Klarinet Archive - Posting 000110.txt from 2007/04

From: "Clark W Fobes" <claroneman@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Clarfest 2007 - NOT!
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:57:10 -0400

The Canadians may welcome us as tourists, but they certainly do not want us
to do business there!

The taxes and fees involved for a small business like myself to set up as an
Exhibitor are outrageous. Then there is another tax on my goods when I come
back to the US.

This year I believe many Exhibitors from the US are declining the invitation
to come to the Clarfest. (I certainly won't be there) It's too bad, because
I think that the exhibits are an important part of the festival AND the
booth fees we pay help defray some of the costs. ALSO, who's brilliant idea
was it to have the conference over the July 4th weekend when air fares and
gas are always higher? Is this a case of the Canadian sponsors waving the
middle digit at those of us in the US or is it just a case of VERY POOR
planning.

I have always felt that the exhibitors get short shrift when it comes to
promotion for the conference. The apparent lack of research into the
obstacles of being an exhibitor in Vancouver is just another instance of the
ICA ignoring the importance of having exhibitors attend.

I have been attending the ICA conferences as an exhibitor since 1990 ( I
missed Paris and Tokyo) and granted, some years have been much better than
others. Atlanta and New Orleans come to mind as excellent examples of how to
set up the space in relationship to the conference and recital locations.

However, in all of the years I have attended I don't believe I have ever
seen a preview list of Exhibitors despite the fact that we have to register
fairly early. I have had many people contact me this Spring and just ASSUME
I am attending. Perhaps this is the level that the ICA operates on as well.

I think that the ICA should publish a list of the registered Exhibitors for
Clarfest 2007 and tell us how many will actually have goods to sell.
Clarinetists may be surprised and disappointed at the lack of Exhibitor
participation this year.

Clark W Fobes - Clarinet & Saxophone products
www.clarkwfobes.com

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