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SECOND Annual Northeast Tiki Tour (Ideas wanted) |
Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
|  Posted: 2007-08-27 10:37 am Permalink
Ok,
I know, I know....I'm still basking in the afterglow of this weekend's events (and I'll be basking in Epsom salts later to sooth my booze-ravaged body) but its never too early to start planning.
So here's the question for the floor....would you rather an event that focused on bar hopping like the one we just had? Or a more hotel oriented event (room crawls, more bands, etc)?
Or a little of both (like our friday night room-crawl combined with the bus tour, etc)? If both, which would you like to have the larger focus?
There's always room for improvement and growth, so I guess I'm asking (even though this weekend was great) ....what would you have done different to make it better?
You wont hurt my feelings. I'm looking for suggestions & constructive criticism.....and knowing which way the first stop is has already been added to my notes!
I've got some ideas already (some of you know them) but I want to make sure its a direction everyone wants to go.
Let me hear from you.
bargoyle
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velveteenlounge
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 13, 2004
Posts: 324
From: Velveteen Lounge, NY
| Posted: 2007-08-27 10:42 am Permalink
Are you thinking of having a second bus (if it does indeed include a bus tour)? I hate to think of anybody being left out!
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jpmartdog
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Mar 27, 2005
Posts: 650
From: Amesbury, Mass
| Posted: 2007-08-27 10:54 am Permalink
I love what we did this year! The Friday night round robin was an amazing development that I had no idea how involved the 'bartender/hosts' had intended. Veerry coool! (Thanks you so much for your generosity and creativity)
The bus trip was amazingly fun! But its obvious as to its limitations for participants. After this year, Im sure more will want to be part of this great event.
I would love to see a two day event - one day of events at a 'swanky' hotel with available grounds or parking lot for vendors, artists, carvers, speakers, shows or musicians, and then in the evening... the round robin! The next day, lets pile on the buses for the tiki tour, swag bags and raffle.. and maybe some special surprises at a venue or two (like our way cool Waitiki concert at the New Tiki this year!)
And... on the third day...... LOL maybe we could all go to rehab together.
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2007-08-27 10:54 am Permalink
VL- Absoulutely! More capacity is #1 on my list for next year. I'll have 2 buses ready to go and possibly a third in the wings if needed.
This many additional people means the tour must change slightly, which is why I pose the questions above.
I mean, there's no way 100 people (or more) will fit in the grotto in the back of the South Pacific...so one bus would get there at 2 and leave at 4, the next one shows up at 4 and leaves at 6, etc. It gets complicated logistically. At least with the capacity at the Kowloon we know all of us would be together at some point.
Now 100 people around the pool at the Tiki Resort in Lake George while a band plays Live exotica...a little easier, but is it what we want?
Do we want an Oasis type event, or a Bus Tour event, or do we try to have the best of both worlds and do a little of each?
JPM- Im with ya 100% but then what are the days? friday for the hotel scene, sat for the tour? How many people could take a friday off from work for the hotel hang? Or do we plan around a holiday weekend? Columbus day? Does a pool hang work in October?
[ This Message was edited by: Bargoyle 2007-08-27 10:57 ]
[ This Message was edited by: bargoyle 2007-08-27 11:11 ]
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velveteenlounge
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 13, 2004
Posts: 324
From: Velveteen Lounge, NY
| Posted: 2007-08-27 11:13 am Permalink
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I would love to see a two day event - one day of events at a 'swanky' hotel with available grounds or parking lot for vendors, artists, carvers, speakers, shows or musicians, and then in the evening... the round robin! The next day, lets pile on the buses for the tiki tour, swag bags and raffle.. and maybe some special surprises at a venue or two (like our way cool Waitiki concert at the New Tiki this year!)
And... on the third day...... LOL maybe we could all go to rehab together.
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I love this idea. I, for one, was in a shopping mood and would love to see some vendors. A two-day event would be perfect and the idea of splitting it between events at the hotel and away from the hotel seems like a great balance.
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2007-08-27 11:33 am Permalink
I tried a few vendors this year, but with it being so close to Oasis, I couldn't get 'em to come out. The next one will be planned without conflict (hopefully), and some vendors will make it out. I think have a successful 1st one and the possiblity of more than doubling in size for the second might arouse the interest of the vendors. Plus our booth sites will be dirt cheap!
Ok, so far...ummm...everything, huh? lol. Room crawl, bus crawl, vendors, bands, seminars, carvers, clowns & catering.
Dont forget the polynesian floor show with the fire dancers!! lol.
Ok.
I'm on it. its the idea I had from the begining. With a little momentum, I thnk we can get closer to that "ultimate" tiki gathering this next go 'round...but it may take until year 3 that we get it all....or 4....we'll see.
We got anyone in the Albany area on here? I'm looking for scouts rt now. pm me.
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Rain
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 27, 2002
Posts: 431
From: Providence, RI
| Posted: 2007-08-27 11:46 am Permalink
A hotel-oriented oasis event would be awesome, methinks. It might be a little harder to fill the entire day effectively, but maybe a shorter day tour and then finish at the hotel? And ixnay on the ownsclay.
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The Granite Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 02, 2005
Posts: 786
From: Nashua, NH
| Posted: 2007-08-27 11:56 am Permalink
I know you're embarrassed by the whole going in the wrong direction right out of the shoot thing, but that was pure comedy gold, and I wouldn't trade that memory in for a 50th Anniversary Oceanic Arts Mug!
