Dema show???

[cerich]

I was just suprised that there was such a sudden turnaround, Mike.

To be honest with you, I can appreciate the fact that they took three booths instead of not going at all. At least they are still trying, instead of bailing completely like some other larger companies...

I will probably see you in a few weeks at Diver's Fair, and I'm sure that will be an interesting cookuot discussion!!!

I'm not, on good authority some folks have been offered sweet heart deals they couldn't turn down. Of course that means us peons that paid full freight are getting screwed.... par the course I guess.

 

[The Chairman]

In a Recent Discussion, I offered my usual stunning insight (or was that incite) into this problem.

To paraphrase I Corinthians 9: "To the Geek, I became a Geek, that I might win the Geek..."

Whether you're peddling religion or dive gear, this is the HEART of growing your business: You have to relate to your potential clientèle and enable THEM to relate with you. This is why so many Geeks become tech divers once they take the plunge: they can relate to it. We just need to get to more youth to actually take the plunge.

In today's social media centric society, it simply does not make sense to divorce yourself from it, even though your daddy didn't have it and he got along just fine! But since DEMA sees no need to embrace it, they LEAD those who are looking to them for guidance into the very same trap! If you eschew the concept of "we've always done it that way", you are labeled a maverick... just like I have been. I'll not mince words here, but I feel ostracized by the very organization that I am a member of. I have offered them FREE help, consulting and exposure and they simply reject it in favor of HIGH COST endeavors that don't seem to be helping many dive businesses. I see ads in many magazines, that I know that they PAY for and to what exposure? I am certain that I have more visitors coming to ScubaBoard every month than the COMBINED circulation of all of the Scuba Magazines out, and possibly twice that figure!

Here's a bone for you DEMA: Next year is the Boy Scouts' 100th anniversary, and they are having a National Jamboree in Virginia. ScubaBoard will be there, both at the Scuba Pool and at the Fishing Hole... WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP US GET TO THOSE BOYS (and their parents) CERTIFIED?

 

[Tom Winters]

I just figure that since Zeagle has 8 booths, and AL has 2 booths, we must be FOUR TIMES bigger!!!

Not only that, but everyone at AL thinks that Pearl Jam is something you spread on bread.

 

[ScottZeagle]

Not only that, but everyone at AL thinks that Pearl Jam is something you spread on bread.

Keep on rockin', Tom! I actually was up in Atlanta a little over a week ago for two nights of Eddie Vedder solo acoustic. It was almost heaven!!!

While we have completely gone off topic, check out one of my other favorite bands, Lucero. They could use the support!! www.LuceroMusic.com

We now return you to your regularly scheduled DEMA rants...

 

[cerich]

WELL... I decide to get a booth and renew my membership. I do both in the same day.

It seems the day I faxed my renewal money to DEMA they were in Florida doing a "meeting" to coincide with mini season. Guess the offices in California are boring when they could be having a "meeting" in Florida and getting some bug chasing in on the memberships dime. Knowing this I STRESS to the show folks that I had renewed my membership. I was told all would be good.

Long story short they wait two weeks then charge me the non member rate for the show. Jerks.

THIS PARTICULARLY PISSES ME OFF AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE RELIABLE SOURCES THE "BIG GUYS" HAVE BEEN GETTING OFFERED SWEAT HEART DEALS TO ATTEND.

 

[MANTA III]

I saw where Dan Orr and Tom Ingram were in Miami for the launch of a well needed Public Service Announcement, but not for mini season as it does not start until the last couple of days in JULY! Calendar of Events
So, your flame of "bug chasing on the memberships dime" is unfounded!

 

[cerich]

I saw where Dan Orr and Tom Ingram were in Miami for the launch of a well needed Public Service Announcement, but not for mini season as it does not start until the last couple of days in JULY! Calendar of Events
So, your flame of "bug chasing on the memberships dime" is unfounded!

I stand corrected and apologize.I heard they were there for mini season and made a bad assumption.

 

[USIA]

Every year in the Summertime, DEMA calls various Manufacturers and offer special deals to get them to exhibit. Since we pulled out in 2006, we have got a call every summer. Some of the deals are pretty sweet and have made us think twice. Feel sorry for the loyal DEMA customers who aren't given the same opportunities. DEMA was always a point based trade show where if you had some many points, you had first choice of booth location. If you missed one year you would lose your prime spots. Something tells me Aqua Lung and Oceanic won't be stuck against the back wall in Orlando.

 

[mdb]

Since DEMA is a member funded org. It would be interesting to see a public accounting of who payed what for what @ the DEMA show.

 

[Rec2Tek]

CERICH must have got a deal He's so happy about it