Geek Fair 2006 Debrief

This is what we learned from Geek Fair 2006.

(See also Geek Fair 2005 Debrief)

General

• Big ticket items should be paid for an extra day in advance in case anything goes wrong. ($1750 for tents broke our debit card limt and caused too much scurrying around at the last minute.)
• Better communication about where to point volunteers that show up late and ask staff members what they're supposed to do.
• Have more bands with "loud" music, so that it draws local people or those passing by in cars with windows down/ Or have a pay system set-up and blask loud music with intent of drawing more people.
• Was asked many times "where do I drop off my computer?"
• Have concrete plans for putting Free Geek back together (i.e. tables back into meeting room, etc.) Set up went well. There were plenty of volunteers on the day of, but afterwards, much was left to be undone that didn't get undone.
• Foodnbeer tickets: Print them in a strip across the page. Less cutting, easier dispensing to foodnbeergobblers.
• Signs on Hawthorne, 11th and 12th pointing to the festivities.
• More attention to tours. We got at least one volunteer sign up and one I bet will come before year end.
• Set up booths more in the path of people. Too far over to the side, or the people staffing them will die of loneliness
• The food sellers should be placed apart from each other, it felt to crowded in the food area, especially since at least 2 of them had the same stuff for sale

Silent Auction

• Remember to announce widely before closing off auction
• More high end silent auction stuff (2 or 3 laptops, 2 or 4 store specials).

Raffle

• Start selling tickets earlier. We could have made more money.
• Announce the drawing. Clarify if it's "must be present to win" or not.
• More space, better display of raffle merchandise.

Food

• There should be soda available for those that don't drink beer. There was juice, but people requested soda.
• Maybe print volunteer tickets like "Beer * Beer * Food" in a strip, rather than three separate tickets.
• One of the venders was located in the back of the tent, many people may have not known they were there.
• Maybe one of the custom water companies would donate the use of a couple of cold water stations.
• Maybe NW Natural Gas or similar would donate the use of a few of grills. (With appropriate signage.)

Smashtacular

• Was moved from its original location to the street dew to noise complaints from an upstairs tenant

! (Give the guy foodnbeer tickets.)

Music

• More. More. More. Maybe multiple venues.

Dunk Tank

• Add a water balloon "free fire" zone.
• Water balloon dodge ball!