CanJam '09

[xnothingpoetic]

Good point Billy, but I'm just excited because the biggest meet I have been to is the "mini"-meet last month.

[GlendaleViper]

I'm down with a Toronto international and I'd be more than happy to dedicate my time to making it happen. I think we showed our chops pretty darn well at last year's event.

But!

To be honest, I would presume we're a few years away from anything outside of the 'States. The vast majority of users are in the US, there's probably more US vendor support overall (US independents and European/Asian companies with N.A. distribution channels) and otherwise, the event is still effectively in its infancy. Even just north of the border, we're talking about some pretty serious logistical issues with regard to commercial entities shipping their gear up for the meet, let alone members sending their beloved rigs up where the scrutinous and not-always gentle hands of the friendly customs officers have free reign.

I personally see a much brighter future in the coordinated national meet idea. Working with our own countries' members and coordinated with global vendor support (loaners, reps heading out to the various locations, etc.), plus a kick ass member-based organizing committee (like we saw this year) heading each event, it could really be something else.

There's always the thought that someone might choose one party over the other, of course, but if it were truly a coordinated main event spread across satellite locations and executed with consistent care, we're starting to talk about something truly epic!

Gahd, my gears are turning now....................

[bhd812]

Originally Posted by xnothingpoetic

Good point Billy, but I'm just excited because the biggest meet I have been to is the "mini"-meet last month.

HAHA looks like time for another chi meet, i will host we just need a place...
nice meeting you at the last one, Chicago has been good with meets lately seems like more and more of them coming more often these days...that's always a great thing.

if OR when i move above my bar i think a meet once a month is due, it would be like a required neighborhood caps meeting i go to only less old ladies and better cans..WAIT..

[bhd812]

Originally Posted by NightWoundsTime

Billy, I love you man but why do you even want to make your meet a huge thing? Just hold local meets, make them great, and deal with the success when it comes. As of right now, the general participation of the Chicago crew itself is rather slow, which doesn't earn you a great reputation for a fun place to meet.

In Florida we've always been ready and willing for a meet, anytime and anywhere, and that's how we've gained all these honoraries from around the country and beyond. We learned how to throw a huge party through all the smaller ones before it. Again a National meet has a solid first requirement of a decent local crew.

Its not that Chicago is slow but instead were just busy either starting families or working all the time. Florida has lots of older peeps that have already been down that road and Cali has lots of college age peeps that have not started the trip of life yet. more and more Chicago peeps are doing the meets these days so thats a great sign and with the ChiUniFi we all will get into a group team thing over time.

i agree with you about having smaller meets fully!


then again this is just my opinion and not like a speak for an Entire City of Pizza and hot dogs or anything...

anyway back to the topic

[xnothingpoetic]

edit:

sorry, I'll keep this to pm

[thrice]

Well location is largely determined by what's been mentioned:

local crew willing to organize (you need people on the ground)

good location for a large conference (airports/restaurants/potential music venues)

Someplace vendors are willing to travel to.

That said
I think a good shortlist might be:

Chicago
Columbus/Cincinnatti
Washington DC area
Boston area

or one of the 3 previous cities.

All of those areas have pretty large Head-Fi groups many of whom have organized large meets.

Some people have tossed Vegas out there and that's certainly a possibility since Vegas is a great conference city and lots of vendors go there for CES anyway. But who would organize it?

[philodox]

I think that the idea of having other simultaneous meets in Canada, Europe, etc and then networking them all together is brilliant... Shouldn't be THAT hard to arrange.

[GlendaleViper]

With simultaneous webcasts to keep everyone around the world in on things... go big or go home! Of course, there could be a west coast, east coast and central meet for US and Canada, then broken into regions for Europe and Asia, and let's not forget our Aussie and Kiwi friends.

Wild, man. Wild. Even my pipe dreams are putting me in over my head.

[Uncle Erik]

The first meet was on the east coast. The second was west coast and the third was east coast. Makes sense for the fourth one to be on the west coast. It was San Jose last time, so it should be Los Angeles this time.

There are dozens of hotels near LAX - conventions are not a problem here - and transportation is easy. This is a major airport, as well, with lots of flights.

I know this area well and would help. I know all the good places to eat and drink in the area, too. And no one much complains about the weather around here, either.

[GlendaleViper]

After CanJam, I'll travel anywhere. I'm a lifer. This looks like a real hot location.