Some interesting points have been brought up in THIS thread about the interest in hosting do's and the sheer amount of "big" do's we are trying to fit into our calendars.

As far as I know, SEA has become the most repeated "do" spot. Do people really look forward to coming back year after year? Or is it time to pass the torch on to another city?

There are a few cities that can support a do without any of us out of towners showing up, and can have a get together any time they want to, but for those who want to host a "big" event with a lot of fly in guests...do we need or want to have limit?

At what point do you have to worry that when you set a date that you are potentially "taking" participants away from someone else's event? Or is that something anyone really takes into consideration?

For example..someone suggested SEADo weekend as a date for BoSoxFan's MSP event. Would I be upset if half of the SEA contingent bailed to go to MSP instead? Probably.. but with the population of flyertalkers being what it is, I'm sure we could get equal turnout of people who wouldn't have considered going to the other place anyway, so is there really a conflict?

What are your expectations when you fly into an event. Does size matter? Are you more likely to fly in if you know there is going to be a large group over a small one?

I realize I'm rambling now..so I'll go to bed.

Thoughts anyone??

IMHO Its only too many do's if you want to go and can't afford it b/c you have committed yourself already (by buying a ticket) to another do in close proximity time wise

IMHO again, the more the merrier, to have the flexibility of choice is wonderful.

I don't think that the sheer numbers will be diluted unless it is on the same weekend

Let us choose and if the interest is there whether the city itself is a draw in itself or the organizer can create such an event that makes enough people want to go, then it will become apparent very fast as to whether it will be a large do or a small do

Isn't the ability to choose much better than no choice at all?

[This message has been edited by TrojanHorse (edited 05-23-2002).]

Missy... thanks for starting a new thread since I was too lazy to do so.

Since this is a fresh forum, let me outline my thoughts that are sprinkled throughout various forums.

First

We desperately need some type of calendar function that actually works for all of us. I never look at the FT calendars or post stuff there. Most other people don't either. I would love to see a Community Topic simply titled "Calendar" started by and maintained by one or two folks. Heck, if Randy would give me the okay for a multiple handle, I would set up a new account and split the duties with a couple of other regulars.

Second

I think that when setting a DO, you should take other's events into consideration.

Three recent examples, which I view with different opinions on each:

The first is the one most recently at hand - the MSP do being proposed for the same weekend as the SEA do. The SEA do has been scheduled for some months, people have bought tickets, planning has occured, and the two cities are within the same quadrant of the US. My opinion: Planning a competing do would be wrong.

The second is the YYZ do that has been planned for the same weekend as the proposed PDX do. The proposed PDX do is a repeat from last year and may only appeal to people who live in that region and/or like to go to brewers festivals. Furthermore, the PDX do never had a thread started on it and the YYZ do did. In this case: Competing dos due to different special interests - okay.

The third case - the proposal of a London do the same weekend as the DC do. We certainly are a global community and there is no reason why any one continent should have the lock on all dos. While I would LOVE to go to both, I committed to the DC do and I realize that for those of us on both continents, transatlantic travel is a bit high this time of year for weekend pops over. My opinion: competing dos on different continents okay

Third

I personally wouldn't mind seeing more variety in the Do schedule. That said, some cities are just favorite places to visit. I would never tire, for example, of visiting NYC or Paris. I might, however, balk if we had three Boise dos in a row.

Ultimately, when it comes to destination, you need dedicated FTers who are willing to plan these dos. Some of our most respected and dedicated FTers live in SEA. I certainly don't mind coming up to see these folks. Of course, if they wanted to plan a Do in another city, as difficult as that is (and I speak from experience), I would probably go to that too.

Fourth

Of course, size DOES matter... BUT where it matters is how it is used. If the goal of the do is to have one gigantic dinner (a la Catman Dos), big groups are great. If the goal of the weekend is to do lots of small events (a la PIM) it can be a nightmare. Personally speaking, there are always certain FTers I seek out to spend time with at dos, but I don't let that prevent me from meeting new people. Ideally, a weekend should have both people I want to spend time with and should be in a city where I can entertain myself for part of it (shopping, hitting galleries, eating, whatever). I don't like being dependent on my hosts to provide me with a weekend full of activities. In fact, I quite resent having my schedule pre-filled.

Fifth

I think we should just keep doing as we are doing... EXCEPT that we just need a better way of scanning what is going on without each do host being responsible for posting stuff to a master calendar OR without having to scroll through old threads or bumping them up the pages.

Okay... stepping off my soapbox now.

(edited example two above per special request... )

[This message has been edited by techgirl (edited 05-22-2002).]

Can you truly have too many Dews? Oh, you did not mean Mountain Dew!

Seriously, the only thing I believe organizers should concern themselves with is not scheduling one event at the same time as another event. That was the reason for my question on using the Events Calendar. That could be the central place where all Do's are listed.

People attend these events for many reasons... and while the same "core" people seem to attend the majority of the events, new and different people also attend.

If people don't respond when it gets posted, that might be a good sign that we are "do'd - out".

William

[This message has been edited by jan_az (edited 05-22-2002).]

My problem is there are too many don'ts.

Edited by request

Jan, Somehow I don't think the pope wants to see me as much as I want to see him

[This message has been edited by TrojanHorse (edited 05-23-2002).]

But when is a do a do? A meeting of a few people passing through a town on the same time isn't really a do, gatherings like ORD are real do's...

TG- I respectfully disagree. The calendar is a great tool for this and seems to be exactly what you are seeking. Or are you proposing something along the Itineraries Forum?

Sorry, I think we have what we need. It's just a matter of making it known and used!

When you are astounded at the number of attendees, it's a FT DO.

If not, it's a FT Gathering.

And if it's arranged at the last minute, it's a FT Get Together.

bernie organized two perfect D�sseldorf events - the first one in november 2000 without having been at any FlyerTalk Do before.

tropicalflyer, PremEx, Catman and I organized the (first) PiP without having been at any FlyerTalk Do at all. I think all that attended the PiP would not prefer to have missed it because nobody organized a do before ...

I believe to know that FlyerTalk now has about 10'000 active posters and above 100'000 lurkers.

If the 'average' attendance at an 'average' do is about 25 than it would take 400 Do a year for every active FlyerTalk-poster (or 4'000 including the lurkers) to attend just one Do / year ... I don't believe that there can be too many 'meeting' opportunities for new and 'old' FlyerTalkers whenever and whereever that may be!

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 05-22-2002).]

Exactly. I guess what I would like to see is someone culling all the posts on the Community thread and posting them over to the calendar. I would love to know that it was always up-to-date without having to rely on each individual person to be responsible for going over there to post stuff in a timely manner.


[This message has been edited by techgirl (edited 05-22-2002).]

and more

[This message has been edited by jan_az (edited 05-22-2002).]

Do two do's make it a do-do? Just wondering.

Edited now that I sorted all this out the way I "should" have to begin with.



[This message has been edited by techgirl (edited 05-22-2002).]