DAY THREE - SegwayFest DC

[wwhopper]

The last day of SegwayFest is always the saddest. You have been with your friends, those of long standing, and those you just met for several days, sharing, gliding, going out to eat, hanging out and just talking. And this fesT, sharing all that Washington DC had to offer on this very busy urban weekend.

Last night when I pulled away from the hotel with the car loaded down with fesT stuff, people were gliding in the dark around the hotel. Driving up 13th Street, I saw more folks gliding, their lights aglow. Pretty much everywhere I looked, there were people on Segways, and it was just as normal as anything....

So today, I head down for the 9 am Farmer's Market Glide, and then at 11 am and 11:30am we repeat the 3 tours we did on Friday. Let's see if we are still a threat to National Security today.

This fesT will be a success, when I hear someone say, "Do we have to get on the Segway again. You Know, I am just tired of being on the Segway!" Then by Tuesday, they will think, boy, oh boy, I miss being on my Segway and all of my fesT friends...


Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
Come out to the Mid-Atlantic Regional SEG America Event - SegwayFest - DC Sept 23-25
http://www.segwayfest.com/dc.html
Washington DC - The Most Segway Friendly City in America!

[kittycatP]

Will, I heard from friends who attended the SegFest in DC, that it was great. You and the DC seggers deserve all the credit for a classy and well organized event. You did have the best of the three SA events from what I have been told. Please come to NYC so my girls and boys can give you some quality time just enjoying the Segway. Thanks for all your work and FUN!
MS. KITTY

[Brooster]

Sounds like a nice gathering Will ... thanks for the reports. I remember the last day of the Chicago Fest like it was yesterday. It is sad to see the Seggers--and the Segs--all go their separate ways.

I still hold some hope that there will be a day when seeing a lot of Segs in cities is a commonplace thing ... but without proactive marketing from the LLC I see that day being a long, long way off.

Congrats on an obviously successful event!

Brooster

[wwhopper]

Broo, SEGAmerica showed LLC this weekend what Pro-Active marketing really is, and how to do it! Interestingly enough - They watched, listened and learned, and seemed to like what we did.

So much so that even John G, stated that he was impressed with how fesT looked, acted and interacted with the public. Can you believe it, we even had him laughing and smiling and cracking jokes with us by the end of fesT!

Attendees, interacted with each other, and the public. Dealers sold units to more than just our attendees. I think we sold at least 4 HT's (well the dealer's who attended did)during fesT.

We gave a couple of our speakers HT's (thank's Segway of Annapolis) to use during fesT. And one who is a well known and very well respected transportation planner, used it to get through the protesters, and around DC, stated that the Segway is not dangerous and is perfect for use even in a crowded area. That will do all of us well as many municipalities ask him for advice on issues such as Segways in their community.

While gliding, you could hear the folks in the crowd, "That's SegwayFest"

For the first time I can remember, we were on the same par with everyone else in town.

Demo's galore were done.... LA SEG, make sure you keep Fred on his meds, he was a wild man on a RED I-80 with LiOns!

Did we have problems, yes, but they were resolved. At the glide into the historic Old Pension Building, on Friday we were accused of being a threat to national security. Today, we were welcomed with open arms and the apologies were very forth coming. At the Farmer's Market today, they told us that we could not enter because of the crowds, we said, crowds where were you yesterday. If any of our 10 gliders hurts someone, we will leave. No one did, and we left when we felt like it, (one dealer sold 2 units on that glide) And you should have seen Stan's little wagon, filled with pumpkins and goodies from the farmer's market!

One of the laws of marketing is, if you tell them it is good enough times, they will realize that it is. Many of you may know that I started calling Washington DC, The Most Segway Friendly City In America last spring....

One of the aides for the department of transportation, told me last week, well DC does not look real Segway Friendly to him (he is the bike coordinator - and sees no real use for a Segway) Well when the Washington Post reported this weekend that the Mayor of Washington DC (this guys ultimate boss) that Washington DC is the most Segway-friendly city in America.

Well - what can I say now!

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
Come out to the Mid-Atlantic Regional SEG America Event - SegwayFest - DC Sept 23-25
http://www.segwayfest.com/dc.html
Washington DC - The Most Segway Friendly City in America!

[Brooster]

quote:Originally posted by wwhopper

Broo, SEGAmerica showed LLC this weekend what Pro-Active marketing really is, and how to do it!


I'd say you did, Sir. In the absence of a proper advertising budget, events marketing is definitely the way to go. Nearly two years ago, I was told by one of Segway's marketing executives: "Events marketing doesn't work." Well, y'know what? ... it does work. You just have to get off your butt and do it, and not wait for your customers to organize 80% of it and pay 80+% of the bill for you. That free ride won't go on forever.

