TAM7+: Thoughts, feedback, suggestions...

[Dunstan]

Those things are illegal to own without a permit in Australia, because of a number of well-publicised laser attacks on aircraft.

If I see a man on a plane with a laser pointer....

 

[Reager]

A few random thoughts:

- The corkboard should be in 12-hour time. I realize TAM is an international event, but most of the attendees are from the US, and it's held in the US. In matters of communication, KISS. Also, official and unofficial events should be in different colors (were they? I can't remember).

- Next year, have more table space for local skeptics groups to promote themselves. It was great that NYC Skeptics had a table, but an outreach effort should be made to other local groups inviting them to attend and promote at TAM. There could also be an informal (or formal) event specifically designed to promote networking among the local skeptics organizations.

- Jeff was great asking questions and giving audience members lots of time during the Q&A, but a properly moderated panel would foster a more in-depth examination of the discussion topic.

- Do away with a TAM theme. It's too limiting given the wide variety of guest speakers JREF invites, and most speakers don't stick to the theme anyway. Instead, come up with a "subtitle" for TAM that can be used permanently. Specific themes can still be used for panel discussions and/or keynote speakers.

- Consider setting up traditional book signing tables for the speakers. This would allow folks who only want a book signed to get it over and done with, without waiting 20 minutes because Phil or whomever is in conversation with a dozen people.

 

[phyz]

... we ... have to kiss goodbye bringing our own booze.

If we can get past that wee issue, we can have a decent gathering. Social alcoholics: drink up in your own room beforehand and navigate to the party before your BAC gets too high--you'll be fine.

In reality-based Vegas, you simply can't have a BYOB party in a hotel. Do we really need any more data points to understand this fact?

 

[MrPuck]

TAM6 was my first, and it was blast! So with no other frame of reference I can't think of too many things to change. I just wish the next one wasn't a whole year away now

I do like Reager's idea of a traditional book signing table. Maybe with a schedule of who will be signing and when, although my guess is that would cause lines to start forming early.

 

[CFLarsen]

Yes. It went well. I admit my stuff being at TAM's JREF table was somewhat last minute with limited preperation. My criteria were a)what would fit in a shipping box b) might have a chance of selling and c) wouldn't mess up the home supple of inventory.

My conclusions? Next year: More robots. Also, y'all seem to like the Giant Microbes (I kinda knew that - wish I had more to send). The cards and the smaller fossils did pretty well. Folks weren't so keen on the larger fossils, though. *sniff*. The weather stations didn't move at all and I'm stunned that I had to take home any Triops. Tsk!

I do have to wonder how adding a few of the more traditional science items like Gyroscopes and Drinking Birds would do. Do most folks have this stuff already?

They would be cool, too: Something that people can see working. Unpack robots and let people play with them.

Claus, don't make me give you the optics and photonics lesson again.

A laser beam, to be visible, must have portions of its beam striking things in the air - like dust particle or moisture. Guess what! We were in a hermetically sealed hotel located in the middle of the desert!

There's also the little detail that a higher powered beam means eye damage for folks who see the beam.

For the record I do have high power lasers. The safety keys and switches make them somewhat impractical.

I don't care about the science. I just want a light saber!!

Indeed. Books and DVDs are great, but the table needs more stuff! JREF terms for selling at their table are quite reasonable and I think I saw Claus personally throttle a shoplifter, so your stuff is safe at the table.

We couldn't move the poloshirts and tee shirts, though. But the pigasus pins sold well, and the caps.

A few random thoughts:

- The corkboard should be in 12-hour time. I realize TAM is an international event, but most of the attendees are from the US, and it's held in the US. In matters of communication, KISS.

If KISS is your argument, then it should definitely be in 24-hour time. And it will be in 24-hour time.

Also, official and unofficial events should be in different colors (were they? I can't remember).

There was a big black area that said "Official event". I'll make it even easier to distinguish next year.

- Next year, have more table space for local skeptics groups to promote themselves. It was great that NYC Skeptics had a table, but an outreach effort should be made to other local groups inviting them to attend and promote at TAM. There could also be an informal (or formal) event specifically designed to promote networking among the local skeptics organizations.

There were tables for special groups, and it was a great idea. However, they need to be manned at all times - I frequently saw the Atlas table empty. Bad idea if you can't talk to people.

- Jeff was great asking questions and giving audience members lots of time during the Q&A, but a properly moderated panel would foster a more in-depth examination of the discussion topic.

I agree that we should have more panels. They are often livelier and more engaging than a lecture.

 

[Reager]

If KISS is your argument, then it should definitely be in 24-hour time. And it will be in 24-hour time.

24-hour time may be an easier system on the merits, but it's not easier for the majority of attendees who aren't used it.

There were tables for special groups, and it was a great idea. However, they need to be manned at all times - I frequently saw the Atlas table empty. Bad idea if you can't talk to people.

Oh, that reminds me...providing the Atlas Society with a table was a mistake. The JREF promotes skepticism and science, not objectivism. Even the table wasn't so bad in the scheme of things, but giving out Ayn Rand readers and whatnot with the registration packets was overboard, IMO. It gave the impression the JREF was endorsing the book and specifically promoting the Atlas Society.

 

[Reed]

Next year, have more table space for local skeptics groups to promote themselves. It was great that NYC Skeptics had a table, but an outreach effort should be made to other local groups inviting them to attend and promote at TAM.

