VCF Exhibitor FAQ
Q: What should I exhibit?
A: Whatever you want! Within reason, of course. The definition of “vintage” varies from person to person, but we can all agree that a 2 year old laptop running Windows 11 isn’t going to cut it. Anything that does qualify as vintage – hardware, software, media (print, disk, etc.) and related items are all interesting and all make sense. If you’re passionate about it, then you’re definitely headed in the right direction!
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Q: How many tables can I have?
A: As many as you want, within reason. Please also let us know if you need floor space in addition to tables.
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Q: What do I get as an exhibitor?
A: You mean besides the joy of sharing and the pride of participation in a VCF? Each exhibitor gets the requested number of tables. Each table will be provided with a tablecloth and chairs. There will also be an exhibit card describing your display and exhibitor badges for you and your crew.
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Q: How many people can I bring with me?
A: You can bring as many folks as you need to help with your booth, but please make sure that they are actually participating in the display. Folks who are attending to see the VCF should pay admission since this is our 501C3 fundraiser…
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Q: How much does it cost to exhibit?
A: We don’t charge fees for exhibitors. You may find yourself spending on things like posterboard, printing, and so on.
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Q: Can I sell stuff?
A: We have a Consignment area for sales of vintage tech. Exhibitors are welcome to sell their extra gear via consignment. If you are interested in a vendor booth to sell from your exhibit then please contact the showrunner. There are some basic requirements for vendors.
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Q: Can I get put near my friends?
A: Absolutely! Just let us know which exhibits should be kept together and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
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Q: What if my exhibit is noisy?
A: Please let us know about the noise you generate and the noise you can tolerate in your exhibit registration. We’ll try to place people accordingly. But noise isn’t a problem unless it’s excessive.
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Q: Can I hang stuff on the walls?
A: Ideally, no. There isn’t even a guarantee that you’ll have a wall. If you do get one and do want to hang posters and the like you have to make sure that you don’t mar the wall surface in any way. Blue painters tape is preferred.
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Q: Can I give stuff out?
A: Yes! Lots of folks distribute candy, stickers and similar as well as literature directing visitors to your website(s) and projects.
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Q: Is my stuff safe?
A: The Computer History Museum (our venue) has lots of valuable stuff on display without incident. We have never had an incident at the VCF. If you have items of particular value please let us know and we’ll see about extra security measures.
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Q: Can I speak and exhibit?
A: Yes you can. Talks can be about your exhibit, related topics or anything else of interest.
Q: What do I get as a speaker?
A: In addition to pride and adulation speakers get a speaker badge and a free show t-shirt!
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Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Things you will need:
- Your exhibit itself.
- Power supplies (extension cords, power strips, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies – Patina is interesting, dust and dirt are not.
- Supporting materials – things like signs, posters, printed descriptions, instructions, etc.
- Hand trucks, carts, etc. – we have some of these to share, but there is always a shortage, especially during load-out.
- Tools, spare parts, etc. Whatever you think you might need to keep your equipment working.
- PPE, etc. We will have some disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and masks available but please bring your own if you can, especially if you need them for safety.