As the industry’s trade association-produced winter shows have cast off around the country, it’s fun to take a look at the creative ideas for being employed to draw crowds.
The Boys In The Boat will take center stage at the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Seattle Boat Show. If you haven’t seen this film, produced by George Clooney, I recommend you head to the theater — it’s one of those great-for-the-entire-family, true stories that will have you cheering at the end.
This year at the Seattle show, visitors will be able to row their way to a unique panel presentation featuring the story of that historic U.S. crew-team (from the University of Washington) victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The panel will include University of Washington historian Eric Cohen, a key contact for Daniel James Brown’s novel by the same title. Other panelists will include Kirk Knapp, Melanie Barstow, John Tytus and Yaz Farooq.
While the panel presentation is set for Feb. 4, the 1936 University of Washington coaches boat (prominently seen in the movie) will be on display at the Antique & Classic Boat Society’s display. Named Conny after rowing coach Hiram B. Conibear, the 28-footer will be accompanied by Kirk Knapp, the man who refurbished Conny.
The Seattle Boat Show runs Feb. 2-10.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Boating Industries Association will commemorate singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet with “Flip Flop Ville” at the Progressive Detroit Boat Show, scheduled for Jan.- 27-Feb. 4.
Show visitors will be able to celebrate Buffet’s incredible career that spanned generations of “parrot-head” fans, instilling a laid-back lifestyle.
The exhibit will include a history of flip-flops and the Guinness World Records set with flip-flops. Show-goers will be able to try their hand (make that foot) at a Flip Flop Fling, tossing a flip-flop through a Hula Hoop.
Making a shot within three tries will earn a commemorative T-shirt. The cost is $2 per turn, with all proceeds going to Merkel cell carcinoma research. This is the rare cancer that Buffet died from last year at the age of 76.
In New Jersey, kids (and adults who may think they‘re still kids) will participate in an “I Spy Scavenger Hunt” at the New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo. The scavenger hunt will be coordinated by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, which conducts marine science research and education throughout the Garden State. In addition, the little skippers who successfully complete their “watch” can return to the Sea Grant exhibit for a take-home marine science craft. It’s a featured activity in the show’s Kid’s Cove section.
The annual show, presented by Travelers Ocean Marine Insurance, is produced by the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey and is held in the Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Feb. 15-18.
Our MTAs continue to create family activities that positively impact their events for the benefit of their dealer exhibitors. If you’re not there meeting the crowds drawn to your local show, you should be.
