Pianotech Live

[Mike Spalding]

Kent,

The defining characteristic of Pianotech is that it is what the 
participants make it.  It is more than the sum of its parts 
(participants), but without participation it is nothing.  It has become 
what it is today, through a process of self-regulation.  Folks who have 
tried to steer it where the group did not want to go have been corrected 
by the group at large.  In this somewhat sloppy democratic process, we 
tend to give more weight to the comments of listers with a history of 
constructive contribution to the list community.
So one or two folks planned and produce an event, calling it "Pianotech 
Live", presenting it to the Pianotech community as a surprise gift.  
Many did not attend, others attended and were disappointed.  What could 
account for such a response?  Maybe the listers wanted something other 
than what they were given, which the presenters didn't understand 
because they never asked.
For future Pianotech events, I suggest a collaborative planning 
process.  Post and discuss the plans on list, let it become a product of 
Pianotech.  It is rarely possible to please all the people all of the 
time, but if we're willing to plan the event openly,  the odds improve  
significantly.

Mike

Kent Swafford wrote:
> I would not assume that this year's Pianotech Live session will be 
> typical of future ones. I wouldn't even assume that the Pianotech Live 
> name will stick.
>
> The pianotech meeting at the convention has been a hit and miss 
> session over the years, and I thought it might be appropriate to try 
> to evolve it a bit. One idea I have heard would be to have lunch 
> together (social) and then extend the session into third period and 
> deal with tech issues.
>
> The institute is planned out months and months ahead of time. I 
> thought it might be cool to have a session into which last minute 
> items might find a place. The chance to have Mr. Stopper came about at 
> the last minute, didn't cost us anything, and dealt with tech stuff 
> that had been on the list. I thought the Pianotech Live was a good 
> first effort, especially when the soundboard animations starting 
> working...
>
> A subject that came up even later on the list was the little 
> discussion about string coupling. I would have loved to take that 
> discussion into a class period at the convention. All we would need 
> would be a piano and some interested techs. This is the idea for 
> Pianotech Live -- current topical stuff that people care about. I 
> certainly am not trying to do away with the social stuff; I like the 
> idea of wearing some identifying something so we can be running into 
> pianotech people all week long.
>
> The board apparently is making me chair of the electronic 
> communications committee in the coming year, so I will attempt to keep 
> the Pianotech Live session going; I suspect it will be different every 
> year.
>
>
> Suggestions welcomed. Even at the last minute.
>
>
> Kent
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 26, 2007, at 8:12 PM, J. Stanley Ryberg wrote:
>
>> *List,*
>> ** 
>> *I remember this dust-up from approximately a year and a half ago (I 
>> haven't checked the archives to date it precisely)...and the exchange 
>> below is precisely why I felt that the List meeting had been 
>> hijacked.  It was predictable that this would be the outcome.  May I 
>> now be on record as saying that next year (and farther into the 
>> future, as well) I sincerely hope that we can get back to having a 
>> chance to MEET with fellow Listers without the infomercial?*
>> ** 
>> *Not being sure whose idea it was to go this route, I can't direct my 
>> displeasure privately.  Am I the only one disappointed?*
>> ** 
>> *Stan Ryberg*
>> *Barrington IL*
>