USA Synthzone Convention in 2004 !

Who's Interested?

Who will come?

If a Synthzone convention were to take place in the USA, say in Las Vegas, or in Orlando, FLA (both TOP US convention & fun vacation destinations) who here would be interested in attending? My personal pick is Las Vegas (because it's closer to where I live), but I would also be willing to travel to Orlando.

Convention highlights might include: arranger keyboard manufacter sponsored exhibits and events, as well as show performances put on by their artists, and shows put on by Synthzone members as well. Other events might include arranger keyboard playing workshops, vocal technique, arranger composing, jam sessions, and just having fun socializing and hanging out together.

We've been floating this IDEA around for some time now, so I think it's time to find out if there's enough interest to take it to the 'next' level of actually 'making it happen'. Input from all appreciated.

- Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 12-23-2003).]

Scott I might be willing to go for a Vegas trip. If it were to be in March, that would be very cool as I will be there anyway.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Hi Terry, I think that March might be a bit premature, as I'm sure it's going to take a bit of pre-plannng and scheduling (hotel convention space booking, manufacterer participation commitments, etc) to insure a successful event. I was thinking more like in Aug, Sep, or October 2004. - Scott

Scott...
Finding a time to meet individual schedules could be a real challenge here...but I would love to do it.

Being in a winter tourist area, all my weekends and a lot of mid-week is booked pretty solid Nov thru most of May and it would be difficult to get away.

I love Vegas...but for practical reasons, I would have to cast my vote for the Mouse.
Eddie

I know for sure Bebop will be interested.

Vegas is alright- It doesn't have to be 'big'. I think if 30-40 people want to come that's a good crowd IMO.

I suppose we could hold 2 separate Synthzone convention events, one in Orlando (East Coast) and the other in Vegas (West Coast). The great thing about holding it in Orlando & Las Vegas is that there'd be plenty other things to do (for the entire family) as well. I might even find a way to make it to BOTH East & West coast events. - Scott

I had proposed something like this some time ago and there was virtually no interest.
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/007367.html

If there seems to be some interest this time around I'd be glad to assist.

my wife and i was thinking about going to vegas next june,if this meeting idea takes off it would be great to kill 2 birds with 1 stone,mike

How bout we meet in the middle?
Nashville, Dallas?
DonM

The idea of a West and East sounds like a decent plan to me. I don't see why the reps from the companies wouldn't be inclined to show up, they put on dinky clinics at music stores, so I should think they would be a go.

Scott if it looks like it might firm up into something, let me know if you need my help on something.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Definitely Vegas!
Among other things the convention should include beer drinking contest, exotic dancers and more.
I'm there! Who's paying?

-ED-

PS
To be serious: I like the idea!

Oooo....Nashville would be cool! Never been to Nashville.

Doesn't matter where we meet, I'm in. Do we get to bring our keyboards for a jam session? (imagine the logistics of that)

mike

Sounds nice, and from my "startingpoint" it's quite a long way to
travel regardless to where it is located.
But Vegas I've heard it's easy to use all the money we have (and a bit
more) on games
Nashwille is known as THE City of Country Music here, so that would have
been something for a countryboy like me.
GJ

I'd like to meet in Vegas. I think it would be fun!

Tom G.

PS: There are also a LOT of cowboys in Las Vegas, GJ. You and your pa80 would be mighty welcome, I reckon!

[This message has been edited by TomTomSF (edited 12-23-2003).]

[This message has been edited by TomTomSF (edited 12-23-2003).]

Las Vegas would be good for me and I would definately make it to that. Plus getting accomodation there is much easier than anywhere else.

You only gamble if you want to gamble. But if you have never been to Vegas before there is plenty to checkout without spending a lot of money.

Having said that ..... I do love to gamble in Las Vegas

Yeah, I know Nigel, but that's the "problem",
I know I would love to visit the big Casinos such we've
seen at TV
GJ

Tom, I still carry on with my "good old" KN5000

Great Idea,
Have large motorhome with large generator, portable keyboards, dog that likes to travel, and a wife that works:-)
COUNT ME IN
Bebop

How about NYC? It's the best place to meet and plenty of things to see and do. Whaddaya think?

