T Goes to Las Vegas

I must say, after having my fill of Tuscan Pork Chops, Fettuccine Alfredo and a big glass of milk, I am feeling much better. I stopped to ask a lady sitting at a counter fielding questions from people, where the buffet restaurant was. She spent a couple minutes chatting me up about my Segway and told me how to get there. As I was gliding away, she hollered, "bring me something in a doggy bag" and smiled real big.

The buffet had a really long line and, as I mentioned, my battery prob'ly wouldn't have withstood the wait. So next door is an Italian place. Man, what a great meal. I couldn't possibly eat it all and me with no frig or microwave in the room. I ordered a small Cheese Bread Florentine for my temporary girlfriend and dropped it off on my way back to my room. She said she tells everyone who asks directions to a restaurant to bring her a doggy bag and no one ever has, 'til me. I am SO sweet.

Now I'm back to my room, getting ready to relax and go to sleep early. I have a 3 hour seminar beginning at 9am, but I have to get through the badge holder line first.

'Til next time,

Jim

 

I'm sorry you won't be here too, Jon. I really enjoyed meeting you and your wife in 2007.

I'm up unGodly early this morning, but looking forward to my first seminar. Exhibits don't open until tomorrow, so I don't know what I'll do the rest of the day. Something fun.

Jim

 

Okay, I was tryin' to keep this clean by not actually saying "strip club." But I haven't been to any yet.

I was up early, had breakfast and headed to the convention. There weren't many of us there and I got my badge holder after only a few minutes in line. On my way there, as I was asking 2 security people for directions, one was flipping through some pamphlet and muttering something about Segways. The other guy told me where the badge holder place was and I just headed out, not wanting to hear what the other one was saying.

After I got my badge holder, I went in search of the room my first seminar was held in. Got turned around a few times because the signage isn't exactly the same as the Surfaces directory. I was in a really wide hallway, moving at maybe 2 miles an hour, but using both hands to look at my itinerary and looking down. There wasn't a sole around except someone out of the corner of my eye walking toward me. It was a security person and she asked me to be very careful while on my Segway. She said she was worried because I didn't seem to be paying attention to my surroundings. I looked at here and said, "I saw you coming, but the hallway is pretty empty for next block or 2." I smiled and told here I would be very careful and I appreciate being able to attend Surfaces in a standing position like everyone else.

Finally found the room and met the 2 presenters, Christine Whittemore and Sarah Johnson. It was a good presentation on Social Media and Marketing. I even think I saw Nat Hall there, but can't be sure. He (whoever he was) left before the event finished. The event went over-time and most people left at noon. It was really unfortunate because Christine made a point to promote TFP right at the end and most didn't hear or see it (she had us up on the big monitor).

I did get a picture. Sarah wanted to try out my Segway, so there we are below. Right after the seminar I found out the outlet I had my portable concentrator charging on didn't work. The damn thin went to beepin' and I didn't bring the battery backup belt with me because I shouldn't have needed it for the short time I was going to use it at Surfaces today. Stupid me didn't think to check the blinking charge light last night. It's so bright, I usually throw a paper or cloth over it so I don't see it blinking all night.

Live and learn. This is a real adventure with a few adversities thrown in to keep me on my toes. I'm havin' a great time though. I do hope I can meet some of the TFP members here.

Later,

Jim

 

The 2 women who presented the social media seminar seemed truly interested in what we do. Forums are old-school social networks though, so they concentrated on facebook, LinkedIn, etc. Most of the attendees appeared to be retailers too. I don't want to stereotype, but many retailers are fiercely protective and look upon everyone as a competitor.

Many of the seminar participants arrived late, so quite a few wondered who the Segway belonged to - it was leaning against the front wall of the room and could have been anyone's, for all they knew. It wasn't until I left that people stopped to chat me up about it. I tried to talk about TFP, but they all seemed to be in a real hurry. The seminar did go on too long, so most people were anxious to get to their next appointments. It was a 3 hour class with only a very short, stand-up-and-stretch, break. I understood.

I'm trying the "I am a Floor PRO (dot com)" phrase, but it's a little awkward just yet. It's not flowing out and being as catchy as I'd like. Takes practice.

It doesn't help that I seem to be extremely tired. I fell asleep at this computer the last time I was online. I don't know how long I slept, but it wasn't a comfortable sleep at all - this chair is not that great. I think I'm gonna try to make an AA meeting and call it a night. I have a seminar at 8AM.

Jim

 

Thanks Mike, but I am not THE floor pro, I am (just) a Floor PRO.

So far, today has been great. I got to enjoy breakfast with Roland and a little relaxation before the morning class.

I went to "Local Online Marketing: Strategies for getting to the top." Although TFP is not a "local" retailer, I did glean good information from the class. I was a little disappointed that a few topics important to me and the value of TFP to the industry and consumers were either glossed over or not discussed at all, but I understood. The class was only an hour and a half, which isn't enough time to delve into many details or niche areas of marketing.

