Why You didn't Come to the Conference

[David A. Goldfarb]

I was fairly close to coming, but had a work conflict that came up in the weeks preceding the conference. Had it been even one week later, I'd have been there.

 

[colrehogan]

I've already made plans to attend the VC conference since it's relatively close to me this year. (Yay!) Plus I'm taking two workshops there. I made a big purchase of a camera which I just happened to pay for just before the APUG conference. So I'm just like others, a combination of not enough money available and the cost to get there.

 

[Drew B.]

There was nothing on the schedule I was interested in.

 

[jd callow]

John,

I have to say, I take offense at this statement, I also have to say, this is not the way to entice people to put away their hard earned money to attend an event...

And this ain't going to be nice, BUT 110 people attending an event of this nature does not offer the incentives to make me spend the thousands of dollars required to attend, as a business owner who does nothing but photography and make glass, I need to know I am going to recoup my investment to attend...

But again, in an active community of this nature, telling people to get off their ass as we strugle to make sure the analog community continues to keep going is not the best way to make people want to attend.

Dave

Easy big guy,
It was a joke.

 

[jd callow]

There was nothing on the schedule I was interested in.

What would you liked to see on the schedule?

 

[Dave Parker]

Easy big guy,
It was a joke.

Glad to hear that John,

But remember the written word, can not show the smiles that having a beer together or talking over a cup of coffee can...sorry if I took it wrong, but I still think it was in bad taste.

Dave

 

[roteague]

There was nothing on the schedule I was interested in.

I didn't sign up for any of the workshops, mainly because I am not real interested in B&W printing subjects. But, I signed up for Blansky's workshop on portraiture just before I started - and I'm glad I did, Michael taught me a whole lot of things I didn't know, but was interested in learning.

You could have come to the sunrise shoot - we could have used a couple more hardy souls on a cold, early morning (0430). Got, some great images. I think John (thebanana is now regretting not coming).

 

[dschneller]

You could have come to the sunrise shoot - we could have used a couple more hardy souls on a cold, early morning (0430). Got, some great images. I think John (thebanana is now regretting not coming).

I almost made it to the sunrise shoot, but my pillow had me in a head lock!

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

For me it was finishing up my semester and preparing a conference that is due for performance this Friday. Now I must say I am feeling somewhate belittled by David Goldfarb, because I just realized that he's a pretty solid academic (I'm just an MA student) AND he has the time to moderate APUG, AND he was nearly at the conference too. My hats to you David, it sure mustn't be easy to have so many lives.

 

[thebanana]

I won't make that mistake again next year. You can always sleep when you get home.

 

[photomc]

Could tell you it was the $$ - the cost getting/staying there, could tell you not much on crowds, which is very true...don't stick around the chat room when it gets more than 8-10 people. Yes there workshops looked interesting, and any chance to hear Les McLean speak would be worth the price alone...with all the other good people you had it was not the cost of the conference.

But to be honest, one of the larger photographic events - FotoFeast, was in my own backyard (OK about a 4-5 hr drive) in Houston and did not get to make it either. Sometimes, life just keeps getting in the way. Like Frank said...the job uncertainy in the IT world today, keeps you working more hours than you should and spending much more time looking around to make sure there is not some pink slip following you around. And pink is not my color -

The other thing is, the price getting there could just be used else where these days...paper/film/even a new lens. Not that there is no value to going...just a difference in priorities I guess. One reason I think regional events might do well...weekend workshops, with a APUG twist...heck I would sign up for a local gum over platinum/palladium with Clay, Kerik or even Matt or Jeremy. And I consider myself lucky to have Lee, David Brown, Jeremy and Matt to work on a project with...which also takes up most of my free time.

 

[unohuu]

Court Proceedings

that I could not get out of. Child Protection cases come to me and the most inconvenient times. That we I was scheduled for a trial that should have been finished at St. Patrick's Day. The judge told us all to just be there. They have that kind of authority and ego.

Luke

 

[firecracker]

How about providing online video-streaming from the next event? Maybe just the highlights of it. That will compensate the missed opportunity a little.

I know it's a lot of work to do but will certainly become very helpful as another source of information.

Just a little thought.

 

[Aggie]

How about providing online video-streaming from the next event? Maybe just the highlights of it. That will compensate the missed opportunity a little.

I know it's a lot of work to do but will certainly become very helpful as another source of information.

Just a little thought.

I made this suggestion a couple of hours ago, and one page ago, only to sell it on DVD afterwards. Knowing it is not that expensive to do, son did it in California for work. Alas, I got told to back away from the computer and get off my butt and basically slapped down for it. I didn't take it as a joke. Would others go if they got told that? I agree Dave!

