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TAKIN' IT WEST COAST Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. They represented the most public battle ever waged within an industry: the East Coast/West Coast rivalry that dominated the rap music scene in the mid-1990s. While the window film industry doesn’t have one set of specific icons, we’ll see just how competitive the two sides of the U.S. market are—and maybe even the two sides of the globe—as the International Window Film Confer-ence, Expo and Tint-Off™ (IWFE) moves off of the East coast for the second time in five years and to the West coast for the first time ever. IWFE 2006 is going to Vegas! Things Done Changed IWFE begins on March 3 with educational seminars, but the Spring Glass Show—to which IWFE members will be admitted free—is scheduled for Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3. IWFE attendees can get in free with their badge. The Tint-Off will take place on the final day of the event, Saturday, March 4, to allow everyone, especially the competitive tinters, more time to attend the seminars that interest them most without breaking the momentum of the educational experience. Though the Tint-Off returns to the last day of the event, a scheduling change brings it back to its original time slot, all other formatting changes that went into effect in 2005 will return in 2006. Everyday Struggle At this event there may be more networking opportunities for those looking to set up what some might call referral partnerships (in this case, referring business to a glass repair or replacement company who would, in turn, refer tinting business to you). Independents’ Days Spring Glass Show is a two-day show with a large variety of exhibitors that offers attendees the advantages of seeing new products, meeting new contacts, learning new tips and techniques, and for one on one conversation with each exhibitor. Big names in the glass industry that have been participants in the trade show in years past include Dow Automotive, Pilkington, CR Laurence and Creative Extruded Products; several big names within the window film industry joined the line-up last year, such as CPFilms, Madico, Johnson and ProtectGard. Gimme the Loot The inaugural Architectural Film Tint-Off went well in 2005, and those who would rather try their hand at competitively tinting flat glass can once again vie for a $1,000 prize (also accompanied by a gold medal). Second place winner of the flat glass competition will receive a silver medal. One More Chance To make it to the finals, installers in each preliminary heat will compete in on the same make/model vehicle or pre-constructed glazing replica under a pre-determined time limit. Contestants, whose rounds are individually timed, are then judged on the quality of the installation. In the case of a scoring tie leading into the finals, the faster timed installation advances to the next round. Respect Of course, distributors get to join in the bragging rights if they sponsor the “World’s Best Tinter.” Multiple sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Hayley Steele at 540/720-5584 ext. 151, or e-mail hsteele@glass.com Loyal to the Game Early registration is encouraged for everyone thinking of attending the show. Full attendee registration for Window Film subscribers costs $149 before February 13, 2006. So what does the money get you? A full registration includes admission to all presentations, seminars, demonstrations, the Tint-Off, the cocktail party and closing ceremony. Competitors will need to register, too, of course, and the fee is $350 for Window Film subscribers. Contestants must register by February 13, 2006. Contestant registration includes all the amenities that a full registration offers, as well as competition in the 2006 Tint-Off. No onsite contestant registration will be available. Spectators will need to register, too. Spectator registration includes admission to Tint-Off and closing ceremonies. For those who pre-register, the cost is $30, with children 12 and younger getting in for $20. Pre-registered children younger than two years old get in free. Onsite, the fees go up to $40, $30 and $10, respectively. Keep Ya Head Up |
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