Suspended because of Covid during 2020 and 2021, the Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York Annual Gala made a comeback in full force Monday, April 25th at the posh Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse in New York City. Nonmembers paid $500 per ticket to attend this occasion which was sold out. Many industry veterans, a number of whom had traveled into NYC expressed relief how Covid seemed to be over. Exclaimed Betson Distributors CEO Robert Geschine: “It feels good to be back in person, the warmth, energy, and excitement in the dining room…”
“As some 100 of the amusement and music industry’s “nobility” enjoyed flowing cocktails at the restaurant’s highly appointed marble bar, consuming the raw bar delights at each table including clams, shrimp, oysters, and crab meat, and then everything from U.S.D.A. “prime” sirloins, lamb chops, or stuffed fish—Christopher J. Brady, the Vice President of Sales for LAI Games was holding court, chosen as the 2022 “Man of the Year”.
Brady of Carrollton, Texas has enjoyed a successful career for many years, and LAI Games (based in Australia) is one of America’s leading game manufacturers with many hits including: Angry Birds, Virtual Rabbids VR, and Hyperpitch.
AMOA-NY President Ken Goldberg (Emerson Amusement) spoke about how he was privileged to mentor Chris Brady when he was starting out and came to NYC as a new entry in the amusement game industry. Goldberg credited Brady with helping to make LAI the market leader on redemption games. He described how Chris Brady even through Covid, always gave special service and support. “Chris and LAI understand how to follow up on details and make the operators feel that they really watch their back…how LAI is interested in the operator’s bottom-line.
“In his acceptance, Brady, visably humbled, recognized many people in the dining room who he felt had contributed to his attainment over the years. He thanked LAI Games for supporting him as their lead sales executive.
Gala attendees have grown accustomed to Goldberg offering a sermon about AMOA-NY and the state of the industry.
Goldberg made reference to Elton John “I’m Still Standing…” And Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”. He talked about being a survivor, “Just about everyone in our industry suffered during Covid, which will be recorded as one of the most extraordinary periods in the history of America, and the world. We underwent a painful period…all please rise and give yourselves a hand. You deserve it!! You made it. You’re still standing. You all survived.”
“Whether it was stops temporarily shutting down or closing altogether…keeping on top of my equipment where it is, how it is performing, or how to recover it…accommodating the special concerns of employees (who many times faced their personal issues) where they became distracted, distressed, and needed time off—and dealing with all of the double-standard regulations and obstacle imposed by government, which in large measure perpetrated fear, inconvenience, and negative anti-business conditions. A lot of them were cruel to our sector, and they defied common sense. And then our manufacturers and distributors have face difficulties in fulfilling orders for equipment, parts, and service.”
“What has been most interesting is how operators who have chosen not to belong to AMOA-NY, operators who I haven’t heard from in years…all of a sudden during Covid they knew my number! It has been outrageous the way some of them protested to me how AMOA-NY failed to do this…or how AMOA-NY should be doing this…or they spoke about how Covid damaged their business.
As if they were the only victims, their demonstrated lack of respect for their fellow operators and for their industry organization which has been established since the 1940s with a record of accomplishment, has become part of their failure in business.”
“Perhaps they saved a few dollars as they have refused to pay dues…Yet, often their growth and revenue is stunted and their ability to do business gets diminished. They are blind to the benefits which belonging to AMOA-NY brings.”
“We are all at a crossroads:—Music is doing well and we receive important support from both AMI Entertainment and Touchtunes—but we are competing against online music and digital streaming media subscribers.—A new innovative game for the street operator remains elusive. Meanwhile gambling and casinos are opening with great encouragement from government. This eclipses our presence and increases pressures to operate.”
“AMOA-NY took the lead over our national associations to stop ATM operators and operators using cash from being blacklisted and stigmatized. This past year AMOA-NY was the catalyst for the government regulators to clarify guidance and policies used by banks, which should now be accepting accounts from operators,” Goldberg added.
As the program turned to the 2022 “Jukebox Artist of the Year”, AMI Entertainment’s Curve Video Jukebox played music selections recorded by comedian, entertainer, television, and motion picture star Tracy Morgan. Goldberg announced how Tracy Morgan (who hosted the 2013 Billboard Awards) was becoming a singer recording artist, and using jukeboxes to launch this dimension of his career.
Between AMI Entertainment and Touchtunes, Tracy Morgan’s music is in process of being carried on well over 100,000 jukeboxes.As Ken Goldberg presented the 2022 plaque, the prominent performer was overcome with tears in his eyes, how much this award meant to him. He couldn’t wait to show it to his children.
Tracy Morgan introduced his musical team who included: Bernard “BHawk” Hawkins, Mark MK, Edson Sean, Tara Jones, and Danielle Hawkins. The artists gave the AMOA-NY audience an impromptu accapella demo of the style of music which Tracy Morgan will be recording.
By Danny Frank, executive director, Amusement and Music Owners Association
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