Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Going to ShoWest,? Probally not

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Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-05-2006, 09:36 AM:

So I have never been to Showest, and being a Theatre Owner now for 5 years I thought maybe I should. So I got on the website and checked, I had no idea how EXPENSIVE IT IS!! It says the full registration is like $1,000... Has it always been that high, just wondering, and do you think it is really worth it??

Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 02-05-2006, 10:15 AM:

Worth every penny!

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 02-05-2006, 10:19 AM:

Although I am no longer working at a theater after moving out west, I think I will be making a trip up to Vegas for the FT gathering. All depending on the date and time...gotta see Scott drunk in a tub before I die [Wink]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-05-2006, 12:43 PM:

Since you just spent some $$ on repairs with your dealer ask him. They usually have a display booth at Showorst as well. We generally supply all of our big customers or those that ask for Showorst Trade Show Paasses when ever we can. Dealers get them free.

I used to attend the whole regala but don't any longer..... Its worse than walking through the largest Multiplex in SLC between show times.... you're just another head of cattle grazing from one end of Balley's to the other and then back again. But since you've never been to it and are a theatre owner you might want to indulge in the whole affair just to see what its about. Most theatre owners that I know with the exception of one or two just attend the trade show. Most are already well set in their way of buislness and just attend to look at new seating, sound, and projection. And then there is the all important freindship aspect where you see folks just once a year or so. Also if you go plan to sit in on the SMPTE meeting so you can see how standards and other industry technical problems are delt with. There is also (hopefully) the Film-Tech Drink Night to attend and you can meet other F-T'ers and see Guttag's "Mountain OF Cheese"...

Mark

P.S. Me... I will be there for a while and then I have more important things to attend to like exploring old Nevada Ghost Towns and the like..... That is way more fun than any projector show!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-05-2006, 02:09 PM:

Everybody should go at least once to see all the ridiculous hoopla. I went in '95 and haven't been since, but would like to take my wife because she's never been. So we keep talking about it, or possibly ShowEast which neither of us have been to.

BTW, congratulations on the worst-spelled and worst-punctuated thread title of the year so far.

Posted by Dieter Depypere (Member # 3184) on 02-05-2006, 02:13 PM:

Does that event take place somewhere in Europe too?

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-05-2006, 02:53 PM:

CinemaExpo in Amsterdam (at the RAI convention center). This year
June 26-29. About half as big as ShoWest and half as fun.

I´ve been to ShoWest 5 times the last 7 years, and I just love it.
Bought the whole package twice, but it´s not worth the money. The
price is way too high. The great thing about it is the Trade show
and Las Vegas. Included in the trip for us are also 2 or 3 days in
New York or Los Angeles. We try to see as many theaters as
possible.

Thomas

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-05-2006, 05:38 PM:

Assuming you own a theater or even manage a theater, wouldn't something like this be a write off of sorts?

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 02-05-2006, 05:50 PM:

You'd still have to pay the $1000 just not the income taxes on the $1000. Also the airplane tickets and the hotel and the eats, plus the lost time away from your job. I went once and have no real desire to go again

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-05-2006, 07:33 PM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
like exploring old Nevada Ghost Towns

What kind of Ghost Towns? Gold digger towns? I know Calico, CA, on the way to Vegas but I found it a little disappointing. It had been well conserved, or actually, too well, with paved streets and a Coke vending machine outside the saloon. That didn't really allow the Western flair to unfold.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-05-2006, 08:57 PM:

Yeah, much of Calico burned to the ground a few years ago and has since been rebuilt, so those parts are now recreations, not actual old stuff. It does get a fair amount of tourist traffic, hence the paved roads. The old west part of the Knott's Berry Farm theme park in Buena Park is based on Calico.

Nevada has many real ghost towns, a couple of which have become popular tourist attractions. But the rest of them are just what they are - abandoned towns left to wither away in the harsh desert. Virginia City, home of the Comstock Lode in Storey County near Reno, is the most touristy. Gold Hill, just down the hill from Virginia City, is more typical. Genoa, the oldest town in Nevada and just south in Douglas County, is also touristy and has also become quite gentrified, with a Japanese-owned golf course and million-dollar-plus homes for aging ex-yuppies escaping from California.

Goldfield, in Esmeralda County, is probably the most well preserved without much in the way of actual preservation activity going on. Many of the buildings like the courthouse and post office are in remarkable shape, probably because of their brick and stone construction. Rhyolite, in Nye County, is much more typical in its decay - it's masonry buildings haven't fared nearly as well. Of course most of these ghost towns featured wood construction, and by far these are the ones now in the worst shape.

When I used to drive van loads of teenage CAP cadets to Reno for summer encampments, we made a point of stopping to see some of these places along the way. Sort of a living history lesson for Nevadans.

