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2020 AXPONA [Cancelled]

Wildcat said:
I'll catch up with you in the afternoon--I'll be over at the Renaissance around 9am since I have to touch base with a few folks prior to the show. Maybe an overpriced mediocre lunch at the convention center? :D Some of my Chicago pals often head to dinner Friday nearby, and you're always welcome to join up with us. Didn't do it last year (they all had to go their separate ways afterwards), but two years ago we headed over to the Village Tavern (Schaumburg) as they supposedly have some of the best breaded chicken strips in the area. I went solo last year to Jason's Deli (next to the hotel) or the Weber Grill Restaurant (just down the road).
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There's a Morton's Steakhouse about a 9-iron shot from our hotel, too. I actually got there for a cocktail Friday afternoon last year only to be told by other friends that they were picking me up in 5 minutes to go to Weber's. :) So no cocktail, but the location/proximity can't be beat, so it's an option. And I hit Jason's Deli for an early lunch (I was their first customer, they were still mopping the floor!) after arriving and checking in on Friday.

And I'm always a sucker for convention hotel restaurant, too. I'm aware of supply-vs-demand and usually succumb to paying extra for a semi-mediocre meal at the most convenient place available. Alas.
 
They had a couple of food options at the Renaissance last year and I think I ended up with something called a burrito bowl...? The first year there, I remember going up a few floors to find a vending machine that had Diet Pepsi, since it was half the cost of buying it in the lobby. But last year, I believe they jacked up the vending machines a bit more. I'm tempted to toss a cooler in the car and put a few in there.

But I do like the open concept, and can usually grab food, get to an open table and take down a few notes or touch base with everyone while having lunch. I also try to never pass up a chance to go to the Weber Grille. :D
 
BTW, I'm probably going to hang around the Renaissance Friday and Saturday evenings--last year I think we missed out on a listening party in the "million dollar" room that took place maybe at 8 or 9pm. Going to keep my eye out for any events like that. I have no interest in the live music; that "blues revue" from a couple of years ago just gave me a headache more than anything else. Sounded terrible.
 
I hope to go Saturday. My regular co-conspirators can't make it this year so I'll be looking for some AK people to hang with.
 
It sounds like you guys aren't too worried about the risk of contracting the virus?

Should AXPONA go on or be postpone?
 
I've a ticket, but seriously thinking about passing. Press of people trying to get through doorways and shoulder to shoulder sitting.

Wondering if vendors employees will say to thier bosses, I don't want to fly etc. I'm starting to hear that about other workplaces. Maybe there will just be more empty rooms. Doubt anyone's going to get rental money back. But, other events have been cancelled.

Being retired my boss hasn't told me not to go. Yet.
 
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They had a press release about it:

Schaumburg, IL (February 28, 2020) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will take place as scheduled April 17-19 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. As always, the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and the local health departments. We will be reinforcing recommended measures on-site regarding appropriate hygiene standards and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local health authorities. We are working closely with each of our partners to ensure a successful, enjoyable and healthy experience for all manufacturers, dealers, distributors, audiophiles and music lovers alike. We have a record number of vendors signed up to exhibit and a record number of attendees registering every day to attend. We certainly appreciate anyone’s individual decision not to travel due to their own personal health concerns and we recommend that anyone who feels under the weather should remain at home. If you have any questions please contact our customer service team at 203-371-6322.

We will continue to post any additional updates on the website at www.axpona.com.​

I'm biding my time as well. If it gets too risky they would probably cancel it.
 
I listen to the health experts on tv. Try to ignore the politicans. IMO, organizers may have conflicting interests. I try to take charge of my own health. Like when should I evacuate when the forest fire is coming? I'm not waiting to be told.
 
This just in.

AXPONA has been rescheduled to August 7-9, 2020.

Dear AXPONA Community,

AXPONA has been rescheduled from April 17-19 to August 7-9, 2020 out of concern for the health and safety of all participants due to the growing coronavirus situation. This decision was made following an outpouring of feedback from the AXPONA community over the last 72 hours.

The three most consistent themes we heard were, 1) fears of attending public events will increase in March and April, 2) AXPONA should still be held in 2020, and 3) reschedule later this year if possible. Although the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel is booked solid all year, they offered us a week in August that will accommodate all of AXPONA's space needs. So we secured it.

We rescheduled out of an abundance of caution during this unpredictable time to provide the best opportunity for a well-attended event and to ensure the best AXPONA experience for all show goers in 2020. We will contact all exhibitors and attendees directly later this week as we work through the details of the move.

Our sole priority today is to communicate this news immediately so everyone can adjust their plans accordingly. We thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.

We look forward to seeing you all at AXPONA in August!

Sincerely,
Joel A. Davis
Founder & CEO, JD Events​
 
AXPONA ticket update:

I understand that your current ticket will automatically apply to the rescheduled show in August.

If you are not attending in August, you can contact the organizers to apply your admission to next year's April date.

If neither is an option, it seems as though they will refund your purchase. Contact them directly for more information.

