Good points from Tom.

Re. Bill's thought, a year ago I suggested the same to SSA leadership,
for a permanent site such as Dallas every year (like Oshkosh) as DFW
has airline service, decent weather in February, and an adequate
convention hall. I would love to see an annual sunbelt SSA Convention
site where we could also fly sailplanes. There are other sunbelt
sites from Orlando to Phoenix to California. The EAA Light Sport
Expo is now a fast-growing annual January event at Sebring, FL. Many
other trade shows (boat shows, musical instrument manufacturers, car
shows, technology shows) use the same venue each year. Perhaps the
hosts get a better deal on the venue costs. Again, keep in mind that
trade shows and conventions are usually profitable for the local
hosts.

Vendors may have different expectations when attending a convention or
major trade show.

My experience (as a trade show professional in a previous life) is
that trade shows (in any business) are marketing opportunities and the
associated expenses are budgeted as such. Breaking even or making a
profit while at the show is not always the idea, unless you are
selling hot dogs or new-improved yaw strings (see them on sale at
ABQ!)

Announcing and demonstrating your new products or services, building
goodwill, cultivating future customers, and maintaining relationships
with existing customers is usually regarded as the goal of trade show
marketing.

Then again, Tom Knauff and Doris Grove have built a very succesful
soaring business using a very wide "marketing mix" of excellent
products and services, so their views are valid.

I know we all want to see soaring (worldwide) promoted well and our
business members to be successful at sustaining their enterprises.
Just look at the advertisements in a 1990 or earlier issue of
"Soaring" magazine to count how many soaring businesses have
disappeared. It's a tough business, all too often powered by
passion.

On to ABQ!

Burt
Marfa, Texas USA