Now in Las Vegas for CommVEx v9

[rbernardo]

Hello, CommVEx friends,

I arrived in Las Vegas late last night and am booked at El Cortez Hotel. I am in room 2222, phone number (702) 385-5200.

Today, Kelly of the Plaza Hotel and I went over the details. She confirmed that due to the Las Vegas Club Hotel rebuild, Left Field Room was unavailable; in fact, there was no power to any of the LVC Hotel floors, and only the casino remained running. She doubted that LVC Hotel will be rebuilt in time for CommVEx v10 next year.

She showed me Jockey Room 1, and except for the new paint job and carpeting, it was the same as in past CommVExes. However, this time the air-conditioning was much better and so was the Wi-fi signal. I picked up 4 bars out of 5 on my smartphone, and the Wi-fi access was free. Speaking of free, I asked if we would have free parking for CommVEx attendees if we mentioned CommVEx to the parking attendant; that's what we got last year at the LVC Hotel. She said she would look into it.

When I asked about floor space, she said that Jockey Room 1 had over a 1,000 square feet, the same as Ballroom 8, the room we were supposed to get when we couldn't get into Left Field Room at the LVC Hotel. When I asked about a floor space comparison between Jockey Room 1 and Left Field Room, she didn't know the specifics of the latter room.

One thing that hasn't changed is the number of electrical outlets of Jockey Room 1. In past years, we had an adequate number of outlets for CommVEx. However, this year she emphasized that we shouldn't plug in everything into those for fear of blowing circuit breakers (heh, the Plaza Hotel was supposed to be refurbished, but they didn't take care of this). For no extra cost (thank goodness), she will have an engineer come in put down electrical "spider" boxes, and we could hook our electrical lines into those.

It's a good thing I met with her and the person who prepped the room. The tables were laid out in a U shape, classroom-style. However, I told them that we wanted an inverted-U with the tables closer to the walls and the chairs on the inside of the U, not on the outside. So right there, she, the room person, and I rearranged the tables, the table skirts, and chairs. I also felt that eight 8-foot tables was not enough, and the room person brought in two more tables, those going into the corners closest to the door.

She agreed to put up 2 signs for us, one at the bottom of the garage ramps and another nearer to the main hallway, so that people can more easily find CommVEx.

Set-up time is confirmed for 4 p.m. on Friday, and she will be there to open the room for us. I also said that I will be there on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. to continue show prepping, and she would let security know to open Jockey Room 1 door for us.

All-in-all, I'm impressed with her accommodating our needs.

I have called Al Jackson of the Clark County Commodore Computer Club (of Las Vegas), and we talked about CommVEx. I meet with him tomorrow, and on Friday morning, I plan to pick up his hardware for the Friday afternoon set-up (help moving things from his place to the Plaza Hotel is greatly appreciated).

Because I can only get free Internet access here at the coffee house (The Beat Coffeehouse), it may take me a day to reply to any e-mails. For a more immediate response, my hotel phone number is at the top of this post.

Go CommVEx!

[rbernardo]

Outside temperature in Las Vegas for this Saturday and Sunday - 102 to 104 degrees F.. Small chance of thunderstorms.

Hey, that's cool for a Vegas summer,

[rbernardo]

A couple of photos of Jockey Room 1 are now at

http://retro-link.blogspot.com/2013/07/ ... -room.html

Now leaving The Beat Coffeehouse in Las Vegas,

[TellarHK]

Hello, CommVEx friends,
(snip)
Speaking of free, I asked if we would have free parking for CommVEx attendees if we mentioned CommVEx to the parking attendant; that's what we got last year at the LVC Hotel. She said she would look into it.
(snip)
Go CommVEx!

Did you ever happen to get any answer to this question? I'm driving down from the northern end of Nevada for my first CommVEx with a carload of "stuff", and am hoping that parking won't cost me twice as much as the event itself over the course of the weekend. I'm staying over at the El Cortez as well, so it would be nice to have a place to park without too much hassle.

[rbernardo]

Did you ever happen to get any answer to this question?

Not yet. I'll find out by Friday afternoon.

I'm driving down from the northern end of Nevada for my first CommVEx with a carload of "stuff"...

Heh, the truck that I am borrowing is full, too.

...and am hoping that parking won't cost me twice as much as the event itself over the course of the weekend.

Ordinarily, parking is $5 per day.

I'm staying over at the El Cortez as well, so it would be nice to have a place to park without too much hassle.

Ah, parking is free there.

Writing from the Plaza Hotel,

[rbernardo]

I have called Al Jackson of the Clark County Commodore Computer Club (of Las Vegas), and we talked about CommVEx. I meet with him tomorrow...

O.K., I met with Al today and talked about CommVEx, Commodore, and other matters for a couple of hours.

...and on Friday morning, I plan to pick up his hardware for the Friday afternoon set-up...

I told him I will be at his place between 10 and 12 noon. The truck is already packed, and I'll have to squeeze several set-ups into it (unless someone comes in with another vehicle).

Writing from the Plaza Hotel,

[rbernardo]

Anybody who needs a ride from/to the airport here in Las Vegas, let me know and perhaps we can arrange something. Also there is an extra bed available for those who need one.

Writing from the Plaza Hotel,

[rbernardo]

The truck has everything now. Set up time is still at 4 p.m. today (Friday).

Writing from The Beat Coffeehouse,

[rbernardo]

Still here in the room setting up. Lots of people came in already. And the room is getting more and more crowded with equipment. Yikes!

Writing from the Plaza Hotel,

[TellarHK]

Hoboy. Hope there's room, two of us just got into town with a trunkload. Setting up a laptop or two, an SX and a C128.

[Salmacis]

Better check my SX-64 into valet parking.

[rbernardo]

The room reopened at 7 this morning. Chris was the first to arrive.

Truly,

[rbernardo]

After a busy day here,it's now nearing midnight in the CommVEx room. Don't know when I'll close the room, but it reopens at 8 tomorrow.

Truly,

[Salmacis]

Incredible stuff, shared and learned today at CommVEx.

[rbernardo]

It's nearing time for me to leave Vegas. Just one more trip to drop off stuff to 5C's president Al Jackson. CommVEx was successful again this year!

The long drive ahead,