Funworld October 2010

Family entertainment center folks: start resting up now. This year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo features almost a full week of FEC-specific lectures, networking opportunities, and receptions so you’ll need all your energy to catch everything.

Rookies and Newcomers
Sunday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
New to the Expo this year is a day-and-a-half Rookies and Newcomers event. The program, designed for those thinking of entering the FEC industry or just starting out, includes a wide range of topics:

• Why Perform a Feasibility Study
  
• Business Plans: The Heart of Your Project
  
• Financing 101
  
• Game Rooms: Choosing the Right Design
  
• Trends in FEC Designs
  
• Putting Your P and L Statement to Work
  
• ABCs of Insurance
  
• Hiring, Managing, and Motivating
  
• Marketing Your Business in the Fast Lane
  
• Food and Beverage: Your Key to Profits
  
• Group and Outside Sales Tune-Up
  
• Attraction Selection for Your Center.
  
• Introduction to the Party Business

“It’s important to give them all the tools to start off right,” explains Dorothy Lewis, speaker and chair of IAAPA’s FEC committee. “We’re trying to hit everything.”

Insurance representatives from American Specialty as well as notable industry veterans such as Jerry Merola, Alan Ramsay, Tim Sorge, Scott Brown, Richard Sanfilippo, and Richard Oltmann will present.

Rookies and Newcomers had a successful run at the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry’s Fun Expo, and Lewis wanted to carry over the event to IAAPA Attractions Expo, with some modifications. She promises an enhanced program that will offer more resources and materials.

Attendees will receive a manual, full of templates, to help operators run their facilities more efficiently. Also, throughout the week, there will be regular informal meetings to recap information and discuss questions they may have about lectures or something they saw on the show floor. “All of the FEC speakers will avail themselves,” Lewis says.

Plus, the education doesn’t end after people leave the Orange County Convention Center. Attendees will receive a “road map” of facilities they can visit with open doors, she says. With this new option, they will be able to job shadow and see the ideas presented in action. “Attendees should take advantage of all the opportunities we have for them,” urges Lewis, president of Maxx Fun of PA, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Advance registration is required for the Rookies and Newcomers program. Registration costs $329 for IAAPA members and $429 for nonmembers. The fee covers Expo registration, course tuition and support materials, food and refreshments, and a reception.

FEC Program Highlights
Lewis posed a straightforward charge to the education subcommittee for determining the rest of the FEC program: “What do you want to see as an operator?” She also sought talks that would be relevant for all attendees, regardless of how long they have worked in the industry.

Michelle Kapuscinski, chair of the FEC education subcommittee, began brainstorming for the slate of FEC presentations back in March. “There are some hot topics that need to be covered,” says Kapuscinski, owner of Fiesta Village Family Fun Park in Colton, California. Here are a few highlights:

Engaging Staff to Improve FEC Service and Profits. Learn ways to encourage and recognize current and future leaders in this idea packed session. Participants will walk away with easy and affordable tips and tactics to keep a positive and productive employee atmosphere. Monday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

Employment Auditions — Next Generation of Employee Screening and Hiring. One-on-one interviews are a thing of the past. This session will show the latest and most effective way to get the best employees and save hours of interview time. Attendees will watch the “audition” interview process and learn the subtle techniques of this approach. “Group interviews help you to see the personality of the people you’re hiring,” Kapuscinski notes. Monday, Nov. 15, 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Lunch and Learn: Birthday Party Celebration. Attendees will be submerged in party planning, packaging, concept, marketing, and delivery. Also, participants will not just learn new party games, they’ll actually play them “so they can feel the energy and the excitement,” Kapuscinski says. The lecture will close with “The Great Party Debate,” where attendees can pose birthday questions to a panel of seasoned FEC operators and hear an assortment of answers. “This will be standing room only,” Lewis anticipates. Wednesday, Nov. 17, noon-2 p.m.

If You Promote It … They Will Come. See how minor league baseball teams draw fans to their ballparks, enhance guest experiences, and gain media attention—on a tight budget with a small management team. Thursday, Nov. 18, 8:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

FEC Roundtable Lunch. In this open-forum discussion, attendees can meet the IAAPA FEC Committee and toss out questions and ideas on a variety of subjects. Thursday, Nov. 18, noon-2 p.m.

Case Study: Converting an FEC to an All-Access Debit-Card System. This session will describe how one FEC just recently went cashless. Speakers will discuss how to grow a business by maximizing the flexibility and benefits of going cashless. Thursday, Nov. 18, 3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Contact Contributing Editor Mike Bederka at mbederka@IAAPA.org.

Full Schedule and Registration IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 runs Nov. 15-19, in Orlando, at the Orange County Convention Center. For the full FEC schedule of events, visit www.IAAPA.org/expos/attractions/eventschedule.asp; to register, visit www.IAAPA.org/expos/attractions/attendees/Registration.asp.