MUGs and vendors
MUGs and vendors
- Subject: MUGs and vendors
- From: Lorene S Romero <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 20:59:20 -0700
Now we all know the following comment was made in jest, but also know jokes
come from something that someone actually thought of doing.
>
Maybe we should start a "Vendor: Shame On You, We Won't Support You
>
Anymore!" list, like the vendors do to MUG's that don't get their reviews
>
turned in. <lol>
Macbeth was absolutely on the right track. It is about good follow up and
communication. For NCMUG, in Santa Rosa CA, I have vendors scheduled through
February 03. We have not had the issue of people canceling, and I know we
are very fortunate. I follow up with them regularly and we take them out to
dinner just before the meeting. We go to a small restaurant and dinner is
usually under $15.
I have spoken to vendors to find out what they are looking for when coming
to present at meetings. They say the number one issue they run into is when
a MUG promises 80-100 people and only 35 show up. It makes them look bad to
their boss.
We all know leaders who might exaggerate the attendance numbers so that a
vendor will come. It is a lot of work for a vendor to present at a meeting,
if they have to travel. They have to take time off work, sometimes fly on a
plane, get a hotel room and meals.
If only 25 people are at the meeting and they were promised 100 then it
gives the community a bad name, not just that MUG. If it happens more then
once then they may reconsider coming out at all unless they already have
good relationship with a specific MUG.
Some leaders will say "well it is the vendors job to do this" but in this
day and age when software companies are cutting back on cost it is not
unusual for them to lay off the User Group contact first and foremost.
Tricks to a successful visit... Be honest about how many people you expect.
Apple came to show Final Cut Pro, it is an intense program and I said about
60 would come. That is how many came, not our usual 85. He knew what to
expect. Of course we never know exactly how many people will come but as
leaders we know pretty much what people want and how many will come.
Next have your club meetings on a weekday evening. Most software companies
are Monday-Friday. If your meetings are on a Saturday that means the vendor
is away from their family on their day off.
Schedule way in advance. Give good directions and keep in touch. Please
don't do the "give me!!!" thing. Times are hard and even the little stuff
like pens are hard to come by.
-Lorene S Romero
NCMUG, Santa Rosa CA
Mac Computer Expo September 21
Www.ncmug.org
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