Atlanta Peer Pressure

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Steph

Steph

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Mar 27, 2005
Posts
2,880
Loc
NY
I just returned from Atlanta....what a fantastic trip. I left feeling a wee bit numb, but it was worth it. I did experience an interesting, expensive and quite humerous phenomenon.....GRUMBLER PEER PRESSURE.

It was a great group of Grumblers where each of us managed to get the others to spend money. Now don't get me wrong, I think we all steered each other in great directions. But if you could have seen how this evolved throughout the weekend, you would be laughing along with me.

Anyone else ever had these type of experiences?

This was the second tradeshow that Andy and I have done together in the past month. I don't think Mike wants to see that happen again for a very long time ;).

Tony and Kassandra, what a delight to meet you both. I hope you enjoy the new additions to your frame temple!

And to Wally......I am forwarding my American Express statement to you!


I still say we all did good!
 
I understand completely. You should have seen me, Val and Ellen at the WCAF, trading shots of vodka. Those two ladies drank me under the table, then called security on me, laughing all the while.
 
Paul!! That was a hallucination! Shame on you!! And Steph and Andy and Mike and Baer and PaulN were all witness.....it was Barry Manilow and that cute little hotty in the Manilow store that swayed you...not Ellen and me! Besides, Ellen was way into bedtime whan all that happened and I was taking shots of ginger ale. Must've been the seafood buffet...eh?

Steph, glad you had fun....looking forward to hearing more about it all.

Got pictures??
 
Steph's Top Three Weak Points:

C'mon, Sis. Bullet. Bite it.

C'mon, Sis. Everybody's doing it. You wanna be cool, doncha? It'll feel like yer flyin'.

C'mon, Sis. What would Judy say? Get It Done!!!

All joking aside, it was a good trip (well except for Friday night, but we won't go there). I can't wait for my new stuff to come in. Was nice meeting some new Grumbler faces, and seeing some familiar faces again. One problem though... you ALL sing off key. :smiley:
 
*SNORT* One thing is for sure, I never laughed so much in my whole life. You haven't lived till you spend a few hours with Mecianne and her husband Derek ;)

Highlights for me were to finally meet my mentor JudyN. Judy has yet to steer me wrong, and is a force to be reckoned with.

The newest release from Lifesaver is out of this world! Nice work there guys, they are always improving an already fabulous product. I also got the best advice from the LS booth Friday. When you check into the Omni, ask for a room where you can't hear the trains go by several times a night. Sorry gang, many of you experienced that...I slept like a baby!

My walls are going to be busting with new samples. The show helped me finalise my decision about the companies that will be coming down as well as those who will have a larger prescence.

I was going to wait, but I did get the very last debosser they had at the show in the Wizard booth, thanks to Larry the Linebacker. Oh I would like to apologize to the nice lady who was also in the booth who I was ready to arm wrestle for it. It was a happy ending, we both got one...phew. Don't worry, they have plenty they can ship out. But I am using mine today!

I am very excited about the new samples I lugged home from a great copany out of Ecuador(sp?) WOW, is all I can say. yea there were plenty of us leaving a path of drool as we handed over our charge cards.

Lastly, looking very forward to the leather trunk and boxes I ordered at house of Mercier.....oh my, delicious!

On the Grumbler front, it was great seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones. Gumbo Girl is great, and I wish had gotten a chance to spend more time with Neven. I was shocked to learn my assumption was completely wrong. Neven is not a man, but an absolutely adorable woman...ya just never know!
 
Boy, Steph, here I thought it was YOU applying all the peer pressure!!:icon21: We finally had to leave just to stop spending money every time we ran into you guys on the floor!

It was great to see people we knew and meet more grumblers!

And Andy, be thankful we only sang off-key....it could have been like last year's birthday celebration!

Kassandra
 
Yeah, about that... why wasn't it???
spankbutt.gif
 
I really had a great time as well. I was a bit antisocial, I had just gotten some jaw dropping news from home and was still reeling from that. I will be a little perkier next time. But at least I got to sit at the rowdy table, and put some faces with names and avatars. :)
 
One thing I learned is that museum glass comes in sizes much larger than what one might think.
 
much much less traffic, vendors and energy

smaller classes, but filled with eager students listening as if I had all the wisdom in the world

Met Tony and Kassandra (he took all my classes) delightful people giving hope to the future of the industry

Met many old friends, made many new

Highlights

Wiiliam Parker moderated a panel to packed house. Great questions, great answers great fun

