Lone Star Audio Fest 2011 -- Dallas, TX

[SY]

Uriah, here's a clip of the fellow I was talking to you about- you were playing a cover version of "Volunteered Slavery."

YouTube - Rahsaan Roland Kirk Quintet - Three For Festival / Volunteered Slavery @ Bologna 1973 pt2

He was a total inspiration to me as a young flute player.

 

[jlsem]

Do you have an audiophile society in Dallas? Ours in Houston has been reticent to attend.

I think almost everyone I saw at the show were Dallas Audio Club members.

John

 

[italynstylion]

I think almost everyone I saw at the show were Dallas Audio Club members.

John

Emailing back and fourth on yahoo doesn't count lol

 

[udailey]

Watching that video SY. Pretty fun stuff.

 

[sonidos]

Indeed, great video.

I did run into one gentleman who said he had a room last year, but not this year. He was very vocal in stating his opinion that this year's show was not so good and the numbers of visitors was way down. It sounded that he was pretty much through with the show other than visiting.

But I second Uriah's comments and had a very good time talking to the visitors who stopped in to listen, even though I did get several quizzical looks when there was no set of speakers in site!

 

[italynstylion]

In everyone's opinion. Did the lack of structure/communication from the event organizer dampen your intent to come to the event? Meaning, do you think if the event was better organized, with updates being sent out about the show periodically, do you think more people would want to come?

 

[SY]

I thought traffic was low as well. First problem was poor promotion. Second problem was the totally non-intuitive access to the floors used by exhibitors (you had to find some well-hidden special keys near the front desk or stand in line at the check in to ask).

 

[udailey]

TRUE! I never thought about the fact that a visitor would not have a room key and the elevators only work with room keys. The stairs however dont care if you have a key. Totally hypocritical security policy.

 

[SY]

There were no stairs from the first to the second floor. I wandered around for quite a while before I located where the keys were and figured out that the stairwells were inaccessible from the ground floor (I was there hours before I could check in).

 

[italynstylion]

Yeah I knew that the keys for visitors would be an issue and I asked the guy at the front desk. Next year I'm planning to have that worked out. Maybe post signs at the hotel entrance stating to go to the front desk and ask for a LSAF access key.

 

[jlsem]

Second problem was the totally non-intuitive access to the floors used by exhibitors (you had to find some well-hidden special keys near the front desk or stand in line at the check in to ask).

You never were one of the illuminati.

John

 

[SY]

No, I was an Elder of Zion.

 

[jlsem]

In everyone's opinion. Did the lack of structure/communication from the event organizer dampen your intent to come to the event? Meaning, do you think if the event was better organized, with updates being sent out about the show periodically, do you think more people would want to come?

Definitely. This was the concern well in advance of the show. A friend of mine and I were considering a large room to display a system but thought better of it.

John

 

[jlsem]

No, I was an Elder of Zion.

Do you have any insider info on this coming Saturday? God I wish I could be in a secret society.

John

 

[SY]

A little snip-snip (even if redundant) and you can join ours.

 

[jlsem]

Well, why not. Everything else has turned2shit.

John

 

[SY]

My advice: the rabbi should get the tip ahead of time.

 

[jlsem]

And the mohel gets one later?

OK, that's enough.

John

 

[Wayne Parham]

I did run into one gentleman who said he had a room last year, but not this year. He was very vocal in stating his opinion that this year's show was not so good and the numbers of visitors was way down. It sounded that he was pretty much through with the show other than visiting.

I don't know - My room's attendance was busier than any year I've been there. It was non-stop packed all day long.

Bob Brines - How was your traffic? Seems like you said your room was packed all afternoon too?

Uriah - How 'bout you? How was your traffic?

The Lone Star Audiofest is a grass roots affair. The way it works is everyone promotes their own rooms. The cumulative effect of all the exhibitors putting links to LSAF on their websites and mentioning their plans to attend periodically on various forums is what provides any and all promotion.

There is no "central organizer". If there was one, it would probably be me, but then again, some years Fred Thompson has done more to champion the show, other years Shane Moore has been the lead man. It's sort of a volunteer effort.

I have been increasingly pleased with the Lone Star Audiofest and the friendships I've made there. The people that come are really great, and I truly enjoy this event.

 

[italynstylion]

It was my first year as an exhibitor and my room was packed as well. I had multiple people tell me they had to come back later in the day because there weren't any seats left. I had 7 seats and sometimes a few people listening/watching from the door. I was pretty stoked for it being my first show.

What I mean by a central organizer is who runs the Lone Star Audio Fest website? That's who I'd consider to be "the guy". The site looks mostly the same every year with little content added to it. I think people want to see things change on it just to know that there's life in it.