Quoted from pinballnut3:So really its about the future of pinball. Inclusion or exclusion. We need the numbers if this hobbies going to continue.
If you still decide to come, you'll see that this is what the actual show time is all about. We have the most 'foot traffic' of any show because we are all about promoting to families to show their kids what these games of old were like, and the people who get turned on and included in pinball world is a huge part of that.
We close the halls at 8pm on Saturday night because the show is put on by hundreds of people (not just in the pinball side of it) that are fans and not earning anything for doing it other than the love of showing off their stuff. By closing at 8pm, we allow those people to have a 10 hour day, and not be totally burnt out. I can't imagine going longer, personally, and we've had a lot of vendors, exhibitors, and VIPs thank us for that policy. It's also why the show is only two days long. Our show is also only two days long for the same reason.
To help understand the policy, we also had a problem when we were growing, which is that a lot of people were disappointed that they would bring out their machine to try to meet and chat with other local collectors, and they wouldn't get the opportunity. The After Party was started as a way to specifically address that need / want / concern, while still addressing what our mission is - which is to share as much gaming with as many people as possible. We wanted to make a relaxed spot where you could hang out and talk with the people that brought the machines.
A huge part of that is ensuring that the after party is equal or less than one person per machine. The last year that the party was in the old hall (2013), and we had 50 machines out in the hall so it was packed in the room with more than one person per machine, the mix wasn't right. And that year, we were about one and a half people to one machine. If we go up to two people per machine, the party will be packed.
Whysnow and others have mentioned ideas about how you can go about doing stuff to get the extra tickets, but the reason that there is no guarantee is because there is no guarantee on them unless you can find someone to help out.
Again, I understand that you're angry and disappointed. It's just how this thing grew, and I think even if you didn't do anything at the after party you'd have fun at the show if you don't let it ruin it for you. I'm sorry that this is what it is.