Vape Expo NJ 2015

[Browncoat]

http://www.v4p3r.com/vape-expo-nj-2015/

V4P3R.com has been flooded with emails about the travesty that is Vape Expo NJ 2015, which will likely go down in history as the worst vaping convention ever.

Vendors and attendees alike are calling out event organizer Andy Balogh to make good on a promise to cover fines that was posted on the group’s Facebook page.

Here’s how it all went down:

@VaporJoes

 

[CTFX]

Oh dear lord. Good thing I didn't come lol

 

[Browncoat]

I think there's been a push to have a convention in Atlantic City instead of NJ. This will probably seal the deal.

 

[CTFX]

AC is in NJ

 

[rolltidevaper]

AC is in NJ

you beat me to it

 

[UncleRJ]

Do they have different rules in casino owned properties?

 

[Whiskey]

I wonder, didn't the booth holders have to sign a contract to rent out spaces, didn't the contracts have the time slot of the booth rentals in the paperwork?

 

[Breazy_Com]

I don't know we went on Sunday and had an absolutely awesome time ! I did here some politician ruined Saturday but what would you expect ? These are the same people trying to tax and ruin vaping because they can't get their "hands in the till " so to speak. Myself and a number of others posted our great experience on the show thread. It wasn't Andy Balogh's fault in my opinion. Go after the idiot politician who caused all the trouble. Smokie explained it to us. There was an approval by one politician then a lesser politician thought he could over ride him. Then the more powerful one straightened it out on Sunday. Smokie knows the details. Congressman and legislators or some crap like that. But again we had an awesome time and soryy for those that went on Saturday !

 

[CTFX]

In new jersey you can't smoke/vape inside a store, venue, or a restaurant

 

[Browncoat]

You can't really blame the politicians here, they were just enforcing the law that has been in place since 2010. I mean...that would be like holding a street racing convention under the guise that the organizers cleared everything with law enforcement, then complaining when everyone gets busted for speeding. Whether you agree with the law or not is a moot point. It has nothing to do with the "idiot politician".

 

[CTFX]

Yeah you got to blame the hosts/planners they should have known better that you can't smoke/vape in any venue in NJ lol

 

[rolltidevaper]

You can't really blame the politicians here, they were just enforcing the law that has been in place since 2010. I mean...that would be like holding a street racing convention under the guise that the organizers cleared everything with law enforcement, then complaining when everyone gets busted for speeding. Whether you agree with the law or not is a moot point. It has nothing to do with the "idiot politician".

I think the blame is two-fold. 1) the organizers/planners - they should have done their homework before vendors paid a lot of money to come, set up, etc and vapers paid money to get to and get into the event. 2) the convention center management for even booking the convention. I mean it was call the "NJ Vape Convention". Are you seriously trying to make me believe they didn't think people would be vaping?

 

[Breazy_Com]

It was our understanding from what we were told that one of the Political people signed off on it.(I don't have exact names and titles) That being said if someone else came in and challenged it then there was some kind of "political feud" going on there. so tell me why it was all straightened out Sunday and everyone and anyone was allowed to Vape indoors all over the place ? We had a great time and my hats still off to Andy Belogh for his efforts. Also everyone else who put it together. Everyone whines but no one does anything. They at least did their best to give us this show. If they have it in Atlantic City we're going there to. I'd really like to find out more and the honest truth than just going on people posting and assumptions. Vapor Joe ? Andy Belogh ? What do you guys have to say ? (Disclaimer lol Andy Belogh is not the same person as Andy from Breazy)

 

[CTFX]

Yes I would like to know more answers as well. Interesting everyone was able to vape indoors Sunday but not Saturday...very odd

 

[Breazy_Com]

In new jersey you can't smoke/vape inside a store, venue, or a restaurant

Well does that include Casinos ? Because they all have smoking sections in them ! So their must be some different rules for Casinos.

 

[CTFX]

Casinos are exemptions that is correct

 

[Breazy_Com]

So Then there may be hope if they have it in Atlantic City. Their must be some kind of different ruling there I would imagine

 

[CTFX]

I think...don't quote me on this....but your only allowed to smoke in the actual casino rioms. Not outside those areas.

 

[Breazy_Com]

Yes I would like to know more answers as well. Interesting everyone was able to vape indoors Sunday but not Saturday...very odd

Like I said, It was explained to us that there was a problem and it was corrected on Sunday. So it doesn't sound like it was the organizers fault to me. But I could be wrong !

