APUG Conference for 2007?

Jim Chinn · May 8, 2006

First off, congratulations to all involved in what sounds like a great success. I wish I could have attended.

With many of the APUG sponsors, movers and shakers all together in one place, was there any discussion about the when and where for next years conference?

Also, is there any numbers on how many participants attended during the weekend?

Lachlan Young · May 8, 2006

In the UK or Europe please.

Thanks,

Lachlan

roteague · May 8, 2006

Jim, the only talk I heard about next year really was from some of the crew working this one. They all hoped there would be one next year.

The opening night of the conference, we seemed to have a lot of walk in traffic from the general public. On advantage we had was being part of the month long "Contact" art festival.

I may get flamed for this, but I think the conference should be held in Toronto again next year, although closer towards the middle/end of May. The facilities were first rate, with the darkrooms on site it made it easy to hold the darkroom sessions. There was plenty of room in the outside tent for the vendors and participants. The thing to be aware of is that Bob Carnie, essentially shut his business down for the duration of the conference - he even had his employees working on the setup and preparing the galleries. His crew is an excellent group of people.

Travis Nunn · May 8, 2006

As nice as it would be to have it in different locations around the world each year, I have to agree with Robert. It would be up to Bob, though since it is his building/business. If Bob feels he can do it again next year, I'm all for it being in Toronto again.

Bob Carnie · May 8, 2006

I am just heading out a couple of days rest at the cottage.

Both John and I think we will do this again next year end of may early june, with most of the instructors invited back. We will see how things pan out over the next few weeks and make our decision End of May Early June.

Thankyou all for the kind words , it was a pleasure meeting one and all and I hope we can do it again

Dave Parker · May 8, 2006

I love to see this a continuing event, but I would really like to see it held at least one time in the states, I have my own personal reasons for not wanting to travel out of the country, and I am sure others do as well, so at least once in the states would be nice..

Dave

Craig · May 8, 2006

Thanks Bob, you deserve the rest! If you're up to it, I'd love to see it at Elevator next year.

gr82bart · May 8, 2006

I'm all for Europe under conditions

Lachlan Young said:
In the UK or Europe please.

I'm all for this if the following things can be addressed:

1. Organizers. These people have to be dedicated and professional. John and Bob were first rate. You can't be half assed here.

2. Location/Facilities/Venue. The place needs to have several darkrooms that can accommodate upto 20 people at a time. There needs to be conference rooms, a space for a gallery - LOTS of prints. There needs to be a place for the social stuff. Is there a place for vendors to show their wares?

3. Places to shoot.

4. Reason to be there other than APUG. Maybe another photographic festival (associated with the Festival of Light) so that there is something else for visitors to go to.

5. Marketing and Publicity.

6. Accessible and relatively inexpensive. Airports, hotels, car rentals, etc... what's the infrastructure going to be? Who's going to organize?

I'm not suggesting there are none of these in Europe, but just naming a continent isn't enough.

Regards, Art.

Andy K · May 8, 2006

gr82bart said:
6. Accessible and inexpensive. Airports, hotels, car rentals, etc... what's the infrastructure going to be? Who's going to organize?

This is the problem. No matter where the Conference is held, it is not going to be inexpensive and accessible to all. Toronto is a great location, if you live on the same continent. For the rest of us there is the cost of flights, hotels, the extra travelling time off work. I would dearly have loved to attend the Conference, but the above factors made Toronto (for me, I can't speak for others) economically unviable.
Things would have been very different with a European location, say France, Germany's Black Forest, Austria, Switzerland or Norway even (very photogenic place Norway!). All are easily accessible to a great many members.
Unfortunately, for the time being at least, it looks like the Conference will be available only to those on the western side of the Atlantic and those on this side able to justify the expense.

Travis Nunn · May 8, 2006

Andy K said:
...For the rest of us there is the cost of flights, hotels, the extra travelling time off work...Unfortunately, for the time being at least, it looks like the Conference will be available only to those on the western side of the Atlantic and those on this side able to justify the expense.

Just curious, approximately how much is a flight from the UK to Toronto?

thebanana · May 8, 2006

There's no rule that says there can only be one conference. Why not several of them, then people would have a choice.

Andy K · May 8, 2006

t_nunn said:
Just curious, approximately how much is a flight from the UK to Toronto?

It varies between £350 to about £550 (thats Pounds) on a 7day return ticket and depending on airline, number of stops and time of year.

Travis Nunn · May 8, 2006

Andy K said:
It varies between £350 to about £550 (thats Pounds) on a 7day return ticket.

Yeah, that's quite a bit more than a flight from the states.

John is right, though. Why not put together a Euro APUG conference? There's certainly enough APUGers in Europe to make it a large event.

david b · May 8, 2006

I'll probably get a lot of shit for this but why not have it before, during or after the PhotoArts week in Santa Fe New Mexico? I believe it runs the odd years in July.

gr82bart · May 8, 2006

thebanana said:
There's no rule that says there can only be one conference. Why not several of them, then people would have a choice.

I agree.

