Chicago Area GTG - Planning in advance!

[Forensicguy]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting the itch to have another Chicago area get together!

The last time, we held it at a Park District building in Mount Prospect and I'm all for doing that again. However, the cost is a little high which of course cuts into our ability to buy more food for the event or to charge a lower cost to attend. The rental alone was $205. And consider, we still needed money to pay for the food. Luckily, we just made it and all expenses were covered! :)

Last time, the cost was $20 per person to attend and we needed a minimum number of commited people to pay in advance so we could reserve the room.

Why did we pick Mount Prospect? Because it is close for me and easier for me to organize! But I'm open to suggestions for other places as well.

So here's what I need to know from you:

1. Should we rent a place again and if so, should we go back to the park district building in Mount Prospect?

2. Do you know of a cheaper place that also has kitchen facilities that we could rent from?

3. If we were to do another "paid-in-advance" event, would you commit to come? Would you still be willing to pay $20 so we could rent a place and get food?

4. Last time, we had chicken, potato wedges, pizza, potato salad, chips and soft drinks. Would you prefer something else, or was this ok?

5. When would you prefer to do a get together? Before Thanksgiving and Christmas or after the New Year? Remember, the room must be available as well and too short of notice could be a problem.

6. Do you have access to a laptop and projector? This would make a huge difference for us to project up the lyrics and chords!

Once again, I will most likely play bass to round out our sound. A sound system will also be available for vocals. I'll bring the drum machine again too, but we didn't use it all that much last time. I suggest bringing your own music stands and guitar stands.

This time, we'll only plug in mics for vocals, but no guitars. That way, everyone's guitar can be heard evenly. Of course though, the electric bass has to be plugged in... :)

Give me your thoughts!

Russ

[Forensicguy]

Here are a couple of photos from the last get together. This was at the facility in Mount Prospect. To see some videos, go here: http://www.digitaltake.com/guitar and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1S6UNsEkMI

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8057.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8056.jpg

[Chicago Sandy]

Laptop si, projector no. (Hopefully someone else can come up with the latter). I'd be willing to commit to paying and driving out to Mt. Prospect if the date works. But I'm sort of occupied between Thanksgiving and Dec. 13 (family coming in from VA for Turkey Day and Bar Show rehearsals and performances immediately following). Gigging Nov. 7 & 8 so that won't work, either (and we probably couldn't put something together on that short notice anyway). Jan. is probably OK unless I go to FL for the S FL Mini-Folk Festival benefit, for which I volunteered. Feb. is shot except for the very beginning, due to both a weeklong commitment to play the Coffeyville (KS) Humanities Project and Folk Alliance in Memphis.

Refreshments we had were OK--but I would request one dish w/o starch, such as a green salad.

[astrummer]

Not only do schedules tend to get tight starting around Thanksgiving but the driving conditions for any given weekend become a bit of a roll of the dice. When travelling along the East shore of Lake Michigan ( as I would be doing ) that can be particularly true.

[Forensicguy]

No problem on the salad and that's a good idea.

Schedules are going to be tight as we approach the holidays and of course winter driving conditions are always an issue... which could push us into the spring again. Our last gathering was May 2008... I hope we won't have to wait until May 2009 though!

Let's hear from others as well before we decide on anything.

If we were to hold this on a Sunday instead of a Saturday, that could open us up for an earlier gather (before Thanksgiving) but I'd have to check with the park district to see if they would allow a 3 pm to 9 pm time period on a Sunday. Saturdays seem to tied up quickly at that facility. Does anyone have an objection to doing this on a Sunday? I know it would be more difficult for astrummer since he's coming from Michigan!

[astrummer]

I know it would be more difficult for astrummer since he's coming from Michigan!

A Sunday afternoon can work for me.....

[flaggerphil]

If it works with my work schedule and the weather's ok, I'll try to make it out again.

[Oracle]

I'd be interested in trying to get together, but as many have already
mentioned, with the holidays coming soon, schedules can get pretty
busy. I could check about the availability of my church when/if a date
is firmed up. For sure the usage fee or donation could be much less, if
any at all. The location is around the Dempster / Asbury location in
Evanston. So far the only day that I for sure couldn't make is Dec. 13th.
Plenty of room to use. Chairs, tables, some music stands, kitchen,
(handicapped accessable). There are some pretty good restaurants in
the area that I'm sure would be able to work with us. Gulliver's on
Howard comes to mind. I have a Council meeting Thursday night, and I'll
check on things.

(Sandy, maybe we could have a road trip to Guitar Works if Terry's interested)

Mike

[Forensicguy]

Oracle:

Thanks for checking into your church as a potential gathering place. If you could help out in this that would be great. Check into the availablilty of dates and times we could be there. In the past, we've gone from 3 PM until 9 PM...

If we could lower our cost, then we could either charge less per person or use that extra money gathered for more (or better) food for everyone.

While the holidays will definitely be coming up soon, I think if we moved our potential gathering to a Sunday from 3 PM to 9 PM and did this fairly soon (like this month) perhaps we could sneak in a gathering before the holidays. But if it's too difficult for the people or the venue, then I'd say most likely we are looking at perhaps after winter is over (or nearly over) before we will do this.

I'll check into the Sunday possibility with Mount Prospect as well...

Thanks again.

[leeasam]

sundays don`t work for me. I don`t get out of church until noon at the earliest- hard for me to skip being head of music ministry and only guitar player;) I am also a deacon too so it is good I am there unless an emergency calls me away. Hmmmmm!! a get together could maybe be an emergence LOL:D

[Chicago Sandy]

I could do a Sunday up till Thanksgiving weekend, and resuming Dec. 14. Dec. 20 is also good for me.

[flaggerphil]

I'm working weekend nights this month, so Sundays are out until the second week of November. Anytime between then and the second week of December would be ok for me.

[Forensicguy]

Based on the responses so far, I'm leaning on waiting until Spring. I doubt we will be able to get something put together before the Thanksgiving time period and schedules are already getting tight.

So... let's call this one off until then. I'll start a new thread perhaps in late Winter to gather people at that time.

[Rollie]

I'm ready , make a date and I'll be there . Fall , winter or spring .We need another AGF fling . The food was fine . some greens without carbs would be a welcome addition . And Sandy don't forget the killer coffee that you are so famous for . I'll pay to play .... 20 bucks to cover expenses is a good deal for everyone . Now all we need is da date ...

[Oracle]

I'll still check on things at the meeting.


Mike

[mdunn]

Count me in. As long as a client doesn't make me work.:rolleyes:

[Gutch]

I would agree that it would be best to wait until after the holiday season. I know I tend to ramp up shows in November and December. How about something in February to break up the Winter Doldrums?

As for gear, I can bring a Bose L1 system with mics & mixer...

[Chicago Sandy]

It'd have to be at the very beginning or very end of Feb. for me, since I have Folk Alliance and the Coffeyville (KS) Humanities Project in the middle.

[Forensicguy]

February? Are you guys ok with dealing with the travel in the snow? Or should we wait even longer for the spring?

Of course, if we do have something in perhaps February, that would open us up for the mid-summer perhaps for the following gathering. That wouldn't be too bad...

As for Mount Prospect, if we were to simply pick a date that far out and collect the funds from at least 10 people who would commit to that date, we should not have any problems getting the room. The last time, we had to work around what dates they had open for the room. But this far out in advance? No problems, date-wise.