my 2 cents... i will try to be honest & not sugarcoat it
the good:
-we & several others were placed in a separate (newer) building from the main hotel, rooms were excellent
-the views were great, everything that I love about Missouri
-the surrounding area is completely built around tourism, so plenty to do
-the timeline of the show is great... a simple setup day & a short 2nd day... any longer is not necessary.
-a clear, precise, & enforced start time
the bad:
-small vendor spots, 9x11, a fart would cover at least 4 spots
-everything about the parking was horrible. the resort had many areas with small passage ways and tight turns... which made hauling a large/heavy enclosed trailer with 6 or more pumps somewhat nerve racking at times
-no food or refreshments. the soda & snacks ran out on friday, & i didnt see anything on saturday. my wife is a caffeine addict, so not being able to get her a soda resulted in a headache for her, and me.
-anyone with any sort of trailer was required to park a good 300-yards away up a steep incline
-very little room to unload for vendors.
let me elaborate: very horrible design for unloading, period.
the unloading area could fit about 4 trucks & trailers at one time. as a vendor, I always take my time and let all the people in a rush go first. I ended up pulling around and loading all my items from the backside... hauling all my signs and other ***** up about 10 stairs. (makes it really fun with a cart or dolly!)... and then I get yelled at for using a side door. so then i try to go in main door with my cart and I get yelled at for propping it open. cmon! you gotta be kidding me, right?
so then I pull my trailer down the hill to unload a couple pumps to give to Tom, and I get threatened by a security guard that I will be ticketed because there is no parking in the lot for trailers, and there is no selling allowed outside. (i wasn't selling)
I know I am not alone with the frustrations I experienced... at one point I felt bad for the people running the show because I saw so many yelling at them.
Would I go again? Yes, because I'll go to any show if I have the time. But I would be concerned with the amount of vendors that will return. And if I did go, I would not bring my trailer, so that means no pumps, no hauling stuff for people, and only setting up with a few cans & small signs. and also would mean I couldnt buy anything large.
I truly believe the future of the show will suffer if forced to use this venue again.
