Volume 1, No. 21. November 16, 2001
A
good laugh
When we in this industry reminisce about our IAAPA trade show experiences, the
first words out of our mouths usually have something to do with aching legs
or sore feet. We talk of days of excessive eating of park food and nights of
excessive drinking of, well, night drinks. We talk of attendance, we talk of
business, we talk of the neat toys we saw, we talk of the good tips we picked
up in the seminars. We talk of the hassles of traveling.
We seldom talk about the fun we have, on the floor, in the evenings, even on
the buses heading to this party or that reception. That, we know, is a given.
Fun is our business.
Having said that, in the six years attending this show, I don't ever recall
laughing so much as I have this week. Nor do I remember hearing so much laughter.
For me it started with the three clowns, Michael Getlan, Ben Jones and Kelven
Tan, at Give Kids the World on Sunday evening. It continued through days of
seminars, and Tuesday night's Amusement Today dinner at Lulu's Bait Shack. The
What's New Theater was the best in years, where people were moved to tears by
both John Graff's induction into the IAAPA Hall of Fame and by the tape of Mr.
Doubletalk's interview of a puzzled Dick Knoebel.
I am writing this on the trade show floor, at 2:41 (14,41) Thursday afternoon.
Around me are the huzzah of amusement and attraction business. From my perspective,
the show floor is as loud, as hyperactive and as happy as ever. We're hearing
mixed reports from vendors on how heavy the traffic and how productive the business
has been at their booths, but everybody seems happy. Now, half way through the
show, sore legs and all, I can honestly tell all of you reading this that if
you didn't come, you missed a good show.
Thanks and kudos
I would like to formally thank Amusement Today for letting us share their booth.
Gary, Randy, Paul, Bill and Tim have been warm, welcoming and fun hosts for
me and my team, Stacey Copeland and Lynne Mosman (above).
During the General Managers Luncheon Thursday, IAAPA presented its Service Awards,
and this year, for me, there were some special winners. The IAAPA International
Reps won the meritorious award, a group I've had the pleasure of featuring in
several stories. I have never seen a more compatable group of people in my 27
years of professional journalism. Jerry Aldrich won the public affairs award,
and aside from being a good friend and strong supporter, Aldrich as president
of AIC is one of our advertisers in the current LOOP. Sylvie Faujanet, with
whom I had dinner in Barcelona, Spain, last year, also won the public affairs
award. Larry Cochran, one of my favorite people in the industry, won the outstanding
service award. The Phoenix award went to Leap the Dips in Lakemont Park
in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where I took my sons last summer specifically to ride
that historic coaster. Congratulations to the foundation, ACE and Barry Kumpf.
Finally, the lifetime service award went to my main nemesis, Tim O'Brien of
Amusement Business. Well deserved.