Alan Pope wrote:
> Hi Alan et al,
>
> On Wed, Jul 25, 2007 at 06:21:11PM +0100, alan c wrote:
>> >Bad news is that we need to pay. It's 200 quid for the spot which is what
>> >they charge commercially. I will ask around and see if I can get some
>> >sponsorship, I'll let you know about this.
>>
>> Wow. Ok, if the money is available then good.
>>
>
> Well, one option was that I would offer to pay it myself. Another option
> that entered my head was for us to seek sponsorship from people in the LUG
> who run businesses in the area. We could put their logos/websites and/or a
> small advert on the leaflets we give out? If we got (say) 4 sponsors at 50
> quid each that would cover the stand outright. Of course if we got more
> sponsors then we could be fair and drop the price each pays so we get
> exactly 200 quid, so we don't have to worry about being in the lucky
> position of having too much money.
Nice thought. I will also float the idea to a local computer shop who
now take some of my leaflet1. They might like the advertising.
> Another alternative would be to approach the Hampshire LUG committee and
> request a donation from the coffers.
ouch
> We have plenty of time to iron this out, but I thought I'd mention both
> ideas now to plant the seeds.
>
>> The Princess Square shopping centre (mall) extends out from its exit
>> doors and has a covered area far about 30 meters.
>
> Yes, this is the area that we have an option to use. My contact said that if
> nobody booked either spot for that day then we could pick and choose which
> we had - so if the weather was good we go outside - if bad we stay inside
> for example.
If we are likely to have the money, then I suspect the inside location
will be best for catching, smiling and chatting, and displays, even if
the weather is good.
>> kiosk. One factor about these sites is that they are *always* used for
>> fully commercial ventures. Car sales people and mobile phone sellers
>> for the site outside the doors. Hard (even desperate) sell, often with
>> a 'catch'. Peoples expectations may be confused with us being sited
>> like a commercial unit but advertising Freedom stuff, and presumably
>> gifting CDs to those who convince us they are worthy of them.
>
> This is a good interesting point. When we gave out the CDs in London I used
> the phrase "free CD, free software" because we didn't have much time as
> people walked past. I suspect people walk slower in a supermarket than they
> do in Tottenham Court Road in London, however the attitude towards people
> "selling" stuff is probably much the same.
>
> However we found quite a few people who seemed pretty friendly to the idea
> of being given something with no catch at all. If you can get that across in
> as few a words as possible all the better.
yes, and our body language, the kit, posters etc - if they look like a
million dollars, people will find it harder to slot us into the
'charity, sharing' concept, no strings.
> My absolute favorite moment from last year is when Andy Ransom handed a CD
> to a bus driver who was waiting at the lights.
>
> Driver: "Is this that replacement for Windows?"
> Andy: "Yup!"
LOVE it!
> So some people will actually be somewhat easier to talk to than others as
> they may well have heard of it before, but yeah, we have to be careful not
> to _look_ like mobile phone/car insurance/sky tv sales people.
>
>> Power
>> inside by the escalator is probably easy, but I do not recall power
>> being readily available outside the doors in the covered area.
>
> I was told we could have power at either/both locations.
>
>> If we
>> can present with an obviously wholesome and 'Good to have Freedom'
>> genre then inside is best.
>>
>
> One thing about being inside is you're more likely to get people to stop if
> they aren't freezing their nuts off whilst they stand talking to you!
LOL
yes and they will not be rushing towards the bus train stations or
straight past the shopping centre into town, they will be in the
shopping centre going between shops or looking around.
>> If you would like I can take some photos or short clips, but if you
>> would like to come and see anyway, I would try to meet up.
>> Any ideas when?
>
> Not a clue right now, probably not for at least a week or so. I'll see if I
> can arrange it to meet up with our lady on the inside too.
>
>> I have been looking at town event licensing, and it looks to me that
>> unless we want to collect money or play (performing rights) music,
>> then a license is probably not relevant, but I will check.
>
> We aren't planning on taking money are we?
no - I think that would be a fantasy too far :-)
>> >Promotion will of course be important. Can we advertise the "event" in
>> >local free paper, and maybe other periodicals? Ideas welcome.
>>
>> If it is firmed up I can take that on, we can discuss what is done. If
>> the adverts are paid for, I will need to discuss the amounts.
>
> Cool. We also need to think carefully about the whole style/content of the
> advertisment. Might be useful to get some dates from local rags to find out
> when we have to submit by so we have some targets?
yes I will do that
>> The registration of the bracknell infopoint team allowed me to ask for
>> 2 tee shirts, 20 Ubuntu CDs and 10 open CDs. I have no idea if these
>> will be granted.
>
> I got them last year. However I also put a request in to Shipit for 100 CDs,
> which I got, and I had some left over from LUGRadio Live last year, we got
> rid of all 200 in a matter of a couple of hours. If we will be there all day
> we would either need to pre-qualify or ration the CDs. I will contact
> Canonical/Shipit and see what we can get.
If all else fails I/we can burn some live CDs and I can use my DIY
Shipit folded A4 (wallet) - same text as shipit. People dont seem to
mind it is diy folded because they know it is diy and free.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/Leaflets?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=leaflet1b-SHIPIT-folded_alan_cocks
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/Leaflets?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=leaflet1b-SHIPIT-folded-instructions_alan_cocks
>> I also have some simple folded leaflets that are relevant but do not
>> highlight SF Day specifically. The leaflet 1 seems now to walk off the
>> counters of the local computer shop and the printer cartridge shop.
>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/Leaflets?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=leaflet1_alan_cocks.odt
>> It can have my own address and email as contact if we want.
>>
>
> If the sponsorship idea comes off then maybe we need to think about the
> design giving some space over to the sponsors. They may also want input on
> the content - which may be a good or bad thing depending on your point of
> view :)
>
>> I will be able to take a laptop. In fact if the location is by the
>> escalator, the side wall is flat and white and could be used as a
>> projection screen, and I think I could find an lcd projector, it would
>> work with this dell laptop on single screen mode ok (laptop no
>> display). I use it for talks.
>
> We could certainly have some videos playing whether they be screencasts, the
> library video, mandela video or whatever. It might also be prudent to
> consider the security of the (expensive) devices we would have on the stand.
I would have a kensington chain on the laptop and the projector to the
table or chair structure - yes serious care.
--
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391
