Re: [CR]Report on Atlanta Bike Show.

(Example: Events)

Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 23:20:17 -0500
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Buck Peacock" <oldbike@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Report on Atlanta Bike Show.


First of all, thanks to everyone who did show up at Atlanta. I feel like I need to respond to Louis' disappointment and expand on Jeff's explanation. You have to look at this show (or any show for that matter, including the Cirque) from the aspect of what goes into making it what it is. There are basically two main ingredients: the promoter and the attendees(vendor and consumer). The promoter sets the stage in terms of preparing everything from securing a venue to setting the tone of the event. Since our show has been going on since 1991, it has acquired somewhat of a "tone" already, namely the balloon and Ray side of the hobby. I have tried for several years now to encourage the vintage lightweight crowd to participate, but as Louis observed, participation is sparse. I did my part (from both promotor and vendor sides) to boost the lightweight tone. I tried to talk up the light weight participation and I brought (and sold) a good bit of related goodies (at VERY fair prices, I might add). I think a lot about these things (probably too much) and try to rationalize the lack of lightweight participation. Is it:

Lightweight guys are elitist and want to be the only point of interest at a show??

Lightweight guys feel somehow threatened in the same room with ballooners and Rays??

Lightweight guys think ballooners and Rays might be contagious and would prefer to avoid the possibility of catching something??

There is only enough interest in the lightweight side of the hobby to support one show in the South each year (you do put on a fine show, Dale)??

The lightweight part of the hobby is in it's death throes and the sky is falling??

Everybody in the hobby lives in Greensboro (except Louis) and are only willing to drive across town to go to a show??

I've been involved with bicycle clubs for quite a few years now and there is one thing I've always observed (and this is not unique to bicycling, either). And that is the "what do you have to offer me" attitude. To respond to this, I've always had a line in our club application that states "can you serve as an officer of the club this year" This tells me if someone wants me to give him something or whether they want to participate in the club. Of course, you can never expect everyone in a club to be "givers" and nobody a "taker", but the more "givers" the better. This applies to our show, also. Not everybody can be a giver (thanks especially to you, Louis, for driving so far), but the more, the better. Unless some of my fantasizing reasons for the strange absence of lightweight boys are true, the vintage lightweight part of our show will continue to grow. Please don't feel like you are not wanted just because there are bikes that weigh in the neighborhood of sixty pounds right next to your levitating Herse. I would luuuvvvvv to see more LW's next year. We're always around the last weekend in March so go ahead and mark your 2004 calender now. And while you're at it, come out and support Jeff's show this fall. He's only in Statesville, so it's not such a long drive for the lightweight fans who we know all must live in Greensboro.

I'm laying out a show for ya'....bring it on.

Buck

Hey guys, I have attended this show for 6 of the 11 years and it has always been focused on the balloon tire and Stingray stuff. The swap meets are always tough to organize and finance. We will have our third event this September 21 (details on our web site) and I know it is a break even at best. The shows depend on the participants. If everyone wants to see lightweight stuff, bring it!!!! I offered to bring anything from our web site and deliver it to Atlanta. Not a single person took us up on the offer. Since there appeared to be no interest in the lightweight parts, I brought balloon/Stingray stuff.

These events are what you make them.
Jeff Archer
First Flight Bicycles