[LargeFormat] All at the LF Conference?

[Jim Brick]

That's why most well run events have limits as to how many invitations 
(tickets) they sell. And they have pre-signups for the sessions. This 
eliminates last minute chaos. Chaos, regardless of the cause, is the 
responsibility of the event organizer/host. You cannot stuff 10 pounds of 
stuff in a 5 pound bag. Allowing "show-ups" to create pandemonium is 
irresponsible. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth of those who followed the 
rules and pre-registered. A simple pre-sign-up for the presentations, 
limiting the number of attendees, allowing last minute attendees ONLY if 
there is space, would have easily solved the space problem. But it wouldn't 
solve the no microphone (PA system) problem.

If you have 20 RSVP's to your house party and 30 show up, you should have 
said in the invitation, "NO RSVP, NO PARTY" It is still your fault 
regardless. Everyone knows that there will be late comers, party crashers, 
etc, so either plan for them, or don't let them in.

BTW, as a pre-paid attendee, I had a badge, which I wore, sometimes. There 
was not a single "badge checker" at any door of any presentation or at the 
trade show, or anywhere! Anyone could, AND DID, simply walk in. Every other 
photo trade show conference and seminar that I have attended, you 
absolutely had to show your badge to get in to the trade show AND your 
receipt for pre-registered seminars. Which, of course, would have 
completely eliminated the chaos that ensued in Monterey.

I said that I had fun. But unless complaints are registered and solutions 
are put in place, there will be no future well attended View Camera LF 
conferences. It must be made clear to them that you cannot have an open 
door policy. It simply does not work. You MUST have staff in place, and 
rules set forth, to keep order in and chaos out.

Hoping the next conference will actually be managed... even a little...

Jim


At 02:37 PM 4/27/2004 -0400, barb@zgc.com wrote:

>One thing I feel compelled to note about the conference in Monterey:  I was
>told that there were 200 people pre registered for the event.  There were
>at least 100 people who just showed up.  The hotel did their best to change
>session rooms at the last minute, if they could, in order to accommodate
>people who "just showed up" without prior notification.  If you send out
>invitations to a party at your home and receive 20 RSVPs, you plan to feed
>20 people.  When 30 show up, it's a disaster for the host and the host gets
>the blame.
>
>Barbara Lowry