convention sites (campuses)

[Farrell]

Comments below - my comments are based on my experience attending several university-based conventions.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: convention sites (campuses)

> I too had thought a college campus would be great. But, what I found is that 
> although we can get dorms for cheap, there are still a lot of us who like the 
> ritzy scene. Once a year, you splurge, and get all the amenities, especially 
> room service. 

I agree. There is a lot I like about having the convention in a hotel where everything is within a few hundred feet. A lot I don't like about it also.

> The other problem is that the dorms are not going to be right next to the 
> music building. And while many music departments might have many pianos, they 
> might not have enough class rooms. 

You don't have to do everything in the Music Dept. You can use nearby buildings also that will have gads of classroom space.

> Unless you get a campus where every thing 
> is within easy walking distance, you'll eliminate some people who don't walk 
> very well. 

At my religious conventions that I have attended, the universities have a fleet of chauffeured golf carts that drive folks all over the campus. My conventions have MANY MANY OOOOLLLLDDDDD folks and they just get buzzed all over the place in these carts. Always seemed to work out well.

> The price might also might be a factor. Hotels give us the meeting rooms, in 
> exchange for meals, and selling sleeping rooms. That is how they make their 
> money. 

I beg to differ. Hotels don't give away anything! THAT is how they make their money!

> Universities don't see it that way. You want meeting rooms, rent them, 
> You want dorm rooms, rent them. You want the banquet hall, for a meeting rent 
> it. 

I think what one needs to do is properly evaluate that whole picture and look at the bottom line. Every option will be more here and less there, just like any other arrangement.

> The bottom line is that while the sleeping rooms might be a little cheaper, 
> the registration would have to be maybe three or four times higher, to pay 
> for al the other amenities we get. And most people complain about the 
> registration fee as it is.

See above. Maybe you are right, perhaps not.

> The idea might be good, but when you crunch the numbers, it isn't such a good 
> deal after all.

Again, see above. 

> Wim 
> 
> 
>