FAQ EXHIBITORS – Frequently asked questions

SynthFest France 2025 takes place over 4 days, from April 10 to 13, 2025 at the Odyssée in Orvault.

Thursday April 10 (from 1:30 pm to 10 pm) is a day of installation and exchange between professionals, dedicated exclusively to exhibitors, press and partners. Amateur exhibitors are welcome at the same time.

The show opens to the public

Friday, April 11, 2pm to 10pm
Saturday, April 12, from 10am to 7pm
Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The association loi 1901 SynthFest France is made up exclusively of volunteers: Sophie, Jean-Michel, François, Christophe, Laurent, Eric and Christian have been organizing an event created by the PWM association in 2014 since 2018. They are reinforced during the event by other volunteers who welcome visitors and assist exhibitors and visitors during the event.

This associative structure enables us to offer visitors and exhibitors particularly advantageous financial conditions, compared with other events of this type. At the same time, we aim to provide a professional infrastructure.

L’Odyssée, Le Bois Cesbron, 44700 ORVAULT

By car: northern ring road, exit 36 “Porte d’Orvault”, direction Orvault (410 parking spaces, including 7 reserved for people with reduced mobility).

By bus: Line 89, “Le Bois Cesbron” stop.

By train: Nantes station 20 minutes away.

By plane: Nantes Atlantique 20 minutes away.

The Association SynthFest France encourages you to come by train or carpool, even if you’re coming from abroad.

To calculate the impact of your journey on CO2 emissions, use this simulator.

To carpool and share costs, we’ve set up this carpool.

Need a car to bring your equipment? You can send it to us beforehand, then take the train and meet it at your stand. All you have to do is organize and pay for the return trip.

Nantes has a TGV station, with direct connections to Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Strasbourg and Paris. Orléans, Brest, Bourges… also benefit from direct regional train connections.

The financial resources are, in order of importance:

Tombola tickets. If you are an exhibitor, by offering a prize for the tombola, you are helping SynthFest to exist. If you’d like to help us, you can contribute by offering a prize. If you can’t, we understand, and there are other ways you can help.

Booth sales to exhibitors and partners.

Ticket sales for entry to SynthFest France. This is only the 3rd resource, because we’ve made the choice to remain accessible to as many people as possible. This year, we’ll still have to increase the day ticket (from €10 to €12) and the 3-day pass (€25) to cover costs and rebalance our resources, but we’ll also be offering a very attractive rate for under-25s to broaden our audience.

Support from SACEM.

The bar.

Donations: If you’re an exhibitor and can’t donate a raffle prize, or if you’re just a visitor, perhaps you could support us with a donation? Even a few euros will help.

Despite the difficult context, this year we’ve decided to maintain our policy of supporting young electronic luthiers: If you’re an exhibitor and have been in business for less than 3 years, your stand is free. After 3 years, and thanks to your success highlighted by SynthFest, you can in turn help us and enable other young companies to express their talent!

Also this year, we’ve decided not to increase stand prices, for the 3rd year running, as a sign of support for exhibitors. Finally, for smaller budgets, we’re offering ½ booth (0.90m x 0.80m) at just €100 for all 4 days.

Collectors/enthusiasts are also welcome free of charge: all they have to sell is the sharing of their passion, and they bring in visitors.

The 3! Our ambition is to bring together all those involved in electronic lutherie and MAO, regardless of means, status, expertise, etc… Building bridges between generations, manufacturers/distributors, enthusiasts, collectors and artists is what motivates us. It’s what has given rise to some wonderful projects. Nevertheless, we are committed to offering professionals exhibition and demonstration conditions on a par with the best events, supported by the Odyssée technical teams who will help you showcase your projects.

Yes, but communicate about it before SynthFest, because our visitors aren’t used to it yet. We relay this information before and during the event.

Here are the different activities during SynthFest France:

• Stands for major brands / independent builders / collectors.
• Exhibition of synths, effects, DIY, modulars, vintage synths.
• Instrument / CAM demonstrations.
• Conferences, Master Classes, Workshops.
• UNAC / SynthFest France Grand Prix – Electronic Music Category.
• Concerts.

We can now answer this question in the affirmative. In fact, since we first put the registration form online, we have reserved additional space for up to 100 exhibitors.

Mmmhhhh…No, not really, as some of you have told us. We’ll be in touch to confirm that everything’s ok. For paying exhibitors, please note that you will have to pay the price of your stand to confirm your attendance.

The exhibitors concerned will have to pay for their stand in February to confirm their participation.

If you requested it on your registration form, yes. Please note, however, that exhibitors who have paid for a stand or made a donation are guaranteed a demo on the main stage. If any slots are available, they will be allocated to free exhibitors, on request, with priority given to those who didn’t demo in 2024.

