LAC - Disorganised Mess. Yuck!

[FictionNet]

Just left Old Billingsgate feeling f**ked off and stressed. The place is rammed - you can barely move. Forgetting the fact that our hotel room order was messed up (by the organisers) and taking ages to actually get into the building, everything has a feeling of being thrown together at the last minute. It seems that the organisers had no idea how to put on a show involving this many attendees.

We gave up on getting food. There was a six-deep queue and we waited forever before finally giving up. I say 'queue' but it was more like a football match crowd. We couldn't find anything to drink other than water. No beer. No coffee. No tea. We were told that there would be a bar opening at 2pm but no-one working there had any idea where it was. We eventually found it at 2:30pm only to be told it wouldn't open until 3pm when it would be a free bar. So there was nowhere to buy a beer or coffee before 3pm? Why?

Given what we experienced when trying go eat, we didn't want to stick around for the free bar!

There was nowhere to sit. I mean nowhere! Yes, there were some seats but nowhere near enough. People were forced to stand in the the aisles and block any movement.

Trying to actually leave the building was pretty pathetic. Standing by the exit, we were blocked from leaving by security. Despite standing by the exit, we were told to go back into conference and fight our way through packed aisles to another exit to maintain "one way traffic" which wasn't working anyway. We weren't the only ones either and numerous people were arguing with the useless staff. It really was laughable. Noone was using the door and I heard people asking "why can't I walk through that door?" and some people were getting very irate. Heading back inside was creating a blockage and any 'one way traffic' possibility was totally ruined by the brainless, rigid staff.

I'll return tomorrow for arranged meetings but I'll never return there again. I seriously doubt I'll ever go to another conference 'organised' by the same people.

[arkyt]

Thanks for the point of view write up ...

I look forward to hearing others say how great of an event it is/was... I have little doubt who those individuals will be!

[RayUK]

Sounds very unfriendly to people who have trouble walking and cannot stand for a long time. I wasn't going to go to this one anyway, but for these reasons I am very wary of conferences in general.

[casinojack]

IT is funky setup, the entrance exits and restrooms. We went out o lunch easier. Been great meeting some of you!

[alexpratt]

Rob sorry you are so disappointed - I would like to address some of your concerns since I unfortunately didn't meet you to discuss this. I also really appreciate feed back so keep it coming

We do not deal with hotel rooms - this is done through a company called Love events who also do the hotels for the whole EPT as well as over 100 other events so have a lot of experience. Please PM or email me what happened and I will pass this on and see what we can do to improve their service

This event was not thrown together in a minute - It took over 9 months of planning and I look forward to pasting hundreds of positive testimonials we have had already but also welcome your thoughts so we can improve the events.

With regards to crowds, food, the direction set up.... the event even took us by surprise, we knew we would do well but in the end had 2,200+ people which makes it one of the biggest events in the sector .....and to be honest most people have said they loved the buzz from the crowd and of course enjoyed neworking and mixing with so many people - I think generally people would rather more than less people but hey thats just some people's opinions. Unfortunately in London it is the only venue that is available to us other than excel (which delegate feedback has said no to) which can accomodate an event of our size so we have a very restricted space we have to work with and rules the venue has re entrances and exits for health and safety reasons - In addition and due to this there is limited space for food, meeting areas etc but at the end of the day this is an expo and unfortunately it is all we have to work with. of course if we moved to Excel it would be perfect but no one wants to end up in the East End so this is the space we have. The alternative is we limit the number of people we let in there but I can tell you now not one sponsor would want that and the vast majority of delegates are also there to network with as many people as possible so would also disagree.

As for drink - The free bar does open at 3, correct but water was available throughout the day in and around the event - Sorry you couldn't find it - It was sponsored by Ladbrokes and on most tables, the bar staff were also serving water and softdrinks, I myself go one at 2.30 when registering the ASOP so know it was open. With coffee like 99.9% of events coffee is served twice a day (morning and afternoon) this is completely normal at events and conferences and is a standard conference package and really not unique.