I hadn't even considered that a table was an option for our Colorado group at this event. We had a healthy turnout (30+) with enough bodies to man the table.

At TAM7 we'll definitely do so. Perhaps even for SkeptiCamp as well, as those numbers have been growing too, especially with our invasion of Canada yesterday.

 

[Normal Dude]

Oh, that reminds me...providing the Atlas Society with a table was a mistake. The JREF promotes skepticism and science, not objectivism. Even the table wasn't so bad in the scheme of things, but giving out Ayn Rand readers and whatnot with the registration packets was overboard, IMO. It gave the impression the JREF was endorsing the book and specifically promoting the Atlas Society.

Agreed.

 

[arthwollipot]

Those things are illegal to own without a permit in Australia, because of a number of well-publicised laser attacks on aircraft.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. Since I'm planning on attending TAM7, I like to see what the old hands think, so I'll return to lurking now.

If I see a man on a plane with a laser pointer....

I heard on the radio that there was just a laser attack on a helicopter in London too. Damn things are dangerous!

 

[dannyness]

Bring us AB!

I think we should try to get Alton Brown (of Food Network's Good Eats and Iron Chef America fame) to speak. I don't know if he identifies as a skeptic, but he does demonstrate a lot of the science involved in cooking and he dispells a lot of food myths.

 

[Geek Goddess]

I think we should try to get Alton Brown (of Food Network's Good Eats and Iron Chef America fame) to speak. I don't know if he identifies as a skeptic, but he does demonstrate a lot of the science involved in cooking and he dispells a lot of food myths.

And I want to have his baby.

 

[dannyness]

And I want to have his baby.

So does my wife. And I want to let her.

 

[Wolfman]

Just one small comment re: the cork board, and the forum table.

They were kept in the same room as the seminar sessions...which wasn't a problem during the open sessions. But when I arrived there early Saturday afternoon, they had sessions in that room that you had to pay extra for...if you didn't pay for the extra ticket, then you couldn't go in.

I knew that there was a poker game scheduled...but couldn't find the information on exactly where/when because they wouldn't let me into the room to find out. I knew that there was a neat little "Wolfman" sticker of my avatar at the forum table...but couldn't get it until much later, because they wouldn't let me into the room to get it.

So...wherever the cork board and forum table are located, they should be put in a place where they are accessible at all times...not somewhere that is closed off during special activities.

 

[Wowbagger]

But when I arrived there early Saturday afternoon, they had sessions in that room that you had to pay extra for...if you didn't pay for the extra ticket, then you couldn't go in.

Then the door guards were too cruel!

When I was guarding the door, during "The Real X-Files" workshop, we allowed people in to look at the board, briefly, or to quickly grab something they needed from a table (that they were allowed to grab!).

I don't know who the guards were, at the time you came in, but they were not being very nice.

 

[Wolfman]

Then the door guards were too cruel!

When I was guarding the door, during "The Real X-Files" workshop, we allowed people in to look at the board, briefly, or to quickly grab something they needed from a table (that they were allowed to grab!).

I don't know who the guards were, at the time you came in, but they were not being very nice.

You did indeed let me in for a quick view of the board. Later, I found out about the poker game, and the avatars...but you weren't there. Whoever was on the door at that time (sorry, I don't remember) was quite adamant about people not going in unless they had a ticket.

But putting this aside...it just seems common sense to put this stuff where its always gonna' be accessible. No criticism suggested to anyone, I'm sure nobody really anticipated this problem...just a friendly suggestion for next time

 

[GUS]

You did indeed let me in for a quick view of the board. Later, I found out about the poker game, and the avatars...but you weren't there. Whoever was on the door at that time (sorry, I don't remember) was quite adamant about people not going in unless they had a ticket.

But putting this aside...it just seems common sense to put this stuff where its always gonna' be accessible. No criticism suggested to anyone, I'm sure nobody really anticipated this problem...just a friendly suggestion for next time

I was on tickets for the Mathemagics show and we had people going in to use the escalators, check the board and get stuff and none of us stopped them from doing so.

 

[lorriedjn]

So does my husband......want to have Alton Brown's delicious children...

 

[CFLarsen]

Just one small comment re: the cork board, and the forum table.

They were kept in the same room as the seminar sessions...which wasn't a problem during the open sessions. But when I arrived there early Saturday afternoon, they had sessions in that room that you had to pay extra for...if you didn't pay for the extra ticket, then you couldn't go in.

I knew that there was a poker game scheduled...but couldn't find the information on exactly where/when because they wouldn't let me into the room to find out. I knew that there was a neat little "Wolfman" sticker of my avatar at the forum table...but couldn't get it until much later, because they wouldn't let me into the room to get it.

So...wherever the cork board and forum table are located, they should be put in a place where they are accessible at all times...not somewhere that is closed off during special activities.

We can't move the forum table(s!) but we could move the corkboard outside during the workshops.

 

[lorriedjn]

Getting Information To Non Forumites

This was my first TAM - Lolololoved it! I do not get on the Forum a lot so I was hoping I would get an email or letter from JREF concerning time schedules, etc. I got to the Flamingo Thursday afternoon, through the kindness of Grayman and wife. I did not, however, realize I needed to sign in AND that there was a meet and greet that evening until I walked around and bugged people I found wearing TAM badges.

Was something sent out and I missed it? Or is the forum the only way to get info? I spent quite a bit of time in my room wondering where to go.
I am old and feeble.....

 

[brodski]

And I want to have his baby.

how does he serve it?