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Due to the close proximity between our press date for this issue and
the conclusion of the 2nd Annual Amusement Operators Expo (AOE), we
found it next to impossible to include a full report on the show in this issue.
We will, of course, be bringing you complete AOE coverage in our next
edition. Nevertheless, I just couldn't let this issue go to press wi~hout
expressing some of my thoughts about the AOE show here in, New
Orleans.
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Looking back on the overwhelming success of the 2nd Annual AOE,
one would have to conclude that the AOE has indeed established itself as a
major industry event. The question about a need for a second show, with
Spring timing, has clearly been answered. The message came through
loud and clear. It was high time an exposition was concerned with the
operator in mind first and foremost. While there were a lot of smiling faces
among the manufacturers · and distributors in attendance, the biggest
smiles of all came from the operating ranks. And they had lots to smile
about.
Without a doubt, the AOE's seminar/exhibit format would have to be
counted as the major reason for the AOE's success. Operators today are
eager to learn as they become more open-minded and enterprising than
ever before. In the face of today's strained economic conditions,
operators recognize the need to conduct their operations with sound,
professional business techniques. The "seat of the pants" operator is
falling by the wayside while the smart operators are facing up to the age-
old fact that "only the strong will survive." As testimony to their eagerness
.to survive in the coin-op business atmosphere of today, participation in
this year's AOE seminar program increased dramatically. . ,,.
The average operator attending AOE this year signed up for a total of
four 90-minute seminars. This compares to a total of two per registrant
last year: Added to this is the fact that operator registration doubled this
year over last. Nearly two-thirds of the operators in attendance
participated in the seminar program. They had 32 different operator-
oriented sessions to choose from, and a number of seminar classrooms
were filled to capacity. It was obvious that the operators of America had
discovered a fountain of information that satisfied their thirst for
knowledge.
As for the exhibit portion of the AOE, there was considerably
increased activity in the exhibit hall area. In addition to the doubled
attendance figures, the show was arranged this year so that the seminar
sessions did not conflict with the exhibit hours. The exhibit hall
atmosphere was bright and refreshing. Nobody had to fight their way
through mobs of people to play a game they were interested in. The pace
of the show was relaxed but steady. The exhibitors at this year's AOE
were delighted with the number of people in attendance as well as with a
lot of solid new orders for new equipment.
Perhaps the only disappointment of the entire show was the obvious
absence of a number of the major manufacturers. I really can't blame them
for holding off. Last year's AOE didn't exactly set the world on fire, and
nobody, not even us, had any guarantee that this year's show would be the
success that it turned out to be. I guess they were watching to see if the
AOE could make it on its own merits. Obviously, it did and we now have it
from a number of reliable sourc~s that the "no shows" this year will be
showing next year. I hope that will make a lot of you out there even
happier. We sure are!
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Ralph C Lally II
Editor and Publisher
PlAY M ETER, May 15, 1981