[Infopoint] GNU/Linux advocacy at Northern Computer Fairs

[alan c]

Matt Lee wrote:
> alan c wrote:
> 
>> Do you know who is the fair organised by?
> 
> http://www.computermarkets.co.uk/manchester.html

I am not aware if Jono Bacon had an agreement with them about
Infopoint. I know he had discussed it with British Computer Fairs
(BCF), which include Bracknell, and they had reacted favorably. I
think the agreement was informal, but some time following that I made
contact with them and was received reasonably favorably by BCF when I
phoned them to ask to have a table on the basis of the agreement I had
heard about. However I should emphasise that BCF do not really have
'charity giving' in their bones, and there have been a number of
repeated occasions when the fact of a 'free' display needs to again be
referred up the chain of responsibility because it is (as you would
expect) alien to their normal remit. They are a business and can only
survive if they make money. I am sensitive to the situation that my
free presence at a fair will (that is, should) *increase* their
takings compared to a situation if they charge me 35 pounds and I have
to stop attending.

>> I have been running a display table at the Bracknell Computer
>> Fair regularly for a year now and can certainly recommend the
>> approach if you are keen on advocacy. I love it, and although it
>> can be a bit tiring I am really grateful for the opportunities to
>> display.
> 
> What do you take? We were thinking of a few machines to burn copies
> of gNewSense. What about shirts, books, stickers, etc?

Interesting point, and very significant.
At the first event I was offering cds totally free. I got very little
response (!) Almost nobody took any interest. There was a suspicion
and skepticism, I think about a 'free lunch'. I decided later that I
had to show a price tag or I would get ignored. However if I charged
much, I would look pretty much like a trader, because selling stuff is
trading..... :-(  and I would be charged for the display space, and I
could not have continued.

I discussed this tactfully with my contact at BCF and it was agreed
that a price of say 50 pence or a pound was close enough to cost of
materials for a CD that I was seen to be 'not trading'.

As an intuitive thing, I have not attempted to offer anything other
than CDs for a price. CDs are easy to assess for cost. If I have any
other goodies such as boxed squeezy penguins, I give them at no charge
also stickers if relevant. All information is no charge, leaflets etc.
I have example books (my cost) on display but they are not for sale.

I suppose a typical event would produce slightly less than 20 pounds.
I am clear, and assertive that my attendance is to offer information
and free software, not to make money, and money is requested for
materials (please). On an occasion where maybe a person might not have
money to hand I still give a cd if appropriate. One customer who knows
the FOSS scene sometimes gives me a small donation! (which helps).

I am also very discrete with my nearby traders, some I have got to
know. I give, if appropriate, CDs free to nearby or other traders.
One, who knows about linux but is not yet using it, has offered to
display my leaflets in a London area  fair he trades at!

When buying some blank CDs recently I mentioned to the trader that I
was from the 'Free software table' over yonder. He asked wittily 'How
much is Free software selling for today then?' :-)   He and his
colleague enjoyed the joke it , as I did, and an answer of 'around 50
pence' was accepted with a smile.

I think I generally can cover my costs, but it is certainly not a
money making operation. My general costs include travel to get there -
for me it is very close, but a car is needed. Use of CD burning
facilities, laptop on display, paper, leaflets printing. Some
laminates. Books on display. I would continue at a loss if necessary,
although my income is very modest.

If I am describing what I do, to people outside the fair generally I
say I have a display table at the fair on a 'charity basis', because
the organisers donate the table to me.

I should mention here:
I only get a table on the condition that they have a left over,
unbooked, table available. Last come last served. The procedure has
become that towards the end of the week before the event I phone to
ask if they have a space for me. And by then, at the end of the
booking month, they know if they can otherwise sell the table to a
paying trader or not. So far I have been lucky.

I have the facility to burn cds at the event (laptop, running dual
boot, and chained down) but there is often simply no time for this. I
am single handed and the day is almost entirely taken with talking to
'customers'.  :-)
CDs are generally burned in advance, and this can lead to some loss
because of version changes. FOSS and linux changes fast.

Most attenders at the Fair hardly know what FOSS for windows, or what
linux, is about. Some have not heard of it, and of course some (a few)
are FOSS users anyway and are pleased to see me display, and stop to chat.

My choice of what is on offer is pragmatic.
My motives for being there are to give people information about a
choice other than proprietary software. Open CD for example, and
Linux. The attenders are Windows users almost entirely. If people are
interested enough to have a CD they usually ask, 'what to do you
recommend?' (for a windows user, beginner with linux).

My 'customers' are mostly *not* knowledgeable enough to download and
manage their own FOSS or linux in the early stages. There are
implications about this. This suggests that they are unlikely to be
able to cope with the rough and tumble of managing the lack of
proprietary drivers in say Linux. Or even initiating contact with the
local LUGs. I have my contact details on leaflets and will support by
phone at no charge. Only a very few have needed this though.

I will generally expect to offer a few of the most 'popular' distros,
also a few knoppix, Open CD, an occasional DSL etc.

After they have used Linux for a while I would expect them to become
more discerning about what 'proprietary' means.
My motives are to get the process moving in a way they can at first
accept.

>> Incidentally I find that the 'Infopoint' branding is most useful
>> to offer as a concept to the organisers. It is clearly a not for
>> profit project and is clearly also aiming to offer information.
>> It does not have any trading objectives. This can be significant
>> because we are also not a registered charity so we operate in an
>> area of voluntary and informal activities. Getting this
>> understood can be useful in negotiating a presence. But perhaps
>> you already know this - apols if so.
> 
> So, you find they are more open to the idea of letting you exhibit 
> without charge, because of the non-profit aspect?

Absolutely!
It is paramount (in my situation) that it is fully credible that I am
'*not* trading'. I am not trying to fund an organisation such as a
local LUG or club That would be a 'money making' operation. There is
an important point here. A lug regards itself as a nonprofit org
probably, but Fair event organisers have a right to expect a return
for their tables. If the 'LUG' would take money why shouldn't the
event organisers? It will also depend upon any commitment or knowledge
the organisers have regarding FOSS. It would help if they had even
heard about linux!

>> Are you also aware that Software Freedom Day is later this year?
>> (15 September 2007) 
>> http://softwarefreedomday.org/PressReleases/18072007
> 
> Yes, the FSF is one of the sponsors. As for the Manchester Group, I
> am unsure what we'll do.. We've started to discuss it.

Good luck
:-)
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391