Hi Everyone. Lots of things happening behind the scenes. I've developed an electronic registration process and it's been tested. Just waiting to get approval to use it live at the show (need to make sure we have people trained on how to deal with it). It consists of:

* A google form (naturally) accessible via a URL (web link) or QR code (will be printed on "table tents" easily seen at the show near registration desk)
* Attendees access the form, fill it out, and when they click "Submit", all of their information is automatically populated into a registration spreadsheet.
* This spreadsheet is updated in real time, so persons at the registration desk can see that they signed up.
* Attendees can either go to the next step (link in the "thanks for registering" message) which takes them to PayPal, or they can pay in cash at the registration desk
* If attendee paid via PayPal, registration person can verify by logging into PayPal using a view-only login or the attendee can show their emailed receipt
* Registration then does all the usual things - prints badge, hands them a program, directs them to the show entrance door

Benefits:

* The registration form asks for more information than the postcard of previous years did
* Some questions are mandatory. Some are not.
* All data that previously had to be entered by hand is already in a spreadsheet
* Totals and other data analysis can be done on the fly or at a later date
* Daily numbers will be immediately available

Notes:

* We will still have the postcard registration forms.
* I'm printing them at home to save costs (~$50 vs. $277 if we use a printing company)
* I'm buying 500 sheets of 4-up cardstock but only printing 500 initially.
* I'm bringing my printer and the extra cardstock in case we need to make more (up to 2000)
* Data from registrations made on physical cards can be entered by registration staff during slow times, so no post-event work has to be done.
* I plan to create an exit/show survey as well to gather people's thoughts about the 2026 show in particular. Show ambassadors will direct people to QR codes on the floor, at the entrance/exit, in the program, and on cards that people can hold their phones up to.

I will post the registration link here at a later date. I want to fine tune a couple of things first.

!!! My only concern about letting everyone test it out now is that they may think they're actually registering for the show. !!!