Ghost Towns of Nevada

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-05-2006, 09:06 PM:

FWIW, ShoWest registration does NOT cost $1000 unless you register on site. (Even then it's a bit under -- unless you're from outside the US.) It's still awful expensive though. When I went in 1995 it was $500 for the full package for NATO members.

NATO/ITEA/NAC Members - $845 per person
Non-Members - $940 per person
Onsite - $995 per person

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-05-2006, 09:37 PM:

quote: Michael Schaffer
What kind of Ghost Towns?

Exploring old ghost/mining towns is one of my passions in life. Lots of them can be found through out Nevada. California and the Mountain States also have quite a few. Believe it or not they number on the hundreds! A good example of a "living" or well preserved Ghost Town is Pioche, NV . and it is one of the more interesting of them all. Pioche began in 1864 and at it heyday it had 7000 residents. Today there may be 200 there total. There is an interesting cemetary there with more real outlaws burried than any place else. In fact Pioche was such a voilent place during its heyday that 72 people were burried in the cemetary before anyone died from natural causes. Historic Pioche as far as I know has no equal in terms of a "living" Ghost Town. There are alot of mone remnants left and some remnants look to be in such good shape that they look like they were just shut doawn a few years ago.

Bodie, CA . is another fantastic and well preserved Ghost town. Although its not lived in it is now a California State Park.

Anyway a couple of good books you can get are " Roadside History Of Nevada " by Richard Moreno and " Ghost Towns Of The American West ", Photographs by Berthold Steinhilber. Steinhilbers erie photos are all done at night or at twilight and he uses strobe lighting to paint light on the buildings of famous ghost towns. These photos have to be seen to be appreciated [thumbsup]

.

Mark

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-05-2006, 09:42 PM:

This reminds of that Simpsons episode where they were in a wild west ghost town, and the tour guide says "now over here is an authentic old time hitching post, which may or may not have been used by outlaws", and then everyone takes pictures of it.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-05-2006, 10:24 PM:

Yea, I'm going cuz my boss wants me to - to get some "learning" in after I told him that I want to get something more of what's out there instead of looking at old STRONG equipment all the time.

Be my first time and definitely looking for it - knowing that's going to be a 'zoo' of sorts, but you only have to do it at least one time.

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-06-2006, 08:49 AM:

For Mike Heenan. I´m not really sure what you mean? Language...

Thomas

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 02-06-2006, 02:05 PM:

I amy or may not go.. Boss hasn't decided yet.. If we go, it will be with trade show passes, and whatever screening passes we can get from the distributers.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-06-2006, 02:37 PM:

It was just a joke in regards to MArk's going to ghost towns... if you haven't seen the episode of the Simpsons, you probably won't get the joke.

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-06-2006, 02:55 PM:

I must admit I haven´t seen even one complete episode of
the Simpsons...

Thomas

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-06-2006, 03:13 PM:

quote: Mike Heenan
if you haven't seen the episode of the Simpsons, you probably won't get the joke.

Maybe that is why he asked you to explain the joke?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-06-2006, 03:34 PM:

No need to see the Simpsons. It's just a reference to American tourism where people will stop and take pictures of just about anything that's "old."

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-06-2006, 05:31 PM:

Thomas, is The Simpsons not aired up there in Sweden? Mike Schaeffer, that's why I explained the joke to him. Why do you take my post to be that there are hidden meanings in it, like I'm looking down on him for not getting the joke? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-06-2006, 05:34 PM:

quote: Mike Heenan
Why do you take my post to be that there are hidden meanings in it?

C'mon Mike, we played it backwards and there are hidden satanic messages in your post. [Razz]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-06-2006, 05:50 PM:

quote: Thomas Jonsson
I must admit I haven´t seen even one complete episode of
the Simpsons...

Thomas,
Believe me.... By missing the Simpsons you're not missing a thing!

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-06-2006, 07:24 PM:

I agree with Mark. The Simpsons have long become "stale"... I prefer "South Park"!

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-06-2006, 08:05 PM:

I'll agree lately Simpsons has been stale, but South Park and especially the POS movie I could never get into. Oddly enough I liked Orgazmo and Baseketball, go figure. [sleep]

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-07-2006, 07:47 AM:

The Simpsons are quite popular here in Sweden, but personally I
don´t like it. I´m a bit old fashioned and prefer the old Disney
shorts and such.

But I would very much enjoy seeing an old ghost town in real life!

Thomas

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-07-2006, 06:48 PM:

quote: Mike Heenan
...I liked Orgazmo and Baseketball...

Yeah, those are among my favorites, but I would add "Team America: World Police" too. Those 3 are all too funny! [thumbsup]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-07-2006, 07:26 PM:

quote: Mike Heenan
that's why I explained the joke to him

But you didn't. Mike B. did. Or are you and Mike B the same person? Leading two completely separate lives in two different places, commuting between the two identies?

