FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I would like to share my background so that everyone understands that I speak
from authority and experience. I have been a ham for over 33 years and have been
on the GBH&C (Timonium Hamfest) committee for 29 years and I am the clubs
treasurer. This was the 29th show that the Baltimore Amateur Radio
Club has run the GBH&C. So we understand I can speak from history of the show
and the actual costs associated with putting on a show of this size. There are a
very few folks that know what goes into putting on a show this size and some
things that may not seem right from their vantage point. They do not know ALL
the facts.
A brief history of the show ? The Baltimore Amateur Radio club purchased the
rights to the GBH&C from Calvert Hall College (High School). Calvert Hall ran
and owned the show through March 1979 where the show was held at the high school
gym and hallways. The show had grown beyond what the high school could manage.
BARC ran the 1st GBH&C on its own in 1980 at the Maryland State
Fairgrounds in Timonium.
In that time the show was in the Exhibition Hall only in a flea market style and
half the midway was tailgating. As the 80's moved on the Exhibition Hall went
from no commercial spaces to half commercial spaces with pipe and drape. As the
late 80's appeared the Hall went totally commercial and we moved the flea market
into the Home Arts building. Outdoor Tailgating went from half of the Midway to
most of the midway.
As the 90's moved along the Home Arts building became a 2nd
commercial building and the flea market was moved to the Cow Palace. Computers
made their way into hamfests and there were some great years. At one point the
attendance was 20,000 of which 13,000 we non-hams there for the computer stuff.
As the 90's progressed the Cow Palace went from just the middle section to the
south and middle section being flea market and the when we could no longer fit
outdoor tailgating in the midway the north end of the Cow Palace also became
tailgating with folks allowed to leave the cars in the building.
Then computers became available in almost every store, the internet arrived and
things like e-bay showed up. We went from basically 3 hamfests in the area to
about 14. We started to not be able to fill the spaces as before and have been
in that mode ever since, just like every other hamfest around.
People have to remember that this is this organizations ONE and only fundraiser
to fund the $5,500 in annual scholarships, maintain a repeater system and pay
rent and electric for the clubs meeting and training facility. The annual club's
expenses are about $30,000. We DO NOT make that or even half of that anymore.
Thanks to the mid 90's we have a nest egg tucked away but this will not last
forever.
1.) Will there be a 2009 Show? YES
2.) Are you going to ONE Building? As of right now NO but it
may happen in the future.
3.) IF you do go to one building are you not going to have Outdoor
Tailgating? IF we ever do go to one building (Cow Palace) that is a distinct
possibility.
4.) IF you do go to one building what happens to the commercial vendors
and flea market vendors? IF that day ever comes, we would move the
commercial vendors into the Cow Palace. Will some vendors be moved, maybe. We
would take into consideration how long a vendor has been with us etc. NOBODY
would just be pushed out. We would work with each and everyone to try to come up
with a solution.
5.) Why did the Outdoor Tailgate Area move? It is simply a cost
decision with an added plus. The last few years the club has rented the Home
Arts building. This is the building that is at the top of the midway and for the
last few years it has been empty. We have seen conjecture that it is empty
because we just want it that way. That building costs the club about $7000 to
rent and leave empty. WHY do we rent the building to leave it empty? Simply put
to have total control of the fairgrounds you have to rent the fairgrounds. We
have tried to have another IFM area there, an actual Flea Market and this year
an art show. None have blossomed enough to even half fill the building. So what
does this have to do with tailgating being moved? Simple, if we do not rent the
building the fairgrounds has the right to rent it to another organization to
hold whatever. If that is done then the entire midway MUST be general parking
for BOTH shows. Since we no longer fill that lot with 650 tailgaters and the
last few years has seen 350 or less the decision to move tailgate to the side of
the Exhibition Hall was made. Yes there are a few less spaces 290. Next year we
hope to learn from this year and be able to fill the gaps so more spaces can
actually be sold. The only other solution is to NOT have tailgating at all. We
do not want to do this, but Tailgating does not cover the cost of renting the
Home Arts Building. Next year we will NOT be renting this building. The two
added pluses are that the spaces are already lined and using the midway for
parking allows the general public closer access to their vehicles to drag those
boat anchors to.
6.) Will there be outdoor tailgating next year? As of right now
YES. But there is one thing that from a strictly financial perspective says
WHY. We charge $25 for a tailgate spot before March 1 and $30 after and that
includes an admission ticket for the weekend. So the spot in reality is $15 for
the weekend. We have to pay a group of scouts $1,000 to clean up the trash and
We have to pay to have dumpsters delivered and picked up from the fairgrounds
and pay BY THE POUND for the trash that is removed and by the way all of those
unwanted monitors, laptops and old computers are considered hazardous material
so we have to pay a FEE because of that. In 2007 those costs totaled over $5000.
