Originally Posted by HighLife
got to agree with mike, the FL meets are normally the largest since we have SOO many members from FL.
I dont mind where it is, as long as its not overseas =)
Dom while FL has probably the most cohesive core group they are not the largest community by a fairly wide margin. NY, DC/Balt, Chicago, NorCal and SoCal (I am sure I missed a few) off the top of my head all have larger base headfi populations to draw from. Florida is special because member dedication is fervent within the core team. All the previously mentioned cities have had regionals that were larger than the normal (non-canjam) meets by a fairly wide margin. Florida is a draw because it is by far the most fun loving crowd around. A good example was at a meet I traveled to about a year and a half ago it was like a library in the meet room. There were NO liquids allowed, no talking, no merriment... Florida meets are more about catching up with friends and having a pint or five while you listen to gear.
The meet for 09 really does need to be held in a place were there is a large population of local headfiers to support the event. I have made the hat trick and been to all three InterNationals along with a dozen or so others but I am not too sure others share the same passion for the meets that allow them to get past the travel part. If they just went to one they would get bit by the bug and have to attend more of these.
Heck we now have a Headfi travel team that was 20-25% of the MOA attendance, in 2004 when I joined the travel team was Wayne.