(of course, I don't have to, BECAUSE I WON ONE IN THE RAFFLE WOO HOOOOO!!!)
But back to business, I see the benefit to a more stationary event as well, but definitely in addition to, not instead of the Mobile Tour like we just had. Perhaps two different events so we don't have to wait a year in between? (unless that's just not an option, which I'd certainly understand)
If that's not an option, I guess I'd prefer the tour on Saturday, and the shopping, concert listening, seminar digging on Sunday.
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kristiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 27, 2007
Posts: 56
From: Lebanon, NH
| Posted: 2007-08-27 12:40 pm Permalink
I wonder if there is some way to get the venues to have drink "specials," of which they make a lot, knowing we're on the way? A couple of the bars seemed to get utterly slammed and the drinks were kind of slow. I know if I had walked in a door and been greeted with "$5 Mai Tai, ready right now!" I'd have been all over that, and they might not get as far behind on menu orders.
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2007-08-27 1:03 pm Permalink
Yeah, the bars didnt seem to think we were really gonna show up. I told every single one, "bring in extra help...there will be 50 thirsty people who all will want a cocktail all at the same time"
Now, if they had, and then we show 1/2 hour late, they would be bitching at me about paying the help for the 1/2 hour!! lol
Shows how great Ping was at teh Mon Kou. 1 bartender...no help...had drinks FLYING out constantly.
Once again, I think with one under our belt, we've shown that we're serious, and I think we'll have their attention for next year!
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kristiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 27, 2007
Posts: 56
From: Lebanon, NH
| Posted: 2007-08-27 1:22 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2007-08-27 13:03, Bargoyle wrote:
Shows how great Ping was at teh Mon Kou. 1 bartender...no help...had drinks FLYING out constantly.
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Yeah, Mon Kou and South Pacific had it going on. New Tiki... less so... but they made up for it with WAITIKI!!! and lots o' swag.
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Scottes
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 18, 2007
Posts: 490
From: A Little North Of Boston
| Posted: 2007-08-27 1:52 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2007-08-27 11:56, The Granite Tiki wrote:
But back to business, I see the benefit to a more stationary event as well, but definitely in addition to, not instead of the Mobile Tour like we just had. Perhaps two different events so we don't have to wait a year in between? (unless that's just not an option, which I'd certainly understand)
If that's not an option, I guess I'd prefer the tour on Saturday, and the shopping, concert listening, seminar digging on Sunday.
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I love these thoughts. Two events per year would be fantastic.
But the 2-bus thing... That gets very tough. However, if it was done in shifts, thus they'd have 4 or 5 hours of 50 drinkers, then maybe they'd actually get the extra help. It's very tough to get an extra bartender for 2 lousy hours.
A stationary hotel thing... What about guest speakers, like the Bum? How about other "specialists" in various Tiki/Polynesian/Exotica?
And how about those among us?? I could be convinced to do an hour or two on rums - sampling, sipping and rambling. And we could get Pappy to re-live his bartending experience - Live On Stage! Is there someone who knows exotica music enough to fill an hour? We could ask Tikisgirl to give a History Of Tiki Mugs.
Seminars, vendors, live music, movies (South Pacific, anyone?).... We could fill 2.5 days - start Friday afternoon, go to Sunday afternoon.... Northeast Tiki Con...
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rugbymatt
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: Jun 03, 2005
Posts: 1201
From: Sacramento
| Posted: 2007-08-27 3:00 pm Permalink
I am down with all of it.
Friday evening with an organized trip for dinner (just like you did this year) followed by room crawling back at the hotel. Don't get too swanky a hotel though. You want one that has a pool but appreciates the rooms you book and will be tolerant of room crawlers and a wee bit'o noise late at night.
Saturday morning is recovery and pool lay-about time. A DJ spinning exotica tunes would not hurt either. This could be agood time for some of the locals to put on a carving expo too.
Stagger buses about 2 hours apart so as not to burden the host establishments and also give those needing more recovery time another option.
Saturday night poolside and/or room crawl continuation. This would also be a great opportunity to set a projector to show any old classic films on the lawn.
Sunday relaxation poolside maybe a couple bands or just a lot of the Waitiki boys. A nice polynesian brunch catered by one of the host restaraunts?
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Moai in the house!
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2007-08-27 4:10 pm Permalink
Lovin the ideas people. My original thought for next year was to sort of emulate the Tiki Kon. Part bus tour, part hotel hang. It seems to be the general concensus so far, so thats the way i'll plan.
Rugby, you're absolutely right. Hotel choice is key. I liked the super8 because of the horse-shoe all doors lead to outside thing....and its a super8. They were pretty tollerant of our wackiness.
Granite-I think a once a year thing is all Im good for. we'll still have our regular meetings, and as we get an FOM chapter together, there will be those meetings as well.
Anyone have a preference for a time of year? I dont want to be too close to any other event, and while I love the idea of the Northeast in the fall (leaf peepers anyone?) fall means the pool is just a place to gather, not swim.
Thoughts?
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velveteenlounge
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 13, 2004
Posts: 324
From: Velveteen Lounge, NY
| Posted: 2007-08-27 4:26 pm Permalink
Early or mid-September? Early enough to still be warm, but late enough to not interfere with Oasis?
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