Email in Response to AX2015
Hello XXXXX and XXXXX,
We hope you both have had a chance to relax and recover after the convention this last weekend. We wanted to touch base with you while the convention is still fresh in our minds.
First, let us start by saying how appreciative we are of the support both of you provided to us as far as booking our booth for the expo and for checking in on us periodically. Also, having the exhibitor badges helped greatly this year with transporting materials and setting up. We also were excited to be able sell players the game on the spot after they finished playing.
We had a wonderful time playing Rakasa with fans. Every year we save and roll out the most exciting and new additions to our gaming experience at AX. This year we introduced individualized player tokens that tracked and saved players' gaming progression. These tokens also gave us the capability of having digital raffle selection and notification. Players also got their first taste of the new PVP system coming to the game soon.
We wanted to provide some feedback from our experience this year compared to previous years we've attended. Though some of these things may already be on your minds we just wanted to share our perspective as an exhibitor. First we’ll explain our concerns that arose from within our booth, then those extending outside Kentia Hall.
A common statement we heard from our returning fans as well as others wandering the hall was that they did not know tabletop gaming was one, still present at the convention and two, in the Kentia Hall. When asked, many of our returning fans assumed we did not attend this year, as they visited the West Hall and did not see table top gaming. Many didn't locate us until late Saturday and, originally, were planning on purchasing the game but spent their funds elsewhere since they assumed we did not attend.
Furthermore, our booth was awkwardly narrow and made movement, communication, and general management of our events a challenge and created a lot of missed opportunities. Also, being placed in an isolated area gave a feeling as if we were not connected with tabletop gaming. Attendees at first glance would not even know we were part of tabletop gaming as none of the large hanging banners indicated this. On one side of our booth we had a major thoroughfare with a mix of people going and coming from getting autographs, some gamers, and other wanderers. And on the other side of our booth, we opened to the tables of people resting, or waiting to meet up with friends, and all of whom were not interested in gaming. Of the 162,000 sqft that makes up the Kentia Hall (and fits 844 10x10 exhibit booths comfortably), all 5 of the industry sponsor venders that attended were placed in a 50 x 40 area. Because we were all visually trying to grab the attention of people passing by, all of our banners, cutouts, and posters ran together in a messy collection of advertisements that were more of an eye sore than inviting, as they would normally be when spaced out. These efforts to entrance people were even more thwarted as the primary direction of the spanse of our booths faced perpendicular to the main thoroughfare and altogether had limited head-on exposure to this thoroughfare.
Lastly, because we know little goes exactly as planned, we always try to remain as flexible as possibly. But this time being flexible resulted in an even more complex challenge as there were major uncommunicated changes from the quoted booth space and table setup to the actual booth space and setup. We planned based upon the contract provided to us which stated we would have a "40' x 40' space [that would] include three (3) 72" round tables, six(6) 6' rectangle tables…" Upon arriving we found our space to be a 10' x 40' booth that we were told was a 40' x 40' because it had 4 10' x 10' booths. It was only later, after researching standard show and event booth space, that we realized that standard booth space does follow regular mathematics, and 4 10 x 10 booths are not equal a 40 x 40 space. We also ended up with eight (8) 6' rectangle tables and (0) 72" round table. Due to the fact it was late in the evening of day 0 (our night for setting up), we were still lacking chairs, and there wasn't anyone with any time to examine, calculate, discuss, and negotiate changes, (check in was quick and up to us to pick a line of 10 x 10s) we adjusted plans and tried to work as best as we could with what was provided.
