paramedick
TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor
The tent idea was used in Portland with success. It was used again in Ypsilanti successfully.Yup the pig roast was great. If there was a tent and tables/chairs that would be perfect, in fact a tent could be used for the whole event with classes being held there with actual cars on hand rather than a traditional classroom or standing at the side of the hotel by the door as we did in KY for the Engine class...
The pig roast in KY was strictly a dealer event. We tied it to TDIfest because they wanted to be a part of it. I thought it worked out well with one small exception that occurred due to a lack of communications.
As for the engine class, that was an unplanned offering. I had an engine that needed it's new piston/rods installed. Frank Irving offered to do it for me, and agreed to let folks watch. Frank is a natural teacher, and it turned into a class......
As I've said many times, my favorite fest was Wisconsin. We were in a Holiday Inn near the highway. We drove to the next town over for the events. Used a local garage and taught by doing. MANY cars worked on by a few folks. Other activity based in a small town hall and civic park. Banquet in a free-standing facility that specialized in events like weddings, etc. wives had local, quaint small towns to go antiquing/shopping. Cheryl liked this one best, too.