I came up with an idea on my way to NAMM.

I, with some help from Frank B. have collected a number of “prizes” for a Piano Forum Open Contest. I’m expecting more from a few other manufacturers. [For example, BoseEric promised to put together a “package” when he gets back to the office.] Some of the prizes offered:

A full color, full line Schimmel catalog signed by President, Hannes M. Schimmel-Vogel.

A full color, full line Sauter catalog signed by Ulrich Sauter

8” metal Mason & Hamlin thermal mugs

A full color, full line Bechstein catalog signed by Chairman Karl Schulze

Some PianoDisc and Schimmel Pens

Several brochures signed by the Burgett Brothers, owners of both Mason & Hamlin and Pianodisc

C. Bechstein Tote Bags

And many more prizes to come.

The problem is that I haven’t figured out what kind of contest to have! So I decided to have two contests!

The 1st contest will have only one winner. The winner will be the person who comes up with the best idea for a 2nd contest to give away the rest of the prizes.

Contests should not require performance skills so non-players can participate
Contests should not give away more that one prize per day
Only one prize per person

What kind of contest? Heck if I know!

Maybe:
Funniest quote of the day.
Funniest music-related picture posted each day.
Best advice on piano shopping each day. Limited to less than 8 words.
Best joke of the day.

If any of you have a better idea (and that shouldn’t be hard!) I’m open to any and all suggestions. The Piano Forum’s seldom used “polling” feature can be used if we need a “vote” on anything. I am ineligible, so I and winners, (who can't win again) can be judges.

I’ve got the prizes. Come up with a way for me to give them away!

best fruit named contestant?

i am so gonna win

Apple! ;-)


Longest new instrument searcher?

I am so gonna win (maybe?)

;-0

(along apple's line of thinking)

Best Bohemian Lithuanian?

(oh, and Lilylady, I shopped for over 2 years - heh)

BTW,
I think those 8" metal mugs from M&H attracted the attention of the TSA.
My checked luggage was completely scrambled when I picked it up.

The mugs are an 8" long metal cylinder with a screw on top (beautiful antique brass looking finish). I'm sure they looked suspicious in the Xray machine :-)
As did the bundle of pipe filters (which would look like wicks to an xray machine), and my bag of pipe tobacco (which probably looked like pot), not to mention the zippo lighter I had encased in a DOT approved container.

Geesh, I'm lucky my luggage ever made it home.

Steve, thanks for coming up with a fun idea, and doing 99% of the collecting.
And thank you to the manufacturers who provided the prizes (and the autographs).

If you're reading this and wondering what the heck a NAMM is, see these threads...
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/16782.html

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/16297.html

How about whoever responds within the first 46 minutes of your original post gets a prize?

I'd like a Mason & Hamlin thermal mug to go with my Model A, please.


Please?

How about worst piano disaster? I mean physical disaster (not performance), that is documented with pics and a story.

After all, whomever wins that deserves a gift.

Problem is there might not be enough entries to account for all the gifts you're collecting.

Or how about most dramatic piano delivery?

How about strangest piano habit?

Anything goes - from idiosyncratic warm-up method, weird cleaning habits, pedantic rules for others near the piano, technical dogmatism, whatever.

It will be funny, there will be lots of good contestants, and many of these stories people might be embarrassed to tell otherwise.

Hmmm, Strangest Piano Story of the Day.

That's a possibility.

Oh - I just realized you were talking a bout a series of contests to give away prizes one by one. In my responses above, I was envisioning a single contest with lots of entries over time that would get multiple prizes given out.

I'll keep thinking...

How about the most piano deliveries WITHOUT drama?

How about the next group who gathers for a PW piano gathering???!!

Prizes could be sent to the person hosting the party and given to each person who performs!!

good one

Everybody wants a mug. So do I. So I'll suggest "stupidest piece to start with as Piece Number One that you actually stuck with and learned, even if it took 30 years". I am so gonna win. :p

Yeah, but.....but but but (she stutters),

Postponing delivery for months doesn't count!

LOL!

How about a prize to the person that supports PW the MOST...oh...that would be you, Frank...pick something, I THINK YOU DESERVE IT!!!
***trying to suck up to the MAN for a mug*** lol

How about, "Longest piano-related palindrome that makes sense"?

[thinking there's no way she's going to win unless they make it a "most welcoming to newbies" contest. ]

How about, answer the question in 500 words or less "If you could go to dinner with one person from Piano World who would it be and why?"

Funniest answer with the most votes wins.

A variation of jon's suggestion:
How about the most obsessive question asked to the forum?