Angelo

Where is the next Summer NAMM, Nashville? If so, wouldn't it be cool to work something out there?

Scott,
The idea of coupling it with a NAMM show has some appeal. For one thing the manufacturers are already there and so may be willing to host hospitality rooms where the Synthzone members could get a preview of their new offerings. Several years ago, when they were introducing their SD-1, Ketron had a pre-NAMM demo in Anaheim. It went over pretty well, in my opinion. It would be nice if Synthzone could get members into NAMM as well, although that may be wishful thinking.
Paul C.

Hi Angelo, NYC sounds like a great choice too. The only reason I didn't include it was because both NYC & San Francisco's (where I live) hotel-convention rates are a LOT higher than in Vegas, Orlando, and Nashville. I favor a city that's not only, easily accessible from all major cities (by air), offers major vacation destination attractions for the entire family, but one that's comfortably affordable as well. I think I'd probably be willing to travel to almost anywhere (including internationally) for a SZ convention event if enough (say 35-40 +) SZ members are committed to attend. - Scott

Interesting idea, though probably best to schedule the actual SZ event either right before or immediately after the actual NAMM dates as hotel rooms will already be booked solid and whatever remaining rooms availabe (for non NAMM members) will surely be jacked up sky high. - Scott

Rooms are really cheap in Shreveport, home of the Lousisiana Hayride. I can get a casino to give use REALLY good rates in the motel. There are five casinos and I'll be the Host.
But Nashville's good too.
DonM

Hi Scott,

I vote for Vegas. It's a great idea, just don't make it in the middle of the summer. Being a desert rat I know how hot it gets.

There's plenty to do besides gambling. It's become a fun place to take the whole family.

rp

Lets be realistic....IMO this has to be done at least 1 /1/2 to 2 yrs in advance so that people can make arrangements to travel there..if families are involved thats another whole story also...you would have to set a date, weekend or whatever and let the chips fall where they may because whoever can make it attends..... and whoever cannot, won't....this is a huge undertaking...if it becomes an annual thing after that, then on the same weekend every year people can make plans to meet for a mini convention as long as they know when the date is. As much as I would enjoy the idea of meeting many SZ people at once, more realisticly smaller meetings of
SZ players somewhere would be much more feasable. Then you also have to consider who is going to Undertake this
Huge assignment as a Leader/Organizer to make all the arrangements!
Sorry to sound down on the idea but these are my initial Honest thoughts at this time.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 12-24-2003).]

I spent about two weeks investigating this about a year ago, and the bottom line was essentially that unless you had a huge number of people commited to attend, individual dealers and manufacturers were not the least bit interested.

To put this in perspective, the cost per person is almost insignificant in comparison to the other expenses. Sure, most members would be more than willing to spend $50 to $75 a night for a place to sleep, but that doesn't scratch the surface. You would also need a large room for dealers and manufacturers to exibit their wares. The cost of this space is enormous.

A good friend of mine is a show promoter, a person who put these type of events together. One of his shows, which caters to recreational anglers along the east coast, draws more than 30,000 spectators during the four-day show. Obviously, dealers and manufacturers are waiting in line to get into this show, and they're willing to pay premium prices to reach a targeted audience of this size at a single location.

Tell a dealer, especially one of the larger ones, that you're possibly going to have 35 to 50 individuals attending a convention and you would like them to purchase booth space and set up some keyboards for two or three days and most would think you just broke out of the looney bin.

Putting together a convention of this type takes lots of planning, cost a fair amount of money, and involves significant commitment by everyone involved. In realistic terms, I just don't see this happening. Sorry to put a damper on your party, but I sincerely believe I'll see a lot more Synthzone members during my trip in a few months.

Good Luck,

Gary

I vote for Vegas!

I vote for Vegas or Nashville.

I can drive to Vegas. And I can get Jack to come up too. He drives to play Laughin and Reno ocasionally from Arizona anyway.

When rooms were supposed to be $80 and $90 some years back, I went to an asphalt convention being held at one of the "big casino's," but I stayed at the Westward Ho for $15 a night without reservations. A buddy asphalt friend and I just stopped and got a room. The place was surpringly nice to me, but I'm just a poor ole Cajun boy.