Now looking at the overall positioning of tabletop games, it seemed out place. Compared to AX of the previous two years, the Kentia Hall lacked the energy and excitement for gaming that was present in the West Hall where tabletop gaming was once located. Having both video gaming and tabletop gaming in the same hall provided lots of crossover interest for the different forms of gaming. Nearly half of our gamers from previous years were primarily video gamers that were taking a break or just visiting the tabletop area out of curiosity. And after playing our game for a while, many of our gamers also left our tables to take part in some of the video gaming happening in the hall. The choice in events happening in the Kentia Hall this year (tabletop with autographs) didn't seem to support each other particularly well. The overall feel of the Kentia Hall was also cold and empty as compared to the West Hall. Though this move may have been in response to the healthy growth of this expo, it seems two groups that shouldn't have been split in the move were. To further emphasize this point we have included images take from each year that visually identify this issue. When occasion would permit, we would venture to the West Hall to encourage attendees to visit tabletop gaming. And each time we would notice a snaking line of people trying to enter the West Hall, which was quite discouraging in comparison to the crowds of people sitting or resting outside of Kentia Hall (to whom we also tried to reach out to and encourage to come in and play).
We apologize for the length of this email but as you can see we are very passionate about AX and want both Trivatch and the Expo to succeed. AX is the start of our year for conventions and sets the tone for conventions thereafter. We also consider it our home, in a way, as it is the first place we ever showed the world our game. We hope you will consider some of the things addressed in this email: spaced vendors out a bit in a room not designed and setup for packing in vendors like the exhibit hall; face the bulk of their booths towards the major thoroughfares; use squared booth spaces when possible as opposed to super long narrow booths (especially when crammed together); position vendors near enough to tabletop gaming to help them feel included and help gamers know these vendors are also tabletop gaming; definitely place signage and other information in the major gathering areas outside the hall that tabletop games is in, in the location where it once was, and in major locations passed in-between; keep provided booth size and table arrangement congruent with agreed booth size and table arrangement; if possible keep tabletop gaming with video gaming in the West Hall and move other stuff (not directly related to gaming) from the West Hall to the Kentia Hall.
We hope you will provide us with your response to our concerns with AX 2015 and your plans for AX 2016 as this will affect our decision in regards to how we will allocate our money, time, and other resources next year for convention attendance. In previous years, we've put off attending other conventions to continue going to AX. We love this expo and hope to keep it as our number one event of the year. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Trivatch Team
www.trivatch.com
559-779-9669
We hope you both have had a chance to relax and recover after the convention this last weekend. We wanted to touch base with you while the convention is still fresh in our minds.
First, let us start by saying how appreciative we are of the support both of you provided to us as far as booking our booth for the expo and for checking in on us periodically. Also, having the exhibitor badges helped greatly this year with transporting materials and setting up. We also were excited to be able sell players the game on the spot after they finished playing.
We had a wonderful time playing Rakasa with fans. Every year we save and roll out the most exciting and new additions to our gaming experience at AX. This year we introduced individualized player tokens that tracked and saved players' gaming progression. These tokens also gave us the capability of having digital raffle selection and notification. Players also got their first taste of the new PVP system coming to the game soon.
We wanted to provide some feedback from our experience this year compared to previous years we've attended. Though some of these things may already be on your minds we just wanted to share our perspective as an exhibitor. First we’ll explain our concerns that arose from within our booth, then those extending outside Kentia Hall.
A common statement we heard from our returning fans as well as others wandering the hall was that they did not know tabletop gaming was one, still present at the convention and two, in the Kentia Hall. When asked, many of our returning fans assumed we did not attend this year, as they visited the West Hall and did not see table top gaming. Many didn't locate us until late Saturday and, originally, were planning on purchasing the game but spent their funds elsewhere since they assumed we did not attend.
Furthermore, our booth was awkwardly narrow and made movement, communication, and general management of our events a challenge and created a lot of missed opportunities. Also, being placed in an isolated area gave a feeling as if we were not connected with tabletop gaming. Attendees at first glance would not even know we were part of tabletop gaming as none of the large hanging banners indicated this. On one side of our booth we had a major thoroughfare with a mix of people going and coming from getting autographs, some gamers, and other wanderers. And on the other side of our booth, we opened to the tables of people resting, or waiting to meet up with friends, and all of whom were not interested in gaming. Of the 162,000 sqft that makes up the Kentia Hall (and fits 844 10x10 exhibit booths comfortably), all 5 of the industry sponsor venders that attended were placed in a 50 x 40 area. Because we were all visually trying to grab the attention of people passing by, all of our banners, cutouts, and posters ran together in a messy collection of advertisements that were more of an eye sore than inviting, as they would normally be when spaced out. These efforts to entrance people were even more thwarted as the primary direction of the spanse of our booths faced perpendicular to the main thoroughfare and altogether had limited head-on exposure to this thoroughfare.
