AllenLowe Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 (edited) I was going to wait on this until after the holidays, but I wanted to get a sense of the forum - Jim and I have discussed maybe holding an Organissimo Conference in May of 2008 in Chicago - the idea is a 2 day conference, maybe a panel discussion or two, maybe some vendor tables, and a Saturday night performance by some goups, plus a stripper (just seeing if anyone's paying attention) - the way I see it is that this site and this conference can be used to galvanize at leat some segment of the jazz audience that is tired of the same old-same old, the crappy promotional tie ins, the same musicians over and over again, the bad music, and the sight of Berigan dancing the rhumba - well, I can't eliminate that last, but maybe we can get him to do a Merengue instead - but all seriousness aside, this is a chance to do something for ourselves instead of waiting for an industry that is semi-comatose; get to hang out, talk about the things we care about, listen to some music (and maybe we can get a few ringers), see what we each look like in the flesh (now there's a thought) - and here's the need: I'm thinking we charge maybe $35 for the weekend, for the panels and conference, try to find a place to hold the discussions/concerts (I'm working on this separately but we are happy to entertain suggestions), and hopefully we can draw some non-Organissimo people who live in Chicago and the environs - Larry Kart will give the introductory address - (just kidding there, Larry) - however, Larry does have a large rec room, and if he can get the pool table and the large-screen TV and his beer-drinkin' buddies out of there, we might be able to use it - at any rate, I don't thing we can make a go of this unless we have at least 50 paying conference go-ers; figure, you fly in on Friday, conference on Saturday, concert Saturday night, some meetings/conference things on Sunday, and than go home - that's the general outline - though maybe it should be fly in on Thursday, conference/concerts Friday and Saturday, go home Sunday - let us know what you think, and make a committment to go - Edited December 21, 2007 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 by the way, the more I think of it, I think a friday-saturday conference makes the most sense - otherwise we'll lose a lot of our people on sunday as they try to catch flights outta there - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Fly in Friday morning, drink all day and night straight through Sunday morning, then get flown out... is that the plan? Anyways, I'm in. That's the weekend before Memorial Day, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoGrubb Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Strippers!? I hate traveling. Y'all toss back a couple for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 so far I am underwhelmed by the response - c'mon guys - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 let's have it in Ann Arbor! if not, Chicago could work for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 so far I am underwhelmed by the response - c'mon guys - I'm not thrilled about the costs. It would cost money to go to Chicago to begin with, then we've got to shell out for a "boring" conference? I prefer to just hang somewhere. I'm a poor student right now. I am not opposed to Chicago as a venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 so far I am underwhelmed by the response - c'mon guys - This might not be the optimum time to get a lot of responses, what with people taking off for the holidays and all. I'm up for it, but it may be a little short notice for some- I know I've already booked much of the first half of next year. Some folks might need a little more time to plan for it. I hope it works out, though! If it comes together I'll make every effort to attend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Did you say "vendor tables"? If I happen to be in the US and have enough time to get there and back, I'd definitely attend (not that my presence would be much of 'draw', but I've got $35 to blow.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Can I be on the "What vinyl are you spinning" panel? The strippers will be a major selling point for me, but they will have to be cool 1950s grindhouse cheesecake strippers, not those smacked-out 80s looking chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Will the restrooms be equipped with Go-Karts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 "I'm not thrilled about the costs. It would cost money to go to Chicago to begin with, then we've got to shell out for a "boring" conference?" yes, $35 is very steep for a professional conference - and thank you for that vote of confidence - and for that touching display of affection for you fellow organissimo-ites - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 "I'm not thrilled about the costs. It would cost money to go to Chicago to begin with, then we've got to shell out for a "boring" conference?" yes, $35 is very steep for a professional conference - and thank you for that vote of confidence - and for that touching display of affection for you fellow organissimo-ites - We likely misunderstand each other. I would love to hang with Organissimo posters. I would not love to listen to a bunch of prepared speeches and sales pitches. Perhaps I misunderstand what the "conference" is about? If you mean rent a conference room where everyone can hang then that's different. I guess I don't know what you mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 The strippers will be a major selling point for me, but they will have to be cool 1950s grindhouse cheesecake strippers, not those smacked-out 80s looking chicks. Those ladies gotta be getting a little long in the tooth! Heck, even the 80's strippers are probably in their mid 40's at least, by now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 The strippers will be a major selling point for me, but they will have to be cool 1950s grindhouse cheesecake strippers, not those smacked-out 80s looking chicks. Those ladies gotta be getting a little long in the tooth! Heck, even the 80's strippers are probably in their mid 40's at least, by now! But there are young women now who do old-school cheesecake stuff. That's who I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 well, let's clarify - the conference may include panels - maybe a noted Chicago musician to field questions; or a group pf radio people to talk about contemporary jazz radio; collectors to talk about what's hot and what's not, what's rare and what's not, what they've found that you don't know about; writers to talk about contemporary coverage of jazz and the literature; Clementine to tell us why we're all full of shit (now that's one I personally would like to see); could be a lot of things - could include tables of used LPs; a show of jazz videos and films (maybe invite Mark Cantor); a criticism of jazz academia; a talk about Jack Purvis; a debate between Chris Albertson and Berigan - a resurrection of Che - plenty of room for suggestions - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 or maybe a human sacrifice - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 can we get Braxton to show up? Or maybe Roscoe Mitchell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 Braxton would be great, but he basically told me, last summer, that his only interest is to be booked with his group - which could be done; all depends on budget - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 How about starting with a "virtual conference" using the "Live Chat" feature? We might be able to drum up some interest in a "real" conference after a day or two of discussion about time, place, price, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 Braxton would be great, but he basically told me, last summer, that his only interest is to be booked with his group - which could be done; all depends on budget - his group? is that the 12+1 unit that was featured on the Iridium box set? that would be pricey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 How about starting with a "virtual conference" using the "Live Chat" feature? We might be able to drum up some interest in a "real" conference after a day or two of discussion about time, place, price, etc. As long as we can drink beer and call each other names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 The idea appeals to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 I would be very interested in attending. I can't commit this early, but May is a relatively light work month for me, so it sounds definitely withing the realm of the possible. I have ideas for the concert that might be just perfect because the venue is Chicago... Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 I might be up for a trip to Chicago, especially if organissimo is going to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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