[Yaaarc] Re: [GO-Tech] NAMES show - Sat/Sun 4/19-20, 2008

[Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR)]

"M. Adam Davis" <adavis at ubasics.com> wrote:
> It doesn't seem to mention ticket cost, or whether children/youth are
> permitted.  Do you happen to know this information, or should I email them?

Yea, they're often not very good about keeping the website up to date.
This group consists mostly of old school machinists, not the web-savvy.
(In fact, I've seen years where it hadn't been updated BY the show date!)

IIRC, in the past it WAS $10 for one day, or $15 for both.  
A button pin is your "all events pass".  (Not sure what they do 
for Fri only...  I *think* it's a hand stamp.)

The technical sessions are FREE, with a paid admission, so IMHO
this is a pretty decent deal.  Heck... I'd go there just for the 
shopping!  It's like a Swap and Shop for Machinists.  You can get
books, mags (ex: Home Shop Machinist and Machinist Workshop
offer NAMES discounts), specialty tools, and entire machine tool 
tooling sets/jigs/parts for deep discounts there.  

Yes, kids are permitted, but you have to keep a close eye on the very 
young ones, as there's a lot of tools around, and cool displays that 
had a LOT of time invested in them to make (which the owners would
be displeased if messed with).  I don't remember what the price is for 
kids, but in the past the VERY young are free, and there WAS a significant
discount for school age youth (something like $5 or $7, IIRC).

BTW, speaking of kids, there are also often entertaining "specialty vendors" 
huckstering their wares there, like a cool Aluminum brazing rod & torch
manufacturer that does his thing like a "Look, it Slices and Dices" knife 
salesman. <grin>  One year, a guy that homebrewed a CNC Dremel router table 
was handing out DIY balsa airplane kits cut out of thin balsa panels to 
all of the kids.

They also often have a working narrow gauge railroad track segment for 
the kids to ride for free (typically 7-1/2" gauge), with a homebrew
electric engine and some riding rolling stock.  Whether it's a straight 
track segment ride (back and forth) or a loop depends on the show, 
and the space available.

All in all, I LOVE going to this show.

(Anyone interested in carpooling?)

- Keith Mc.