Originally Posted by
happynole And that I can recall Jon was in Vegas, Savannah, Nebraska, and Atlanta. Also certainly was at Phoenix since he was one of the organizers back then.
Correct, 2002 (SE-R convention, Phoenix), 2004 (SE-R convention, SoCal (ish)) 2005 (SE-R convention, Austin), 2006 (SE-R convention Philly, NJ), 2007 (SE-R convention, LV) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013. This of course is not including NICOfests and other various outings. I feel a little whorish now, ha.
Originally Posted by
marksr20 The west has been tried out many times. The scene is not what it used to be. So as you can see Raul is putting together a west coast convention to get everyone together and have a good time. We will see the numbers when it happens and I hope to be there myself.
I've seen 2 conventions that are west of Chicago that had less attendance than any given weekend at my shop. With that being said the majority of people show up to the east coast based conventions. Nothing against the west but that's just the truth.
Just get to the national convention and have a blast. Go to Raul's convention on the west coast and have a blast. Then tell me how you feel about sr20 conventions by pictures that are taken so the people who didn't make it want to join us for future gatherings!
I agree from a "National Convention" standpoint, the west coast has always been low turnouts compared to east coast. There are many reasons why this occurs, but that's just arguing apples to oranges.
Originally Posted by
gomba I'm not suggesting to have it in the western section of the US nor in the center, just a state over or so (Indy/Chicago). The reason Nebraska failed was many, but I think the main reason it was TOO FAR from the majority of attendees. Length matters and we shouldn't close our eyes to this fact. A lot of people just won't make the drive if it's over XXXX miles.
Anyways, I was thinking some more about this and I can see advantages to having the convention at only a couple places. You get experienced organizers and familiar locations including familiarity with the people who run the tracks and hotels. I think Ohio and Georgia are actually 'better' for people coming from the center of the country then it would be for the convention to be held somewhere ON the east coast. On the other hand, there's also advantages to new places like new tracks and cities to explore.
-G
I think instead of classifying the conventions as "National", it really should be "East Coast Convention" and "West Coast Convention" if you really want to be politically correct. Days of the old SE-R "National" Conventions where large amounts of people from both coasts would come together equally in attendance are gone, and unlikely to return in the same force as they have in the past. Give the regions a chance to make their own convention, instead of localizing the "National" to one specific coast (just because it happens to fall that way, we all use "National" loosely) and see if they step up, if not then the east coast folks can say "Hey, our conventions rock!" and no one can argue with it.
Just my two cents, but from an organizer standpoint, the east coast guys put events together, west coast guys haven't in years. Raul has been the first west coaster in awhile to try and plan an event in quite a few years, so that's just another reason why its mid to east coast events as of late because they have been stepping up.
Also as an organizer, you can't make everyone happy, it sucks, it can burn bridges and sometimes you just have to be the bad guy which is the worst, but all in all you have to go where the attendance is. Your last line sums up my feelings in a nutshell, I would LOVE to experience new cities and tracks, but getting people there is a different story.
I love going out to the conventions either way, granted I'm not as outgoing as most, don't land in photos or videos (Joe, HA!) and maybe a lot of people don't know me because I just stick with the people I know (I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most outgoing guy unless you get some Crown in me), but I still go because I enjoy getting out of town, hanging out with old friends, kicking the feet up and sturring up a little trouble. I honestly don't really care about the cars any more because frankly, I've seen a ton of them over the years and there isn't too much that is "new and cool". As sad as that is I could be perfectly content with a track day (because come on, who doesn't like a good track day?), and a picnic where everyone just hangs out and BS's. The people are the reason I stay on the forums, coming to conventions and continue to go out to meets, if it wasn't, I'd have jumped ship years ago.
Hell I thought this
@marksr20 was just another a-hole at the Atlanta convention until I had a beer with him and hung out for a few hours one evening
.
So I apologize for any candid remark that may have been misconstrued as an attack or personal gripe towards any individual. I guess I've gotten to that stage where if you want something, put it together and step up, if not let the people who do that keep doing it and join in the festivities!
Anywho, just my two cents.