TAM5 Rumour Poll

[delphi_ote]

Ooooh, I'd like Orlando.
I'm moving there anyway, it'd make things much easier for me...

Look me up when you get here.

 

[madmonk76]

You know, it's odd.
I know I met a LOT of people here at Tam.
But I didn't really post or anything, and I didn't register with my screen name.

 

[Gulliamo]

#1 consideration: somewhere my wife would consider a "vacation" - Vegas and Cruises both qualify.

Although NYC might be a bit more expensive the cost may be offset by the number of people who live within a reasonable proximity. Driving a few hours, paying for parking and an expensive conference hall would still be less costly than a flight and hotel. Those on a budget could likely find more locals to stay with for free.

I am also partial to both a Jan/Feb TAM and a mid-year cruise.

Thoughts?

 

[Zep]

I don't mind where or when as long as it is cheap enough to get to - I am not wanting to miss future TAMs if I can avoid it. Vegas in "winter" would seem to have good convention and room deals, but this time next year the Stardust will be just dust. What are the alternative venues like in comparison??

As Claus said above, the bigger the event, the more complex organising and the more people required (and thus the more expensive) it must surely become. I personally suspect we have reached some sort of critical mass for a single room style of event for the number of people we expect to attend. We would probably need to look at running multiple streams of presentations instead, for the whole time. Or make it a longer event?

All sorts of little logistical problems we saw will only escalate if the same operational style is used on bigger numbers - accomodation, event organisation, meals, etc. It's also getting beyond the capabilities of "a handful of dedicated volunteers" to organise and run it (this is not unusual, actually) - could we use professional event organisers, perhaps?

I'm in the process of sending some notes to JREF on big conference organising, having been involved in many of them over the last 25 years or so. FWIW!

 

[CFLarsen]

Then the clearing up!
I left after SkepticScott. Sheesh!

That, too. It isn't just arranging it, there's a lot of work on all levels.

It's easy if you simply sign up, book the hotel and attend.

It's a hell of a lot more complicated, if you have to make that possible to do for 800 people.

Think TAM5 will be over 1,000? I do. Way over 1,000.

 

[CFLarsen]

I'm in the process of sending some notes to JREF on big conference organising, having been involved in many of them over the last 25 years or so. FWIW!

Let me have those, too.

 

[kittynh]

I think Vegas was the big winner with the survey. I"m really tired of Vegas. How about Reno? I think there are a lot of people from California?

Perhaps a smaller TAM in the UK or perhaps Brussels (hey Brussels is very central, and cheaper than London). Thinking of the size of the first TAM this might be doable with enough of the Euro skeptics offering to help out. It might prove more expensive, but then that would keep the numbers down. This would be in addition to the US TAM.

Also TAM raises money for JREF. So a Euro TAm would need to be profitable.

Are there any places in Europe that are known for cheap hotel rooms and where a lot of places hold their conferences? Perhaps a smaller town near London or Brussels. I know there is only ONE Vegas (cheap hotel rooms and large conference rooms), but what does Europe have that would work?

 

[Ducky]

I think Vegas was the big winner with the survey. I"m really tired of Vegas. How about Reno? I think there are a lot of people from California?

Perhaps a smaller TAM in the UK or perhaps Brussels (hey Brussels is very central, and cheaper than London). Thinking of the size of the first TAM this might be doable with enough of the Euro skeptics offering to help out. It might prove more expensive, but then that would keep the numbers down. This would be in addition to the US TAM.

Also TAM raises money for JREF. So a Euro TAm would need to be profitable.

Are there any places in Europe that are known for cheap hotel rooms and where a lot of places hold their conferences? Perhaps a smaller town near London or Brussels. I know there is only ONE Vegas (cheap hotel rooms and large conference rooms), but what does Europe have that would work?

You know, to be honest, I was pricing the rooms for my wedding at the Radisson here in Saint Paul, and I'm not so sure that vegas is that much cheaper on packages than others around the country.

Anyone actually have numbers on this?

 

[exarch]

Are there any places in Europe that are known for cheap hotel rooms and where a lot of places hold their conferences? Perhaps a smaller town near London or Brussels. I know there is only ONE Vegas (cheap hotel rooms and large conference rooms), but what does Europe have that would work?

Well, there's eastern Europe. But I'm thinking maybe Spain or Portugal may be relatively cheap too. But probably not for conferences that are too sizable.
Also, Americans may be pleased to know people speak Mexican (i.e. Spanish) there.

I think one of the first question you'd need answered is: how many people do you think would attend TAM-Europe?

(By the way, it makes for a really lousy acronym: TAME)

 

[delphi_ote]

You know, to be honest, I was pricing the rooms for my wedding...

So you're finally going to propse to me after all this time?

(off to study for my nasty architecture exam... )

 

[megafly]

this year I had my "I'm a grownup, and if I went to spend a few grand going to TAM, nobody can stop me" moment too late to go to Tam4 and I don't care if 5 is on planet X, I'm gonna be there darnit.

 

[RSLancastr]

(off to study for my nasty architecture exam... )

Wow, I had no idea Nasty Architecture was even a field of study.

Here's hoping you ace the test.

 

[Marker]

Euro locations

Here is a map of the current JREF Forum user distribution with principal central cities overlaid. It may help in working out the best place for a Euro TAM venue.

I would go for Brussels because it is well connected to other parts of Europe (commutable from London, Paris, Holland, N. Germany and South Denmark) where there is a high concentration of users. Brussels is cheaper than London or Paris but still pricey compared with other parts of Europe.

Copenhagen however would be cool - and symbolic considering recent events and its history of scientific thinking.

Another alternative (not shown) is Utrecht - a pleasant University town not far from Brussels / Amsterdam and equally well connected.

 

[exarch]

Here is a map of the current JREF Forum user distribution with principal central cities overlaid. It may help in working out the best place for a Euro TAM venue.

I would go for Brussels because it is well connected to other parts of Europe (commutable from London, Paris, Holland, N. Germany and South Denmark) where there is a high concentration of users. Brussels is cheaper than London or Paris but still pricey compared with other parts of Europe.

Surprisingly, I would opt for a place in Holland. If being a central location for European skeptics is an issue, your map seems to indicate either Holland or Germany.

But keep in mind that not all European skeptics who would attend are actually posters here.

 

[bug_girl]

Wow, I had no idea Nasty Architecture was even a field of study.

Yes. They build things like this:
http://www.easternecho.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?1322

Or, in another view:

 

[Doubt]

Yes. They build things like this:
http://www.easternecho.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?1322

Or, in another view:

A friend who graduated from EMU gives directions refering to that water tower as "The giant phallic symbol."

The standard rumor is that if a virgin ever graduates from EMU, the tower will fall.

Jokes aside, that tower is a landmark. Not at all ugly up close where you can see the stone work.

 

[jj]

I don't think all that many people have all that much of an idea just how much work it takes to arrange a conference like this.

Some of us have been on conference committees multiple times, and realize it's a bit worse than a full-time job in an emergency room. Well, not quite, but close.

 

[Marker]

Surprisingly, I would opt for a place in Holland. If being a central location for European skeptics is an issue, your map seems to indicate either Holland or Germany.

Without offending any Flems, Walloons or Nederlaender the distances between principal Belgian and Dutch cities are less than some Americans back yards.

 

[exarch]

Without offending any Flems, Walloons or Nederlaender the distances between principal Belgian and Dutch cities are less than some Americans back yards.

Which makes a trip from a major airport to a large hotel with conference facilities that much shorter.

Tell me again what would be wrong with that, apart from the fact it wouldn't be in YOUR back yard