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I want a show in Westerly RI! Mystic CT is TOO FAR AWAY!!!!!

Posted by John Marks (M) on November 19, 2007 at 18:12:14

And there you have it.

Long before I wrote for Stereophile, I seriously lobbied LA and JA about having a Stereophile Show in Boston MA. The reasons in favor seemed self-evident. In addition to being close to Harvard and MIT (cradles of scientific acoustics in the US) and the home of more audio companies of the Golden Era than one could shake a stick at, there were the BSO and Symphony Hall, a great orchestra and one of the three greatest concert halls in the world. Zillions of hotel rooms, easy rail access to Phila and NYC, and great restaurants. As well as the oldest audio society in the country.

The put it to me plainly. A show is a million-dollar crap shoot. Any number of factors can mean failure. The only factor that can backstop against all the possible red ink is the number of local dealers who are willing to sign contracts for lots of space and send in good checks.

Anyone who has been to a NYC show must have noticed the numer of multi-room suites Andy Singer has taken. I have seen a strong presence from Innovative. If there are others I have forgotten, I apologize.

Bottom line: where are the early checks from the local dealers? Not the, we will see how the buzz develops and see if you have any leftover rooms at half price.

Whether the local dealers work out some deal with the brands they exhibit is immaterial. As the case happens, in Boston there is only one large multi-line high end dealer, not six or seven. There are other smaller dealers, but a promise to take one 10 x 14 room can't support a show.

I'd love there to be a show in Boston. But there is no profit and only huge risk in changing show venues for the sake of change.

Stereophile has been doing this for a while. The only places that seem to be able to support a show reliably are NYC, LA, and SF, with Chicago a relatively safe bet.

I wish Boston could be on that list, but it ain't, and my bitching won't change it.

Speaking only for myself,

JM

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