TAM6 The Forum Table!!!

[markb]

It would be really cool if we all get our rooms on the same floor, and basically take over the place. I really doubt the hotel would be willing to make that happen, though. It's probably pretty tricky for them to plan things such that the previous guests in that part of the hotel all check out in time.

 

[LostAngeles]

It would be really cool if we all get our rooms on the same floor, and basically take over the place. I really doubt the hotel would be willing to make that happen, though. It's probably pretty tricky for them to plan things such that the previous guests in that part of the hotel all check out in time.

I was wondering why they didn't just set aside a block of rooms under the special rate?

Probably to get us to walk through the casino...

 

[CFLarsen]

I would put the forum table close to the billboard. Since most of the non scheduled events are arranged by forum people the table would be the best place to have information to anyone that want to join in any of the activities.

I would put the forum table next to the billboard next to the book table. We had a nice line-up of Payment-table-Book-table-FreeNasaStuff-table-AuctionItems-table this year.

I also think that we are going to need a bigger place for the next party if we are going to have more people.

We will need a much bigger place for the next party.

What are the branding requirments?

High tolerance of pain.

Jeff is in charge of the branding.

Ouch.

I think that just needed to be be clearly stated by itself.

Yep.

As Rebecca pointed out, if you rent a party room from the hotel, you must also buy their liquor, their food. Bummer.

We have to be able to get around that.

The reception might be a good place to do this - it's a social gathering, everyone is invited anyway, and the booze is cash bar. A corner could be set up with tables, signs, forum members hanging around, a big banner. A table in the meeting room could be more low-key with instructions on how to join the forum, tshirts/et al.

That's a really great idea: The Reception was where you could mingle with everyone, so why not simply extend that into the Forum Party? It may not be in the wee hours of the morning, but we would get (just about) everyone to show up anyway.

It would be really cool if we all get our rooms on the same floor, and basically take over the place. I really doubt the hotel would be willing to make that happen, though. It's probably pretty tricky for them to plan things such that the previous guests in that part of the hotel all check out in time.

It would only be possible, if people would book their rooms as soon as JREF had announced how people signed up for the rooms. But I like the idea of "owning" a whole section of the hotel.

 

[markb]

It would only be possible, if people would book their rooms as soon as JREF had announced how people signed up for the rooms. But I like the idea of "owning" a whole section of the hotel.

I don't think the hotel assigns a room number until you actually check in. They're probably just not setup to do it any other way. What they need are party/no-party rooms, in addition to smoking/no-smoking!

 

[CFLarsen]

I don't think the hotel assigns a room number until you actually check in. They're probably just not setup to do it any other way. What they need are party/no-party rooms, in addition to smoking/no-smoking!

Not "rooms". "Floors".

 

[kittynh]

on a side note, I just read where Renoir met you grandfather Claus!

(the painter, not the film maker)

 

[TsarBomba]

Hmm.

Could call the Forum Party the "Meet the JREF Forum" party instead from now on, and give details on the time, place, etc.

What would be the cost of renting a ball room for a night, and getting an actual dj or sound system (good stereo with rad speakers)? That way, it would be party all night, with LOTS of noise and dancing, and no getting kicked out. BYOB? All that you can carry? Then we can do a fundraiser of some sort this next year to get the funds together. I can be a good bartender, just point me to a fridge and and ice machine!

Rebecca has a pretty good economic breakdown on her Forum Party-The Reckoning thread showing that it would cost something like $600 an hour to do it in a ballroom, with a big disinsentive being that the Riv (or wherever) almost certainly won't let you BYOB. Rebecca was actually able to come out in the black on this one, so I say we all leave it to Rebecca in the future.

My suggestion, though, for future party name: "The Amaz!ing Party"

 

[TsarBomba]

It would be really cool if we all get our rooms on the same floor, and basically take over the place. I really doubt the hotel would be willing to make that happen, though. It's probably pretty tricky for them to plan things such that the previous guests in that part of the hotel all check out in time.

