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Oh yea...so the idea sparked and I just can't contain myself. I've been on the phone with my cohort in crime (Tori King, organizer of the Tribal Massive) and we have decided to host a retreat for belly dance event organizers.
We are in the early planning stages but anticipate holding it in January 2010. We are going to keep it to 2 days and are hoping to make this a roundtable of sorts. We are certain that we have a lot to learn from each other.
For the moment, what we'd like to know is this:
a) Is this something you would like to attend?
b) What topics would you like to see addressed?
Please give us feedback as we'd love to hear what your needs are and how we can address them. We are going to do this even if it just ends up being her and I treating ourselves to massage and pedicures...LOL. But we'd really love to have some of you other event producers join us for a fun and educational weekend in Vegas, baby!!!
We are in the early planning stages but anticipate holding it in January 2010. We are going to keep it to 2 days and are hoping to make this a roundtable of sorts. We are certain that we have a lot to learn from each other.
For the moment, what we'd like to know is this:
a) Is this something you would like to attend?
b) What topics would you like to see addressed?
Please give us feedback as we'd love to hear what your needs are and how we can address them. We are going to do this even if it just ends up being her and I treating ourselves to massage and pedicures...LOL. But we'd really love to have some of you other event producers join us for a fun and educational weekend in Vegas, baby!!!
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 11:48 AMTopic suggestions:
1. Pros and cons of setting up your business as a 501c3 non-profit
2. How to get grants to help fund your events - arts grants, humanities grants, cultural grants, etc.
3. How to negotiate contracts - with venues, with guest artists, etc.
4. What event organizers should know about legal issues such as liability insurance, music licenses, etc.
Wanna hire me to present my "Artistic Marketing" workshop? <grin>
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 11:50 AMI would love it. I've long been wanting to dip my toes in the festival arena but didn't want to muck it up with inexperience. Something like this would be great for people just starting and people who want to produce better shows.
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 2:46 PMSamira,
What hotel is this retreat going to be held?Saw one on t.v. with a steam room (ala HAMMAN- ) spa etc. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 3:46 PMLOL...nearly every good hotel in Vegas has a steam room and spa. No worries. We'll choose a place that is nice. We want to do it somewhere nice, but also affordable. We are currently crosschecking the convention schedule so that we get a weekend that will have good rates. We were leaning towards the MGM Grand, but there are so many nice hotels.
Once we have a list of preferred topics, we'll start chatting with as many of the successful event organizers that we can entice to participate. We feel like we have a lot to learn & share with everyone. We don't expect this to be some huge seminar. We just want an excuse to pamper ourselves, network, and connect with others who share similar issues to the ones we face.
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IBDC
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 5:21 PMA short seminar by the organizers of the IBDC would be a draw, in a morbid sort of way. -
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Re: IBDC
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 5:32 PMBWAHAhahahahha, Maura...you didn't !!!! I would have never brought that up publically, but you seriously have me ROFLMAO.
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 5:23 PM2010 is enough notice for me... will be there.
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 5:45 PMThis sounds great! Just my two cents: it would be great to break it up a little with some yoga or dance workouts in addition to all the note taking and q&a! Will there be a web site? -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 9:34 PMI am sure I can manage to get some sort of website, even if I just add info the my own existing site.
I'm open to doing a variety of things, but the focus really will be on pampering and learning. I host enough dance related things that this really needs to be something different. Brad suggested pedicures...hahahahahaha. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Sat, February 14, 2009 - 3:39 PMThe only pampering I would need is about three eight shot hazelnut lattes....
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Sun, February 15, 2009 - 5:21 AMSounds like a wonderful opportunity for those of us who have organized events to network and get new ideas flowing. Great idea! -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Sun, February 15, 2009 - 10:10 AMThis sounds really awesome!!
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Sun, February 15, 2009 - 6:36 PMYeah...I think it will be awesome. But I could use more ideas on topics you want to see covered. I know some of you have stuff you'd like to learn more about. Budgets? Advertising? What else? -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Sun, February 15, 2009 - 9:03 PMContracts.
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Tue, February 17, 2009 - 10:13 AMJust remember that some event producers are men, and dancing and spa's are not likly to be on their Top 10 things to do in Vegas.
I would like to see talks on picking dates for your event. How to check and see if you are infringing on another event.
Kinda in the same vein, non compete contracts for the teachers.
and I wonder who would be attending. Is it for people wanting to learn how to do events? If I was getting together with people, I would want others to be able to share and be able to offer first hand experience. Not someone who wants to know how and can't share or offer anything.
I don't want someone there who says do it this or that way and has never done a event.
And then that brings us to, how much experience do they have at what type of events. Would there be experience requirements for being able to attend?
Not putting anyone down here, or trying to be a buzz kill, but someone who has only ever put on a couple of student hafla's, doesn't have the same experience as someone who has put on large multi-day events.
2 days, is not a lot of time. I know because I go to a lot of these exact same things for DJ's. Just in November I was in Pennsylvania for one and in two days we barley scratch the surface. If you spend a bunch of times in spa's and such, the learning time will be almost none.
