Actually, waaaay back when in the old Prodigy days, a group of us oranized a DO in Disneyworld to occur the first or second weekend of December, in the slowest season, to coincide with the holiday decorations. It has now grown to immense proportions and has sponsors :eek: :eek:

Before that I remember getting together with a smaller group in one of the Disney hotels with a few unofficial reps from Disney, to shoot the breeze.

This had to been in 1992 or 1993 and the groups were very small at that time - most people did not have computers in their homes and if they did, they certainly didn't go out onto Prodigy's bulletin boards.

Those people were the most like those on FT today. A little better education and a little better off than most.

I'm still friends with a few of them to this day.

I even managed to find one right here on FT - good 'ole Dan Hammer is an old prodigy buddy from the travel boards there (tho not the disney boards).

There can be a belief that do organiser=travel agent. I worked very hard to avoid that on Island Do 2, and it worked fairly well, in that most people handled their own flight and hotel bookings. I'm hoping to do the same for Island Do 3, but because I'm the local expert on what to do, I will identify things to do which groups might go off and do together.

I think techgirl is correct, and the Megas have led the way on inflation, partly because they have had to get more professional with the numbers involved. Things which work no problem for 20 get difficult to cope with for 50+ (for example bill payment at restaurants - above about 10 people, we'll split the bill evenly (except for those that had no wine) and above about 40-50 I'd much rather do pre-payment, to stop the inevitable people who have ignored the requests to bring cash to pay with, and you suddenly find you have 15-20 people handing over cards, when the restaurant can do max 5!) Websites are easier to show information on (threads are great, but there is a point where they just get too unwieldy. And I'm sure we all know how many PMs etc we have to respond to giving information which is already there - websites do IMHO cut down on that a lot). But there is also a feeling of responsibility if someone is chosing to fly in TATL or even from Asia/Australasia to make it worthwhile for them to come that distance. I think one of the worst things you could say to a do organiser is that it wasn't worth going...

Well there are limits. How many Flyertalkers are there now? I'd love to meet them all but that isn't really possible as I have a life. I do meet new people from time to time and I of course "meet" and have great discussions with many people here in cyberspace.

However there is one negative point to FT Do's that hasn't been mentioned yet. They are mostly on weekends. For those of us who travel on business during the week and have families, the weekend is sacrosanct. If I were alone, I would love to jet away to spend an interesting weekend with some people I haven't met yet. However as I am not alone I prefer to jet home to loved ones instead.

All the Do's I hosted back in the 90's were in my home town so it was easy and I lived in a desirable destination which was easy to travel to (LGB). Now I live out in the French countryside which is nice, but not easy to get to and we don't have a bunch of large chain hotels.

Every once in a while someone puts up a note about a mid-week meeting for drinks in some city and I just happen to be in that city. In that case I ALWAYS try to attend. I wish there were more of these.

I agree. It seems like we used to do more of these - weeknight dinners in various locales. I probably attended at least two dozen of these in my first couple of years on FT and it made time on the road alone that much more fun. Admittedly, I've posted less of these myself for two reasons - one, because my own travel has changed and I do more day trips and quick turn overnights now and two, because I've made a lot of friends already over the years in various cities and so a lot of times we just get together and probably don't do a good job of remembering how we met and to bring new FTers into the fold.

Maybe the tide needs to turn starting with some of us. We've entertained lots of guests in Dallas during the week do to the Monthly Gathering Thread. I know DC and Chicago have done the same with their mid-week dinners (not really DOs, just get togethers). Maybe its time for more of us (and I say more, because I know there are some people who regularly post dinners when they are traveling - SweetWillie, lucky9876coins, and BenjaminNYC are three that come to mind) to look ahead at our travel schedules and try to organize smaller dinner parties and things like we used to do all the time.

I'm reading this thread with interest, as our local FT group has considered hosting a STL Do, and we can't quite bring ourselves to jump off the bridge.

I have organized a number of events, large and small, for other orgnanizations, and I have to say the whiners can drive one nuts.

We did a convention in Charleston this spring, it was lovely, the City is beautiful and the weather was grand, except for one overnight rain.

Of course, someone posted in the forum of this group that she was upset we had done nothing about the puddles in the parking lot of the host hotel!

Our next con is in London. I have instructed the local organizer to remove all puddles from the general London area.

Well, you know TSA would find out who were attending. They would SSSS them and they would all miss their flts. to the DO.

Seriously, I just returned from the Third CO DO sponsored by Cigarman. I could see how much work it was for him and all the CO employees who volunteered to help.

It was amazing and a lot of fun. My husband didn't want to go so I brought a girlfriend. I kept having to tell her that it wasn't as strange as it sounds, flying half way across the country to meet a bunch of people that you have never met, but you actually know.