Wonderful idea! But if the Riv can't manage to save people smoke-free rooms or king beds, could we trust them to keep a whole floor together, I don't think that. . . wait a minute, wait a minute, I'VE GOT IT! All we need is to invite President Bush! He could get the Riv to reserve us two or three floors, guarenteed!

 

[Linda]

One nice thing about the Stardust was their willingness to give us access to two adjacent hospitality suites for TAM3 & TAM4. The Riviera doesn't have anything like that. They have a very strict policy regarding food & beverage: if you are using their facilities, you have to purchase food and drinks from them...and they are NOT CHEAP. But then that's why they're willing to let us use the conference rooms at no charge. They make their money on the catering. At $39 for a gallon of coffee or iced tea, that's a nice piece of change. In fact there was even a clause in our contract that if we were caught bringing in any food or beverage not provided by the hotel, we would be fined $500 per occurence.

Just to give you an idea of food costs, the continental breakfast was $10.50 per person plus 25.75% for tax and gratuity for just coffee and danish. Adding the fruit was another $3.25 per person, and adding yogurt would have added another $3.25, plus the requisite tax and service charge.

There were quite a few problems with the hotel, #1 being the fact that so many people were put in smoking rooms after requesting non-smoking (myself included!). And how many of you noticed that the sound man slept through most of Friday morning's presentations? (He was fired on the spot after being awakened.)

I also couldn't get the use of any of the smaller Capri rooms after Thursday as they were booked for other functions. I would have loved to have had a room or two available for meetings, interviews, etc.

There's no problem getting a table for the forum for the next TAM. If I had known you wanted one this time, it would have been available.

I know I may be addressing some issues that were first broached in another thread, but I've been so busy, I figure I may as well post everything here.

We will do a directory of attendees next time. I meant to do it this time, but ran out of time. And if I recall correctly, the list would have been 18 pages long, and making 825 copies of every item for the registration packets was getting expensive.

If whoever got a defective bag will contact me, I'll send you a good bag.

Thanks for all the suggestions for future speakers, etc. We're compiling lists and we've already started lining up speakers for TAM 5.5 and 6. Bill Nye has been invited several times. Maybe one year he'll accept. We'd love to have him.

Keep in mind that if we move from the Riviera, the cost to attend TAM will go up. Especially if we don't charge extra for the evening shows. Those shows were extra in order to keep the main registration price the same as TAM4. Our concern is keeping the event affordable...both the registration costs and the room costs.

 

[Geek Goddess]

Thanks for the information, Linda.

I think all of JREF's decisions made sense, and you guys accomplished a wonderful thing with the money. I go to a much large conference every year that charges about the same amount, but doesn't provide any food for breakfast OR lunch, does have coffee, and all the speakers pay their own way and speak for no cost. You guys do an amazing thing!

 

[Math Maniac]

Bill Nye has been invited several times. Maybe one year he'll accept. We'd love to have him.

He is coming to a local community college here in Tulsa February 8th and I am going to do my best--beg, if necessary--to convince him to come to a future TAM.

Linda (and your husband)--you are due many, many thanks. Being an educational foundation, are there any government grants available? My wife (and I to a lesser degree) has written a number of grant requests and would like to help out in any way that we possibly could in this area.

It seems that the government and private sector coffers are more open to "education" than many other things. My wife and I have been on several trips on the government's dime to attend conferences.

If anyone knows, please help me find a place to look.

 

[kittynh]

Thanks Linda!!!

I just want a chance for some good PR for the forum also. Scholarship fundraising, education advice, and just a fun way to meet new people!

Paul A. suggested we have a nice trifold brochure on the forum printed up.

I plan on seeking private donations for the price of the banner (JREF approve ofcourse!) and printing a brochure and perhaps a million dollar bill with Randi's picture on it (anyone with skills to design such a million dollar bill please PM me). I'd like to give away JREF euro stickers too, just because people that are socially shy will come over for the freebie, and then talk.