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 02-07-2006, 07:30 PM:

Team America World Police......

mmmmm.......puppet sex! [sex]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-07-2006, 08:45 PM:

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 02-07-2006, 10:00 PM:

quote:
mmmmm.......puppet sex! [sex]

First it's peeing in the shower.. now its puppet sex.. You guys are starting to scare me... [Smile]

Posted by Jeff Lacey (Member # 3217) on 02-08-2006, 01:15 AM:

So I guess the question is who is for sure going to Showest this year? I'm seriously considering it... It will be my first time, but I've always wanted to go.

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-08-2006, 07:38 AM:

I would go if I were you, especially if you have never been to
Las Vegas. Go for the Trade Show and spend the rest of the time
in Vegas, and why not combine it with a trip to the Grand Canyon,
Hoover Dam or other interesting places nearby.

Thomas

Posted by Robert Burtcher (Member # 3227) on 02-09-2006, 01:36 AM:

About the only way I could feasably see myself going to ShoWest is if our theatre wins that ShoWest trip from the Fox Rewards sheet enclosed with the Ice Age 2 character standees.

I really want to go, just to see the spectacle, and see other Film-Techers... but seeing as how the entire trip is outrageously expensive, I just can't afford it.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 02-11-2006, 09:54 PM:

I will be there.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 02-13-2006, 10:23 AM:

^me as well

JJ

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-13-2006, 10:32 AM:

Looks like I won't be at ShoWest this year. [Frown]

Business trips take alot out of you (I'm still stuck in Philly, on the way home from a week in Germany, due to Sunday's coastal snowstorm), and the work at the office still piles up while you are away. Plus, Internet and Kodak Lotus Notes access on the road is sometimes iffy, and often slow.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 02-13-2006, 01:49 PM:

I am pretty sure that I'll be there...

-Aaron

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 02-13-2006, 02:10 PM:

Hopefully be there. Thanks Aaron!

Still can't decide if I want to stay the whole week, might not want to leave the theater that long [Wink]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-13-2006, 04:11 PM:

The Film-Tech Drink is booked at Bally's and will be on Wednesday night from 7pm-midnight as usual.

Ask one of the following booths for location info:
QSC, Kinoton, Jack Roe, Neumade.

It's worth the trip to Vegas not just to see ShoWest, but to watch Steve Guttag down about 10 pounds of cheese! [Big Grin]

Our usual visit to Quarks at 8pm on Tuesday night is also on. Meet us there!

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-13-2006, 05:39 PM:

quote:
but to watch Steve Guttag down about 10 pounds of cheese!

..bet that really plugs him up pretty bad.. [Big Grin]

Where is Quarks anywho? I'll be there.

-Monte

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-13-2006, 06:04 PM:

Quark's Bar & Restaurant is part of the Deep Space 9 Promenade inside the Star Trek Experience casino at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Last year several of us used the monorail to get from Bally's over to the Hilton. The Hilton monorail station is right in front of the Star Trek casino. Don't know if I can recommend the monorail this year though - the prices went up to $5 each way for tourists. Locals can ride for a $1 but have to buy $20 worth of passes to be able to do that. And the only place to buy monorail passes is at the seedy Downtown Transportation Center. Very convenient... like hell. [evil]

And the $300,000-a-year monorail suits wonder why the system is losing money every month, and why their bonds were just downgraded to junk bond status. [Roll Eyes]

I am taking my last CCSN Japanese class on Tuesday & Thursday nights this term. But I have no homework due that night so I may be able to make it to Quark's again this year, finances permitting.

[ 02-13-2006, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-13-2006, 07:30 PM:

A couple of pounds of Prunes afterwords might be appropriate for ole Steve and help to keep that 10 lbs of cheese flowing......

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-14-2006, 12:31 AM:

My wife is telling me I have to go. She is tired of me wanting to go and then never going. So this year she says book the trip and get my ass there already.

It would be somewhat kind of interesting to wander the convention, at least once in my life.

Maybe see ya there..

Ciao

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 02-14-2006, 12:38 AM:

Well, heck. I guess i'll be there too.

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 02-14-2006, 04:03 AM:

Just talked to our tech who said : "If you can tell me this week, I'll get you a ticket for free"

The ticket price has been the excuse for the last 4 friggin' years, so maybe I can talk "THEM" into letting me go.

If I can talk work into letting me go, I'm in. I like to drink and curse, just as a warning. I am also a bad gambler and like long walks on the beach...

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 02-15-2006, 05:11 AM:

Boss says we are going, so I'll be there...