After class, I glided to the exhibit area. Security made me "pull over to the side" at the entrance and wanted to check to make sure I was cleared for access. of course, this time I had copies of the emails from the Operations Coordinator and excerpts from the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the complete ADA documentation on a thumb drive, but nooooo, they didn't want to look at that. He radioed someone and asked if Segways were allowed. His reply was something about having an ADA tag to show the Segway is for disabled. There is no such thing and the ADA does not supply any list of approved devices. But anyway, the guy looked at me as he was getting his answer, which I could plainly hear, and I pointed to the hose in my nose and said, "this is my 'tag'." He let me go. It does make me wonder, since it's obvious the security people aren't aware of the federal law, how many other security people will "pull me over" to get clearance?

So, on into the exhibit hall on the second floor I go. I stopped to talk to a couple people about sponsoring contests or give-aways, talked to Armstrong and Congoleum representatives to get them interested in checking us out. I chatted with the owner of RFMS to ask about any interest in advertising on TFP (I would like to get some paid advertising from a variety of products, flooring software one of them). There were a lot of interesting displays and people.

Right after I talked with the people at MCT about offering a case of seam tape for a contest prize, I went around the corner and ran into the Kool Glide/SeamMaster booth. I met with Len Perkins' partner in crime (I'm so sorry I didn't get his card and don't remember his name). But none other than Robert Varden was there and we chatted for a while. The last time I spoke with him was quite a number of years ago at a seminar in Reno, for Tom Duffy Co.

Jane Walker, of CFI, was at the SeamMaster booth and I had a chance to get a hug and give her a TFP cup. I met up with her again, along with a host of other CFI people at the CFI booth. I finally got to meet our own Nate Hall, who helps Roland host the CFI forum here at TFP (if you are a CFI member, you have to send me a message to get access to that forum - it is for CFI members only). It WAS Nate at yesterdays seminar, so I was glad to finally meet him.

Also there was another fine member of TFP, Dave Garden. I really appreciated all the great things he said about all of you people and The Floor Pro Community. He really pumped us up, and right in front of John Moore, editor of FCI magazine. Mr. Moore took several pictures of me with a few people at the CFI booth, including one of me receiving, on behalf of TFP, an honorary Associate CFI Member certificate. I felt very honored at that because Jim & Jane Walker have been great supporters of TFP and I enjoy the occasional email with Jane. She has a great sense of humor and laughs at all my jokes. You guys should take a queue from her.

It was about then that the battery in my portable concentrator decided to start beeping at me. It was past time for me to rest anyway. I headed back to my room. Here it is about an hour later and I just this moment realized the power cord to my charger was not seated properly and the battery is as dead now as it was an hour ago. SH!&

Time for a little nap. Enjoy the pics.

Jim

 

Yeahhhh, I don't wanna do the handicap placard thing. It's enough that I have it in my car, but I only use it when I absolutely need to. So far, no more hassles from security or anyone else. Lot's of people say they want one or, "hey that's mine" or ask questions about it (always the same questions).

I did get a real dirty look from a little girl, she was maybe 6 or 7. Her and her other little girl friend were weaving in and out of the crowd in one of the wide hallways and I was coming up behind, trying to predict which way they would go. But they split and went in 2 directions, one girl not even looking for other traffic. The one that saw me stop short of her friend, looked at me like I almost ran over her best friend. Not even close, but when they see something like this Segway, they think it will somehow careen out of control and smash into people leaving them bruised and bloody.

I left after a short rest to go back to the exhibits. It was pretty busy and I met a lot of people. I was just starting to discuss the possibility of getting a tile saw for a contest prize when I noticed it was almost 4PM - time for my next class. So, I blew that and made the dash.

Sam Allman was the presenter for "Marketing Your Business on a Beer Budget." I've spoken with him in emails before and he knew me right away. I did get the opportunity to mention TFP and several people came up to me after the class and asked about it. I handed out cards and spoke to a few.

The class was interesting and had already begun when I got there. I don't hear well and wanted to sit close to the front. The easiest seat to get to was on the isle with a purse in it. I asked the lady who owned the purse if she would mind. She obliged. Then we discovered it was an interactive class - Sam asked us several times to "turn to your neighbor and say..." It was kinda fun and humorous too. At one point, as we were to turn and say to the neighbor, I turned, she started to speak and I just blurted, "can't you just leave me alone???" We chuckled. Oh, and she was real pretty too.

It's evening now. I have to let the batteries charge a little and then I'm going out to do something. I don't know yet what. Enjoy the picture of Sam making me laugh.

Jim

 

There are a lot of ramps throughout the 3 adjacent hotel/casinos. Glad my Seg doesn't have a problem with them. Some people seem to be surprised it doesn't "coast" fast down hill. One guy ased where my brakes were. In my mind, I told him. I think stop and it stops.