Aside from SegFests, the return of something as simple as the "Ticket to Ride" events ... held in conjuction with other events ... like state and county fairs ... could be huge opportunities. But they just won't do it.

Segway LLC still somehow clings to the idea that all of its customers are going to be forever excited about the machine, and will forever be on-the-street evengelists for this technology. Some will, but most won't. Personally, I'm busy ... and haven't even been on my Seg for a month. "Get Moving?" Well, I've kind of moved on.

Brooster

[junio1r]

Any ideas about how many machines were sold during the event? It had to cost a bundle to put on.

[wwhopper]

I know of at least 3 maybe 4 machines sold at the event. One XT to an attendee, a P and an I to a farmer's market customer, while on our glide on Sunday morning, and possibly another p.

Thanks for thinking that this event cost a bundle, it just looked that way on TV. It was a zero-based budget event. The $75 folks paid was supplemented by the very little we got in sponsor cash, but, who needs money, we had fun, and you can't buy that!

For those of you who will ask, Segway gave us a small amount of money for this event, which got eaten up by the insurance premium, and they sent 12 employees down, shipped down gifts for door prizes, Machines for their employees to use, and assorted stuff, so they had an investment in both time and money in the event.

But in reality since I am so used to doing everything on the cheap and getting everything donated, that is what we did this time. Even the presenters came at no cost to us, they picked up their own airfare and hotel bills.

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
Come out to the Mid-Atlantic Regional SEG America Event - SegwayFest - DC Sept 23-25
http://www.segwayfest.com/dc.html
Washington DC - The Most Segway Friendly City in America!

[tpkanaley]

I apologize for being quiet during the FEST, I just don't know how Will managed to do all that he did to make certain this event was a spectacular success--what's the word of the Fest gentlemen? "FABULOUS," that's right!--and yet he still managed to post to the board. I guess I need to start eating more Wheaties!

I just wanted to say that I am happy to have been a part of the coordination and hosting of this event. I would like to say thank you to all of the attendees first and foremost, to all of the presenters and contributors and sponsors, and also to Segway (soon to be Corp.) and its staff: It was my priviledge to meet so many of you, to be able to host several of you in my town and even my neighborhood, and to be able to get a glimpse into what you are doing.

This Fest and what I learned help turn me around -- A LITTLE, don't get TOO excited Dr. Grohol *smile*. We're seven years into the 17 year acceptance cycle according to one speaker, so the next ten years should be great! And hey, if we can wait 13 years to get back to the moon, we can wait a few more years to see a Segway on every street (and maybe even some on the moon as well!!)

Thanks again, I look forward to increased participation in my DC SEG, DRAFT, and SEGAmerica activities.

Tim

[pam]

I think back fondly to PT saying over and over, "this is a marathon, not a race" - and am glad to hear that there is a 17 year plan :) - truly a marathon. And 7 years in? That must be from the time the company was put together, since they've really only been released to the general public for 3..

LLC to Corp? What other nuggets were released?
Pam

[tpkanaley]

Other than the levitating Segway, nothing too Earth-shattering...

oh, ooops, wasn't supposed to say anything about that. ;)

The one set of nuggets that made me happy were regarding the future of the company: LLC is becoming Segway Corporation soon, there is a new round of financing coming in, sales in Europe are way up (from 10% of total sales last year to 40% of total sales this year), that there is a new Federal Sales manager coming aboard... hmmm ... and just a general good feel.

[Brooster]

Yeah, I don't know where this "7 years into a 17-year acceptance cycle" thing comes from. That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. LOL!

Do people just make this stuff up? The Seg hasn't EVEN been available for three years! The fact is, Segs aren't exactly selling like hotcakes.

Brooster

[tpkanaley]

Hey Broo... I think Segway considers its first moments/ideas to be year one, and that was 1998/1999.

There is a very well accepted adoption cycle for new technologies that averages 17 years. Interestingly enough, patents are awarded for 20 years (formerly 17 years) ... not entirely a coincidence.

So if Segway is less than half way into the standard 17 year cycle, I think they're doing just fine.

[lwillis]

Will,

I so much wanted to attend the DC Fest and it just didn't work out. I've been reading your posts every day and wishing that I could have been there. All the great comments are due to you and the DC Seg team. This kind of exposure will help push acceptance of Segways to the level we would all like see some day.

Even though I couldn't be there, I still want to say thanks from the "Indiana gang".


Les Willis
Looking for a glide

[KSagal]

Complements and congratulations are indeed due to Will and all the DC crew.

This was a great event, with tremendous energy and great good vibes...

Nice hotel, nice town, diverse program. Only one word gets it done...

FABULOUS!

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.