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TAM 9 Program

The Central Scrutinizer said:
Not for this year at least. Maybe.

But what if 100 people emailed? It's likely not too late to change the schedule around.
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I emailed DJ and asked him, and he gave me a quick, comprehensive, reasonable, and astute response. I believe he will be posting something on the forum in the next day or so on this issue.
 
TsarBomba said:
I emailed DJ and asked him, and he gave me a quick, comprehensive, reasonable, and astute response. I believe he will be posting something on the forum in the next day or so on this issue.
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I was going to give him a heads up on the matter this evening, to see if he had any comment on the matter. You beat me to it. I look forward to his input.
 
For what it's worth I email DJ (or whoever's appropriate) with heads-up whenever I see a thread like this. People are unhappy; it's feedback.

I see that TsarBomba beat me to the click, so I don't have to.
 
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Wow, the schedule is, like, sooooooo jam-packed, the Keynote is at 8 PM!!


Kil said:
It's gotten so that there are so many people that the receptions aren't as intimate as they used to be.
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That is a good point. The nature and feel of the reception has changed over the years. It has gotten to be more mob and less schmooze. (And, the "shooshing" incident didn't help things)

Any ideas for addressing this for the future? How can we bring back the "specialness" that used to be the TAM reception?
 
Wowbagger said:
That is a good point. The nature and feel of the reception has changed over the years. It has gotten to be more mob and less schmooze. (And, the "shooshing" incident didn't help things)

Any ideas for addressing this for the future? How can we bring back the "specialness" that used to be the TAM reception?
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You can't. Unless you tell about 1000 people to stay home.
 
Wowbagger said:
Any ideas for addressing this for the future? How can we bring back the "specialness" that used to be the TAM reception?
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How about recognizing that TAM is as much about talking to fellow skeptics as it is listening to the speakers? Every change they've made in the last few years have moved away from allowing attendees to interact, and towards us just listening to whatever the organizers want us to listen to.
 
TsarBomba said:
I emailed DJ and asked him, and he gave me a quick, comprehensive, reasonable, and astute response. I believe he will be posting something on the forum in the next day or so on this issue.
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I look forward to his answer. Though the scheduling is not a big deal for me (I've only attended TAM once before, and that time didn't leave the hotel for dinner any of the days), I can see why it would be a valid issue for some.
 
If there's a clear and understandable reason for it, I will be happy to concede. At this point, however, it doesn't make sense to me.
 
Horatius said:
How about recognizing that TAM is as much about talking to fellow skeptics as it is listening to the speakers? Every change they've made in the last few years have moved away from allowing attendees to interact, and towards us just listening to whatever the organizers want us to listen to.
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I don't know about that. They kept it at the SP after all. The Del Mar has become the equivalent of a a non-stop reception anyway. I think that the SP has brought TAM a social vibe that never existed at the pre-SP events I attended at the Riviera and Flamingo (can't comment on the Star Dust).
 
TsarBomba said:
I don't know about that. They kept it at the SP after all. The Del Mar has become the equivalent of a a non-stop reception anyway. I think that the SP has brought TAM a social vibe that never existed at the pre-SP events I attended at the Riviera and Flamingo (can't comment on the Star Dust).
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You have a good point. Perhaps between this and the growing number of attendees the organizers are trying to find their footing.
 
TsarBomba said:
I don't know about that. They kept it at the SP after all. The Del Mar has become the equivalent of a a non-stop reception anyway. I think that the SP has brought TAM a social vibe that never existed at the pre-SP events I attended at the Riviera and Flamingo (can't comment on the Star Dust).
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I mostly agree. While there were certain designated bars at the other casinos, there were also a lot of people who wandered outside onto the strip (especially when it was in January and not 3000 degrees). Being at the SP, pretty much no one leaves, so as you say, a non stop reception/happy hour (even those who might go to the other bar are only about 5 seconds away).

There was some advantages to being on the strip, since you could go and wander about. But as to which I prefer, it's probably a wash. If the SP was on the strip, I probably wouldn't go outside, given the 3000 degree temperatures mentioned above.
 
Horatius said:
I'm thinking about it, but it likely won't have much effect.
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Well, you know the effect of NOT providing feedback. The effect of providing it is at least unknown. Complaining in a forum where a very tiny number of TAM attendees even read the complaint isn't really very effective.
 
TsarBomba said:
I don't know about that. They kept it at the SP after all. The Del Mar has become the equivalent of a a non-stop reception anyway. I think that the SP has brought TAM a social vibe that never existed at the pre-SP events I attended at the Riviera and Flamingo (can't comment on the Star Dust).
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That's true - the South Point does make it easier to socialize and gather informally. I've only been to TAM 8 and the second TAM London, and the experience was completely different.

In London, the event hotel's rooms were so expensive, that most people didn't stay on site. So, when the event was over, everyone basically scattered. There were a couple efforts to gather people together at off-site restaurants that were successful, but they were relatively small.
 
xinit said:
That's true - the South Point does make it easier to socialize and gather informally. I've only been to TAM 8 and the second TAM London, and the experience was completely different.

In London, the event hotel's rooms were so expensive, that most people didn't stay on site. So, when the event was over, everyone basically scattered. There were a couple efforts to gather people together at off-site restaurants that were successful, but they were relatively small.
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Although a few of us managed to stay in the hotel bar until 3:00 or so. Apparently they would/could stay open later than other pubs as long as a hotel guest was present.
 
SO Paul A. you taking me to Penn's party?

I"m ok with it but it does eat into my plan to kidnap Susan Lancaster for a break. Still, take some snack bars and I can hold out for a bit!!

Restaurants are less crowded way into the night!
 
Interesting Tweet from the JREF official Twitter account about one Twitter poster's noting displeasure about the situation:

Ouch! Next time we plan TAM for 1500 people, we will ask about your dinner plans first. FYI, after dinner keynotes are common.
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TsarBomba said:
Interesting Tweet from the JREF official Twitter account about one Twitter poster's noting displeasure about the situation:
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Wow, that was a snarky and uncalled-for response to someone who simply expressed displeasure with the schedule. Not cool, person-who-mans-the-JREF-twitter-account. :boggled:

Seems a bit defensive, as well - perhaps they are getting more negative feedback than we assumed?
 
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