Lastly, because we know little goes exactly as planned, we always try to remain as flexible as possibly. But this time being flexible resulted in an even more complex challenge as there were major uncommunicated changes from the quoted booth space and table setup to the actual booth space and setup. We planned based upon the contract provided to us which stated we would have a "40' x 40' space [that would] include three (3) 72" round tables, six(6) 6' rectangle tables…" Upon arriving we found our space to be a 10' x 40' booth that we were told was a 40' x 40' because it had 4 10' x 10' booths. It was only later, after researching standard show and event booth space, that we realized that standard booth space does follow regular mathematics, and 4 10 x 10 booths are not equal a 40 x 40 space. We also ended up with eight (8) 6' rectangle tables and (0) 72" round table. Due to the fact it was late in the evening of day 0 (our night for setting up), we were still lacking chairs, and there wasn't anyone with any time to examine, calculate, discuss, and negotiate changes, (check in was quick and up to us to pick a line of 10 x 10s) we adjusted plans and tried to work as best as we could with what was provided.
Now looking at the overall positioning of tabletop games, it seemed out place. Compared to AX of the previous two years, the Kentia Hall lacked the energy and excitement for gaming that was present in the West Hall where tabletop gaming was once located. Having both video gaming and tabletop gaming in the same hall provided lots of crossover interest for the different forms of gaming. Nearly half of our gamers from previous years were primarily video gamers that were taking a break or just visiting the tabletop area out of curiosity. And after playing our game for a while, many of our gamers also left our tables to take part in some of the video gaming happening in the hall. The choice in events happening in the Kentia Hall this year (tabletop with autographs) didn't seem to support each other particularly well. The overall feel of the Kentia Hall was also cold and empty as compared to the West Hall. Though this move may have been in response to the healthy growth of this expo, it seems two groups that shouldn't have been split in the move were. To further emphasize this point we have included images take from each year that visually identify this issue. When occasion would permit, we would venture to the West Hall to encourage attendees to visit tabletop gaming. And each time we would notice a snaking line of people trying to enter the West Hall, which was quite discouraging in comparison to the crowds of people sitting or resting outside of Kentia Hall (to whom we also tried to reach out to and encourage to come in and play).
We apologize for the length of this email but as you can see we are very passionate about AX and want both Trivatch and the Expo to succeed. AX is the start of our year for conventions and sets the tone for conventions thereafter. We also consider it our home, in a way, as it is the first place we ever showed the world our game. We hope you will consider some of the things addressed in this email: spaced vendors out a bit in a room not designed and setup for packing in vendors like the exhibit hall; face the bulk of their booths towards the major thoroughfares; use squared booth spaces when possible as opposed to super long narrow booths (especially when crammed together); position vendors near enough to tabletop gaming to help them feel included and help gamers know these vendors are also tabletop gaming; definitely place signage and other information in the major gathering areas outside the hall that tabletop games is in, in the location where it once was, and in major locations passed in-between; keep provided booth size and table arrangement congruent with agreed booth size and table arrangement; if possible keep tabletop gaming with video gaming in the West Hall and move other stuff (not directly related to gaming) from the West Hall to the Kentia Hall.
We hope you will provide us with your response to our concerns with AX 2015 and your plans for AX 2016 as this will affect our decision in regards to how we will allocate our money, time, and other resources next year for convention attendance. In previous years, we've put off attending other conventions to continue going to AX. We love this expo and hope to keep it as our number one event of the year. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Trivatch Team
www.trivatch.com
559-779-9669