Bigger Highlights

Sunday too early AM Summit of Industyr Leaders, media, Vendors and Mfgrs. Dennis Conforto of the SMART Group and I presented a "World Class' visionary project guaranteed to grow the industry. Sponsored by PPFA/PMA. Everyone there way way enthusiatic. Another great example of why it was so smart to align with PMA. As Picture framers, we are simply too small to amass any leverage. With Dennis and his vision, we have just capapulted into the Big Leagues. Details to follow, but your PPFA deserves a tremendous pat on the back

Biggest highlight

Going through Security at ATL with a Co of US Army soldiers (2d ID) on their way to Iraq. Bright, young Americans eagerly embracing their task. We were talking and thanking them for their service and they were thanking us for appreciating their duty. They must havesaid "Thank you, Sir" a gazillion times

What a thrill
 
Gee, Steph. I forgot to show you the really cool stuff.
Great seeing old friends, meeting newer ones (we really never start as total strangers, do we?), and being part of this really diverse group.
Now I have a new conundrum to puzzle over...why would an architect want to become a picture framer? Don't answer Neven, save it for next show.

Can't wait to get the follow-up information about the PMAI/PPFA project headed by Dennis Conforto and his group. There was no lack of energy in that presentation.
 
Hey Wally-So great to see you again

What did you think of "theatre" between Dennis and I?

That was 100% spontaneous

This thing will be huge
 
Hence my "no lack of energy" note, Bob.
I mentioned the project to one of my biggest competitors (in the framing business*) on the show floor. He's also my Max and Arquati rep (wife runs the shop), but that's another story. He loves the concept, as did several other folks I mentioned it to. Some even had intellegent questions...my answer was to ask why they were absent from the presentation. (Hi Steph!)

*My definition of competitor has been altered greatly since the presentation.
 
Wally-Quick answer to your friend's questions might be the die is cast; this truly is a PMA activity. The fact that we were even briefed was a pure courtesy

Imagine that we are one spoke on a bicycle wheel. The wheel will roll without us; we just make that wheel stronger and truer

This isn't up for debate or suggestions until it hits your particular market. Does this sound like a clarion call for participation?
 
Bob Carter said:
much much less traffic, vendors and energy
smaller classes, but filled with eager students listening as if I had all the wisdom in the world
Met Tony and Kassandra (he took all my classes) delightful people giving hope to the future of the industry
Met many old friends, made many new
Highlights
Wiiliam Parker moderated a panel to packed house. Great questions, great answers great fun
Bigger Highlights
Sunday too early AM Summit of Industyr Leaders, media, Vendors and Mfgrs. Dennis Conforto of the SMART Group and I presented a "World Class' visionary project guaranteed to grow the industry. Sponsored by PPFA/PMA. Everyone there way way enthusiatic. Another great example of why it was so smart to align with PMA. As Picture framers, we are simply too small to amass any leverage. With Dennis and his vision, we have just capapulted into the Big Leagues. Details to follow, but your PPFA deserves a tremendous pat on the back
Biggest highlight
Going through Security at ATL with a Co of US Army soldiers (2d ID) on their way to Iraq. Bright, young Americans eagerly embracing their task. We were talking and thanking them for their service and they were thanking us for appreciating their duty. They must havesaid "Thank you, Sir" a gazillion times

What a thrill
Click to expand...


Thoughts on the Atlanta show.

I only got to go Friday, but it seemed like a lighter turnout of people than last year. A couple of venders were complaining about the lack of buyers and were blaming it on the amount of classes being held. I would think the classes actually draw people to the show, not detract.

There were a LOT of oil painting venders, and they were doing a HUGE business. I don't carry them, but I might have to rethink that.

I was not impressed by the print venders, and bought very few new prints.

As always, I enjoy Brian Wolf's little talks about what's going on with Wizard. They have a new pneumatic glass/cardboard/plexi cutter that is pretty neat, but I'm not sure I need it.
I will buy the debosser attachment for my Wizard 8000.

Sorry I didn't have time to go to any classes, since they are well worth the cost.

Went to Baltimore in March and Atlanta in September. They may be too close together for me to go to both, and I'll probably just go to Atanta next year.

$3.75 for a cup of Starbucks coffee at the show.
 
Did anyone catch the name of the lady at the Crescent stage that did french lines? She was great. I loved what she did with gesso and have never thought of it myself.
:thumbsup:
 
Jerry,
All we got was a travelogue. The PMAI with support from its major sponsors and the possible cooperation of local/regional media (I think this is where we come in) are planning a major marketing effort. We had the 2 hour presentation (or was it 6 hour) distilled into a 45 minute presentation, so, obviously, I can't provide any accurate details.
Dennis is planning on making 25 presentations in different regions of the country...perhaps linked with the chapters of the PPFA, I'm not sure. I will be making a point of going if I haven't figured it all out by that time.
Perhaps the powers that be can be convinced to post a thread to the G to explain better than I the gist of the program...