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 02-15-2006, 12:44 PM:

I will be there, so you all should cancel your reservations before the deadline passes! [Razz]

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-15-2006, 02:00 PM:

Now if only I had a tech with free passes to hand around, I would be in good shape!

Too bad I actually LEFT the business years ago. No free passes for those in the finance industry. DAMMIT! [Mad]

Ciao

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 02-15-2006, 02:41 PM:

What´s this thing with Mr Guttag and the cheese? I understand
from pictures I´ve seen in the pictures warehouse, this is a
thing that happens at the Film-Tech drink every year. How did
it start, and is he really eating all that cheese?

Thomas

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-15-2006, 02:58 PM:

All this talk about cheese... I'm about ready to get Brad to bring some of the left over nachos (depicted here) and come down to fight Steve for some of that cheese!

I still haven't figured out why so many engineers devour cheese like it's going out of style...

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 02-15-2006, 04:06 PM:

Last time I saw Steve, several years ago.. the conversation went like this:

Bob: What kind of cheese is that?

Steve: (Gave me a strange look) and said, Nacho Cheese!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-15-2006, 10:08 PM:

Just finished the final booking arrangements (a bit more complicated this year...going through Dubuque, Iowa).

So I shall be in attendance for ShoWest 2006....I can hardly wait....<mmmm Cheese>

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-15-2006, 10:49 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
a bit more complicated this year...going through Dubuque, Iowa).

WOW! You'd better have good reasons to go there.. like business, or relatives, or husking acres of dried up corn. Say hi to the Adamanys for me while you're there [Smile]

. Thats one of the bleakest parts of the world! You WILL need Vegas and plenty of cheese afterwards......

Mark

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-15-2006, 11:28 PM:

Rest assured there WILL be cheese. [Wink]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-16-2006, 06:48 AM:

Mark I used Dubuque as a more known name and the city with the "airport" (all three gates...though it is two for departures and 1 for arrivals)...I'm actually going to Farley, Iowa "The Heart of the Corn Belt." as the sign sez upon arrival into the "city". Yes, my journey their is family related.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-16-2006, 09:14 AM:

Steve,
Am not sure there is an airport there that can land more than a small Cessna... but there is definately a Steamboat dock down by the river. While you're in Eye-Oh-Way be sure to cob onto some Maytag Blue Cheese for the F-T drink Party... Great Cheese!

Donno why but these posts make me think of that song "River City Iowa" and ya got big big trouble.... down by the pool hall... oh yea [Smile]

.

Have a safe trip at any rate....

Mark

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 02-16-2006, 10:09 AM:

Steve,

I hear that our film-tech moderator's can really cut the cheese. [Big Grin]

If you know what I mean....

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-16-2006, 02:20 PM:

BOB! Don't talk about Rachel like that. It's her hamsters, not her. [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 02-16-2006, 02:31 PM:

Mark, its funny because people on this end of the plains view your half as the bleak side [Razz]

But you've seen more of these lands than I have, so I'll take your word for it. Those US-highways that run east-west through IA are awful boring.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-16-2006, 05:25 PM:

Mark,

My wife is from Dubuque/Farley IA. I've been there a few times now. Actually, now they have those cool little Jets to make the hop from Chicago (ORD) to Dubuque (DBQ). Take almost no time and they are rather comfy as planes go. The "Buddy Holly" planes we used to have to ride were noisy little buggers and they always got blown all over the runways on take off.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-16-2006, 07:22 PM:

Steve G.,

I'm just kidding with yas. One of my best friends grew up in Dubuque. I've actually flown into and out of that airport on numerous occasions in his Cessna 180. Unfortunately he is now buried in the cemetery in Dubuque that overlooks the Mississippi River.

The mention of Iowa just makes me think of "The Music Man" for some reason or other, always has..... one of my favorite musicals I guess. Heck at least you're NOT going to Gary, Indiana! And do get yourself some of that Maytag Blue Cheese.... it is really good, probably the best there is!!

Steve S.,

Unfortunately I can't post any large enough photos here to do this area or the pictures justice so sometime come out this way and I'll show you around. Part of what makes this area so awsome is the vastness of the open spaces, the mountain ranges, the canyons, red rock areas, all the(operating)railroad museums, all the lakes, the reservoirs, and the people. Each area of the country has its merits but I've been to 48 states and so far this area offers the most in what I enjoy and thats the outdoors.

Mark

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-16-2006, 07:39 PM:

I hanker for a hunka
A slab a slice a chunka
I hanker for a hunk of CHEESE!
(Look! A wagon wheel!)

Despite my hankering (and my fondness for cheesy 1970s public service announcements), I won't be going to Showest this year (maybe someday).

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-16-2006, 09:27 PM:

Oh believe me...It is definately "Fly Over" country if you are a city type. [Smile]