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Spockie-Tech
Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Ah, so those guys are going ahead with their event !
I was talking to them a while back about the possibility of doing a RoboWars show in India, but they had no budget of note to work with and airfares from Australia to Inidia at the time of their festsival where huge (peak season), so the idea died.
They needed an Arena shipped over, and about 20 or 30 competitors over a period of 3 or 4 days, but unfortunately where right in the middle of a huge gap in Robot Activity planet-wise. they were about equally distant from all the current centers of robot combat activity, so it was going to cost them a fortune in airfares no matter which country they went with.. and the idea died.
Good to see they found a way of pulling it off.. Asking the competitors to pay airfares to India was a bit steep I thought though.
How to rustle up $2000 gratis ? Find a sponsor who want to put his name in front of the projected audience (Uni students ? not likely, they have no money), think about who else will be at this trade show, why they would want an Australian Product/Service, and then find someone who can do business with them, then offer to sticker your bot, wear their clothes, plug their company and do the usual corporate whore thing..
If you had a year or two to go through paperwork, you might be able to get an Australian Government Grant for "International furthering of Australia's technological Artwork" or something.. but you'll wear out $2000 worth of pens and forms applying for it though.
Hmm.. Company you work for as Tax Write off as a training expense, or Internation Promotions ?
Thinking of reasons why other people should pay for you to have fun is hard.. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
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Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:39 am |
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kkeerroo
Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1459
Location: Brisbane
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For those who want to know why I havn't finished uploading my videos from last weekend or done up a damage report for Devastator it is because of this India trip. It has been a hassle, with many e-mail back and forward to Mr Calkins, Mr Rajat in India, the Indian consulate in Brisbane and Qantas. To give you an idea here is the latest e-mails from Mr Calkins:
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Andrew:
I'm in India now. I broght 4 30 lbers, and paid the US416 as below...
Can't speak for Quantas. Usually in'tl airfare lets you take 2 bags
up to 40kg total (100 pounds). That's always been my experience. Are
you sure she wasn't thinkg 20kg per bag?
All:
VERY IMPORTANT.
Write up a letter on letterhead (even if you make up the letterhead)
from your Univ./company.
Just a short para saying ex\ssentially the below:
Indian Customs:
{name} is brining 2 robots to India of the Internatinal TechFest.
Toatl value of the robtos and parts are {amt}. These robots are for
demonstration purposes n INdia, and are not being imported into India.
Thery werehomeb-built in {country} and will be brought out of India
after the event. They are not for sale in INdia.
Sign in. Doesn't hav to be perfect. Make sure you bring this with
you. Rajat should also be sending you a letter from Techfest. VBring
both with you!
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and
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If you have any probelsma t customs on arrival, talk to teh customs
guy and show him your letters. If this still doesn't work, ask him to
go out teh front door and get your contact - Rajat. This is what I did.
I spent an hour+ in customs, they originally wanted $750 as they were
convinvced I was bringin the robots into India to sell. Once they
were convinvced they weren't for sell, they let me out.
I'm sorry about all the pain here guys... It's pretty typical of
Int'l travel as I've experienced it (I'm sure Joe knows...). It will
be painful, but rememebr to be patient. It WILL be fun, but it's like
building a robot - there are always pains you have to go trhough first.
Patience, politeness, and calm will work at custsoms - just like
building robtos.
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This is going to be an interesting trip! _________________ Get Some!!!
Secretary of the Queensland Robotics Sports Club inc.
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Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:34 pm |
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