OK, since S-H asked I'll kick off a survey.

Whether people may actually show up seems to be a question, so let's try to poll this way:

Please tell us where and when you would be likely to attend.[/b]

For example: Orlando in March

As far as I’m concerned there aren’t a lot of rules here, if you want to vote more than once – go ahead.

Do some lobbying if you like, but please keep it brief.

D.C. area... spring break.

Hmm. October 2008 seems nice, because it could be like a live-semi-realization of the prelude recital.

Spring break is a tricky thing. For me, it's in early March, but for many, it can be spread all across March and April.

I'd be available pretty much anytime though.

As for location, I think NYC would be easiest, but I could probably go as far as DC, or even SC, assuming that money isn't made for my airfare.

I vote San Francisco and let's make some money here to buy a few of our "almost adult" members airfare :-)

Seriously, while SF or any other West Coast location is certainly my #1 preference, I just might make NY - I go there on business once in a while and might schedule it around the event if I know the time sufficiently in advance.

By the way, here is a money making proposition, which I would be willing to start working on:

We have so much real world learning experience here, that we could probably make a decent piano learning guide, complete with different levels, selection of pieces appropriate for different levels and a companion CD with members playing these pieces. We could start by setting up a Wiki server (I can do it in about a week if I put my head to it; I am sure Mahlzeit can do it in a day) and we could see how it goes in a few weeks time :-)

If enough members are interested, we could create a separate thread here to kick ideas around...

Anybody?

I would be happy to organize a guide. Believe me, I am no writer... but I am great to bounce ideas around with and I know the learning process well. Isn't ShiroKiro a writer?

Well, I like the idea of the West Coast, but Phoenix would be good too. I would think the fall before school starts (to allow our, um, "almost adults" to participate).

As for a "guide" -- I'd be happy to help write it (I'm a published author with eight books out so far).

Ed

I second fall before school starts. Seems like a time when most people would be available during that time.

San Francisco is my biased choice...

Sedona is an awesome place, near enough to Phoenix, but superbly beautiful and a worthwhile destination in itself.

fall 2008=ca, az, nv. of course this is because its closer;)

Health and finances permitting to I'll go just about any place any time. I would suggest SF, NYC or London, Spring or Fall of 2009. Or BOSTON where we could also have a ABF day trip to the Fredericks Piano Museum.

http://www.frederickcollection.org/index.html

If we will have to pay by ourselves then I vote for England. (or any other place in Europe)

If we will have th travelling paid then it doesnt really matter.

It would be a little hard to to come in the first half of the year, but after that - anytime. ((maybe) July, August, September, October ...)

Also, Im willing to help raising money. (altough my help wouldnt be really 'super important' cause Im a beginner myself)

Well, just about everywhere has "Specials" to Vegas available for groups, and we all know there are tons of rooms/mini-stage type stuff for rent (no clue as to how much), and if we use one major hotel out-of-season, perhaps some really great block-rates might come available....

So, I will attend if possible, and vote for Las Vegas (or maybe Atlantic City if they offer the same type of deal - I have only seen them for Vegas, though).

EDIT - this choice would give spouses/others options if piano is not their thing....or maybe not.....

Now that you mention it, that would probably work.

Only problem is staggered school starts. I don't start until the 2nd week of September, but I know schools where they start midway through August.

I would probably only be able to attend if it was in Toronto or somewhere near Toronto. I can't fly anywhere right now for health reasons, and I don't really like going down to America, especially since I'd probably be by myself. In other words....one less traveling fee you have to worry about

Appealing to the majority of our members (yes, I know this is not fair to our euro members), I would choose either Las Vegas or southern California.

The reasons are that virtually all airlines fly there many times per day/hour and very cheap airfair can be had from numerous locations.

Assuming people may want to make a mini vacation out of this as well, both Vegas and southern California have a ton of recreation activites to fill that need. (SeaWorld, ammusement parks, ocean/beaches etc).

As far as timing, my vote is for late summer/early fall '08. Possibly just before Labor day. This seems to be the time of year that most will have available without possible school/work schedule conflicts.

Location will probably be a rented music hall from a local university with a nice venue and piano.

Again, refreshments and schrimp cocktail are a must.!

Btw, here's an idea to help level the financial playing field for our members who wish to attend but may incur much more traveling expenses.

For now, lets just say we came up with a way to raise some moohla. (an easy way like selling our own cd's or something but lets not get stuck on that right now).

With all the collected funds, we could possibly have some type of graded scale of "assistance" to distribute the money evenly bsaed on travel expenses.