 

[Breazy_Com]

Ah it don't matter to me we had a great time. The truth will come out in the wash lol have a good night!

 

[Zamazam]

Viva Las Vegas!

 

[CTFX]

Yeah lots of mish-mash....he said she said....I'm just speaking from the laws side...not that I agree with it, but you can't smoke or vape indoors. I guess you need a permit. It's funny though because some cigar shops you can smoke in. So I really don't know.

 

[Breazy_Com]

lol Everything goes in Vegas ! I'll be out there in October !

 

[Zamazam]

lol Everything goes in Vegas ! I'll be out there in October !

I'll try to get there too, assuming the warrants are no longer valid

 

[Breazy_Com]

I'll try to get there too, assuming the warrants are no longer valid

LMAO

 

[Davect06607]

http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.s...th_department_busts_vendors_promoters_at.html

 

[Browncoat]

I think the blame is two-fold. 1) the organizers/planners - they should have done their homework before vendors paid a lot of money to come, set up, etc and vapers paid money to get to and get into the event. 2) the convention center management for even booking the convention. I mean it was call the "NJ Vape Convention". Are you seriously trying to make me believe they didn't think people would be vaping?

1) I agree. The organizers definitely knew that vaping indoors was illegal in NJ. They tried to create their own loophole with this "private club" fiasco, and it backfired on them. From the sound of it, they thought dubbing the event as "members only" and "private", they could get around the public ban wording of the law. Wrong.

2) Lots of blame to go around, definitely. I know if I were managing a venue and an event wanted to use my facility for something that I knew was illegal, you'd bet your sweet ass I would want to see all kinds of documentation if the organizers claimed to have gotten a pass from officials. Either these venue managers were stupid and negligent, or they were presented with a bunch of lies. Probably a bit of both.

so tell me why it was all straightened out Sunday and everyone and anyone was allowed to Vape indoors all over the place ?

I've heard mixed reports about Sunday. For those following along at home, the "raid" happened on Saturday (when health officials issued all the fines). I do know that the sign went up on the door on Sunday. The sign that essentially closed the event at 4pm instead of 8pm. People still came and went, but it's my understanding that the venue managers hung the sign to discourage people from coming in. I've also heard that some people were turned away when they left the building and tried to re-enter.

Others have said that Sunday was great. Vendors were giving away all kinds of stuff and it was so foggy in there, you couldn't see to the other side of the convention center. Why officials did not return to issue fines on Sunday is anyone's guess.

 

[Whiskey]

A few years back they had a gigantic vapefest in FL, most of the venue was held outside (before outside vaping started getting banned), maybe that should be the way future vape meets should be organized, not where it's banned inside or out, but possibly on private property like some music fests have done in proximity of accommodations (hotels)

 

[Browncoat]

...not where it's banned inside or out, but possibly on private property like some music fests have done in proximity of accommodations (hotels)

That was part of this debacle. They tried the "private" angle, saying that anyone who signed up for the event (vendors and attendees alike) were paying dues to join a private vaping club. This extended to the building itself, attempting to christen an expo center as private property. These guys definitely went about it the wrong way.

Wish I had the answer. It's always going to be difficult in areas that aren't vape-friendly because you're always going to have that segment of people who are eager to push and break boundaries. You know just as well as I do that some of these people came for the sole purpose of vaping indoors as an act of defiance.

 

[NightOwl]

I was there Sunday and from my perspective it couldn't have been much better, but I am a consumer. Crowded enough to feel you were part of something fun, but not so crowded you couldn't talk to someone in any booth within 1-2 minutes. You could even find a seat if you tried. No doubt all the Saturday bad publicity kept people away. No over the top booth babes or pole dancers, and the car sat in the middle by it's lonely self.

By 4:30 many vendors were starting to pack it up, especially the wholesale guys. B2B would be over at that point at any convention. Most of the consumer attendees were either watching the cloud contests or had been there so long they were done shopping. I asked many vendors and Saturday attendees what went down and you'd be surprised how many didn't see the "raid". It seems the further you were away from the main door the less you knew about it.

It is virtually impossible to prevent vaping with that many people in such a large space. You'd have to empty the place or hire 200 enforcers. The club aspect make it so every single person in the room was vaping, so one huge vape cloud. I can see health inspectors freaking out by the visual.

