[Coco] 2021 29th Annual “Last” CoCoFEST! Alternate Event Date: November 6/7 2021

[Glenside President (Jim Brain)]

https://www.glensideccc.com/2021-29th-annual-last-cocofest-alternate-event-date/

With all the votes cast, it became obvious folks took a cautious view of 
the months ahead, with September 25/26 and November 6/7 becoming early 
frontrunners. As of March 1, 2021, November 6/7 edged out September as a 
preferred date.

Along the way, I became aware that November 5-7 is also the 2021 date 
for the Midwest Gaming Classic. The hugely popular pinball/arcade 
exhibition event in Milwaukee, WI also contains “The Computing and 
Gaming Museum” exhibit, where Tandy Color Computers are shown along with 
other 80’s era home computers and videogame systems. It’s never ideal 
when conflicts like this arise, doubly so since MGC draws quite a bit 
from the Chicago area given the location, and I know this will affect 
some of our attendees. That said, the event offered the least conflicts 
from vote responses, seemed far enough in the year to hopefully sidestep 
current travel/attendance issues, and was favored significantly over any 
other option.

Thus, I confirmed the November 6/7 date with our venue and freed up the 
other dates. I hope those that find a conflict might consider spending 
one day at MGC and the other with us. I often attend MGC but it’s 
something that can be adequately enjoyed over a single day.

The new date does pose a unique challenge concerning our 2022 event, 
though. Normally, events such as ours don’t book the following year’s 
venue date until after the current event concludes. This is common, and 
since everyone typically runs the same play, the same date in the 
following year is often available. Yet, this year will be different, in 
that the 2021 show will (hopefully) occur in November, followed by the 
2022 show in its regular April timeframe, a mere 5 months later. If 
that’s the preference, it’d be best to decide soon, to ensure the 
requisite 2022 date is available and reserved. But, if the community 
would prefer to see a bit more space between show dates, I could see the 
show potentially moving back 3-4 months (splitting the 17 month distance 
between the 2021 November show and the 2023 April show) to early August.

For what it is worth, I prefer scheduling the 2022 show in April, both 
because I don’t think two shows within 6 months is a significant concern 
(some folks have already noted they try to attend both CocoFEST and 
Tandy Assembly in a given year, and those shows are normally scheduled 6 
months apart) and also because I think reserving that date is prudent in 
case circumstances prevent a 2021 in person event (possibly due to 
weather concerns). Feel free to add your thoughts, as we’ll need to 
discuss at some point before the May meeting.

Jim

-- 
Jim Brain, 2020-21 President
Glenside Color Computer Club (GCCC)
president at glensideccc.com
www.glesideccc.com