November is a couple months away, but it’s the right time to start planning your trip to TAGIE and ChiTAG! And guess what?  I’ve worked out a discount for all readers of The Game Aisle! Write “The Game Aisle” on your registration form (or download the one below) and get $75 off the full registration cost!*

What are TAGIE and ChiTAG?

TAGIE is the Toy and Game Inventor’s Expo and it is the best place for new and experienced toy and game inventors to meet industry experts and expand their knowledge of the business.  It’s a two day conference that covers a variety of topics including:

• How to get your concept licensed
• Self-manufacturing
• Protecting your ideas
• Using sales reps and distributors
• Using an agent
• Prototypes and play testing
• Toy safety legislation
• and much, much more!

Without repeating everything you can find on the TAGIE website (see here) I’ll just give you some of the highlights.  Besides getting all of your questions answered during the discussion panels, conference attendees mingle with the speakers (including me) during “inventor table walkabouts.”  During these “walkabouts” you may show experts your toy and game concepts and gather candid feedback.  Past attendees have shown everything from scrap-paper prototypes, to drawings, all the way to fully manufactured products!  If you want more time with an expert, you can choose to sign up for the one-on-one consultations which give you private meeting times with some of the experts.  This is a great way to talk one-on-one with buyers, reps, manufacturers, etc. that you may not have access to at any other time!

Personally, I recommend this event because it’s a really open and transparent experience.  Experts mingle and chat with attendees at all of the meals.  On Thursday night there is an “Evening with the Experts” dinner that is a great way for the attendees and experts to network over drinks and food.  And then on Friday night, it’s the Toy and Game Inventor Awards and a ticket is included in the registration!  It’s an AMAZING evening with the top industry inventors, designers and manufacturers and last year the inventor of the Game of Life, Reuben Klamer, was honored.  The TAGIE conference is, in my opinion, the top networking event of the year.

And then to boot, it is right before ChiTAG (Chicago Toy and Game Fair)! ChiTAG is the largest, family-friendly game expo that is open to the public! So whether you get a booth to sell or demo your products or if you just want walk the show with your family, it’s not something you want to miss.  And how smart is this?   It’s right at the start of the holiday season so you can push your products and help them make it onto Christmas Wish lists — or better yet, into the shopping bags of show attendees.

When & Where do TAGIE and ChiTAG take place?

TAGIE is Thurs. November 18 & Fri. November 19, 2010 (*One-On-Ones take place on Sat.)

ChiTAG is Sat. November 20 & Sun. November 21, 2010

Both take place at Chicago’s Scenic Navy Pier

How do I sign up?

So glad that you asked!  You can download the registration PDF by clicking here: 2010_TAGIE_Registration.  Or if you want more information please go to the TAGIE site: www.TAGIE.net Just remember to write “The Game Aisle” on your registration form and subtract $75 from the “Full Registration” cost only*.  If you click on the PDF above, I’ve done it for you.  And for you out-of-towners, the hotel info is here.

Hope to see you there!

*$75 off is for the “Full Registration” only and cannot be combined with any other offers and void where prohibited.

**FYI, I do not receive commission, kickbacks or money of any kind for promoting this event.  I just think it’s the best conference for game inventors of all experience levels.