, the closest one is 20 km from here, but you need to go through a tunnell that will cost you £10 for each passing. We do however, have two "apartment buildings" right next to each other, with 1-bed, 2-bed and 4-bed apartments that can be rented quite cheap.

2. The route here SUCKS. You need to fly to Bergen, and still it's two hours here from there, minimum! The boat trip down here is very nice for tourists tho!

So what do you guys think? I know it would be easy to do this locally, but with the lack of interest here, it wouldnt be too many visitors. Do you think this would be doable in a way that I could attract collectors from abroad?

I would of course make it cheap since the travel is a bitch. I was thinking free dealer tables and a cheap entry fee or something [Smile]

Comments, please!

Posted by John Almond (Member # 1782) on January 26, 2010, 05:25 PM:

I admire your enthusiasm, its very frustrating when your head is full of ideas to promote your interest and you seem to be banging your head against a brick wall just because of your location.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 26, 2010, 07:55 PM:

When I went to the convention in New Jersey, what I was looking for above all things was to meet other film collectors, especially people from this Forum (in person).

In a way, the highlight of the event was actually Dinner out Saturday night: no film, no projectors, just film people and film talk. The linguine and clam sauce was kinda nice as well.

Didn't even go there to buy films. Let's face it, it's almost too easy to buy films these days! (-Bought a nice Blackhawk L&H..let's consider it a souvenir!)

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 27, 2010, 09:40 AM:

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking aswell. The most important thing is to meet other collectors and discuss our wonderful hobby [Smile]

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on January 27, 2010, 10:38 AM:

Chris, come over here to the New Jersey show and see the way John Black has it. You're most-welcome. As I see it, that building with available bedroom spaces could be overturned to a modest inn of sorts catering to the visiting collector, coupled with a nice boat-ride for easy pick up and departure. Cost effective, but an idea anyway. The best thing is to start small, in the gymnastic hall (my sport, BTW), and advertise. You will then see that no mattter how far or what the trek, whne you have a good show, collectors will beat the path to your door - Shorty

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 27, 2010, 11:29 AM:

Thanks for the advice, Osi [Smile]

Going to Jersey will be impossible for me this year due to expenses with school and other activities, but I'm hoping that I can attend in 2011 [Smile]

Posted by Stewart John Boyle (Member # 1785) on January 27, 2010, 12:23 PM:

Christian,I have my trusty tent and sleeping bag, [Smile]

If you have a garden i can pitch up in,im there..
Best wishes
Stewart

Posted by Mikael Barnard (Member # 1637) on January 27, 2010, 01:28 PM:

I'm afraid I seem to be in the minority so far, for me it's all about the dealers room, I couldn't really care less about the screenings, meeting people etc. I admit I do have a slight advantage in that my work for the Projected Picture Trust means I get to talk about film at least once a week if I want to 'til I'm blue in the face. No, for me it's hunt the elusive Walton 'Doctor Who and the Daleks' and expand my collection as far as my budget allows.

As for trying to hold a convention in the middle of nowhere if the BFCC can't seem to perpetuate themselves with a London location Kvinnherad hasn't a chance I fear. Best of luck if you give it a try though.

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 27, 2010, 03:59 PM:

Yeah, Mikael, my thoughts exactly. But I don't get it, it seems that so many people are interested in it, why is it a problem to draw a crowd in London?

Posted by Mikael Barnard (Member # 1637) on January 27, 2010, 05:40 PM:

Travel distance, other commitments on the particular day, budget, the relatively small remainder who can make it who aren't affected by the above and, believe it or not, health- a sizeable number of the 'film community' are not exactly in the first flush of youth, I'm 25 and I tell you what being crowded in that one room with all the jostling, the heat and carrying heavy cans of film I had to go outside a couple of times never mind forty of fifty more years to contend with. I certainly don't think lack of interest is the issue.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on January 27, 2010, 06:06 PM:

Joking side is,.... while the topic title says "except" instead of "expect", all members here can give the asnwer as to what Christian meant... [Big Grin]

ps: OK..ok... that should be "answer" instead of "asnwer" [Wink]

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on January 28, 2010, 03:32 AM:

The BFCC does get a good crowd by modern standards but the costs of everything have made things uneconomic. Everyone seems to want a fortune coming in nowadays with little comprehension that the escalation in their pricing means their venue is hired far less. Common sense is no longer permitted here in the UK.

At least 200 people and a good supply of dealers are required to make a London based convention cover its costs. Sadly that means there is little or nothing left over to invest in equipment and films. Keith puts in a lot of effort for each convention and the stress is pretty enormous. I don't know how he's managed it for so long.

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on January 28, 2010, 05:26 AM:

Yeah, that's understandable. And that is again where I have an advantage. I don't have to worry about large expenses in the same way!

I've currently got some discussions out on the subject around here in Norway now, and I've decided that if I can get a crowd of c. 100 or more, I might give it a shot [Smile]

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