From a financial point of view having Outdoor tailgating COSTS us money. Yes we
generate trash from the other areas but the JUNK left behind is much less since
we have assigned the spots and know who left it behind.
7.) Why did the Cost have to go up to $10? Here again costs. We have
been at $6 a day for a number of years now. We had been offering $6 a day and
$10 in advance for the weekend. The fairground's costs us over $22,000 just to
rent the buildings. When we went to $6 a day the fairgrounds cost us $14,000.
That does not include the price of table and chairs, pipe and drape, security,
electric, traffic directors, trash removal and clean up to name just a few. The
actual cost of a show our size is over $70,000. If you look around the internet
and go to as many shows as I do you will notice that the much smaller 1 day
shows charge $5 or even $6. If you look at the shows that are comparable to us
(Sea-Pac, Rochester, Ham-con, and Austin) to name a few they are ALL $8 in
advance and $10 at the door. We did offer a weekend ticket of $8 in advance.
8.) Why are there no Amateur Radio Dealers? Actually this year we had
R&L come back to our show. We did not advertise they were coming because we did
not know until the week of the show. This is NOT R&L's fault. We did not ask
them until then. We thank R&L for this and from what we understand they will be
back next year. However, gone are the years of 4 or 5 radio dealers at
hamfests. First they cannot make enough to justify coming even if we have 2 or 3
at this point. Next year we will let everyone know when we have a definite
response so that you can order stuff and have them bring it along if necessary.
9.) Why is there NO manufacturer's at the show? We actually have 1
manufacturer that has been with use many years, MFJ. The actual manufacturer
along with Ameritron, Mirage, Hy-Gain, and Vectronics. We wish we knew why the
radio manufacturers do not decide not to attend. We invite them every year. We
do understand that the Japanese fiscal year ends March 31 and most manufacturers
pull staff to do inventory. We can only ask that YOU the public going to shows
write and let the manufacturers know you want them at MORE shows. THANK YOU MFJ
for continuously coming and making our show great.
10.) Why did MFJ pull out at 9AM on Sunday? We were not going
to answer this at first but decided that we should say something. We are going
to be as tactful as possible. Simply put a member of the MFJ team running the
booth received an urgent phone call. They had a family emergency and had to
leave. We want to thank those vendors (East Cost Radio, WB0W, and R&L) that
helped to pack up MFJ's booth and to our own staff that were 1st
security guards and then truck loaders. With many fine folks we were able to
break down, pack and load the truck in under an hour and a half so they could
get on the road. Unfortunately, they did not make it home in time but it was not
from a lack of effort. From the Baltimore Amateur Radio our thoughts and prayers
are with this person and there family.
11.) Will there be an Art Show next year? No, we tried to
utilize the Home Arts build the last few years with an actual flea market,
robotics, and last year an art show. All have failed to take off. We will NOT be
renting the Home Arts building next year.
12.) Why was there Art in the Exhibition Hall? Again, we tried
to hold a separate art show in the Home Arts building and it did not work out.
Instead of just canceling the art show and since we had NOT sold that many
tables in the Exhibition Hall we decided to move the 15 tables to the Exhibition
Hall. We contacted each art vendor and gave them the choice of moving or a
refund. Overall, it was a nice difference and it sure did beat more empty space.
All but one of the art vendors went away happy and even sold things throughout
the weekend.
13.) Will there be a Mini-Fest this January? As of now the
club will hold this event. Please be aware that this does cost the club money
and while we do not charge for the event we do ask for donations. Unfortunately,
we do not meet expenses for this event. Look for more information later on the
status or date of the mini-fest.
14.) How can you help make sure the show continues? We need
your support. Come to the show support the vendors, talk it up. Running a
hamfest is a double edge sword. Without the vendors the attendees do not come
and without the attendees the vendors do not come. We are not the only hamfest
to be feeling the effects of less vendors and less attendees. Only you can help
us continue to make the show happen.
If you wish to respond please send you comments directly to me at
n3wd at arrl.net.
Bill Dobson, N3WD
Camping Questions
What camping spaces are available?
GBH&C does not administer or sell camping space. There are some
tailgate spaces that have camping hookups accessible. There are also some
spaces with hookups down near the swine barn. They are managed by the
fairgrounds security guards.
Can I reserve camping space?
Sorry, there is no way to reserve camping space.
Is there a fee to hook up or to camp?
The fairgrounds operators have the right to charge for camping and the use
of the hookups. The cost is approximately $15 per night. They will
come to you, there is no requirement to register.
May I sleep in my tailgate space?
Sure. The fairgrounds may assess a camping fee. There are a
number of tailgaters that operate all night, and have a nice social time.