 

[Vahid Naziri]

I usually have one at a time (i.e. money or time). This time I was lacking both.
But, honestly, I sat on it for too long. And, when the time for the conferrence came, it was too late to make the arrangements. I am kicking myself in the rear for that.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

An unexpected work related conflict forced me to cancel at the last minute.

 

[gr82bart]

I'm really humbled reading this thread. It seems (lack of) money is the key impediment for people not attending. Maybe the organizers can find ways to get those who can't afford the costs a way to attend - maybe more contests like what Ilford is doing with their current postcard contest, I've asked for and recieved airline tickets in return for some sponsoship recognition for many past events I have organized, I know I looked for a hotel that would allow people to double up on rooms at a discounted rate so people could save on accommodations, I like the videostreaming concept but I'd add that it be available on a pay per view basis and not free, I'd include more social events in the cost of admission and lunch at minimum to reduce food costs again sponsorship could have offset food costs as well.

This is a delicate balance since these events do cost money and the I know that Bob and Kevin put up a LOT of money up front to make this happen, so on the one hand it's not a charity but on the other hand I know they'd want to make it accessible. It's a tough line to balance on, but I think now that the first one is done, only more ideas and creative solutions will be brought to the surface to get more people to come, who otherwise can't afford to.

I certainly would hope so.

Regards, Art.

 

[firecracker]

The problem with recording these events is 1) this is one way these folks make their living we can't give it away and paying them for the rights plus production is off the scale 2) the logistics of a simulcast or even an after the fact good quality stream is high 3) producing a DVD is even higher 4) y'all need to, step away from the keyboard, stay away from the remote, and get up off your butts.

I see. Not even for a promotional purpose of the conference? Can't they agree on volunteering a little before signing the contract and/or attending the event?

I happened to post a comment that was almost the same as Aggie's by total accident. But I have to make it clear that the video streaming I mentioned was to stay on the website, not for burning DVD copies.

Don't sell the DVDs. That's not my point. But just run maybe 5 to 10 minutes of it online if okay.

 

[firecracker]

E¯??¶?I made this suggestion a couple of hours ago, and one page ago, only to sell it on DVD afterwards. Knowing it is not that expensive to do, son did it in California for work. Alas, I got told to back away from the computer and get off my butt and basically slapped down for it. I didn't take it as a joke. Would others go if they got told that? I agree Dave![/QUOTE]

Sorry I missed it.

 

[Dave Parker]

Web streaming is not that difficult, most of us have enough computing power in our homes to do it quite successfully, and I would be more than willing to pay for a workshop over the web, which would in itself be a very unique benefit even if I paid for it, no other website is doing web streaming of actual learning events, I was looking into some furthering education the other day and the difference in class cost between me actually attending on site and doing a live online semester was nothing at all, in fact the online streaming option was less than if I attended on site, it could and would be a income generation system, that could be used during the conference as well as being offered after the fact if properly stored.

I, myself always look for ways to make things available to the maximum audience.

Dave

 

[MurrayMinchin]

I'm 45. I was semi-retired until the age of 32...meaning I farted my way between seasonal jobs, art schools, photography school, climbing trips, sea kayaking adventures, and blinders-on photographic episodes until I finally got a full time job at 32.

Then came the house and the mortgage. Then came the daughter. Then came the commitment to pay off the mortgage before she hits high school...being one of the least senior employees at work (see above) also means I'm a carrion feeder when it comes to picking time off

Murray

 

[Jim Chinn]

I was planning to attend but my wife took a major cut in the hours she works and it came down to simply not being able to fit it into the adjusted budget. It wasn't the only photography related activity I had to cancel as I had signed up for Lee's shooting workshop and had to bail on that one also.

If it had been after the school year was over we may have decided to swap Toronto for one of our summer vacation trips. So later in the spring/early summer would provide another travel option for the family.

As far as the cost, for most people the workshops are a bargain. It's the travel and lodging that can be a killer. Not really anything that can be done about that if you live a long way from the site. I think that really goes back to the idea that hopefully over the next year a few other potential sites in other locations can be secured for '08. For a lot of people cost of travel will always be a major obstacle, but if the conference was closer from time to time more individuals could make it to at least one.

 

[roteague]

Web streaming is not that difficult, most of us have enough computing power in our homes to do it quite successfully,

Good idea. Perhaps next year that will be an option. I know firsthand that they were really short handed this year for volunteer staff, especially those with an IT type of background. John and I were planning on putting up some stuff on the web, but John was just too swamped with other things to get to it; he and I were the only two that had a handle on IT that was working in the back doing setup. John really had a lot of responsibilities at this conference, and the poor guy really didn't have much time to enjoy the conference, except the drinking after the days activities.

 

[Donald Qualls]

No money. For membership, hotel, or travel. If you had the thing locally here in north-central North Carolina, I might make it for one day, but probably still couldn't afford the registration -- it's that or film, and film wins every time.

 

[hortense]

Live in Southern California.