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PARKING SHOT
The trade ret urns to AOE
Is attendance at the 1982 Amusement Operators Expo
worthwhile for the American operator?
We asked a number of returning attendees, who
had gone to AOE 1981, and their answers were a
resounding "Yes."
" We enjoy the show," said Jack Meyer, vice
president of M&W Enterprises/ Key West, who will be
at the show in Chicago's Hyatt Regency Hotel on
March 26-28 with his wife and "combine business
and pleasure." As an operator in the tropical spur of
the Florida peninsula, he is "isolated," Meyer noted
and he attends as many trade affairs as possible "for an
educational experience. Our arcade operation with a
cocktail lounge combination is really a winner for us,
so we try to stay as up-to-date as possible by the trade
conve ntions," said Meyer.
The Meyers are like a number of husband-wife
teams who divide up the business and technical
se minars menu and attend one of each available
sess ion , for a total of six workshops apiece-at least 24
hours "i n class" between the couple.
Bette Lockhart, arcade manager in Chicago, said
the AOE is "one of the most informative" of the many
industry meetings she has attended. "It's like no other
business in being so open to exchange of informa-
tion," she said. " I'm impressed, and I'm not
impressed easily." The show which is becoming
known as " The Show for The Eighties" is geared to
inform the attendees, "who are really interested in
learning, not just having a good time at a conven-
tion," said Lockhart.
Michael Gitlan from Hartsdale, New York, pointed
to the seminars on equipment purchasing and
promotions as being especially useful to him.
Compared to the AOE, the AMOA Show of the fall is
"to tally different," he said. The national association
show is geared more "for 5-to-10-year veterans of the
industry," he observed. At the AOE, the hard-hitting
sem inars are his main interest; " The exchange of
ideas is very helpful ," he said, and he underscored the
Chicago site as "a good, central location" for the
indus try gathering.
However, Bill Witsen , a partner in U-Neck
Enterprises/Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, was
not in favor of a Chicago show site and called for
future shows in "any warm weather climate. We go to
the AMOA in Chicago every year anyway," he said.
Witsen continued, " Your show is for the operator.
The AMOA is for the manufacturer and distributor.
The operator gets lost there." For his returning to the
Amusement Operators Expo, the "primary reason " is
the sem in ars , he said. " The display of equipment is a
plus , but that is really a secondary re aso n for our
attending."
He volunteered a comment on the "gray area"
games on display: "They don't really belong in the
same show. I operate very few of them because in a
sense I was forced to-1 had to use the equipment or
lose the location ," said Witsen. "But I have a
tremendous fear that some day, government entities
will fail to see the distinction and will ban all videos."
Of the pseudo-gambling videos, Witsen said: ,"I'd
like to see them off the streets."
•
A Louisianan, Bill Atkins of Atkins Novelty/
Jonesville, doesn't mind Chicago "a bit," he said. "I
would go wherever you all have the show. The
exhibits are great and super, but I attend for the
seminars most of all." Atkins added that he likes the
personal contact with factory and supply house
representatives on the exhibit floor.
" The seminars were very good. All those I went to,
gave me a lot of information I could use in my own
business . In one, I ended up buying a little computer.
I'm not flying by the seat of my pants anymore but
looking at return on investment, by location," said
Atkins.
Like many others, this operator attends the AOE,
the AMOA , and all trade shows and seminars he
possibly can, "fo r all the input I can get from talking to
operators over the country."
Barbara Miller of Phoenix will be attending again
with husband Kal Miller (Don-Bar Distributors) and
they will divide the seminars "t o get the most out of
them . It's helpful, too, to see what's coming on the
market before the competitors get them ," she
advised.
She noted the lesser number of seminars at the
AMOA Show and said, " It's nice to have such a choice
to select from " at the AO E. " We always seem to come
up with more information . We're always looking for
new ways of doing things, especially promotions. "
Barbara Miller pointed to the present proliferation
of games and operators in competition. " That's why,
when it comes to the seminars it helps things I' m
promoting and gives you ideas of places to look for
new locations."
Key West 's Jack Meyer said, " The seminars we went
to were very informative. I try to sign for one of each
session they offer. I believe the seminar program is
really worthwhile; they have knowledgeable people
who conduct them. I enjoy both aspects, the exhibits
and the seminars.
"We combine business and pleasure, " he added. " I
take my wife with me and that doubles the
dividends ... Of course, while I' m in the seminars, she's
taking in the Chicago shops."
Another returning operator summed up the AOE:
" It's been all I expected it to be and more. "