Since (I'm assuming) it would be far less expensive for members in the U.S to travel to a U.S city, we would offer more financial assistance to members coming from abroad as for them NOT to incur more expense.

Yes, I know this may not be realistic in terms of raising enough money to do this but we are just talking and exploring possible ideas at this point.

Lets not count this idea out without at least giving a few suggestions a try.

If it does not occur on the East Coast, I would probably not attend. I would be happy to raise money and help all I can. It would be a great step forward from being avatars and sentances to being people in the ABF.

Matt

While I agree that S. CA and Vegas are very practical in terms of airfare, recreation opporunities (and weather too), we should give the E. Coast another consideration because it's shorter (and cheaper)for our European members - that's assuming there are European members considering attending.

Someone mentioned the UK. I think that's not a good idea.
1. that's a longer way for most US members to fly.
2. with the US $ so weak, I can tell you it hurts the wallet mightily. It's even expensive for continental Europeans to go to the UK.

After looking at the map from the latest recital, it looks like most of the participants are located in the midwest and east/southeast. So I would suggest Chicago - a great destination for tourists (all ages), vacations, music venues, attractions, it's easy to get around, etc, and we're really friendly here.

For personal and family health reasons, I won't be able to attend; however, I would be willing to "donate" my "airfare" to the "fund."

Kathleen

Actually Kathleen, you just made me think of another possibility.

Because we run a business and have lots of expenditures, we pay for everything on Visa. As a result, we get frequent flyer mile credits built up which we cannot possibly all use up.

While I can't guesstimate how many miles of airfare I will have built up next year, we usually exceed what we actually use.

If I end up with more miles than what we would use, I would donate the remaining free tickets to the *fund*.

Others may possibly be in a similar situation and can also contribute an extra unused ticket.

Many plans do not let you carry over miles after a certain time so it's either "use em or lose em". Why not give them to some of our members?.

It does seem to me Las Vegas is a really workable idea for all the reasons stated above. Plus, of course, my brother is a professional musician at the NY NY casino there and we could party down afterwards. Too bad there's not a recital hall (there's a small cafe with a piano) at the Liberace museum there, but it would make a good side trip.

I also like the two venues across the pond from each other with a big screen set up for live transmission, but I don't have any expertise in that area.

So I'm interested, but wouldn't make any *guarantees* about able to make it. And I'd love to meet other ABFers whether they recited or not. Maybe there could just be an afterglow where anyone could sit down and play.

Cathy

I'll add a vote for Vegas too. I've never been and I love to gamble...although I never win, what's up with that?

I would probably not be able to travel because of family obligations, even if the money issue were solved.

However, my overseas high school has periodic reunions in Las Vegas, which seem to be pretty popular, so that might be a good spot.

I would also encourage people to participate in local forums get-togethers, like the one in Lowell, MA this coming Saturday.

They are much smaller scale than what we've been talking about, but once you attend a few of those and meet some forumites in person, you're hooked and then you start looking people up when your travelling for other reasons, and then parties start popping up all over the place.

I vote for Milwaukee, not just because I live there, but it could be during Summer Fest .

Other than that, I would probably do anything in the US. We do one big vacation every other year, and my ’08 vacation is planned and all but booked, but if it were Vegas, I just might get the wife on board, we haven’t been there yet and she’s dying to go, win-win situation!!

San Francisco is awesome- I've been there a couple times. Las Vegas is also fun, for a while. Lots of stuff to do in the Boston area- I know that very well! Oh, heck, if timing and money were good, I'd go just about anywhere! And timing isn't that much of an issue- no job, no kids at home, no school, etc.

San Francisco would sure make it easy for me! Las Vegas might make more sense for everyone collectively, though. I've never been to Vegas and wouldn't mind an excuse to visit. But it would probably mean being on my own, since my husband doesn't travel well...

If I shall plan to cross the Atlantic it will not be possible before spring/summer 09 I'm afraid....

(but I'd love to taste your sushi, Frycek )

Ragnhild

I'd love to attend! I've only been to the States twice in my life and both times to Daytona Bikeweek! :rolleyes: There's a lot of your beautiful country left for me to see - San Francisco is very appealing, Vegas not so much - but I'd consider anywhere, apart from Daytona again (which I loved, btw!)

RE Sushi, sorry Ragnhild, I only eat it, not make it. That was a suggestion to the catering committee.
Personally I find the idea of SF much more appealing than Vegas. If it ends up being a West Coast location SF would be my first choice.