With a few exceptions, you have a 30-minute slot, including installation. If you’re not very experienced, we advise you to practice and time yourself. Give preference to musical demos over blah-blah! Save the detailed technical explanations for your stand. A lapel microphone will enable you to comment on your demo.

Each stand has its own power supply. You’ll need to bring a power strip to facilitate connection. Don’t forget your 110/220V converters, if any. If you don’t want to use a table to display your equipment, you’ll need to bring your own stands. We don’t have X-stands on site.

As listening to loudspeakers is forbidden in the main exhibition area, you’ll need to bring headphones and, if possible, headphone amplifiers. This is for everyone’s comfort.

For demos, we’ll provide you with an HDMI cable if you need to project your laptop screen, as well as a tie microphone, and the Odyssée team will connect you to the main stage listening system (DI, several types of connection).

A volunteer will be on hand to help you get set up on time, as we’re very keen to ensure that all our demos and talks take place on time: it’s the guarantee that everyone will be able to express themselves without encroaching on other people’s slots.

We organize parking surveillance during unloading/installation.

Once installation is complete, the Odyssée parking lot is unguarded. Please do not leave anything of value in your vehicles. Please note that incidents have occurred in some years in the hotel parking lot and in downtown Nantes.

We do not organize equipment surveillance during the public welcome period. We advise you to make arrangements with your companions or stand neighbors to look after your equipment if you have to be away. Be particularly careful with valuable small items (laptops, pedals, etc.), although we’ve never had any problems to date.

Between days, the premises are locked and alarmed. We have decided to renew the budget for surveillance of the premises at night, with a professional security company. You can therefore leave your equipment on site in complete peace of mind between each day.

Please note that your equipment is not insured by SynthFest. Take out insurance if you feel it’s necessary.

The same 2 food trucks have been renewed for 2025, having proved satisfactory last year. However, we have asked them to extend their offer to include more fruit, salads, raw vegetables, etc… Revenue from foodtruck sales does not go to SynthFest. Only receipts from the bar, run by our valiant volunteers, benefit SynthFest France.

Visitors and exhibitors: Do not eat or drink on the stands. We forbid visitors to do so, and they don’t understand why exhibitors do.

We have a payment terminal for card payments (with or without contact), smartphone payments and cash. Please note that our payment terminals work with all major banks, but may not authorize payments for online banks (BforBank, Hellobank, Revolut, etc.). Be careful and bring cash, as there are no cash dispensers on site.

We do not accept cheques or payment by patch cable.

You don’t have to stay 3 days (or even 4, counting Thursday).

You must have third-party insurance, covering damage caused to a third party during the event. We’re asking for it because a previous edition has shown that it can be very useful. We won’t ask you for it, because we trust you, but you should know that we won’t be able to cover any damage on your behalf.

The most important point: make sure your equipment complies with current standards. DIY, ok, but bare wires, loose covers or other such fantasies would oblige us to prohibit the display of this type of equipment. Lasers are no longer permitted at SynthFest France.

We have a confession to make: we’re all volunteers and have jobs on the side. So we’re no longer able to answer all exhibitors individually for general questions. That’s why we’ve set up a WhatsApp group for SFF 2025 exhibitors, to share useful information. For specific questions, please contact Laurent (laurent.pelletier@synthfestfrance.com).

If you’ve requested it, you’ve been added to the SynthFest 2025 Exhibitors WhatsApp group. We’d like to thank you, as it saves us a lot of mail.

Information exchanged on this group must be kept between the members of this group. It is not permitted to divulge participants’ telephone numbers.

Make sure you only ask questions of general interest: so please don’t wish birthdays (even if it’s nice), or ask us if your hotel room for the night of April 12-13 has been confirmed, what time your demo is, etc.

It’s SynthFest France’s most important source of funding. We can’t do without it. Without it, we’d have to raise the price of admission, the bar and the stands. So we need donors, but for greater efficiency, here are a few details:

The prizes that get people to buy tickets are valuable prizes. Honestly, goodies, CDs etc… don’t sell tickets and complicate the logistics. That’s why we can no longer accept them, and have set a minimum value limit of €200.
We are often offered lots that are not yet available for sale when the tombola is launched. You can, however, offer the lot to the association, and if it’s available before SynthFest, we’ll add it to the list of prizes when it becomes available: our rules allow this.

One point to which you should be psychologically prepared: most prizes are resold by the winners. That’s the way it is, and you can’t blame someone who doesn’t have a Eurorack for reselling a module, for example. Remember that your prize is used to finance SynthFest, rather than to satisfy a potential customer, and don’t be offended. Your prize will make someone else happy.

