Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Gill.
Hi Gary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Im a hobbyist who’s passion for music and audio equipment turned into a major audiophile trade show.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not smooth!
I started off not knowing anything about trade shows and didnt know anyone in the industry. Essentially I started off as a hobbyist and learned from other shows and peoples comments.
Lost money for 3 years until vendors and visitors found out about the Capital Audiofest (CAF)
Went through multiple venues/hotels
Worked a full-time day job as a construction manager for many years and had others do sales and other tasks for me until CAF grew to a scale where it would support me financially.
Previously never owned my own business so didnt know the ins and outs
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Im basically a one-man-gang for all of the day to day activities but do have a website manager and graphics person. Im on the phone constantly and respond to all emails.
Ive grown from nothing while working a day job until CAF was to a scale that it would support me. I thank my family, loyal friends and volunteers who help me on a yearly basis to cover the 125 rooms and 50 booths of electronics and audiophile related items.
We offer a yearly audiophile event that attracts approximately 5000 visitors from around the world on a yearly basis. Vendors include manufacturers, retailers, hobbyists and more who all love music and audio gear. Gear includes high-end headphones, turntables, speakers, DACS and streamers, amplifiers, tape machines, vinyl records and more. Heck we also have three days of educational guest speakers on all sorts of topics from room treatments to speaker design to how-its-made subjects.
We also have two nights of live music in the hotel bar that many people stick around to hear.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Keep an open mind and listen and learn from others. Trust your ears!
As for having your own business, its not for everyone but wish I had jumped into the pool years before. Its tough but rewarding and could never ever work for someone again!
Pricing:
- $20 daily ticket
- $40 multi day ticket
- $25 t-shirts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.capitalaudiofest.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capital.audiofest.5/
