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By Randy L. Brown, CFE
Attending the IAAM Conference & Trade Show has been one of the best learning
opportunities that I’ve experienced in my 25 years as a member of the
association. At this event, facility managers have a hands-on opportunity to
preview the latest cutting-edge technology, view equipment and meet with
service providers. Attending the trade show is a terrific way to meet people
who can give great advice.
I remember vividly the first time I walked onto the
show floor at my first IAAM Conference and Trade Show. It was Reno, Nevada,
in 1983. As someone who enjoys his toys, this was like Christmas morning.
For this young, inexperienced facility manager this show had everything, and
it seemed to go on for miles. I spent a lot of time talking to lighting
manufacturers, theatrical rigging suppliers, seating companies and
collecting business cards.
I went back to my facility excited about what I had
learned. As it turned out, we had started the planning process for a major
renovation of O’Laughlin Auditorium in Notre Dame, Ind., and the information
I picked up at the show proved timely and helpful. As we worked our way
through the planning and implementation of the project, I lost track of the
number of times I called suppliers for their suggestions. I ended up serving
as the project manager for the renovation, and with the help of a few
friends, we brought the project in on time and under budget.
Major Renovations
About 10 years ago at my current facility, the Allen County War Memorial
Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind., we began to study the prospect of renovating
our arena. We talked to several national architectural firms and ultimately
received proposals.
At the same time, we were working with a number of seating
manufacturers. We had as many as 50 different sample seats in the facility
over a five-year period. Our guests were given the opportunity to try the
various seats and give us feedback.
Each year at the trade show I would make the rounds to
the various seating companies and share plans, get feedback and even discuss
the durability of various chair fabric choices.
In early 2000, we began construction of our $ 34.5
million arena renovation and expansion project. From discussions that began
with an exhibitor on the show floor, we started a two-year construction
project that included raising the existing roof, which weighed in at nearly
1,200 tons, up a total of 41 feet.
Also in 2000, we began making decisions on the
furniture, fixtures and equipment purchases. At the trade show in Nashville
that year I had the good fortune to be talking to one of the exhibitors who
manufactures spotlights. He said that he had recently taken a trade-in of
used lights that they had just finished reconditioning. We agreed on a
purchase price, and I acquired 10 lights at about half the price of new
fixtures.
During the two years that we were under construction, I
put to use many of the contacts I had made at the trade show. From automated
television, lighting and sound control systems, and ticketing upgrades to
the latest in premium seating options, we incorporated all of the latest
bells and whistles in our plans. We reopened the arena in November of 2002
to rave reviews, and happily, we were on time and under budget. Our
community viewed the renovation and expansion as a huge success.
With any major project there are bound to be issues.
Early on after opening, we started to experience a high number of broken
seats. With 10,500 fixed seats in the arena, we were having nearly 25 seats
failing per event. Here’s where the relationships that I developed by
talking to vendors at the trade show helped the process along. We could’ve
played the legal game, but fortunately this was never a necessity.
Working with the same people that I had been talking to
over the years at the trade show, we tried a number of repair options.
Unfortunately for the seat manufacturer, all of the seat bottoms needed to
be replaced. It took time and patience, but ultimately we got the dependable
seating system we wanted. It was a tough situation for the seating company,
but I will tell you that to this day, I back them 100 percent because of how
they took care of the problem.
The IAAM Conference & Trade Show is an important tool
that I encourage you to use to its full advantage. Take the time to visit
all of the booths. Develop relationships with the exhibitors. Talk to them
about your future plans. Share drawings and sketches of your projects. In
the end, these people are a valuable resource that can work to your
advantage to save you time and money. I hope to see you on the show floor in
Salt Lake City. fm
Randy L. Brown, CFE, is the general manager of the Allen County War Memorial
Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind |
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