It was a dark and rainy night – literally – in August of 2002.
Let me digress. I was one of the 12 consultants nationwide that had been chosen to run an ACT 6 launch event. I was given 6 weeks to secure a location, make audio/visual arrangements and run a trade show of ACT addon vendors. Attendees were invited based on a circle of Fort Lauderdale; the “powers that be” didn’t realize that the only attendees coming from the east, west or south would be sporting fins so I scrambled to create my own invitation list. August is probably the worst month to hold an event in Florida as almost everyone is on vacation somewhere escaping the blistering heat.
I had told the caterers to expect 500 people. After a few lightening strikes literally rattled the windows of the Westin where the event was being held I figured my kids would be eating finger foods for the next week!
The doors to the trade show were scheduled to open at 5 PM. At 3 PM as I was scrambling around the room in jeans literally running wires when a member of the hotel staff sought me out; he didn’t look happy. Apparently folks started arriving early for the event. So many people in fact that a line had begun to snake around the entire lobby.
By 5 o’clock when we opened the doors the place was packed. We ended up having over a 90% attendance rate; the few “no-shows” were quickly replaced by the dozens of people who showed up without a reservation. Needless to say, the event was a success!
I have to admit that the event was truly one of the highlights of my life. It was amazing to see so many ACT “FanACTics” clamoring for a sneak peak of the new ACT product. After all, it had been nearly 4 years since the last ACT release and users were clamoring to see the new changes.
I’ve often wondered if I could have pulled off an event of that magnitude for any other product launch. QuickBooks? Excel? Outlook? I think not.
I am thrilled to announce that after 8 years I am once again holding an ACT event. This time it’s part of Sage Software’s “ACT Road Show” initiative. Sage is sending down a number of their executives to show ACT FanACTics some of the new ACT 2011 features as well as to answer their questions on anything from usability to future product enhancements.
I know I won’t have 500 attendees this time; I’m limiting the event to a mere 200. But I’m really looking forward to once again seeing the loyal ACT followers “raising a glass” to the latest ACT version!
If you’d like to attend please go to http://actroadshow.eventbrite.com to register.