He laughed when I told him everyone in my town everyone said to be sure to make reservations and expect to pay $100 a night. He'd been there several times before and knew what was happening.

I suppose if you call Westward Ho to make big plans it would cost a lot more also. I'm just mentioning this in case it would be a hardship for some to fly and pay $100 a night for a room. It might encourage those to drive and stay at the Westward Ho rather than not go at all.

Anyone else had this experience in Vegas?
Boo

It appears that Vegas (so far) has garnered the most (14) member interest as a potential Synthzone get together 'convention' site :

Scottyee; trtjazz; nardoni2002; 3351; msutliff; TomTomSF; Nigel; Bebop; SBPC; RichardPeck; Irngkybrd; Tom Cavanaugh; brickboo, Jack Ness

As a SZ member who's had the terrific opportunity to meet a number of Synthzone members in person, as well participating in group member music jam situations, still feel that a larger more structured event (convention) will offer
unique advantages not available otherwise, such as: arranger KB master class-clinic workshops either presented by manufacterers or presently solely by our experienced pro arranger musician members. In addition, both formal concert performances & keyboard jam sessions put on by Synthzone members could be held offering us the unique opportunity learn how we each differently utilize our arrangers.

If more member interest (say at least 30 people) show serious interest in attending a Synthzone get together (convention?) in Vegas, then I think it worth the time to begin to lay the groundwork for a Synthzone Convention in Las Vegas. I myself am willing to perform a concert and/or conduct an arranger workshop class. In addition Chris Anthony (former Roland & GEM artist) has also extended his hand to assist (perhaps with a concert performance & or workshop?) as well. To All: If you're interested in attending a Synthzone Convention get together in Las Vegas, or elsewhere, please let your voice be heard. I'm confident we can make this happen if we really want it.

Scott

i think boo ,s idea would be good,who says you have to hire a place in the centre of vegas,let,s say westwood ho is cheap then the reps could set up a booking for a mini convention there,or nearby, and pass the info onto the rest of us,then if it works, great, if it flops no harm done,your not talking about mega bucks,it would still restrict me to june, but go with the majority and see what happens,scottyee make the call let,s see what happens ps. i heard that room rates monday to friday in vegas are cheap but weekends,WOW

Room rates and Rv Park rates are much cheaper sunday through Thursday. RV parks usually have big clubhouses that could be used too.
We went to Vegas for two weeks last memorial day and it was 110 to 115 every day and that was in May/June. We stayed a week got our money back and went trucking over to the coast for the second week. Two AC's in the motorhome run 24 hours a day just to keep up
Timing is everything, just like in music.
Think about it.
Bebop

Hi Bebop, looks like you're the perfect guy to head our first official Synthzone Convention Event. Wadda you say? - Scott

May thru September should not be considered. Too miserably hot in Vegas. Early Spring or fall would be ideal.

Of course if we have it near Carmel Cal., it can be the middle of August. It only gets 72 for the high even then.

I think we should shoot for "mini" convention rather than a big convention.

Yeah- It doesn't have to be at the strip either.

my 02.

Mega, mini, or midi, doesn't matter to me, I'm interested in meeting in Las Vegas for a Synthzone event no matter what the size, though I do agree with Boo that the desert heat of summer (May-Sept) is too hot. Mid-late October seems like a good choice to me. - Scott

Maybe that's the way we do it. Mini-conventions based on areas of the country. Who's up for an East-Coast swing? Donny, UD, Tony Mads, et al?

Angelo

I really think that doing something in conjunction with a Summer NAMM has so many opportunities and advantages, like the venders are all there and everybody wants to see the new stuff, that it's worth while checking out. The major hurdle would be SZ members getting into the show... and I can't help but think that SOMEHOW that could materialize.

George, Dan, any NAMM members, what do you think?

Here's the upcoming Summer NAMM schedule:
7/23/2004 - Nashville
7/23/2005 - Indianapolis
7/14/2006 - Austin

Glenn
Great idea, make some calls and see if it's possible to make it happen.

