Would there be enough parking for the Booze Bus?

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As long it doesn't interfere with another show or tournament (or real life, I guess), I'd be into it. Those locations are all just 2 to 3 hours from me.

In-laws and other members of the wife's family live in Utica... I'd gladly plan a weekend in Utica with a side excursion to Albany or the like, while my wife enjoys her family!

I would be in. What time of year are you thinking? In Saratoga in the summer when the track is open (mid-July through Labor Day) would be sweet!

I'd bring some games.

Question is, how many people would be paying entrance fee and coming in vs people who bring games in order to justify the rent costs? Idk what it's cost to get a space but...

http://www.canadapincon.com/

Do it close to rochester or buff and I'm in and would help please we need a local show again the armory show used to be great!!!!dome center in Henrietta too

This year's will be the first one.

I'll be going. Only 3 hours from me!

Yeah I hear ya Albany is like driving to Allen town for me 4-5 hours o well worth a shot

I would check with your local Fire Halls - some of those places can be rented fairly cheap - money is going to a good cause - some are already set up to do the food and if you find a couple guys from the fire hall into pinball rent might get even better. A few years back I did an auction and the hall rent for 3 days was something like $400. That was like 15 years ago and we were not using a lot of electric but it was also hall rental for 3 days. (When doing an auction typically you set up one day, second day is preview and last day was the actual sale.

Depending on location - my schedule - etc I would be more than happy to bring a load of parts or project machines up as a vendor for you as long as I can find the time.

What I like about VFW, Fire House, or other places like that is money is going to a good cause. Renting commercial space from a Hotel, Civic Center, and Fairground is basically making someone money but that money isn't really necessarily doing any good for the community in general. Fire House, VFW, or even a Church Social Hall is money going back into the community plus rent is typically much cheaper and leases have a lot less rules.

We used to have one in Rochester and we don't now, doesn't seem the best to try same thing again :/

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It was a long time ago last one I could have bought a taf for 2000 Fh was a grand I thought they were crazy but times have changed lot more pin heads plus social media to hype show.they also did it at the mall and had severe power issues like machines not working due to low voltage/resetting constantly.either way it was still awesome to have one so close good luck forceflow and always remember your power needs when finding your venue lol

I'm on the board at the University Club in Albany. We could certainly host. We'd have to talk about power requirements and such to make sure that we could meet the needs. And of course... there is a bar.

I vote for the Fairgrounds suggestion, I wont even need to bring my pins to the show, I can just cut a hole in the fence and open my side door!

Seriously though, the Saratoga City Center would probably be a great venue. I'd bring some pins for sure.

I'd go to a show in the Albany area.

And I loved the Rochester Gameroom Show the last year they had it... only wish that wasn't the first year we went...

It's just like an Elks Lodge or the Lions Club. Events can be open to the public as long as a member (me) sponsors it.

We definitally have the square footage. We'd have to talk to the house manager to determine if we can meet the power requirements.

From my experience, you will always have people asking for more, more, more no matter how you set the expectations. I bet the Buffalo crew can tell you some helpful things.

How about associating with an existing gamer-con? I know there is one at RPI in Troy and something in Albany. Then you are just supplementing an established event and can synergize with them.
.................David Marston

about?

Another idea is to partner with an existing show with overlapping interest. It's too late for this year, but Albany Comic Con is in June. Here's a comprehensive list of cons in upstate New York.

http://www.newyorkupstate.com/things-to-do/2017/03/upstate_ny_2017_comic_cons_giant_list_of_cons_expos_and_shows_across_the_region.html

Before signing a lease agreement I would be sure to check on insurance and other things that might come back to bit you in the ass. I am sure Rich (White Rose Gameroom Show), Ivan (Pinfest) and Gabe (Pintastic) would all be helpful assets to talk with. All three of those guys are good people and I am sure all would be willing to give you plenty of advice.

As far as cost goes I think the venue will likely be your biggest cost, then advertising, and lastly insurance. You can't do something like this and just depend on word of mouth or places like Pinside & RGP to draw enough people. You will need at least some advertising to get some general public to attend.

Yeah I think it's a good idea but you have to get closer to Syracuse in my opinion that would get people to drive from Buffalo and Rochester Albany is too far away for someone like me ... But I have made 16 hour round trip drives for pinball machines...... I would definitely like to help out and I would bring a machine.... And maybe some good hot and barbecue chicken wings.....

I'd be interested if within 3 hours of nyc

Count me in. I don't know if I'll bring games or not, but I'll certainly help pull it together-- just let me know what you need.

I think if you are going to consider doing a show it needs to be very close to home for you. Yes - you might get a better turnout in different areas of the state but trying to pull something like this off is hard enough close to home let alone having to set things up 2 or 3 hours away from home. The nice thing about your area is it is fairly close to Canada and if those buyers come down for Pinfest I am sure some of them would surely drive down for something closer to Canada.

As other above have stated - I would be more than happy to help any way I can.

One quick suggestion - maybe something like a Kickstarter drive to get some funds to cover overhead would be a good starting point. The nice thing with that is you could give "free tickets" to anyone donating over $XXX and that might assure you at least covered some of your cost getting it underway. Instead of renting out spaces for vendors maybe $100 donation gets you a 10x10 vendor space, $15 donation (one ticket), $25 (two tickets) etc.

I'm very interested in seeing something like this happen in this area... let me know how I can help out

I certainly would be interested in a more local show depending on whats going on when it's scheduled. The Albany/Saratoga location isn't to bad (perhaps somewhere close to The Parting Glass). Keep us updated.

There are a couple of pretty good locations within the City of Albany as well. There's an Elks club that comes to mind in particular:
https://www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=0049 - within 10 minutes of 87, 787, and 90... several restaurants within walking distance, 5 minute drive to a couple of hotels.

Even if ur just looking for 30-50 pins I think that hall is too small. I'd check out RPI in Troy- just my opinion.
Anyway about the show in general, I wouldn't travel any further than Albany/Troy since that's already a 2 hour ride for a show that would offer 30-50 pins and I'm only 90 minutes from a show that offers 300 pins (Allentown)

How about the Poughkeepsie civic center? It's an hour from where I live.

One thing to remember with Fire Halls is some of the banquet rooms are on the second floor of buildings. My first instinct would be to just go for a ride around your local area and see if anything jumps out at you as a possibility. Also talk to family & friends for ideas about places local to you.

Regardless of what location you pick 25% to 50% of people responding to you will complain it is too far for them and something in ___ ____ would be a better area. If you are going to do it you need to do it in the area best for you.

Also - if you go to your local police station, municipal building, etc they might have suggestions for you. Get out and talk to local people "in the know" and see what you can find close to home. A few hours off-line doing some actual research in your area might be time well spent instead of trying to find something online. If I was in your shoes I would try your local fire house first and see if those guys have any suggestions.

Also be sure to think "outside the box" - as long as you find a place with decent parking, electric, and rent you should be OK. Electric would be my first concern since you will need decent electrical service to run 40 to 50 machines. (At least a dozen, or so, 20 amp service lines and not all venues have that kind of electric available).

What's the location?

The 12th is the best August weekend for me. The 19th is the Buffalo Summer Open, and the 26th is the New England Pinball League finals.