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TAM5 rumors

supercorgi said:
I've never been on a cruise. I've never particularly wanted to go on a cruise (sort of like I never particularly wanted to go to Vegas). But if I could go on a cruise with a bunch of smart, interesting people -- hey I'm there! :D
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I’ve never been on a cruise before either, but a skeptic cruise sounds wild.

My dream cruise would probably be somewhere around the Azores Archipelago, the Arctic, Alaska, or North Atlantic somewhere: http://www.adventureassociates.com/pdf/PS_Azores.pdf

The Polarstar cruise line looks nice for smaller groups up to 105 passengers, but it IS expensive unfortunately.
http://www.polarstarexpeditions.com/polarstar/

A smaller ship offering some educational excursions in addition to the skeptic itinerary sounds grand to me. I’m not too crazy about the hotspot touristy sites when traveling abroad. The road less traveled works for me, except Vegas and Disneyworld of course.
 
delphi_ote said:
Vegas and Orlando each have benefits. exarch's rules pretty much describe both locations. Maybe alternating between Orlando and Vegas would be a good idea. We'd get different crowds, a little variety in location and guests, divide the travel distance between East Coast and West Coast people a little bit.

Does TAM have to have a "home?" Changing it up might help give each TAM a more unique flavor.
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I don't think TAM needs to have a place to call home. Better to keep it fluid. TAM is about the people and their ideas, not location.
 
supercorgi said:
I've never been on a cruise. I've never particularly wanted to go on a cruise (sort of like I never particularly wanted to go to Vegas). But if I could go on a cruise with a bunch of smart, interesting people -- hey I'm there! :D
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Ditto for cruises. Vegas appealed to me because of the magic shows. I've never wanted to go on a cruise before because I think there wouldn't be anything interesting to do. But talking to fellow skeptics and attending lectures make it very interesting!

Just keep David Copperfield away from the boat. I don't want him to vanish the cruise ship while I'm on it. :rolleyes:
 
delphi_ote said:
Does TAM have to have a "home?" Changing it up might help give each TAM a more unique flavor.
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I think one of the things mentioned last year is that Penn and Teller are in Vegas, and so is Mac King. They are all big supporters of Randi and the JREF, so locating TAM somewhere else could mean they might not show up, and they do provide a fair bit of entertainment outside the conference schedule as well.

While I've never been to Florida, and as such wouldn't mind going to Orlando, I wonder if it's going to be as inviting to other people as it is to me. And I have no idea if there's even a lot to do or see within walking distance of a large hotel with a 1000+ capacity ballroom. If you have to take cabs or half-hour busrides to get to any touristy stuff, the cost of the meeting just went up considerably (another reason why you couldn't have the meeting in Los Angeles or New York for example).
 
SkepticScott said:
Just keep David Copperfield away from the boat. I don't want him to vanish the cruise ship while I'm on it. :rolleyes:
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I’ll 2nd that. I’d hate to be the one wading in some cold ocean waiting for the cruise ship to reappear. His magic is too powerful to be contained on a small ship anyway. ;)
 
Salt Lake wouldn't be too bad; and there's something about having a Skeptic's convention in the heart of Mormon-land that seems deliciously ironic.
 
exarch said:
I think one of the things mentioned last year is that Penn and Teller are in Vegas, and so is Mac King. They are all big supporters of Randi and the JREF, so locating TAM somewhere else could mean they might not show up, and they do provide a fair bit of entertainment outside the conference schedule as well.
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Right. But as is, don't we see those people every year? Maybe we could get a different crowd of speakers in Orlando? Or perhaps once every other year, the Vegas people could travel East for a day or two?

Being within driving distance of JREF is a big advantage for Orlando, which is why I'm defending the idea. JREF could really move in and take over the hotel. Maybe Kramer and Randi could share some interesting bits from their files with us? Maybe Randi could put on a show, since he could bring whatever supplies he wanted with him?
 
Quite a few posters have been complaining about the smoke in the Vegas hotels. A few (notably Bug_Girl) have said they won't be able to attend in Vegas again.

Clean air is yet another advantage of Orlando.
 
I suggest that for the next TAM, everyone get hold of a white labcoat and we go around everywhere dressed like mad scientists.
 
Jas said:
Okay, so essentially, we need somewhere that:

1. Has lots of flights/easy to get to
2. Has decent weather in January
3. A range of non-conference entertainment options (incl. a range of prices)
4. Conference facilities for ~1000 people min.
5. Is in an affordable price range for middle income earners (which seems to be about where TAM attendees fall)

I can't think of many places other than Vegas.
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The Kissimee area, near Orlando meets all requirements. Well, not sure about the Conference facilities for 800+ people, but hotel rates are low and there's the Disney World - Epcot Center and such, "attractions".
 
What about niagra falls? It's got a casino, and something about some kind of water fall.
 
Patricio Elicer said:
The Kissimee area, near Orlando meets all requirements. Well, not sure about the Conference facilities for 800+ people, but hotel rates are low and there's the Disney World - Epcot Center and such, "attractions".
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Also:

SeaWorld (which is to be recommended) is only a few minutes' away.
Kennedy Space Center is about an hour's drive to the east.
Airboat rides along the Central Florida Waterway
Shopping along International Drive
 
I doubt it is the cost of hotel rooms that is the limiting factor--but the cost to the JREF to put on the conference that matters...look at all the dought thrown around for stuff at the auctions...there is no shortage of disposable income in the group attending TAM4....New York and LA would have to be greater in the ability to draw speakers..but the costs not just for the attendess but the cost to put it on must be out of reach for the JREF to comfortably do...

Vegas is too smoky but it has places like Orleans and Stardust that are affordable and have plenty of rooms AND it allows Julia Sweeney to drive there and Penn to pop over and Mac King to drop in...no other locale is going to have that...

Orlando in January can provide about the same sort of hotel/conference facilities experience --maybe even nicer-- for the same dollar as in Vegas--but the draw to the celebs will not be there...if the TAM gets big enough, maybe that won't matter---
 
Eos of the Eons said:
:D

I can't agree more supercorgi. And we'll have to recruit a botanist for another Red Rock tour. I'm a biologist at heart, including botany. I just wish I actually was a biologist.
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A botanist would be totally underutilized in Vegas. On the other hand, when Evy was asked what type of plant a particularly small and scrubby little bush was, she replied: "A green one. And it grows in the desert!"

This was actually a highlight that I forgot to mention.
 
We're forgetting someplace that's right under our...borders

I'm going to go out on a limb here and recommend Mexico.

I go to mexico 1-2 times per year, and places like Cancun have big, big convention facilities, nice weather in January, low costs, and a small but efficient international airport.

Not to mention beautiful beaches, Eco-parks, snorkelling, scuba, and Oodles of mayan ruins to explores


VIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those U.S. people who want to complain about an international destination...

*slap* Get a passport!
 
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