"Help - should I move the microfiber cloth up and down or back and forth?"

"Should I get an uninterrupted power supply for my Dampp Chaser in the event the house loses power for a few minutes?"

"Who makes the best caster cup?"

"We eat a lot of pasta in our household. Will the steam from the boiling water in the kitchen cause irreversible humidity effects and damage my piano?"

etc.

How about PW Jeopardy!

Someone come up with a "category." Announce that at a certain time a series of questions will be asked (a $100, $200 up to whatever number of questions is asked) one at a time. People will buzz in their answers and the post button will determine who gets the correct answer the quickest. When all the questions are asked, one person will have the most money. That person wins whatever prize is on offer. This can be done multiple times (with different categories) and at different times of day (to satify varying time zones).

This will get some people involved in formulating interesting questions. Those people obviously won't be allowed to participate. Everybody else can sit at their computers with baited breath!

Cheers,

David

How about PW Wheel of Fortune?

Use a piano/forum related phrase, folk guess letters, update the blank phrase with correct guesses, and the first one to guess the whole thing, wins the prize. Hmm, well, it would need some babysitting to keep the thing updated, tho....

Jon NYC,

I agree, the person with the worst piano disaster deserves to win a prize,...I know, I know, USA Piano Trucker,...we need to give you a break.

If only all movers had your moxie and commitment.

Good luck to all.

skyblanche

Well, there are a few good ideas!!!

strangest piano habit

How about the next group who gathers for a PW piano gathering???!! Prizes could be sent to the person hosting the party and given to each person who performs!!

How about a prize to the person that supports PW the MOST...oh...that would be you, Frank...pick something, I THINK YOU DESERVE IT!!!
***trying to suck up to the MAN for a mug***
[I support Piano World too....and I'm the JUDGE!!! SC][/b] :p

How about, answer the question in 500 words or less "If you could go to dinner with one person from Piano World who would it be and why?" Funniest answer with the most votes wins.
[So far, I like this one best!][/b]

Keep thinking....and keep on sucking up!

Here's a couple of ideas Steve,

Person with the highest number of personally owned instruments (with pics). All instruments counted - not just pianos.

Someone who has had the highest number of PWF parties?

Person who has traveled the longest distance to purchase a piano? (anyone traveled to Australia to try the Stuarts?) Mileage is the qualifier.

Persons who has gone to the highest number of retail stores to evaluate pianos?

Person who has contributed the highest number of posts outside of the Coffee Room?

Person who becomes the ??? member (make it an odd number or historic one)

What famous pianist would you like to have ONE PERSONAL 6 HR LESSON with and why?

What creative thing have you done with your too old to be restored piano (or case)?

Who has the youngest child who is taking lessons - with pics with piano teacher and notes on what they are learning.

Who is the oldest member taking lessons?

Who managed to sell their yukiest piano, with pics.

A Thanks to Frank's Wife (oh...maybe that should be something other than piano related?)!!!

EDIT -
Oh, and who has contributed the highest number of ideas to you? I am so up for this one George!

LL

How about a simple drawing. Everyone who wants to be included lets you know via a post in a specific thread. The entry period is open for a certain amount of days...after that you put the members name or member number into a data base that randomly draws one at a time. Or, just put the names/numbers on paper- in a hat and draw one at a time. The drawing could even be held at a piano party!

I wish there could be a Haiku contest winner, you know, best Haiku of why you want to or deserve to go to the next NAMM even though you are not "in" the industry! Or how about an essay (100 words or less)...why you want to go to NAMM but you aren't in the industry.

Hmmnn, I like your thinking MrsSV.
I could set something up so people can enter, and put out an announcement in the next newsletter.

I'm betting we could come up with a couple of visitors passes next year too, for the "Why I want to attend NAMM" part of the contest.

The passes only get you into the show though, transportation, meals, and lodging are the responsibility of the winner :-)

i'd love to play all
the various pianos
i want to touch them

Looks like Apple is on the Haiku road!

A contest that doesn't have a thing to do with "ability"...maybe NAMM passes...this is getting very exciting!

The anticipation for the next newsletter is almost too much.

Imagine some non-industry PW member winning passes! Oh the suspense of waiting for a contest announcement, then the winners name- and the whole YEAR to go by til the next NAMM.

Can't wait to hear if/how this contest ends up going!

Having to provide your own transportation, meals and lodging is a very fair trade-off for PASSES!!!

Hopefully only those who actually would attend would enter that contest! I know my calendar is marked off...just in case!