Editorial
putting humpty dumpty together
RealJy now. It's enough to make an operator
schizophrenic.
How is an operator who has a sizeable investment in
both music and games and vending to decide which
trade gathering and exposition to attend this year.
On one hand, there is the Music Oerators of
American 1975 international show and business
seminar in Chicago, which is larger than ever,
according to MOA, with 87 exhibitors in 210 booths, a
glittery stage show and a nuts-and-bolts seminar on
controlling operations.
Then there is the National Automatic Merchandising
As ociation's 1975 show and convention, the largest
gathering of vending machine operators and the
manufacturers who supply them, being held right here
in New Orleans at the convention bam of the Rivergate.
A conscientious vending and amusements operator
who wants to know what's in store for him would have
to become two separate people to be able to fulfill his
need for information, dialog and new products.
Unfortunately, not many people can divide themselves
that way and the resulting conflict is causing a crisis of
decision among many operators.
Should they attend MOA so that they can keep
abreast of the rapid technological changes occurring in
the games industry. Or, should they attend NAMA so
that they can keep abreast of the technological and
marketing changes that are shaping the world of
vending today? Should they try to catch a little of both
shows and skip the valuable business contacts and
dialog they could make at both gatherings?
Of course, not many people could afford or would
want to try the last alternative. Frankly, they shouldn't
be forced to make that type of decision in the first place.
For two industries that so complement each other in
so many situations, it is a wonder the two organizations
have not gotten together before this and arranged to
have their conventions in the same city each year. It is a
shame last year's coincidence of both gatherings being
in Chicago at the same time could not have repeated
itself again this year in New Orleans, for although we
feel Chicago is the heart of the coin-op amusement
industry, we do think MOA should go out into the world
and use different host cities each yeaR
We understand from MOA sources, however, that
both MOA and NAMA have their conventions booked
through 1978 and that unfortunately, they don't often
coincide in the same city, although they do coincide on
dates.
We do not think that combining the two organizations
is the solution. MOA needs to retain its identity for
purely music and games operators as much as NAMA
must retain it's individuality for purely vending
operations.
But we do believe that the two groups should confer
oon on arranging conventions in the same city or on
different dates so that operators who would relish the
opportunities available at both gatherings can take
advantage of them.
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