I am going to attend the one being organized by SAS people at the end of Nov. as it is going to be in NYC/EWR.

Paragraph 1 a very valid point. I've heard a # of FT regulars, especially those w/ younger kids, say the same thing.

Also agree w/ the 2nd paragraph. And to say, I like it when folk such as SweetWillie, lucky, Stimpy, etc, post they're going to be in the area or have a long layover. Besides seeing (or meeting) them, gives local folk an excuse to get together. Surprisingly enough in LA we don't get together that often, primarily due to the large geographical area. But if someone posts they'll be in town & where, there are usually a few who are around who can meet up w/ the visitor and meet or catch up w/ each other.

Cheers.

I'm active on a few other IBBs (only one of which is travel-related) and they also have DOs, although that's not what they call them.

I belong to two other on-line groups that have real life get-togethers, and I know that my kids hook up with their WOW friends all around the country. The internet is certainly changing the way we make friends and view the world. Hurray for that. ^

I haven't really organized a DO in a while because we are just way too busy traveling, working, dancing, and enjoying being old working stiffs. ;) Maybe when we retire we will get back into the DO arranging game once again.

I do believe very strongly, however, that any publicly posted DO must be open to anyone who wants to come, and that to exclude people you don't like (or for any other reason) is totally tacky and anti-community. If there is someone at a DO that you don't like, go sit somewhere else. There is never enough time at DOs to talk to the people you really like, let alone worry about those who don't make your "A" list, so include them all. Does that make me a purist? :confused: If so, then I am a purist.

Having said that, I also believe it is perfectly alright, and even wonderful to, arrange for private meetings with FlyerTalkers with whom you have become friends or share special interests. Sometimes when you are on the road you just don't have the time, energy, or inclination to put together a real DO, but still want to enjoy the company of one or two FlyerTalkers for lunch, dinner or drinks.

Enjoy life! It's all good.

The couple of get togethers that I have had a helping hand in went pretty well-but there are always"special"people that just have to be a little too "special"to be worthy of my giving a rat's ....

I remember one "special"person IM'ing me from outside the restaurant we were holding the do at-wanting me to come out and meet him :confused:
I have organized many internet group get togethers-and unless there are strong friendships formed at these things they just kinda fall apart.

I also belive in the saying" familiarity breeds contemp"t and that having too many get togethers with the same folks involved gets tiresome.

Also you really need a good mix of extroverts and introverts-too many of one or the other and the evening can end very quickly(or one wishes it would end more quickly)the guests do not all need to be a-listers,but the a- listers should not be a--h---s

I would agree with this with one small amendment. I don't expect that organisers should be expected to allow anyone to attend. I think they are expected to allow any FTer to attend. Subtle, but important difference. I won't allow people who are not FTers either through permanent suspension or because they've never joined if I have any suspicion that there will be a problem - I owe that to my FT attendees, to ensure they have an enjoyable experience. I've faced the situation once, where a permabanned member asked if they could attend a Do, and after some discussion, it was allowed.

For me, if a do is public, then any FTer should be welcome.

I'm in. ^


As for the FT DO's..I've only been to one, the (relatively) small San Diego DO back in May. It was a blast though, I met some really cool folks and picked the brains of some truly experienced frequent fliers. I applaud all of those who take the time, energy, and money to plan out a gathering of relative strangers. You guys rock!

I've learned two things:

1. A Meet in the US is a lot easier to arrange than one overseas.
2. Meals should not be fixed menus/fixed prices.

If you schedule a Meet (sorry, I don't like the word "Do" for some reason) in the US, most people attending will not have to fly more than a few hours to get there. More than that, if you arrange the basics for them they will be able fill in their free time by themselves.

This is not true for an overseas Meet. When I set up the Tel Aviv Meet I realized that I could not ask people to fly 13+ hours in each direction and just have dinner. Instead, I arranged a walking tour of Tel Aviv for the first day and bus tours of Israel for the following three days (in addition to the main dinner). The big problem with this was that the bus was a set price -- and until I knew how many people were coming, I didn't know how much each person would have to pay.

And, of course, people were very hesitant to commit until they know what they would be paying.

At the time of the Tel Aviv Meet I had already arranged (together with others) the first two PBI-FLL Meets. These were fixed menu/fixed price deals. So was the Venice Meet which I attended (and partly helped to set up).

The PBI-FLL dinners were not very expensive. The Venice Meet dinner was considerably more costly. Moreover, not being one to enjoy creepy-crawly things from the sea, there was very little on the table that I would eat. In fact, one bowl which was put out contained some black things (I have absolutely no idea of what they were) that looked so disgusting that I couldn't even sit at the table while they were being served. I wound up paying a good sized bill and leaving the table very hungry.

