+1 for Karl's (Wookieboy's) advice. The upcoming LEM is a huge source of knowledge and skills all amassed in one place - You *Need* to be there. Also, great advice regarding Rob (Stanwax Lasers) here in the UK. Rob's online store will pretty much have everything you need for either repairing or building your own, right through to buying a superbly well built and reliable complete projector.
I think you also ought to consider bringing a working steam engine to the meet, I think that'd go down a storm
Oh, and take look on Facebook for the 'Surfleet Laser Enthusiasts Group' and also the 'Photonlexicon' emergency forum (just in case the worst happens here we can still get our photon fix)
Quote: "There is a theory which states that if ever, for any reason, anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another that states that this has already happened.”... Douglas Adams 1952 - 2001