If it is a pampering retreat, cool, but a learning retreat, well that is two different things. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat... (or whatever it turns into)
Tue, February 17, 2009 - 12:31 PMYes, Chuck, absolutely! To everything you have said, I'd like to say thank you!! This is exactly the sort of input I was hoping to get, and I'm grateful you've taken time to respond. I think I really share your concerns in this new project of mine. For myself, this "spark" of an idea was more from wanting to connect to other major event organizers in order to "talk shop" with each of them. And what a better way of doing so then getting together for a weekend in Vegas, eh?! I'm well aware that there are male organizers, but I didn't think you'd turn down a massage ;) In my head, I see the day time as being the primary learning period, and our evenings for shows/pampering/enjoying Vegas, etc. But I'm truly open to suggestions. Yes, I agree that 2 days is limiting, but I wasn't sure we'd have enough interest or demand to warrant a longer period.
As far as attendees, I'm also playing around with ideas. I would like to connect with those of you who have ample experience. I feel confident that as a multi-day event organzier, that I have some ideas to bring to the table as well. But I also think it might be interesting to have the more experienced folks be presenters. Of course, that would mean we'd have to compensate you for your expertise. So we need to find a way to make that happen if that is the best route to go. I agree that someone with little experience probably doesn't have a ton to offer....but they do have a lot to learn. So if we could find a way that we could meet the needs of those with experience with those who have less, then it's a win-win. I really like win-win situations.
As far as dates, we are also open to suggestions; however, since we are doing this in Vegas we also need to consult the list of major Vegas conventions so that we a) can get space and b) can afford the space. LOL. I'm sure you understand. When we looked at the calendar, January was fairly sparse. We realize that there are events all year long. Of course we don't want to conflict with Rakkasah, Tribal Fest, and other big events. And then there is the fact that Tori has an event in March and I have an event in September....so we both need to plan things so we can remain sane as well. I'm sure you understand that too.
I probably have more to add, but I have to run be a mom now. Let me know what other thoughts you have.
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Oops...
Tue, February 17, 2009 - 3:43 PMI've been ratted out. Not enough experience :P
I think I owe Brad a gift certificate for a pedicure, though, because of his critiques of my posters.... -
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Re: Oops...
Tue, February 17, 2009 - 7:18 PMI am pretty sure she said "gift certificate"...I highly doubt she's going to give you a pedicure Brad. -
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Re: Oops...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 10:09 AMSince my emery board cannot get to Vegas without me, I took this as indirect encouragement to come-as-I-am. As far as the actual pedicure goes: I admire his courage, his tootsies would be safer in the hands of a professional. But I concede to youth and beauty. Samira, YOU may give him the pedicure. -
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Re: Oops...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 11:40 AMLadies... No need to fight. I've got two feet. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Oops...
Sun, March 1, 2009 - 9:33 PMhahahaha....you guys are cracking me up.
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Re: Oops...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 4:29 PMMaura, you are unbelievably generous! BWahhahahahahahahah.
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 5:49 AMAdvertising/marketing would be good along with treatment of instructors and what they should get in a contract (travel? hotel? food? hourly rate or percentage? performance fees?). How to go about choosing/rotating vendors from year to year. Viability and profitability for everyone involved (teachers, vendors, and organizers) is important too. Organization of registration information both in person and on site. Dealing with venue contracts and insurance.
In our fifth year of running Tribal Revolution, my troupe pretty much has our system down, but it's always good to bounce ideas off of others and get/give more input to make more of these types of events a success. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 5:51 AMAs for dates, I vote the dead of winter so I can get the heck outta Chicago when it's at its worst! Selfish, I know... but you did ask! -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 6:41 AMLOL...it kind of works out that there are way less belly dance events in the dead of winter as well.
We are tentatively planning on the last part of January 2010, so if anyone has a compelling reason why those dates are bad, speak up. The first weekend in Jan 2010 is New Year's (bad), the second is the major CES convention (bad), the third weekend is Martin Luther King weekend (a possibility but I want to check hotel rates here), the fourth weekend (also looks promising).
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 9:17 AMFeb is better for us, Jan is a busy time of yerar here, the second week is good,,, but I haven't looked at Kajira's stuff, I know she is already booked for 2010...
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 10:22 AMLate January is pretty much perfect, with Feb coming in a close second, but don't forget that TribalCon is in February and 3rd Coast is in mid-January. I don't know if those organizers are interested in participating, but they are very successful events, by my understanding. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, February 18, 2009 - 10:54 AMYes, I was aware of both of those and was trying to avoid both. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Tue, March 3, 2009 - 10:48 AMThis sounds like a wonderful idea!! Please keep us posted. -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Tue, March 3, 2009 - 8:26 PMMost definitely. It's looking more like February at the moment...due to scheduling stuff. But when I have dates and a firm concept nailed down I will be sure to keep everyone posted. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Wed, March 11, 2009 - 4:02 PMI'd like one on putting together a press kit for your event. I've put a few together (for various purposes) and I know it made a difference in getting press for an event we did last year and are planning to do again this year. The press kit made a difference in what we got for our work! FREE press is cheaper than paid marketing. But it isn't easy to get. Need a presenter??? -
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Re: Event Producing -- Retreat...
Fri, March 13, 2009 - 1:54 AMthis all sounds great samira, i won't be back in the states until summer 2010, but you can count me in for the 2nd annual in 2011!
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