[Coco] Calling All CoCo Connoisseurs, Again!

[Jim Brain (GCCC President)]

On 4/4/2025 9:07 AM, Allen Huffman via Coco wrote:
> LOn Apr 3, 2025, at 10:26 PM, Jim Brain (GCCC President) via Coco<coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:
>> the show is moving from a full Saturday and a partial Sunday show to a full day Friday and full day Saturday show. Sunday will now be reserved for teardown and cleanup. We know many folks travel from far off places every year, and this should provide more travel flexibility. We’re always looking for ways to make the show more enjoyable for you, so let us know your thoughts on this change and how else we could improve the show.
> I haven’t been able to attend in years so this does not impact me, but I wonder…
>
> How is taking Friday off work to be at a show this year and returning home on Sunday any different than taking Monday off to return home instead? What was the thought process behind this?
>
Happy to explain:

  * Some folks can indeed not take off either Friday or Monday and have
    to travel quite a bit.  In the past, they exhibited on Sat and then
    packed up and left early Sunday.  They will continue to do so, but
    will be exhibiting on Day 2, not 1
  * But, when those folks started packing up, it creates a cascade
    effect, where even folks who could stay longer decided to pack up,
    minimizing the value of the Sunday event. I noticed the same thing
    happening at other shows, so CoCoFEST! is not an exception. At Tandy
    Assembly, for instance, most of the exhibits were packed up by
    noon.  IndyClassic was the same. VCF Midwest seems to hold most of
    the exhibits until 3PM, when teardown starts, but Sunday looks
    sparse at most shows.
  * Lots of folks are arriving earlier, to enjoy pre-event activities or
    just hang out, but still wish to get back home on Sunday.
  * For those who could take off Friday or Monday, at least in
    enterprise positions, it's easier to take off the end of the week.
    Monday is fair game for scrums, standups, kickoffs and such, but
    most folks don't do those on Friday. Some companies offer Friday as
    a flex day as well.
  * After show discussions and comments suggested this as an option.
  * Retirees don't care, so the goal would be to focus on the needs of
    those still working.
  * Lots of shows are moving to a Fri/Sat/Sun schedule, VCF East does
    tech talks on Friday, as does Tandy Assembly. So, starting a show on
    Friday has some precedent.

We'll see how it goes. I concede that some tweaks won't be as well 
received, but we also don't want to be resistant to suggestions for change.

Jim

-- 
Jim Brain, President
Glenside Color Computer Club (GCCC)
president at glensideccc.com
www.glensideccc.com