[meteorite-list] Tucson 2010 Show

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:03:22 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <871469.24048.qm_at_web30708.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Hi Michael,

Admittedly, I have developed somewhat of a negative attitude towards the Tucson show the last few years. I remember many years ago when I could hardly wait to return the following year I had so much fun. I used to actually feel depressed when the show was over. I treated the Tucson show as a vacation and a chance to get out of the rain when I lived in Washington.

What changed it for me over time was being ripped off a couple of times by motels like the Econolodge who stole over $800.00 from my Credit Card account. It took me six months to clear this up. The East Indian owner forgot how to speak English when it came time to reconcile this thievery. The city of Tucson did nothing about it after numerous complaints and this flee bag motel is still operating.

Another time, a place advertised on-line as being a 2-star operation did not know how to clean their rooms. We found a crack pipe and some other paraphernalia hidden in the oven. The room was not even vacuumed as there were pennies lying on top of the carpet and an unmentionable corn-laden object floating in the toilet stinking up the entire room. To top it off, we had a neighboring tenant who banged his head against the wall all night, every night. I don't know if this was drug induced or a mental illness. Needless to say, we tried like hell to find a different motel/hotel but all were over booked becuase there was not enough rooms in Tucson to host this large of a show.

Maybe the rooms we got stuck in were unfortunate circumstances. I have never had the problems while staying at the Westward Look in Tucson but at $280.00 a night, I would hope not. The only place I have seen similar room conditions is in Barstow and then they are not hosting an international event or pretending to be a two-star operation. We brought a couple to the show, for their first time, two years ago and it is doubtful they will return after witnessing some poor guy taking a beating behind their hotel room. They think he may have been mugged. This is not the kind of impression that is good for long-term business.

Although there are many problems with Tucson, I think these issues could be resolved if managed properly to make the show a long-term success. As it stands now, the only thing that brings me back to Tucson year-after-year are fellow meteorite enthusiasts. It is the best opportunity to meet people with similar interests.


Hoping the 2010 show will be blast - Best Regards,

Adam

  

Maybe the weather is not enough to entice me anymore as there is no such thing as a winter here in Laughlin where it never snows or rarely rains for that matter. Maybe, I am spoiled from living in a town that is totally dependent on hospitality and hosts 6 million visitors a year. This little town of ~8,000 residents would not survive if they didn't know how to treat people well. They made the place safe even though the largest biker rally on the west coast is held here every year. They learned from past mistakes and maintain 1/50th the national average for crime rate. Bikers are welcomed here but must not wear their colors because it could cause tension with other gangs. Visitors are here to have fun, not get ripped off.

  

----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net>
To: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>; Meteorite List <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Mon, December 14, 2009 2:50:40 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tucson 2010 Show

Damn! Adam,
        I thik I'll just kill myself!
        Oh, ya, it's that ol' "Yesterday was so much better" phenomenon.
While I must admit I resent the hell out of the way Tucson fails to
Provide decent traffic and parking accommodations, you must admit
That there are still so damned many rooms you could not walk in and
Out, spending an average of 5 min. in each and still cover the Show in
A week.
        I hear rumors Tucson has actually "fixed" all the on and off ramps -
That's a start....
        I don't know what you were doing and finding in Tucson 5 years
Ago, but it is pretty much the same to me - perhaps your being ripped
Off by one of the hotels has soured you, Adam.
        Come on now, and get ready to have a GREAT Tucson Show! It has
Been the best thing that my wife and I do together every year (with the
Exception of her mother's death last show). It is a place you can relax,
Go to bed early, no TV, too many friends to be able to have dinner or
Even lunch and dinner with all of them, FABULOUS meteorites always
Showing up, Geoff and Anne Black beating their "old" standard
Of organization and professionalism year after year.
        Hell, how can you NOT have the time of your life?
        Common, now, Adam... Get with it or we will all hold you down
And tickle you!
        Best wishes, Michael