I rescheduled my room for August, although given my usual travel schedule, I may prefer to go travel rather than attend the show. That is the weekend I would have been leaving. I've considered flying my youngest to O'Hare on that Sunday (I'd bring most of her luggage out with me) and we'd leave from Schaumburg on Monday morning. But we might go a week later. If she wasn't taking summer courses, we'd have gone in July.
 
I rescheduled my trip to August and rebooked all the travel. Hope I don't have to change it again. . .
 
TSmith8605 said:
OK, just booked a room in downtown Chicago for Wed and Thur nights. Also,I bought a ticket for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the Thursday night show: Symphonie fantastique

PROGRAM
R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks
R. Strauss Burlesque
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Still need to find a good Jazz or Blues venue for Wednesday night and / or some good places to eat - where the locals go, not chains, etc.
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The Chicago SO box office was kind enough to refund this ticket. No such CSO show is available for the rescheduled August AXPONA and so I am disappointed that I will not see that symphony orchestra.
 
There are a lot of venues in Chicago--maybe you'll be able to find something else you'd like to hear. If you like Rickie Lee Jones, she is playing at AXPONA, 8PM - 9:30PM in one of the ballrooms. I might poke my head in for a few minutes, but might be attending any listening parties that might be going on after-hours. I'm just playing it by ear at the moment!
 
Official word just a few minutes ago: AXPONA 2020 has been cancelled.



April 30, 2020

Dear AXPONA Community;

It is with heartfelt disappointment but concern for the health and safety of all AXPONA participants that we announce today the official cancellation of AXPONA 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. We thank everyone who had committed to making the 2020 event into what would have been the largest and most attended AXPONA in history. Although there remains over three months until our August dates, we do not feel 100% confident that we can provide a safe environment for all of our customers and press to network and do business in Schaumburg by that date.

We are reaching out directly to exhibitors, sponsors and attendees this morning with further details. These are enormously challenging times for everyone’s personal and business lives but let us stay strong, caring and united. The industry will come through this together and it will be a better and safer world on the other side. We look forward to hosting a celebratory AXPONA for the ages when we all meet again in 2021.

Sincerely,
Joel A. Davis
Founder & CEO
JD Events​
 
I just received email notice. It said for ticket holding attendees they will offer refund, transfer to 21 or other option(s).
Think I will transfer mine to next year. Maybe that cash can help them to stay a float during these hard times.
 
I'm not sure what to do--I had originally planned on using press credentials, but there was a comedy of errors where I finally just gave up and got an industry pass instead. As I'm more active at the present time, I may attend with press credentials for next year, and get my refund now. I can always just repurchase a pass next year if I need it.

It's somewhat understandable they would cancel it this far out, yet with so many logistics needed to pull it off, cancelling now only made sense for them. I'm also disappointed as I had a few things in the works with this year's show, including a couple of personal meetings that were important to me. But, life goes on! I may see what pans out with RMAF this year--if it's not cancelled I may attend that. (In fact, I can't even remember if I reserved a nearby room for RMAF this year--I usually do, and then cancel it if I can't attend.)
 
They've mentioned in the email that if you decide to keep your 2020 ticket and roll it over, they will give out a free companion ticket. Details about assigning the ticket will come in January when the 2021 tickets go on sale. From the email:

We are actively working on 2021 but wanted to get this message out to you as quickly as possible to advise that we will be offering refunds if requested. We are however hoping that you may consider rolling over your 2020 ticket to the 2021 event to help us. As a token of appreciation, you will receive a FREE companion ticket for next year’s event. If you are not in a position to do so, you will receive your refund, no questions asked. ​

The event organizer has taken a beating, though--they coordinate other events beyond AXPONA and I imagine each and every one of those events was cancelled. That makes me consider hanging onto my ticket and rolling it over.

We know everyone is hurting right now. Some more than others. Many businesses in many industries are being hammered by the impact of this pandemic. JD Events, the producer of AXPONA, in particular is facing a financial calamity due to the disastrous impact on tradeshows. Many expenses have already been spent on the show that we will not recoup.​

They did a live streaming event a week or two ago on FB but since I'm not a FB user (as many people aren't), I didn't get a chance to see it. I think if enough of us suggest it, perhaps they'll consider an open platform like YouTube so they aren't being so exclusionary.
 
Disappointing, but probably the right call to make.

I've cancelled flight and hotel, and being ever the optimist, "transferred" my ticket for next year. I got a Gold Pass and I'm sure they could use a few extra dollars right now, as OG mentioned above.
 
Wildcat said:
They did a live streaming event a week or two ago on FB but since I'm not a FB user (as many people aren't), I didn't get a chance to see it. I think if enough of us suggest it, perhaps they'll consider an open platform like YouTube so they aren't being so exclusionary.
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Facebook exclusionary? I wish.

BTW, I believe I have seen a bunch of videos from that Exclusive Livestream posted at Youtube.

Gale Sanders was in one.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=AXPONA+livestream

Holy boi, they have a boatload of these things up at Facebook.

Rudy, I would invite you over to watch them on my Facebook Account but I don't think Gretchen would approve. :beatnik:
 
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