Nice to hear some positive feedback, too.
I personally recognise many of the negative comments but also like to look at the show through the eyes of a younger self, who was wide eyed and awestruck at the first event I went too. I even remember being blown away by Nigel Clutterbuck slapping the hell out of something. I suppose it's fair to say that many of us here have a pretty in depth knowledge of gear and what's new - and I'd argue that the show isn't designed to cater for you as much as someone newer to the instrument who doesn't spend hours a day on gear forums. So I think it's important that we don't expect the show to have things that our fairly narrow niche tastes might crave, but instead try and support the show as much as possible.
I've been to so many now that I know every stand there, and rarely want to play anything - and I get tired of some of the marketing and advertising and the whole thing can feel a bit creepy somehow at times but again I just remember walking in to my first one and thinking 'wow this is awesome' - and now I can appreciate the show for what it is, rather than expect it to blow me, personally, away.
That said my experience is generally limited to the stands as I never get a chance to see any workshops etc, so that's a whole section of the show that I think is a big attraction, and it's a shame if they get drowned out. I really liked the format of the Manchester Bass Day where there was an auditorium for talks (a bit like our own SE Bass Bash!) which also lends a more professional feel to the performances and much better sound.
Apologies that there was no Basschat stand this year, several reasons why mostly involving new parenthood but also costs and distance this time conspired against us. It also doesn't make much sense us having a stand unless we have something to show and sell, so in the future we might have a 'meet and greet' corner or arrange to meet at a certain stand so we can all say hello to each other.
Cheers
ped