(Fwd) International Convention?

[Tom Servinsky]

On paper, the cruise ship idea is a wonderful idea for a convention
site...but it wouldn't work. Even though everything is self-contained with
amenities galore( and food to die for), it is a logistical nightmare with
too many restrictions to accommodate our needs.
  The biggest hurdle is that cruise ships run on  tight turn-around
schedules, as they are usually in port no more than a day, maybe only 10
hrs., just enough time to get refueled and greet new passengers. There would
be no room for error with getting pianos,exhibit supplies, and attendees on
board.   The pianos literally would have to be in the loading dock space
ready to be put on board within a very short window of time. A special
moving crew would have to be assigned to make this happen within a few
hours.  That in itself would be a miracle if that could be pulled off.
Likewise, the removal of all pianos and exhibit hall stuff would have to be
timed with extreme care.
Believe or not, another problem would be amply teaching room space. Yes,
there are oodles of cabin space, dining halls, and a few theatre rooms..but
really not suitable teaching rooms in a close proximity for what we do.
I just did the concert work on board the  QE2 and sailed from England to NYC
for the "Piano Cruise".  I got a good dose of the workings of these ships
and the idea of a convention crossed my mind several times.  But after
examining the logistics I quickly realized it couldn't work for our needs.
Have you considered the cost? It's bad enough with the amount of technicians
who complain about the current costs of attending a convention.  Cruise
ships do an all-inclusive approach ( plus built in tips) which makes for
quite a costly endeavor.
The average "Joe Tuner" would be "priced out" of attending that event.
How about rough seas?  Ever try tuning a piano with 20- 40ft seas? Even
tuning on10 ft seas is enough to make one go bonkers. Pianos on board also
are reinforced with special leg plates to tolerate the high seas as things
can rock and roll, literally. Do you thing Fazioli would retrofit a special
reinforce iron support system for the legs?
I don't want to rain on anyone's parade. But as I said, the idea of the
convention on board is a wonderful concept.  There are just too many
obstacles which would have to be over-come to make this work.
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ross" <piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: (Fwd) International Convention?


> How about a Convention, on a cruise ship?
> That way the spouses could just laze around, and relax.
> Mind you they can laze around now, but a cruise ship would be more
> fun.
> My wife, won't go to conventions with me, anymore. She says
> it is no fun if there is nothing arranged, for while I am in class.
> Regards,
> John M. Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
> piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Musselwhite" <john@musselwhite.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 3:15 PM
> Subject: Re: (Fwd) International Convention?
>
>
> > At 11:34 AM 7/25/01 -0600, Rob wrote:
> >
> > >Sorry, but one point hasn't really been addressed in the fracas:
> >
> > Actually, I think it has, though perhaps not to your satisfaction, Rob.
> >
> > >OK, great, so is this truly 'International' convention going to be
> > >held in different countries so that we can all have a turn at hosting?
> >
> > So far it's been held in both Canada and the United states, which are
two
> > different countries if I correctly remember my geography classes.
> > Considering most other countries don't have enough "local" RPTs to form
a
> > chapter yet let alone put on a large convention I suspect that North
> > America is "it" be default.
> >
> > >And can afford to attend using local currency? No? National it is
> > >then....
> >
> > That's a different question. I was able to afford to go to Reno (a
> > different country from mine) only because I had quit smoking for 100
days.
> > I met members there from a half-dozen other countries so International
it
> is!
> >
> > With the loosening of the AmeriCanadian border lately perhaps we may see
> > the  International convention here in Calgary again in the near future.
> > Until members can be "beamed" from place to place I suspect the
convention
> > will be held somewhere in North America just for the convenience, though
> > there's been talk of one in Hawaii. That one *will* be expensive!
> >
> >                  John
> >
> > John Musselwhite, RPT    -     Calgary, Alberta Canada
> > http://www.musselwhite.com  http://canadianpianopage.com/calgary
> > mailto: john@musselwhite.com    http://www.mp3.com/fatbottom
> >
> >
>