I would also like to make a very important final point and that is that this event is FREE for affiliates - Prior to our events affiliates would pay $500+ per ticket, there was no free events and we changed that to make access better for smaller guys - There is even now very few free events for affiliates but we have maintained this rule - I know this isn't an excuse but please bear in mind the costs incurred are huge to achieve this from the per head cost of food and drink to the venue, furniture carpet, electricty, etc etc. Our First event had 300 afifliates, this year was 1,600 which we just couldn't have predicted would actually turn up AND we still continue to provide lunch, a free bar, parties etc. With Lunch we paid for 1,500 lunches which is 3x what we paid for last year (you always under cater hence 1,500 and not 2,000 due to people not always being there at meetings, lunches etc) but as I say there was a hell of a lot of people there which took everyone by surprise and I apologise in a massive way but I also ask that you be patient and understanding about this as we really do our best with these events.

Anyway - As I say please do drop me an email or lets meet up and chat about your feedback tomorrow because I do want to make sure our events improve constantly - Personally I think some of your complaints are not warrented but others I feel we definitely need to address such as the space and traffic direction but without another venue I am not sure there is much we can do.

Also - I look forward to everyone posting other feedback because based on what we have heard so far people have had a great event and in most instances the best event they have had in years.....

Right 1.30am and I have to be up early to run an event and try put these improvments in by then

[Caruso]

Excel is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY prefererable to that place. That place is an out and out dump.

Seconded about door security. Why can't I just go through the frigging thing? Bloody security nazi idiots, get a life.

Seating, seconded. Two sofas for 2000 people??

Please don't use that place again. Very uncivilised, reminded me somehow of a third-rate nightclub.

The good news: CAP had an impressive stand. Looks like they're on the way back in style.


Very nice to see Michael and Steven at the ICE. I hope Joeyl and I didn't monopolise Wednesday afternoon too much - less courteous people would probably have told us to push off about two hours earlier.

[FictionNet]

Alex

Thank you for your feedback. I'll respond in more detail tomorrow but my opinion stands - LAC was a mess. I won't be back.

[alexpratt]

Seconded about door security. Why can't I just go through the frigging thing? Bloody security nazi idiots, get a life.

How do you mean and where? I can speak to them today but need details? If it is simply that they are asking for your badge/wristband to let you in, well that is a legal requirement with the poker, if it that you have to enter in one door and exit out of another that is a health and safety requirement with that many people. If they are just being bloody rude let me know because we will have a word as we did tell them to be patient, polite and not too strict....


Oh and re excel I agree, although and unfortunately most other people don't maybe I will do a poll


Alex

[Webzcas]

Considering the numbers of people in attendance, I have to say the event is very impressive. If you pre registered at the hotel the day before, you would have avoided the queues

I really have only one criticism and that is the area set aside for the seminars and panels. It is effectively open planned and is therefore hard to hear those speaking, as the background noise from the conference hall in general is quite loud.

Also one other thing. That dance break where music is blasted at 110db and what seems like 100 people dancing is all very well. But it completely destroyed ten minutes of my meeting with Ladbrokes, as the speakers were right next to their stand.

[FictionNet]

Right, heading back to LAC. I really, really hope today is better. I do promise to address your lengthy post (which I appreciated).

Two quick points, Alex. First, the health & safety issue you mentioned is nonsense. Standing by an open door and wanting to walk through it is NOT a health and safety issue. We're not idiots (unlike the door staff).

Second, the conference being free does not make it okay for it to be a nightmare. I'd rather pay and have a good time and be able to actually walk half a metre without being knocked over.

I'll be happy to meet and discuss the issues (tel. 07855 957602) but seriously, just look around and ask yourself if it looks comfortable.