Like I said earlier - who's going to organize, where's the location/venue,etc... ?These are all good thoughts and ideas, but with no one to organize, no real venue, etc...it's just a pipedream at the moment.

If it were in Europe or Asia or anywhere, I'd hop on a plane to be there hands down. But it's not the place that people should focus on, it's the organization and facilities. This wasn't just a get-together.

So far, no real alternatives have been suggested. Just nice places to get together.

Regards, Art.

DBP · May 8, 2006

I believe Sean said he was also visiting family in the Carolinas. How about Charleston, SC, on or around the Spoleto Arts Festival, which is some time in May?

Andy K · May 8, 2006

A European conference could coincide with something like the Edinburgh Arts Festival. I believe there is similar in Berlin the Art Forum Berlin?

Craig · May 8, 2006

Andy K said:
It varies between £350 to about £550.

Simon said his fare was about 400. Toronto is actually fairly economical to get to from europe, compared to Vancouver for example, or any place on the west coast. It probably fairly "central" to both Europe and North America in terms of what airfare costs.
My air was about £300, so it's really not that different for a west coast APUG'er to attend as it would be for a European to attend.

Uncle Bill · May 8, 2006

Aside from being in my own backyard, I would prefer to keep the APUG conference where it is provided Bob and John are up to it for essentially the reasons outlined previously
1) organization, as a volunteer, I saw the pressure Bob and John are under to make it a first class event, believe this was a first class job and I was honoured to volunteer with this conference. To be held anywhere else, you have to have a first class team in place who can deliver.
2) Location, ok I am biased, Toronto is centrally located and an airline hub so it is reasonably easy to get to from most places in North America and Western Europe. With the European APUG membership, are there any charter carriers that fly to North America cheap? Or book further ahead. We also had access to the best lab complex in town if not the province of Ontario, it was also blessed with gallery space, and boardrooms which help with workshops. Plus as Robert Teague pointed out, the quality of light here is first rate for shooting and tons of material for shooting in and around town.
3)The quality of the team of organizers and volunteers was first rate. The really big if Bob and John want to do this again, I would be happy to volunteer again. I really enjoyed showing fellow APUGer's around town and being part of making this all happen.

roteague · May 8, 2006

t_nunn said:
Yeah, that's quite a bit more than a flight from the states.

My tickets were $850 return, and included 9 1/2 hours of flying. I recognize that everyone has different financial considerations; it's an individual choice about the cost/benefit ratio. For me, the cost was inconsequential for what I was getting in return.

Sean · May 8, 2006

I was absolutely blown away by the venue and their staff. Before the conference I assumed the Tortonto event would be a 1-off thing then we would move it elsewhere. However after seeing first hand what the conference crew went through and just how perfect the venue was I would be hesitant to think it could be pulled off somewhere else. Elevator gallery isn't just a few rooms and a darkroom, this facility is vast with a mass of rooms and darkrooms + equipment, etc. I think you just had to be there to know how perfect the facility was, it could not have been better. Other suggestions can be taken into consideration but I have a hard time believing they'll have the total package like Elevator did.

David Brown · May 8, 2006

Sean said:
I was absolutely blown away by the venue and their staff. Before the conference I assumed the Tortonto event would be a 1-off thing then we would move it elsewhere. However after seeing first hand what the conference crew went through and just how perfect the venue was I would be hesitant to think it could be pulled off somewhere else. Elevator gallery isn't just a few rooms and a darkroom, this facility is vast with a mass of rooms and darkrooms + equipment, etc. I think you just had to be there to know how perfect the facility was, it could not have been better. Other suggestions can be taken into consideration but I have a hard time believing they'll have the total package like Elevator did.

This may be true, but it's too bad. I don't mean that Toronto isn't a good place, but ideally, moving it around would have its benefits! There have been several suggestions, and I'll add Houston (for a year to be named) around Fotofest. If scenery is a criteria, Bavaria, Tuscany and Sante Fe have been mentioned in this thread and the chatroom.

It really does come down to the volunteers to put the thing on, and if Bob and John are the guys, then they are the guys. We'll see.

David Brown · May 8, 2006

Satinsnow said:
... I have my own personal reasons for not wanting to travel out of the country, and I am sure others do as well, ...

Canada? Really? :confused:

BWGirl · May 8, 2006

Well, I have to say that APUG Conference II was a big topic for many of us attendees. I personally drove, but it was a 2 day minimum drive for me. Would I do it again??? ABSOLUTELY!!

I had such a great time and it was just the best getting to meet people from APUG, including our own "Forum-Father", Sean!

I would have a couple suggestions for next year, but for the most part, considering that this was a first-time for everything, it was GREAT.

AndyK... I would LOVE to be able to come to your 'neck' of the woods for a conference if the venue would be as perfect, and I understand your concerns about the expense. I personally hope things get a little easier to afford by next year, so maybe you could come, to Toronto, too!

unohuu · May 8, 2006

What about having Regional APUG conferences? Europe, North America, Central and South America, Pacific Islands and then every five years or so an International APUG conference somewhere. I plan to go next year where ever it may be! Luke

APUG Conference for 2007?

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