RMAF Canceled for 2021 and Forever

[The Computer Audiophile]

From RMAF:

 

 

A year and a half ago, our hearts were aching as we made the hard decision to cancel our 2020 show. Back then, we somehow imagined that as a country, we could band together and transcend COVID-19, and our lives could return to normal. We hoped we could ride out a year in isolation and emerge healthy and ready to gather again. Here at RMAF, we spent the year improving our business by producing new room layouts with all the outlets marked, and created a handbook to guide exhibitors as they learned yet again to navigate their exhibitor accounts. We imagined ourselves enthusiastically greeting our audio industry friends in a few weeks, and we’ve held onto that dream in spite of our nervous fears and scary news reports.

 

Even though some parts of the United States are fully open, the number of people contracting the virus, and the number of deaths attributed to it are still rising, and the CDC is projecting an even more deadly Lambda wave this fall. We are frightened on behalf of our friends in the audio industry on many levels. The very worst thing that we can envision is for someone to fall ill because they came to our show, whether as an exhibitor, a journalist, an attendee, or a volunteer. Good health is a precious gift, and we are learning that although recovery is possible, the residual effects of COVID-19 and its variants can be profound, and we are unwilling to risk even one case. Up until now, we have held onto the possibility that our October show could be produced as planned. After reading and listening to the news concerning the Coronavirus pandemic, and watching the cancellation of numerous other shows, we no longer hold that hope. In spite of our initial optimism, we have read and listened to all of your thoughtful comments and then looked at the numbers and made the difficult decision to cancel RMAF 2021. 

 

This has been a wrenching decision, and along with it comes the added impact of deciding that we are no longer able to envision RMAF as our hearts delight. RMAF was our founder Al Stiefel’s dream, and we’ve done our best to nurture his vision for 12 years, along with help from the Colorado Audio Society and all our volunteers from around the world. Now, we are off to new adventures! And so it is with both sadness and anticipation for the future, we announce that the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest as we have all known it will be no more. It has been our very great pleasure to have served this community of audio professionals. We have learned so much from you! Thank you for 17 years of friendship and support. It has meant more than you can possibly imagine.

 

We offer you our heartiest wishes for good health and great happiness.

 

Your Friends,

Marjorie and Marcie

[JoeWhip]

Wow, I thought it would likely be cancelled but gone forever. Kinda shocking.

[austinpop]

Yeah, the forever part is shocking and sad. 

[bobfa]

I guess I have missed it for the last time.....  Really sad.

[kennyb123]

I was looking to upvote Chis’ post with a sad face, but it’s not an option.  I bet it would have received a lot of sad votes.  Total bummer to hear this news.

[beetlemania]

Oh, man, that is sad news. I was able to attend a couple of times circa 2013-2016. Such a great opportunity to hear gear that is not available in most parts of the country. And visit with the designers, in many cases. 

[Rt66indierock]

Sad news for sure. I was just about to book my flights and car service. Now I need to cancel my room.

[LA Clark DSP]

This is very sad news for the audio industry. RMAF has always been a great show to see the latest and greatest, hear some great music in the rooms and the events and connect with our peers. We are very sad to hear that it is closing down for good. We can only imagine that the unknowns, coupled with time (and age) plus the struggle to find people to stay involved all played a factor.

We can only hope that someone else (in Denver or elsewhere) will continue this tradition. Stay safe and well out there. And thanks for all your hard work, Marjorie and Marcie.

[Account Closed]

2 hours ago, austinpop said:

Yeah, the forever part is shocking and sad. 

Sad but sadly not really shocking.

[JoeWhip]

I think CAF will be next.

[Allan F]

Sorry to learn that RMAF has ended its run. A lot of people will be disappointed. While I was not planning to attend this year because of the COVID situation in the US, I was hoping to do so again in the future. See also RMAF IS CLOSING ITS DOORS

[ted_b]

Very sad indeed.  Was a charter member; so many great memories...and now I live in the Denver area and was hoping to make it a real annual party thing.  Oh well, I'm sure Marjorie and gang have exhausted all possibilities. 

[R1200CL]

Maybe Chris starts his own show 😀

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ha! I’ve thought about starting a show within a show, such as the Computer Audio Experience. But, it’s more work than I can take on. 

[AudioDoctor]

Another virtual show?

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, AudioDoctor said:

Another virtual show?

I’m over virtual everything 🙂

[ted_b]

4 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I’m over virtual everything 🙂

+1

 

And, audio manufacturers are going to need to keep open the channel for introducing new products to the audiophile public, and keep on top of mind.  Zoom does not suffice. 

[AudioDoctor]

15 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I’m over virtual everything 🙂

 

I agree, however I think that's the future ahead of us for at least another year., maybe more, because certain segments of the population refuse to do their part to end it all...

[The Computer Audiophile]

Just now, AudioDoctor said:

 

I agree, however I think that's the future ahead of us for at least another year.

That’ll make me over virtually everything as well as everything virtual 🙂

[AudioDoctor]

1 minute ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

That’ll make me over virtually everything as well as everything virtual 🙂

 

I was really hoping to attend some romantic holiday jazzy concerts this holiday season, but it doesn't look like that will be happening.

[GregWormald]

I didn't expect to ever go, it's a long way from Australia, but it's still sad to hear it's gone.

Good choice though. Stay safe everyone.

[Jud]

How sad and yet how good to see into the hearts of these people who aren't willing to chance even one person falling ill as a result of attending.  And also, how insane that so many people have been convinced to be pro-disease.

[firedog]

2 hours ago, Jud said:

How sad and yet how good to see into the hearts of these people who aren't willing to chance even one person falling ill as a result of attending.  And also, how insane that so many people have been convinced to be pro-disease.

If only they had ordered some Ivermectin, they could have passed it out to all attendees and been able to put on the show....or so some seen to think. 

If only that vaccine wasn't so dangerous without so many side effects. It clearly makes more sense to take a livestock dewormer.

[Jud]

7 hours ago, firedog said:

If only they had ordered some Ivermectin, they could have passed it out to all attendees and been able to put on the show....or so some seen to think. 

If only that vaccine wasn't so dangerous without so many side effects. It clearly makes more sense to take a livestock dewormer.

 

Calls to poison control centers in Texas are up 550%.

[Allan F]

On 9/3/2021 at 8:07 AM, Jud said:

Calls to poison control centers in Texas are up 550%.

 

While legitimate users of the drug are having difficulty obtaining it because of shortages caused by these covidiots.