Time for the meetings

[Caruso]

Two quick points, Alex. First, the health & safety issue you mentioned is nonsense. Standing by an open door and wanting to walk through it is NOT a health and safety issue. We're not idiots (unlike the door staff).

That is the point. Notwithstanding the H & S nazi culture in this country, it's complete idiocy. OK, if a hoard is entering fair enough, and THAT is the reason for the rule. But when the pavement is clear, these goofs can't just excercise common sense, they say, sorry, no exit.

And yes, speakers are not really audible. Aside from the background noise, they just don't know how to hold a microphone properly.

[Dominique]

This "health and safety" issue sounds like UK law?

[Caruso]

By "rule" I meant as being applied in this building. There's nothing that forbids people to exit through a door people use to enter.

[FictionNet]

Just left the conference for the day and I'm pleased to report a big improvement. It seemed alot quieter today and for the most part, people were finding places to sit and chat. We even managed to get some food and it was rather yummy

Best news of all is that there was no sign of the door police. As a result, everyone seemed to negotiate the tricky issue of entering and leaving all by themselves and it worked just fine

[casinojack]

Was a great day and I am exhausted!

[lauferb]

There were definitely a LOT of people in this event (especially in the first day)
but I think that it's a good thing

[alexpratt]

Just left the conference for the day and I'm pleased to report a big improvement. It seemed alot quieter today and for the most part, people were finding places to sit and chat. We even managed to get some food and it was rather yummy

Best news of all is that there was no sign of the door police. As a result, everyone seemed to negotiate the tricky issue of entering and leaving all by themselves and it worked just fine

Thanks mate - I honestly appreciate feedback - When I got in this morning I had a word with security and told them to be a more polite, they were a little "job worthy" on the first day

Also sorry if I come across defensive, just get a little passionate with these events I promise I will do my best to make changes though to ensure they are the best we can deliver......Oh and I also got to eat today.....sausage and mash was good

On a separate note its 5 in the morning and I should not be on GPWA, I should very definitely be in bed......night night

[affeurope]

I'm surprised to hear negative feedback from LAC are staff have just returned and seem to have had a very pleasant and productive stay

[TheBoyMitchell]

I've just got back from LAC and it was easily the most productive expo I have ever been to.

To organise an event of this size, with the number of attendees and the sheer logistics of making sure all the stands were set out, that the option was there for hotels to be booked, that parties were organised, that directions to every event outside the Old Billingsgate venue were easily available (on the website and on the back of the lanyards), that speakers were found and pretty much ran on time and all the other aspects of organising something of this scale I dont think that Alex and his crew could have done any better.

London is a fabulous city, but one of its downsides is that venues to capacitate this kind of thing are scarce, and any of the problems that are being mentioned werent down to the organisers, but more to the size of the event and the venue staff. To complain about these things is a bit churlish, and Alex certainly went above and beyond the call of duty to get this done and run so smoothly - he even got CAP and GPWA in the same conference at the same time

I also witnessed the door nazis and thought that that was just pointless, but then realised that these poor folk were just doing what they were told to do and interpreted the rules as such - and Alex then sorted those issues out almost as soon as he was aware of the issues so that they didnt occur again.

I have worked in other industries in my past life and none of them show the attention to detail that the Lyceum guys put in.

So, whilst no conference or expo will ever be 100% perfect, I reckon this was the best that can be done within the confines of the space available.

Just one additional point - I agree with the comments about the lack of seating, lack of actual meeting areas, lack of coffees and maybe somewhere where you could buy something to eat ad hoc, but these are things that could easily be rectified.

Alex, I dont know if the Grosvenor Hotel would be able to cater for next year (it has the largest underground conference and events room in Europe), but holding the event in a hotel would satisfy *all* the minor quibbles that were missing from this years.

Just my 2p worth, but all in all - I thought it was brilliant.

[elgoog]

It was crowded the first day yes,
but wat else could one expect?
For me it was ok