Kitten pointed out to me that a lot of us JREF skeptics are a little socially awkward. Let's face it, we've been out in the "Real" world where you just don't open you mouth and say you are an atheist without people looking shocked. It takes a little time to figure out at TAM YOU ARE NORMAL!!!

Plus, we will have better control of the bulletin board. Like a nice sharpie so people can write BIG notes. It will perhaps give a focus to newcomers. My first TAM I was so scared I hung out with Linda...she's wonderful, but she's a little busy to babysit.

My hope is that when people think of the forum that belong to JREF (but not the forum) they will have a good feel for all that we do. And how supportive we are.

Geek, good plan to have perhaps a little set up at the opening night meeting. Then a table in the meeting area, so volunteers don't miss any of the talk.

This is going to be fun.

And I'll be asking for donations for the banner and such ....so this won't cost JREF anything.

 

[Soapy Sam]

For the forum party, I brought some chocolate and 2 bottles of wine . The wine came from the ABC shop on the ground floor, because, let's face it, I'm not going to fly it from Europe only to have homeland security blow it up.

ABC's wine was not expensive by hotel standards. I assume ABC is wholly owned by the hotel, so if we bought by the crate we would surely get a discount? OK, everyone might pay $8 more than in the supermarket for the same bottle, but come on, it costs hundreds just to get there, what's a few bucks apiece?

On rooms- they put me in a smoking room too and they did so again a week later. Their booking system seems inefficient and greedy- I was told I could specify a non smoking room for a $10 surcharge, but only request one otherwise. As they had to move me next day and remake the bed , change linen and towels etc, it's hard to see why they do this. It must cost them money as well as goodwill.

How many of the 800 attendees actually stayed in the Riv?

 

[Frogberto]

I vote for chocolate and a place to pick up our forum badges (or this year, stickers). Anything else is just clutter.

 

[Mattfn]

Food & drink need to be provided by the hotel.....ABC is not part of the Riviera and wouldn't be where their catered food & drink would come from anyway. Anything we bring in, no matter where we got it from, doesn't meet the criteria.

 

[exarch]

Yes, I fear that if we're at the Riviera again next year, we might just be forced to have our party elsewhere, because the Riviera is litterally chasing us out of the place with their particular rules on that subject.

The very nature of events taking place during the party and at some of the other forum events (like the chocolate challenge, the international beer tasting, the scotch party the day before) means we're violating the rules and risking several hundreds of dollars in fines just bringing our own snacks and drinks there.

Frankly, I think the best way to show the Riviera that they seriously f**ked up their service is NOT by having the next conference there again. But of course, their lack of care for how they (mis)treated us may be directly related to the price they charged us for the rooms and the conference, which if I understand Linda correctly, is way cheaper than any other place large enough to handle a group the size of JREF. Which would leave only one alternative: have the conference take place in a different hotel as the one where everyone is staying, and shuttle everyone back and forth. Not a very desirable solution either.

Anyway, my personal opinion is that the Riviera has failed us miserably. Perhaps it's time to try another place. There's bound to be a few other hotels, on the strip or not, that are large and cheap enough to deal with us.

 

[markb]

There's bound to be a few other hotels, on the strip or not, that are large and cheap enough to deal with us.

Yeah, and I wouldn't mind going off the strip if we can find a better hotel for a similar price. I've heard good things about The Orleans from multiple sources, and it's operated by the same company as the Stardust, which treated us pretty well.

 

[kittynh]

yeah, I mean I actually liked the location of the Tuscany. But too small to hold all the TAM attendees.

But a short walk to the strip can be better than right on the strip.

 

[exarch]

The walk from the Tuscany to the strip was actually shorter than the walk from the Riviera to, say, the Wynn. And that was the direction most strip-crawls took (all those I was on anyway).

 

[CFLarsen]

We could hold the TAM6 Forum Party at the Stardust lot. I think there's a big, open space by June 2008....