Perhaps one of the companies themselves could sponsor us as a group.....hello companies?

What I would not count on hapeening, is that the companies during NAMM would then setup somewhere else just for us. If anything, we would have to get credentials allowing us into the show.

Nigel, is there a way to get credentials through your contacts from the promoters for "synthzone members" perhaps?
Gerorge or Dan O perhpas through several of the comnpanies themselves?

Then we might all meet outside of the show someplace for a get together / workshops arrangement.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html



[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 12-27-2003).]

Hey Scott,

make that 15, I vote for Vegas too.

Eric

Scott this amazes me....everyone is voting, but did anyone read Garys post?

Donny,
I think we all read Gary's post and understand what he is saying. I think we think it's still worth exploring it a bit further.

I feel if a company is willing to send their rep out to do in store demos when 6/7 people show up to see it, why would they not be interested in showing the equipment off to 40/50 people? Perhaps if they do not want to set up seperately, we could arrange with a local music store to have some reps come in and demo at the store.

Even if they do not want to send anyone, then the concept as I get it would be to just have a get together at possibly one of the hotel smaller conference rooms for some small workshops.

A couple of months ago, there was a "World Stick" seminar done in San Jose....57 in attendance for 3 days $250.00,lodging and food extra of course, 8 instructors from around the world. Three nights of concerts given at a local club that was tickled to get free entertainment and the business. It was done at a local music teaching school, that was more than happy to host the space, but even if we had to rent a place for a day or two, wouldn't have to be at Ceasar's Palace.

I myself think this is very doable, just takes some figuring and work.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Though it certainly would be terrific to have dealer/manufacterer support and participation, the primary purpose for holding a Synthzone gathering (imo) is that it offers our community the unique opportunity to perform for one another, play with & jam with each other, share arranger kb playing techniques & secrets, but 'above all', just having fun fraternalizing with people who share our unique passion for playing & performing on arranger keyboards. That said, Chris Anthony (keyboard artist for manufacterers GEM/Roland) has already offered his assistance (see his response earlier in this thread). I'm also confident that both Dan O'Neil and George Kaye would be willing to take part as well. Dan & George, whatta you say ? Whether the Synthzone gathering ends up as one, several, or many events around the US and throughout world, the GOAL simply to develop a place where arranger keyboard enthusiasts can come together to meet, play, and share in their common passion.

- Scott

Scott I hope your right and this gettogether becomes a reality in the future for sure. I personally love to meet other KB players and share ideas because then we all learn from it also!

Hi Donny,

members from the german Yamaha forum get together once a year, since several years.
(see videos I have posted in the past)
Sometimes manufactures show up, sometimes they don't.

As Scott pointed out, the main purpose is to meet new friends/family from the synthzone, share some playing techniques and or maybe have some short workshops, perform for one another and have a good time.

If on top of it manufactures show up, even better. That would be an added bonus.

If we would go to a NAMM show that would be great to, but it wouldn't bring the members as close together, since the focus would be on the show, and I think the focus should be to get to know one another better.
I have done that in the past in Germany and speak from experience.

Just a thought

Eric

I love the idea. I like Scott's concept of meeting to meet as a group as opposed to meeting at a NAMM. Even though I've always wanted to go to a NAMM, I think that at this point in my life I would like to meet some of you. Manufacturer reps would be a plus, but not a necessity. I'm sure the movers and shakers in this group could make it interesting all by themselves. Hey, this might be my chance to play some originals I have never gotten around to recording.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 12-29-2003).]

Eric,

Thats what its all about! I have personally met some of the best people in my life due to these forums,.......
Uncle Dave, Fran C, Gary D,
Prince AJ, DanO, Tom C, Alex G, Joe B, & a few more like Dom M, Scott Yee, Mike Sutliff, who I talk to by phone all he time & feel like I
know them like family also. Not to mention how much I've learned from each them also of which I'm eternally gratefull.
This is what meeting other musicians and sharing expriences means to me.
"Lets Do This ASAP"

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www.donnypesce.com

You're on Donny,

Gotta go now, catch a plane to Florida for a week.

Happy new year to all.

Eric