We’ve also added to our rules that we don’t have a warranty obligation for prizes: it’s a prize, not a purchase, and you have no obligation in this respect, unless the prize is immediately non-functional. But for the sake of your e-reputation, it’s better to provide after-sales service if necessary.

You are under no obligation to physically bring the lot to SynthFest France. We encourage you to ship the lots yourself if you can, it helps us.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our donors from the bottom of our hearts. SynthFest France only exists thanks to you.

We spent more than ⅓ of our budget back in 2022 to rent the Odyssey. We thought at the time that this venue would enable us to change dimension and accompany growth for at least 5 years.

So, change of dimension, we can say that it’s the case! A technical team, high-level resources, space, a large hall equipped for demos & concerts, ample parking (sometimes available, ah ah…), a video team, etc…. On the other hand, in terms of space… 2024 has already taken up all the available space, with 70 exhibitors: the limit has already been reached!

Victims of its own success, but without the possibility of occupying a new venue for 2025, we have taken steps to increase the number of exhibitors from 70 to 100. to do so:

• The main exhibition area and the small master class room will be used identically, but the canopy will be reserved for exhibitors only.
• A new 150m2 space will be available outside on the forecourt, for conferences, master classes, workshops, etc… Throughout the 3 days. We’ve rented a top-of-the-range structure with flooring, lighting, sound system, furniture, decor, security systems, etc., perfectly suited to welcoming the public.

But the biggest news is for you, dear exhibitors: Thursday April 10 is entirely dedicated to you! The association has rented an extra day for:

• Give you more time to set up: in addition to Friday morning, you’ll have Thursday afternoon. Thursday morning is reserved for the SynthFest team and the Odyssée technical crew: don’t come in the morning, we won’t be ready to welcome you!
• To exchange ideas among yourselves, in the absence of an audience: we want to encourage the development of an ecosystem of electronic luthiers. What you do at the hotel or at breakfast in the morning, you can do directly at the Odyssée.
• Share a meal on Thursday evening for those who wish. A contribution of 20€/person is requested, and the entire amount will be allocated to the meal.

We’d like to hear your wishes for the 2026 edition, so that we can organize themed moments of sharing on common issues, and join forces! We’ll be putting a few topics to you, and asking you which ones interest you most, and on which you can share and pool your skills.

Finally, last year’s Tombola, which closed on Thursday evening, didn’t sell all the tickets, resulting in a significant loss of earnings for the association, and a lack of visibility for donors. This year, the Tombola will be open until the end of SynthFest France, and the draw will take place as usual on Sunday at 5pm.

There are few hotels in the immediate vicinity of L’Odyssée.

The nearest is the Hôtel du Parc, about 1km away on foot.

The appart’City Nantes Ouest is about 6km away by car. It’s a favourite with SynthFest regulars, and a great value for money when several people come together.

Some visitors also use AirBnB, Abritel, etc. to stay nearby.

Yes, like every year, but we can’t tell you which ones yet. We have dedicated part of our budget for the first time this year to this important task. We hope it will be successful.

For exhibitors – A few tips, based on previous years’ experience:

• We can’t guarantee that youtubers will drop by to interview you. They value their editorial freedom and are free to choose the projects they wish to highlight. Please accept this.
• Practice presenting your project in a few words in French and English.
• Be prepared for the question: “When is it available and how much does it cost? You’re sure to get it.
• Prepare a short audio demo – don’t improvise! You’ve got a few seconds to convince, no time for trial and hesitations.

We decided not to film the demos this year. We were disappointed with the number of views and the use made of them, and this represents a substantial budget which we prefer to allocate to other services. There will still be a video team on hand to broadcast the demos on the big screen, but there will be no filming.

The only personal data made available are the names/addresses/telephones of raffle winners, in order to send them their prizes. For all other visitors / tombola participants, the answer is no, for 2 reasons:

• This would imply obligations to comply with RGPD directives that would be binding and would arouse mistrust from some of our visitors.
• We wish to maintain a bond of trust with our visitors, and we do not collect any personal data, nor do we share your contact details in any way without your prior authorization.

On the other hand, there’s nothing to stop you distributing flyers, inviting visitors to take part in giveaways, etc., in full transparency with them.

No, all tickets for admission, concerts, raffles, etc. are non-returnable and non-exchangeable.

They’re welcome, because SynthFest is a contributory event: The container is us, the content is you. A form is available on the website. What you would like to see changed at SynthFest France can also be sent to us at contact@synthfestfrance.com, and for exhibitors, Thursday is also a good day to let us know what you would like to see changed. We’re always ready to listen.