[TheForge] NJ Fairgrounds - Attn: Phlip

[Saint Phlip]

OK, I'm going to address several of these questions right here.

On 2/28/07, Dave Mudge <dave at magichammer.net> wrote:

> ......It takes a every minute of a solid week in advance to set-up a
> conference and then Wed - Sun for the actual event then two - three
> days to tear it down and pack it up. How many days does $2,000 cover?

A week. For another $2000, I'm sure we could get another week for set
up, if necessary. But, if we run it the way I'm thinking, shouldn't
need to.

> >
> > What I told them was essentially a long weekend for the event itself,
> > total of a week to include set up and break down- not sure where some
> > estimates are wanting to take 3 weeks for set up and teardown.


> ......What sort of foundations do they have for big air hammers?

Macadam.

 Can
> we get the fuel trucks in to refuel the generators and air
> compressors?

We might just fit them in, between the 15 semis in a line, fully
loaded, running drag races down the area we'd have ;-) It's only about
20+ acres after all ;-) Did I mention the site's right next to a rock
crusher?

Is the ground solid enough for cranes and fork lifts and
> pegs for large tents?

Probably, since the people who own the place have a medium sized crane
that could likely handle only about 20 tons. But, if necessary, the
stone crusher has bigger cranes, and certified riggers. Dunno what you
consider a large tent. Didn't see anything at Seattle that was any
larger than anything we use.

> More than one vendor operates out of a semi.
> Will they get stuck?

Only if they decide to try to drive over the hill and into the lake.
It's a quarter mile away though, so they'd hafta work at it.

What is the local availability and price of BIG
> generators, BIG air compressors,

Two rental places within about 15 miles that handle them.

>  rough terrain cranes and fork lifts,

See above, but they can be rented at a heavy industrial supply
facility within 15 miles. They have them to help out when the local
100 ton track cranes don't want to work. But, see no reason we'd need
a rough terrain crane- the ground I'm thinking of is flat as a
pancake.

> hundreds of feet of 2 inch (or larger) air hose, hundreds of feet of
> electric cable,

Within about 10 miles.

> tents, bleachers,

20 miles, but they deliver and set up.

> water,

Plenty on site

> propane,

3 miles

> coal,

Nope. Pennsylvania never heard of coal ;-) How many 10 ton truckloads
do you want me to order?

>fans for "cool
> tents" for old people,

Industrial supply, among other places.

>steel,

Several major steel mills within maybe 30 miles. Might hafta find a
middleman, for a small order like ours.

> rentals for welding, burning, and
> general fabrication equipment?

Yes, a couple places, again within 10-15 miles.

> What about facilities for registration,
> with high speed computer and telephone lines, ABANA and Conference
> sales.

Well, we usually set up a high speed internet cafe at Pennsic, but
some of the folks just use Wifi or a cell phone modem. But, I'm sure
we could squeeze in a few more lines ;-)

> These areas must be lockable at night. Can't forget computer
> and phone lines for the majority of the vendors.

Easily handled, although cell phones would be more convenient.

> We have indoor
> vendors and outdoor vendors. The indoor vendors want to be able to
> lock their area after hours. Where do the galleries go? Don't forget
> lighting, display and dry for the galleries.

Wherever you want them, in the 20 or so acres of flat.

>  We will need at least
> half-a-dozen class / lecture rooms with seating and Power Point
> capabilities.

Not a problem.

Where are we going to hold the auction? (seating, audio
> / video, computer  / phone lines to process credit cards, lighting,
> secure and dry storage and display area)

Wherever you want to? Electric access all over. Barn would likely be
best. Maybe Chirurgeon's Point.

Is this camping area covered
> by "wireless" so that we can run the credit cards and the vendors can
> run their credit card sales and we can run the world-wide web cam?

Certainly. Believe it or not, most SCAdians are pretty high tech.

OR,
> will we have to hard wire telephone lines for all of that? ( dsl?)

Can if you want to-everyone needs a hobby ;-)

> What are the local fire / safety codes?

Pretty well known, considering we have something like
2000 firepits running every Pennsic,

> Will a group of this size
> require hired security?

Can if they want it. Easy to hire, or can leave it to the campground.

> EMS?


Great little volunteer outfit, who'd likely be perfectly
happy to park their bus there for a few days. BTW- "bus" in EMT talk,
means ambulance. Also, 3 good hospitals within 15 miles, one of which
is VA, and a class 3 major trauma center in Pittsburgh, 20 minutes by
air bus. They're fast and they're good, too- I helped land one.

We will need at least 10 port-a-pots and
> a service plan.

Part of the base site fee. And, there are handcapped accessible
flushies and showers on site.

> What about parking?

Plenty

> public transportation?

Minimal, but there's no reason we couldn't hire a bus company to do
airport and motel runs. We use one at Pennsic, for convemience from
one end of the 2 mile site to another.

> Contracts
> with food vendors and all of the above mentioned equipment and
> supplies.

Easily acquired- and the ones I have in mind have genuinely good food.
Nice people, too ;-)

> ......See the above comment. Still think that it won't take a week to
> set it up? I am sure that I haven't covered half of what is really
> involved in putting together an ABANA conference. It must be done in
> an organized and professional way. It is after all the ABANA member's
> money that we are spending.
> >
> dave mudge

Only other objection I haven't handled yet is power, and we'd have
choices on that. There's plenty of 220 on site. May be 440 3 phase,
but I doubt it, however, we could run a line over the hill from the
rock crusher or the auction barn, or just do generators.

I think what you don't realize is that that area of PA is one of the
most highly industrialized areas in the US. Whatever it is, it's
likely within 50 miles, max. Handling all the needs for a small
conference like ours wouldn't be much trouble at all.

-- 
Saint Phlip

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Priorities:

It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.