On 12/14/09 11:44 AM, "Adam Hupe" <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi Carl,
>
> I hope you are right about Tucson. Las Vegas already has a world class annual
> gem show, just not a mineral show. There are several Gem and Mineral shows
> across the world but only one can be the largest. I saw plenty of empty rooms
> for vendors at the hotels last year so there was no waiting in line as used to
> be the case. If Las Vegas wanted to host the world's largest gem and mineral
> show, I am sure they could do so without much problem. It would be like
> taking a sucker away from a baby. So many take great shows for granted, just
> to lose them when a more reasonable and exciting venue appears.
>
> The Tucson show has been going down hill for years so maybe it is time for the
> City Council to start listening. Part of the charm of Tucson was walking from
> room to room and checking out the goods. Several of the old hotels that could
> accommodate this kind of foot traffic have been turned into low-income
> housing. The replacement hotels are not designed with the Gem and Mineral show
> in mind so the charm is leaving regardless and the show seems to be dying
> slowly. Ad in the terrible rise in the crime rate and very few venture out at
> night like they used to.
>
> I just want to attend at least one more time before all of the charm is gone
> or the show has died. Maybe it isn't too late for something to be done.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "cdtucson at cox.net" <cdtucson at cox.net>
> To: Adam <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; Adam Hupe
> <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Mon, December 14, 2009 10:58:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tucson 2010 Show Website and News
>
> Adam,
> You may be right but consider this.
> Nascar is a one trick pony. It has nobody to replace them. So off they go to
> Vegas. Seems very wise to me.
> Tucson is a completely different animal.
> If anyone leaves any venue in Tucson there are ten others in line to take
> there place.
> Seriously. any of the many gem shows leaving Tucson would be suicidal. It
> would be like venders pulling out of Costco.
> You would have to be an idiot to do that. Like The Tucson Gem show, there
> would be many in line to take your spot.
> After all to be in Costco selling your product means instant success.
> Vegas will never replace Tucson. What would happen if Vegas takes off is that
> there would be one more gem show to attend. It would never replace Tucson but
> would add to the chain of
> regularly scheduled shows that dealers would be forced to attend. Potentially
> doubling overhead and breaking some dealers.
> There are only so many buyers and having two shows might be a bit much.
> Besides all that. IMHO. Vegas is for Vegas type stuff. There are only so many
> black chips to go around. It would be like moving the Gem show to Disneyland.
> Too many distractions. Peeps don't go to Disneyland to buy rocks and gems.
> No, I think Tucson may be like EBay or Costco. they basically own the market
> and only a fool would leave.
> And one other thing. Tucson is going to be building yet another bridge across
> the freeway in the down town area. This will greatly benefit the gem show
> goers.
> My 2 cents.
> Thanks
> Carl
> --
> Carl or Debbie Esparza
> Meteoritemax
>
>
> ---- Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Geoff wrote:
>>
>> And FYI: The Tucson gem show is NOT moving to Las Vegas or anywhere else : )
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I am definitely going to the show this year since it may be of the last. I
>> would hate to see it leave but do not see the Tucson City council doing
>> anything to make it stay.
>>
>> NASCAR, the largest spectator sport in the world just moved its annual
>> championship banquet to Las Vegas after spending 30 plus years in New York.
>> They thought NASCAR would never change this venue and look what happened.
>> Several large concerns have moved their shows to Las Vegas because they are
>> making unbeatable deals and catering to clients needs more than ever before.
>>
>>> From what I have heard, Tucson has not lifted a finger to prevent the
>>> largest promoter from leaving and taking several thousand vendors with him.
>>> Do not underestimate Las Vegas, they have a way of getting what they want
>>> and they are already in a position to take. They are very hungry right now
>>> and an additional $100,000,000 in annual revenues is pretty attractive. They
>>> could accommodate this show very easily, cater much better to vendor needs
>>> and much cheaper.
>>
>> Here is the link to NASCAR discussing their move to Las Vegas:
>> http://www.cbssports.com/autoracing/story/12615099/nascars-las-vegas-banquet-
>> bet-pays-off
>>
>>
>> I hope the Tucson City Council members take note and makes the Gem and
>> Mineral show a better experience.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>>
>> Adam
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>
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Received on Mon 14 Dec 2009 08:03:22 PM PST