Quoted from DarkTruth:

If your goal is to grow it, then I would suggest making it an arcade convention. Maybe reach out to the video sites and get them to bring their games.
I saw kids constantly on the couple cabinets that were there. The 80s thing seems hot right now.
Being my first pin show, I thought it was well run and huge.
Just a thought.

Quoted from DarkTruth:

If your goal is to grow it, then I would suggest making it an arcade convention. Maybe reach out to the video sites and get them to bring their games.
I saw kids constantly on the couple cabinets that were there. The 80s thing seems hot right now.
Being my first pin show, I thought it was well run and huge.
Just a thought.

Quoted from Fixie:A few observations from an attendee :
Rooms/Hotel : clean, but dated. The whole place , in general , could use a facelift. Could use a coat of paint and new carpet pretty much everywhere. That said, the location is great. No matter what direction you came from, major highways led you right to there. Pet friendly was a big plus for us.
The Show: this was my first so I can't compare it to any other , but I had a great time. My wife has little interest in pinball and planned on doing the Sturbridge tourist thing. She came in to check things out Friday morning and never left. I never expected that , so that in itself is a testimate to how well it was planned for both the avid hobbyist and the casual viewer. She's always supported my hobby but I think she came away supporting it even more. She's said she wants to come back with me next year.
Vendor Area: lots going on here. Pros:
Cointaker's display: great to see their large variety lit up in person versus their web pictures. I spent an extra $100 I hadn't planned on due to their display. Got a great show discount, too.
Alan Davidson's booth:
On site board repair and three outstanding pins to play.
Pinnovator's:
After my wife played their pin with headphones on, she was sold. (I was buying one, anyway. Lol)
Again, got another great discount and a couple of extras thrown in too. Thanks, Lorenzo !
New products:
Almost all the new pins and products I've been hearing about were there. Great to see them in person and up close. Yahoo.
Cons:
Automated Services on Friday:
Stepped up to play all the new pins and none of them had any credits or were set to free play. Was told they didn't want to use them because they were going to be sold to someone someday. Then why bring them ? I heard that policy was changed on Saturday. Exception on Friday was JJP's WOZ and The Hobbitt. Got to play them. Jersey Jack himself was there to answer any questions. Amazing pins. The wife fell in love with WOZ. Jack's theory that women and kids would go for that title appears to be right on target.
The Game Room:
Great selection of pins both EM and SS. Got to play a lot of titles I've only read about. Some of them , sadly, were down, and some , like old Gottlieb Wedge Heads, seemed to not have credits on them if they didn't have a free play option. But you could always find something to play.
The After Party: What a great touch ! Met some old friends and some new ones too. Was really nice to shake hands with people I only knew through on line communication. We stayed up late for that one !
The Band: I was gone by the time they started playing but IMO , after a long weekend , if I was breaking down my stuff, I don't know if I would go for that. Reports here say they were pretty loud. Now, if they were in the game room or at the after party the night before, that would be a different story. That's when people wanted to party, not at breakdown time.
Kid Stuff : I'm well past the kid raising stage , but from what I could see , the kids had a great time. Face painting , clowns, rides, balloons , etc. . If you have kids then it's your job to raise them and spend quality time with them while they're growing up. This show allowed a pin junkie to have his cake and eat it too. I don't know if the outside attractions were worth the bang for the buck because I didn't monitor their use, but the inside ones definetly were.
Show Dates: they worked fine for me. I guess the defining question would be , Were you happy with the turnout for your first show ? If so, then I'd say leave the dates the same. Now that the word is out on what a good show it was , then I would think for the most part that those that made it this year will return on the same dates next year. Those that didn't make it and regret it will circle their calendars and make a greater effort to get there next year. Don't go making big wholesale changes to your show , just tweak it here and there so that each year is better than the year before. As it grows, you'll get more vendors, flea marketers, pins, and as a result , attendance.
I offer no expertise here other than I'm a guy that likes pinball , heard about your show, and decided to attend. And as John Q. Public , these were just my opinions. I'll let others that are better qualified than me suggest on what to change I'm looking forward to next year and will book my room again as soon as the dates are finalized.
"Well done !" To all that made Pintastic what it was.........a great time.

Quoted from Taxman:

This was a pet friendly hotel? I just came for a day trip on Friday because I could not leave me dog. I need to confirm this and maybe I'll spend the weekend and party.

Quoted from shacklersrevenge:

Any chance of romancing pinsound to come to pintastic?
(Their sound boards/product are amazing)

Quoted from shacklersrevenge:

Very cool then!
I just put their board in my GNR today, I'm blown away. Working on chopping songs to add better songs to different modes. Almost can't believe it's possible.
I think a ton of people would buy their boards at the show.

Quoted from Mocean:

You should find a graphic designer to help with the logo and shirts/posters. A slick, professional look goes a long way.

Quoted from Colehvac1:

I like the free beer idea, in fact let's give them out from the pintastic booth.

Quoted from edcianci:

the 60 and 1 I brought was played every second I was at the show - so if it makes a positive experience for kids why not have them - I bet why some parent was playing a pinball he knew his kid was playing pac man over at the 60 and 1 - so he didn't have to worry about him.
thanks ed

Quoted from Pinterest:

I have several suggestions that I believe may enhance the incredible job that Gabe and Derek did organizing and managing the show this year.
Specifically, my first suggestion is:
1. It may be beneficial to name all of the roles that require staffing by volunteers (e.g. ticket office, door monitors for vendor hall, door monitors for back doors, door monitors for free play area, repair volunteers, helping vendors setup, roaming floor monitors in free play area and vendor hall, etc.)
2. The list of roles should include the number of volunteers required for each role.
3. Volunteer management should also be a role to ensure shifts are covered, and volunteers understand their roles and expectations.
4. The volunteer schedule should be posted on the web site and allow volunteers to sign up for a role / shift combination.
I believe this will ensure the appropriate staffing levels are maintained, volunteers have a good understanding of their roles, and eliminates the need for Derek and Gabe to continually manage the volunteers so that they can spend more time focusing on resolving issues that may occur for guests and vendors.
Although it was a nice gesture to have a band on Saturday night - money spent on entertainment on the last day may be better spent on ways to promote the show and increase attendance.
I have to agree that the air could definitely have been cooler in the event.
The breakdown time on Saturday was perfect for me - I had to work on Monday - and I needed the time on Sunday to unload, rest a bit and prepare for the week. Even if the show were extended - I would not be able to stay on Saturday evening. I really like the idea of adding a Thursday evening "special preview" only for VIPs. This will definitely provide significant value to VIP holders and encourage sales.
Perhaps a map of the event should be part of the program. I didn't know where the seminars were being held until Saturday. Several people asked me "is this it" after walking through the vendor area. I would also suggest much more signage be put up to direct people to what they are looking for.
The duration of the show seemed perfect to me as is. Increasing the duration of the show risks increasing the cost with an unknown outcome. I know that you will do so - but it may be beneficial to seek the guidance of those who operate similar shows.
I have a few other ideas - and will post later.