CanJam '09

[NightWoundsTime]

Originally Posted by philodox

Hmmm... any chance someone picked them up? Can someone call the hotel for me to see if they have them?

Yeah I'll call, right now. Stay tuned.

Edit: waiting for a callback from the housekeeping manager.

[philodox]

Thanks Matt.

[Zanth]

I think DC would be a great location as would Chicago....LA would be awesome but a bit far for me to travel, yet I think there would be a solid turnout.

Regarding international locations, Toronto is about the only city that I think it could work here in Canada (maybe Montreal if the Toronto folks are willing to drive).

I would vote Montreal as it is more culturally rich, has better food, is more interesting architecturally. Toronto and Montreal are both close enough to the States that many could just drive up. Vancouver doesn't have the Head-fi population to really drive it methinks. Ottawa would be cool and I would organize everything but being so close to Montreal, I would choose Montreal as the prime spot. I'd help organize that one as well.

[RedLeader]

If gear shipping would work, then TO could do it. But I don't know about customs and such, we'd have to find a good way to ship the various gear, that wouldnt cost US vendors $$$$

[Zanth]

If it is demo gear, customs won't hit us and if shipped via USPS ground or something weeks ahead of time, we shouldn't have a problem. Alternatively, we could ship stuff to Jude and Tom who are close to Detroit, they might just end up driving with a Van full of goodies

[Duggeh]

Originally Posted by 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.

Bad idea if you ask me, it makes co-ordination an additional pressure on top of the already difficult aspects of planning. It also means that vendors have to chose which of the simultaneous events to attend when if there were two or three, they might like to attend all of them. Justin wanted to come to the UK meet last year but it was on the same weekend as the Florida meet. (I'd probably have gone to Florida too if I had the means though )

Originally Posted by boomana

Only if he doesn't have cheese on his knees.

YouTube - Ivor Cutler _ Pickle Your Knees

Originally Posted by krmathis

Ok, I hear you and it sort of makes sense.
Someone down there in central Europe need to arrange a larger Euro meeting. Invite some interesting vendors (Sennheiser, Stax, HeadAmp, RSA, Rudistor, , ...). In short make it worth traveling 2-3000km, crossing 3-4 borders to get there

I am sure there are more like me out there who REALLY would like to attend a meeting. But would like a minimum number of attenders (20-30) before going though all the hassle of crossing borders and traveling long distances.
Too bad I am the only active (relative) Head-Fi'er up here in the north..

I can always hope!

As regards the meets over stateside the time of year the national meet takes place is another catch-22 and a double barrelled one at that. If you hold that sort of event in exam season, you kill off the student demographic considerably as they're all submitting dissertations and revising for their exams, or even sitting them. Move it out of that time slot and then all of student-fi can make it if they want, but then that includes young-students. And if there's a lot of younger members wanting to go that leads to a whole new barrel of problems.

I'd like to generate a bigger momentum in order to achieve a larger scale UK meet before stepping up to the Europe meet. Last years UK meet was good fun but there's certainly room to scale it larger even within the UK. A great many UK head-fiers didn't go who might have and 30 people should be easily doable. The problem is partly one of socially relative scaling. In America 100 years is a long time and in Britain 100 miles is a long way.

Everyone wants these sort of events to be their back garden but it simply isnt possible, and so you have to hold one in a population centre. Manchester was an excellent pick because its a population centre in itself but isnt as far south as the major centre which is London. Whose from other English cities could relatively easily journey to Manchester (and lets remember that in the UK, England is the bulk of the population) which left IIRC, three of us coming down from Scotland, in Milkpowder's case, on the day itself via the train.

A two-day event would also be an idea that I would embrace. 9-5 is 8 hours but that vanishes quickly indeed once you factor in set up times, pack up times and banter with everyone else.

There are vendors based in europe, and I'm sure that there are non-headphone companies who would be interested in having their products at an event of any significant size (We had a G08 from Meridian last year, but the whole company employee bringing it helped out no small amount).

But there's Sugden Audio, Precide, Sennhieser, AKG, Rega, NWA, Naim, Meier Audio and Goldring, all of whom are Europe based and make products for the headphone market. I've probably missed some too, probably 50 cable companies for a start.

And yes, if an event is in another country, you want it to be of a certain size before you'll take the time and trouble and expense to attend yourself. krmathis might want 30 people before he will go, but if another 15 head-fiers say the same thing, and then only 15 turn up, then what would be a 30 person meet has dissolved because of everyone interested operating on a you first-me after attendance philosophy. This is a tough nut to crack and getting vendors on board is a way of solving it, trouble is vendors don't want to turn up unless they know that there's going to be a certain attendance level for them to show their stuff off to. Didn't anyone order fries with that Catch-22?

People who have said the same thing in this thread are all quite correct when they say that there needs to be a proven enthusiasm and momentum behind this sort of thing before you can step it up to the next level. You can't just start the car in 5th, you'll stall and lurch and have to start again where you're supposed to. I'd like to be involved in getting the car up to speed but my geographical position fundamentally eliminates me from much of the planning process that would be necessary for any event. At least until the end of next academic year. I've no idea where I'll be after graduation, although Edinburgh is looking most likely at the minute.