Bob's point is valid. The plan is in place, and the wheels are moving. We have an opportunity to get on board...or not. Personnally, I think that the numbers point to getting on board.
 
mikki, Maria Nucci...and she's a Grumbler
 
Yeah! She was great I talked to her for several minutes after her thing was over just because I was killing time waiting for the end to get my display saw after the show and she had such great ideas. She made my extra day worth it! Thanks Maria if you see this!:smileyshot22:
 
Hi wally....see I'm raising my hand
 
I had three of the best classes I can remember on Saturday. I got to meet Mike at the Lifesaver booth; he gave me some great advice and demo with Lifesaver.

I really went all out Friday night and had a great ribeye at Ted's Montana Grill.

Joe
 
Highlights -

Hanging with Bob Carter on Saturday - 30 minutes with him WILL make you some money (or in my case, keep you from spending some on a bad idea) But I wonder how smart he really is; look what he said about us:
Met Tony and Kassandra (he took all my classes) delightful people giving hope to the future of the industry (Seriously, he really is GREAT)

Watching the Gang of 4 spend their money (anyone of you want to put up $50 to see who sells the first Ecuadorean frame in the US? Winner takes all)

Renewing friendships at the Dinner and on the floor - John Ranes, Jim Miller, Ellen and the Omni Bar crowd on Friday.

Lowlights
Making dinner plans - and then getting asked out by a vendor - TWICE!

Low attendance

NOT making plans for the Sunday show with Mr Conforto and PMAI - we didn't plan on staying that long and missed out on what sounds like a GREAT plan - anxiuosly awaiting official news and details....





Tony
 
It was a good show. I met a couple dozen grumblers (that I had not yet met) at the booth, and at dinner. Great folks and a great time!

I *STILL* haven't had a chance to meet Bob Carter. We miss each other at every show. Maybe in Vegas!

Tony was kind enough to bring his camera to dinner. Here are some photos: http://www.thegrumble.com/showthread.php?t=27231

Mike
 
Tony is well mis-stating my quote. As I see younger people entering the trade is indeed refreshing so see many bright minds like him, Jay H, both Tim's and others I apologize for forgetting. I also think we had two of the best looking women with us. But, they are delightful people and we learn as much from them as I wil ever teach

So many old dinosaurs are fading (not all bad)

Mike-My dance card is so incredibly full. arrived in ATL Fri afternoon. Dinner with print dealer for some strategic planning (wife fell asleep). Sat am class at 9a, panel at 12, class at 3, dinner with Dennis Confortoa @ 7p. Sun 7:30a, set up fpr Presentation, 10a Class, 12:30 step on floor for first time, Fran Gray says let's do lunch and talk (Pres of PPFA says come with me, I go) and I even had my wife go to the LS booth to send my apologies. When in Vegas, I promise we will spend some time together. I promise

So many great opportunities to meet and visit; so little time

I think in lieu of fees next show, I'll get a booth with a box of cookies and some Iced Tea with a sign that reads "Sit down a spell and let's visit"

It's the most fun I have at the shows
 
Thanks Mikki, and all who saw my demos on French matting, gilded bevels and gesso accents. I had a blast!!!

Everyone was soooo enthusiastic, it was inspiring.

Let Crescent & Decor (the sponsors of the free demos) know you liked it.
I'd love to do it again!
 
Hey everyone, Maria is going to do a class at the New England PPFA meeting at the Red Hook Brewery in Portsmouth, NH on October 22nd!

Mark your calendars!
 
Mikki, I'll respond for Cliff. (He must be busy!)

Portsmouth NH is probably 1 1/2 hrs. from Boston. (Mapquest says 1 hr. 9 mins.) If you were flying in for the workshop, I'd go to Manchester NH. Great little airport and only 45 mins north of Boston.

Please join us. It's beutiful up here that time of year!!
 
Maria Nucci! Your french matting and bevel tips solved the pitfalls we were experiencing in my shop. On Monday, I raced out (actually, dragged my very tired post-tradeshow self) to the store to get my missing materials. Today, I sold $150 worth of gessoed bevels quite easily. I consider your demos a true gift to our business.
 
Thanks Maria!

I was busy mounting a plate painted by the grandson that they "have to have" on the wall when he comes for dinner tomorrow. (Thank you Jim Miller for your workshop on anchored bent rods with shrink sleeves!)

mikki, please do join us! we'll be holding the print and open competition and there will be vendor table tops and a panel session about Networking to Grow Your Business!

We always have a great time at the brewery! Did I mention that it was being held at the Red Hook Brewery?! :beer:
 
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