(Fwd) International Convention?

[John Ross]

Thank you, Tom.
I, obviously, had not given it any in depth thought, just thinking it
sounded good. You brought me back, to reality.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: (Fwd) International Convention?


> 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
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>