Vendors would be disappointed with the diminished crowd. The fined ones should be livid. How many fines were given out? A handful? dozens? hundreds? It seems the Saturday bad publicity did the real damage by keeping the crowds away. The organizers should pay the fines of vendors if they can. If it is more than a dozen, it probably isn't going to happen.

If the organizers got the proper permits and just got broad-sided by a grandstanding politician, I really feel for them. I saw one of them speak on stage and he seemed like a decent person. This cost them big time. If they didn't do their homework, then sadly they and the vaping industry just learned a hard lesson.

Has anyone ever put on an outdoor vape festival? At the right time of year with some covered pavilions, it would make for a more pleasant atmosphere. That much vape in one place is too much of a good thing. My eyes and nostrils were drying out a little bit, but at least breathing wasn't a problem.

 

[NightOwl]

That was part of this debacle. They tried the "private" angle, saying that anyone who signed up for the event (vendors and attendees alike) were paying dues to join a private vaping club. This extended to the building itself, attempting to christen an expo center as private property. These guys definitely went about it the wrong way.

Wish I had the answer. It's always going to be difficult in areas that aren't vape-friendly because you're always going to have that segment of people who are eager to push and break boundaries. You know just as well as I do that some of these people came for the sole purpose of vaping indoors as an act of defiance.

I'm not sure they had an alternative. The Private Club approach is fairly common with cigar smokers and the only way to have a vape gathering in NJ. They must have done something right since the authorities didn't shut it completely down.

 

[Browncoat]

Vendors would be disappointed with the diminished crowd. The fined ones should be livid. How many fines were given out? A handful? dozens? hundreds? It seems the Saturday bad publicity did the real damage by keeping the crowds away. The organizers should pay the fines of vendors if they can. If it is more than a dozen, it probably isn't going to happen.

The total fines issued was just over $50,000. 66 total citations is the number that I keep seeing. They were issued to event organizers, the venue itself, and mostly vendors. I've heard some accounts of individuals being cited, but I haven't seen any proof of that.

One of the organizers (Andy) posted a video to the event's Facebook page late Saturday night and said they would be covering any fines that were issued. Apparently some vendors got pissed and left. Some people were saying that a few of those vendors were issued refunds, and others were not. Dunno if there's any truth in that or not.

 

[NightOwl]

The venue won't pay, they'll fight it. They bring in too much revenue to the area, but then again $500 wouldn't be much to them.

Holy shit, $50K, they probably don't have it. Hopefully they can get them all dismissed. Randomly fining for vaping at a vape convention is absurd. Fining an organizer or venue for booking an illegal activity isn't that unreasonable. I find it so hard to believe the NJ Expo Center didn't know the laws and loopholes. How can you fine someone on Saturday for an activity you allow freely on Sunday?

Even if they made announcements, in most of the venue it sounded like Charlie Brown adult talk. Saturday must have been worse with bigger crowds.

Well I'm a tax paying NJ resident and if there is any where I can write or call to protest, please let me know.​

 

[Breazy_Com]

Well here's what Smokie had to say he was there the whole time:
Hey I think this Expo went very well for being the first ever in New Jersey
with giving props to Andy Balogh, and Don Miller for setting this event up.

We did have a few hours of Gov't drama bullshit with trying to prevent us from vaping indoors that was resolved in a short time which may of been excepted living in this nanny state.

From chatting with table vendors most made out well in sales.

Thank you Andy Balogh, and Don Miller had a great time with also recruiting some new Smokies Angels ‪#‎SA‬

Atlantic City Here We Come For The Next Vape Expo NJ!

 

[Whiskey]

The total fines issued was just over $50,000. 66 total citations is the number that I keep seeing. They were issued to event organizers, the venue itself, and mostly vendors. I've heard some accounts of individuals being cited, but I haven't seen any proof of that.

One of the organizers (Andy) posted a video to the event's Facebook page late Saturday night and said they would be covering any fines that were issued. Apparently some vendors got pissed and left. Some people were saying that a few of those vendors were issued refunds, and others were not. Dunno if there's any truth in that or not.

Well lookie who made revenue on the deal....FTN

 

[Browncoat]

Looks like Phil Busardo has updated his site with some info about Vape Expo NJ. There's 3 videos, and you know Phil...there's about 1.5 hours of video to sit and watch. Ugh. EDIT, PHIL, EDIT!