This Week at ADB, Inc., 20-27 June 2011
Steve Cole reports:
This was the week of the Origins Game Fair trip. Because of that trip, this blog covers the eight days of the trip, from mid-afternoon on Monday the 20th to late at night on Monday the 27th inclusive.
The weather this week in Amarillo was very hot, over 100F every day. The weather on the trip was a little milder, with spots of rain during the drive.
The spam storm remained below 100 per day as the filters and firewalls held.
Nothing new was uploaded to e23 this week due to the workload for Origins products. The next upload will be on 5 July.
While others were at Origins, the office team (Leanna Cole, Mike Sparks, and Joel Shutts) kept things happening in Amarillo, getting products packed and orders shipped.
Monday: Steve Cole and Steven Petrick left at 2:15pm, the earliest departure ever. The drive to Tulsa was quiet, but it was strange to arrive there in daylight.
Tuesday: This is the day Steve and Steve rest (as they drive) from the hard work of getting ready to go. The drive was pleasant; there was not much construction and only one spot of rain. The BBQ at Sweetwater was good. They got to the hotel in Columbus about 11pm. Jean called and asked SVC to walk across to D240 bringing some ISC War counters. He chatted with the guys for a while, then Steven Petrick showed up and said everyone needed to get some sleep.
Wednesday: Steve and Steve got up and began executing the on-site plan. SVC walked over to D240 and when Chuck Strong said that the guys were ready to help unload, phoned Steven Petrick and told him to bring the van over. SPP called when he was on the ramp, and everyone walked down. The F&E (Freight and Equipment) guys unloaded the car in one trip, and Jean got to see the booth set up from the bare concrete. Don Reents had his big booth next door and the carpet he brought went all the way into our booth, so we gave him some sodas for the privilege of spending the show in a carpeted booth. We got everything set up, had a nice lunch, chatted with friends, then had supper, then SVC went to the GAMA meeting. Then everyone went to the Singalong which went very nicely. Eventually, we all went and got some sleep.
Thursday: SVC and Jean had to be in the booth at 9am for "retailer hour" despite the fact that only three retailers showed up and only one talked to us (and she was just looking for stuff for her personal collection, not for her store). This was yet another brilliant GAMA idea that deserved to work but did not. Then the floodgates opened at 10am and we were swamped with sales all day.
Friday is quiet day at the booth. The all-week people have already bought their stuff and the one-day people mostly come on Saturday. We sold some stuff (passing our quota for the show), talked to a lot of people, and passed out chocolate for the ladies. Jay Waschak demonstrated his train game and attracted a lot of attention. The miniatures conference went well (with Rob Glass explaining what Mongoose does).
Saturday is Crazy Day because so many one-day people show up. The booth saw good sales, the events all wrapped up, and we talked to a lot of people. Jeff Johnson did a heck of a job with GURPS and Starmada events. The F&E seminar is always a special treat for SVC, made better this year by having Chuck Strong and ISC War there.
Sunday is the last day of the show, and everyone wants to go home. Steve and Steve got up, checked out of the hotel, and had the Star Fleet Universe seminar. Then, down to the dealer hall. When the show closed at 4, we were packed and out of there at 4:30, loaded and out the gate at 4:45, then Steve and Steve promptly got lost trying to take an unfamiliar way out of the convention because construction had blocked the usual ramp. Fifteen minutes later, they found the ramp and got on the road. They made it to Saint Claire, Missouri, just before it rained.
Monday is a day for driving, more Sweetwater BBQ, and a quiet review of how the show went. This all went well (the show was great, but we're all nervous about next year) and we got to the office at 9:15pm. Steve and Steve unloaded the van and went home.
This was the week of the Origins Game Fair trip. Because of that trip, this blog covers the eight days of the trip, from mid-afternoon on Monday the 20th to late at night on Monday the 27th inclusive.
The weather this week in Amarillo was very hot, over 100F every day. The weather on the trip was a little milder, with spots of rain during the drive.
The spam storm remained below 100 per day as the filters and firewalls held.
Nothing new was uploaded to e23 this week due to the workload for Origins products. The next upload will be on 5 July.
While others were at Origins, the office team (Leanna Cole, Mike Sparks, and Joel Shutts) kept things happening in Amarillo, getting products packed and orders shipped.
Monday: Steve Cole and Steven Petrick left at 2:15pm, the earliest departure ever. The drive to Tulsa was quiet, but it was strange to arrive there in daylight.
Tuesday: This is the day Steve and Steve rest (as they drive) from the hard work of getting ready to go. The drive was pleasant; there was not much construction and only one spot of rain. The BBQ at Sweetwater was good. They got to the hotel in Columbus about 11pm. Jean called and asked SVC to walk across to D240 bringing some ISC War counters. He chatted with the guys for a while, then Steven Petrick showed up and said everyone needed to get some sleep.
Wednesday: Steve and Steve got up and began executing the on-site plan. SVC walked over to D240 and when Chuck Strong said that the guys were ready to help unload, phoned Steven Petrick and told him to bring the van over. SPP called when he was on the ramp, and everyone walked down. The F&E (Freight and Equipment) guys unloaded the car in one trip, and Jean got to see the booth set up from the bare concrete. Don Reents had his big booth next door and the carpet he brought went all the way into our booth, so we gave him some sodas for the privilege of spending the show in a carpeted booth. We got everything set up, had a nice lunch, chatted with friends, then had supper, then SVC went to the GAMA meeting. Then everyone went to the Singalong which went very nicely. Eventually, we all went and got some sleep.
Thursday: SVC and Jean had to be in the booth at 9am for "retailer hour" despite the fact that only three retailers showed up and only one talked to us (and she was just looking for stuff for her personal collection, not for her store). This was yet another brilliant GAMA idea that deserved to work but did not. Then the floodgates opened at 10am and we were swamped with sales all day.
Friday is quiet day at the booth. The all-week people have already bought their stuff and the one-day people mostly come on Saturday. We sold some stuff (passing our quota for the show), talked to a lot of people, and passed out chocolate for the ladies. Jay Waschak demonstrated his train game and attracted a lot of attention. The miniatures conference went well (with Rob Glass explaining what Mongoose does).
Saturday is Crazy Day because so many one-day people show up. The booth saw good sales, the events all wrapped up, and we talked to a lot of people. Jeff Johnson did a heck of a job with GURPS and Starmada events. The F&E seminar is always a special treat for SVC, made better this year by having Chuck Strong and ISC War there.
Sunday is the last day of the show, and everyone wants to go home. Steve and Steve got up, checked out of the hotel, and had the Star Fleet Universe seminar. Then, down to the dealer hall. When the show closed at 4, we were packed and out of there at 4:30, loaded and out the gate at 4:45, then Steve and Steve promptly got lost trying to take an unfamiliar way out of the convention because construction had blocked the usual ramp. Fifteen minutes later, they found the ramp and got on the road. They made it to Saint Claire, Missouri, just before it rained.
Monday is a day for driving, more Sweetwater BBQ, and a quiet review of how the show went. This all went well (the show was great, but we're all nervous about next year) and we got to the office at 9:15pm. Steve and Steve unloaded the van and went home.
posted by Federation Commander at 4:11 PM
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