Clown Forum Convention: 2008!!!!

[tim]

Originally Posted by Fitzwilly

For starters, how about at each convention this year the CF member attending get together? And if there are CF members within a reasonable distance they try to meet up with those attending. The biggies being COAI next week (I'll be there) the regionals (Midwest, Mideast, WRCA, SECA...) Moosecamp (5 of us are already planning on getting together)
And we can start planning on one or two conventions next year that might be best for people. Great Clown Adventure is nice because I like $30 hotel rooms and cheap flights.

Perhaps we could even have a flyer prepared to promote the Clown Forum as a handout or which someone might allow us to leave on their table.

It could be fun if, for instance, those attending Moose Camp this summer (or those simply living in the area) got together the evening before it began in the Twin Cities as an early starter.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Willace-the-Clown

i wont be flying any where planes can fall out of the sky & slam into the grown with a big fire ball. i would prolly take train or bus

Willace will, however, be flying into those places where planes can not fall out of the sky and slam into the ground with a big fire ball.

But taking the bus, the train, or driving is fun, also! And it may leave you in Chicago for a layover. So say hi if you pass through town.

[caiti_erin]

one word / four syllables
Australis or Aus-tral-i-a

[tim]

Originally Posted by Jamz

As much as it pains me I have to agree with Tim
Putting on a convention is costly
First you have to find a hotel with the best rates and you have to book rooms by blocks so you have to have so many people come to fill them If you dont then you have to pay for them anyway

Plus, you need a facility with appropriate conference facilities. Now, they might comp you the room if your group is committed to spending enough money on everything else. But that's another commitment. Not to mention things like sound or A/V equiptment. They'll take you to the bank and back on those.

Now consider if you want good instructors you have to pay them too

And you'll need them, along with other activities, in order to draw enough people to make the gathering productive and cost practical. Understand that instructors fees are not necessarily cheap, either. To further the complications, many of them sell stuff. And, frankly, a good portion of the classes offerred at conventions are designed (at least in part) to direct you to purchasing their product. Now, you'll get something of a discount on their presentation fees if they can make up for that in product sales. But if you don't bring in enough people to buy enough product, they won't want to come.

So like Tim suggested if would be better to use a establshed convention for our purposes if would cost a lot less

And we'd likely get a lot more out of it in the long run.

We just have to decide on which one

Another thing to consider is that clowns interests and needs differ. So what one conference or camp offers may or may not be well suited for some and not others at any particular point in time. Even if you do host a gathering, then, you have to seriously consider who your target audience is and how to meet their needs, advertize, sign them up.

Finally, recognize that when you are headed up event organization, you really don't get to enjoy the event, yourself, in the same way that everyone else is. Rather, your enjoyment comes from seeing the event come off well and everyone get together and take something of value away. But, that only comes after it's all over and you catch your breath. In the process, it's just a lot of hard work.

[Fitzwilly]

Now there is a great location for a convention. Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Make-up. What an experience. Might not see clownfish but sure would see clowns.

[caiti_erin]

Now take a deep breath or you might just need an oxygen mask

[caiti_erin]

Originally Posted by Fitzwilly

Now there is a great location for a convention. Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Make-up. What an experience. Might not see clownfish but sure would see clowns.

Ok.. What about the Great Wire Coat-Hanger or Ularu?

[Fitzwilly]

I always use a coat hanger for my big plaid coat, usually an old fashioned wooden one. Ummm, are those names of places?

[caiti_erin]

The Great Wire Coathanger is a nickname for SYdney Harbour Bridge and Uluru is the correct name for ayers rock. gotta love australia and her people eg ME!

[saphireSue]

check with Sam, but two years ago, he held the Red nose Ranch roundup, during the KCD [out side of conference times] had a hospitality room. We all got together to celebrate the first year of the rnr group. We had a blast and had balloon and face painting jam during those times, or just plan getting together and shooting the brease. It was kinda like getting two conferences in one. You'd have to get permission of course from the conference organizers that you'd like to do this.