Program books
Program books
barnstorm2 said:
Dean,
I don't know. What the posters here and Tom M suggest I guess. My first reaction is a Map, who's who, Services, where to day, what to eat, Schedule. If there is enough room perhaps a spotters guide to gyroplanes??
In 1996 we spent $908.00 to have a color, newsprint program book printed, every attendee got one and there were many extras.
I had a helper sell adverts in the program and we brought in $975.00 in advertising.
We had to print the programs several weeks in advance so the seminar no-shows (and there always are a few) tended to throw the schedule a bit out of whack.
The best program book idea I've seen yet is at the other convention that I mentioned in a previous post.
Every paid attendee gets a three ring binder, with a color cover photo. As I recall, inside it started out with a welcome letter from the local mayor, then the organization president and one from the convention chairman.
Next came a map of the area. The map had reference numbers to the advertisers locations. Ads were sold to local motels, restaurants, grocery stores, you get the drift. Each advertiser provided their own ad, pre-punched and ready to insert in the 3 ring binder. Many had redeemable coupons and welcome messages.
There was a tentative seminar schedule (which is now updateable. updates were left poolside at the welcome and registration table every morning) A short Bio of each presenter and a summary of the topic covered was included. Many were repeated at different times on different days.
Presenters with handouts were encouraged to have the handouts punched for 3 ring binders.
As part of the vendor fee each vendor was allowed several pages (which they provided, punched, of course) of advertising for insertion in the binders. A map of vendor locations was also included.
Safety rules and contest rules were included, as were ballots for judging and entry forms too.
By the end of the convention you had a technical manual, catalog and souvenir book, all-in-one.
They register convention goers only at the host hotel, only from something like 8am to 8pm. no one gets into the convention without their nametag on, no exceptions. The convention site has been as many as 10 miles from the registration site. Hired security guards man the gates. The public is only invited to attend on Friday night and only in a fenced off area.
They don't suffer fools lightly in this organization. You have to be a member for at least 3 months prior to their convention to attend. WHY? because they found out that some folks allowed their memberships to lapse and waited to renew just before the convention. This lead to last minute additional paperwork.
Regardless of how long you plan to stay or when you get there, you pay one hefty fee, something like $100.00 + $25. for each additional adult...if you register early, by early I mean at least a month before the convention. From a month before to 2 weeks before it goes up to $125.00 +$25.00. 2 Weeks before the show, registration ends.
This all might seem Nazi like, but the proof is in the pudding. They have around 4000 members, nearly half attend the conventions every year.
You very seldom hear complaints about the convention. The members love it. They know 3 years in advance where the conventions will be held.
Along with the 3 ring binder every attendee gets a commerative T-shirt and pre-printed name tag all in a little plastic tote bag.
Every year there are presentations from Chambers of commerce, from all over the USA pitching their locations to us. The officers are frequently flown out and shown around by the chambers. It's hard to ignore 2000 T-shirts walking around your town, spending money