I hugely support the idea of an annual UK meet, and hopefully we can get more behind it each time it takes place and as it grows, others from mainland Europe and Ireland (and Iceland) might deem it of enough significance to come too. I know that I've wanted to go down to a few of the meets that have taken place on the continent though for me its not a lack of enthusiasm, its a lack of money. I'd like to see another UK meet this year and I'd like to see it longer (two days, or a more extended 1 day) and I'd like to see it larger (more members bringing more gear of their own, more rigs, even without vendors, or with only a few, and ill bet you could get at least a few interested. Indeed, I'll bet a few mainland head-fiers would be interested too.

Long cut short. Europe as an international setting isn't just something that can be declared, its going to have to be earned, and that's going to take time. I'm prepared to work towards it but others are going to have to be too, and not just sit back asking for it.

[GlendaleViper]

Originally Posted by Zanth

I would vote Montreal as it is more culturally rich, has better food, is more interesting architecturally. Toronto and Montreal are both close enough to the States that many could just drive up. Vancouver doesn't have the Head-fi population to really drive it methinks. Ottawa would be cool and I would organize everything but being so close to Montreal, I would choose Montreal as the prime spot. I'd help organize that one as well.

My thoughts exactly. For me, Toronto has the convenience factor, but it really is a shadow of a city compared to Montreal and it's surrounding 'burbs (despite so many Torontonians believing we sit at the centre of the universe). I'd make a week of it if it were held in Montreal, and I would definitely have to make it out to Tam Tam.

Zanth, I know you had wanted to get a really big National going some time ago. If you want to entertain the idea again, shoot me a PM. I'm ready and willing to help.

[EDIT] Incidentally, I'm surprised we haven't had any lurking BC people popping in to cast unofficial votes for Seattle as the next location for the International. Seems it would be the next best thing to local, and there does indeed seem to be a fairly large group out on the west coast.

[RedLeader]

Montreal eh, I remember spending a lifetime there one year. Nice to visit, for the love of all that's holy, don't move there!

[ingwe]

Originally Posted by RedLeader

Montreal eh, I remember spending a lifetime there one year. Nice to visit, for the love of all that's holy, don't move there!

Interesting way of putting it...

[Zanth]

Originally Posted by GlendaleViper

My thoughts exactly. For me, Toronto has the convenience factor, but it really is a shadow of a city compared to Montreal and it's surrounding 'burbs (despite so many Torontonians believing we sit at the centre of the universe). I'd make a week of it if it were held in Montreal, and I would definitely have to make it out to Tam Tam.

I'm glad you agree, many Torontonians are very territorial when it comes go anyone thinking a Canadian city can be the "it" city other than TO. Toronto does have a lot going for it though with regards to hosting an invent like this but in terms of flying in, Montreal is no different than TO. In terms of driving up, those from NY and Boston should be closer to Montreal than NY I think. Still there area a whole lot of folks who would find TO closer to drive to.

Regardless, Montreal is far cooler and again the food is FAR better. Oh, and apparently it is the current "jazz" capital of the world. Not to mention the host of the world's largest techno-ambient festival (along with the largest Jazz festival in the world).

Zanth, I know you had wanted to get a really big National going some time ago. If you want to entertain the idea again, shoot me a PM. I'm ready and willing to help.

I'm actually in a far better position these days to organize such an event now than I was when I first pitched it (my daughter was on the way then). I'd be down with organizing on. Given it would be a National Meet...I would choose TO for this because TO and surrounding area has far more members than Ottawa and Montreal. It would make more sense.

[EDIT] Incidentally, I'm surprised we haven't had any lurking BC people popping in to cast unofficial votes for Seattle as the next location for the International. Seems it would be the next best thing to local, and there does indeed seem to be a fairly large group out on the west coast.

If Seattle were a future destination I could actually make that one. I have a bunch of friends that work for MS so I could crash with them and save myself a bundle.

[HighLife]

Hey we should have a mini toronto meet in september =)

Im going to be up there for my cousins wedding.

[jp11801]

Team Cali is ready to org the 2009 International meet in the LAX area. We feel this location allows easy access to travelers and California has one of the largest population of Headfi members. We'd love to host the meet and think we would do a great job. LA in 2009!!

Are there any other cities that have stepped up to host? It might be good to get an idea to see who they are so we all can decide between locations that have a team in place and are willing to do the work to host.

[GlendaleViper]

Originally Posted by HighLife

Hey we should have a mini toronto meet in september =)

Im going to be up there for my cousins wedding.

I'm sure we can make something happen. You'll love the foliage here.

[HighLife]

Originally Posted by GlendaleViper

I'm sure we can make something happen. You'll love the foliage here.

Hell ya i know i will...we going to have to party on Young Street (did i spell that right or is it Yun Street?)

I cant remember where exactly im staying in Toronto..however, i know its close to the hospital.

[malldian]

My only wish is it my after May (finals). Other than that I am a go.