I decided that would not happen at any future Meet that I would be arranging. When I started negotiations with the restaurant for the Tel Aviv Meet, the owner wanted a fixed menu/fixed price. The selection he offered was fairly good but the price was higher than most of us would be paying if we ordered whatever we wanted and paid for it individually. I insisted on that and the owner reluctantly agreed.

When it came to the Third Annual PBI-FLL Meet, the restaurant owner, again, wanted fixed menu/fixed price. I was working through two local FTers who handled the actual negotiations and came to me for approval. I pointed out to them that the price he wanted was higher than we would be paying even if everyone ordered the most expensive dinner on the menu.

I insisted that we be allowed to order whatever we wanted and that each person (or couple) be given separate checks. Again, the manager did not like this idea (less profit and more work for him) but he gave in. This meant that if you only wanted a sandwich you would pay $7 but if you wanted the largest dinner it would run $18. It also meant that nobody would have to pass on the dinner because it was too costly for his budget (here, I had in mind mostly FTers who were also students).

It worked out so well that when we went back to him for the upcoming 4th Annual Meet, he agreed to have the same arrangement with no argument.

In the end, we have the following arranged:

1. Drinks in two sessions on Friday night. The first will be from 5:30 to 7:30 in the Embassy Suites bar. Most of those attending will be staying at the ES and drinks will be free for them during those hours.

2. From 7:30 to 9, you arrange for your own dinner. There are a large variety of restaurants within walking distance of the ES, so this should be no problem.

3. From 9 until ??? we will have the second drinking session at a bar near the hotel.

4. Saturday, during the day, nothing is arranged but suggestions for various activities will be offered. Most attending will have their own (rented) cars and will be free to either go off by themselves or caravan together.

5. Saturday night we will have the big dinner. It is going to be on the patio of a BBQ place that specializes in ribs and pork chops. This, of course, is fitting for a Meet which will involve a Lebanese and an Israeli. We will also have doorprizes -- with everyone guaranteed to be a winner.

6. Sunday will feature shopping tours of the Sawgrass Mills Mall ( Florida's largest) and the Festival Flea Market (very downscale but enjoyable for lowlives like myself).

In short, the Meet will be fun, will require the minimum of arrangements, and will be either very expensive, medium priced, or very inexpensive -- depending on what each member wants.

Randy Petersen's presence, of course, will be the icing on the cake, and comes at no extra cost. :D

Interesting that you felt that there were such limited options. After the mixed antipasti the first course was mixed seafood risotto. The "little black things" as you should know are calamari. The main course was roast chicken breast. Then there were grilled vegetables, mixed salad, chocolate dessert, sorbet, unlimited wine and mineral water. This for 35E a person when the dollar was quite strong (including tax and tip).

Originally Posted by obscure2k
Great news!! Found restauarant which is 5 minute walk from hotel. We had dinner there last night and it was wonderful. Returned today with Marco Musco to discuss FT dinner on 11-20. Owner charging 35Euro PP for 5 course meal, and this will also include mineral water, Prosecco wine, coffee and dessert. He is giving us the restaurant for the entire evening. We will have the entire restaurant just for the FTrs. This is a phenomenal deal and I am certain that everyone will be very pleased (even Dov & Punki). The name of the restaurant is Osteria Bea Vita. I suggest that those FTrs not staying at AI Mori meet at Ai Mori at 7:30 in the bar and we can all walk over there together. Reservation is 8:00 PM, dress is quite casual. I feel very good about this place and the decision to cancel Vini da Gigio. If you recall, Vini da Gigio was charging 52Euros pp and did not include water, prosecco or coffee. IMHO, the food at Bea Vita is as good as Vino Da Gigio.

O2K, please do not take that as a criticism but of the things you listed above the only ones I would have touched were the chicken breast, the chocolate dessert, the wine and the water. In mid-November 2004, the Euro was trading for $1.29, meaning that I paid $45 for those items.

Tastes vary. Note that I did not comment on what others felt about the dinner, undoubtedly many felt they got an excellent bargain -- but that was not the case for someone who doesn't like either seafood or veggies.

Moreover, it is always possible that even a person who loves everything on the fixed offering/fixed price menu is not particularly hungry (or doesn't feel well) on the night of the dinner. He, certainly, is not going to be happy to fork out a full share while he sits there and ignores almost everything on the table.

Hence my decision to always arrange these dinners where each person can order whatever the restaurant has on the menu and to pay only for what he ordered.

It is true enough that restaurants prefer going the other way. The manager might argue that it is too difficult for the kitchen to prepare such a variety (in fact, they generally do say that). It is not, however, true.

Right now, we have 64 people attending the PBI-FLL Meet. Why is it any more difficult for the restaurant to give each one what he wants than it would be for it to service 64 people who come in at the same time as individuals, couples, or families? As long as the restaurant has enough table space to handle X number of people, it also has the kitchen facilities to provide them with their personal choices from the menu.