Sometime back, I think Chuck suggested doing a national meet-up in Vegas. Now, I’m not a huge fan of the whole Las Vegas experience, but I would totally fly out for a big GWC meet-up (and I have permission from the wife, who’d probably come too, if only to hang out with like-minded people). Yeah, I know that it’s a pipe dream, what with the economy tanking and all, but it’s worth considering. What say you?
Another suggestion along these same lines is to all meet-up at a convention. I did this recently at Dragon*Con (not only did I meet up with the group I talk to in one thread, but with a groupd from around the scifi.com forums in general). We set a time and place to meet before we all left - there were like 20 of us. We meet at the convention and then moved to a bar.
In fact in a round about way I met another person who listens to GWC - we just didn’t know it at the time. I met her via the Bamberbunnies facebook, she now posts at Skiffy. Well the other day I noticed she added the GWC and mentioned it to her - she and her husband have been listening for awhile.
But the convention just gives everybody more to do while still hanging out with GWCers.
Yeah! A meet-up within driving distance! Granted it would still mean driving past Dreamland…but some things are just unavoidable…
Actually, I might be up for this sometime in the next few months. Is there serious interest?
One nice thing is that there’s always something to do in Vegas, even if there’s not an active convention. Does the Star Trek Experience still exist there? We could meet at Quark’s Bar and have some overpriced drinks and food together. I’d be up for that, even if it was only a few of us.
And Raemani, I’m totally into the idea of a convention meetup as well. Want to know a secret? I’ve never been to a sci-fi convention of any kind. Yes, I suck. I know it. Every time planned to make one, I was put off by the commercialism. Now I get the feeling that it’s worth it just for the people, and that makes sense to me.
Well I can give you some pointers - that’s for sure.
DragonCon was my first experience and I had a blast. Luckily I was with people who have been to other cons - and they even told me that DC was a great experience.
Part of it was that is a fan run/roleplaying/gaming convention not run by a company like Creation. The other part is the group I was with - most of us had never met face to face but had talked for months on line.
So when you decide to go to one (notice I said when, not if) go to a fan run one (like Dragon*Con, or GenCon…there is also a new one starting up next year that is being held in Alambama (OmegaCon). The celebrities are much more accessible and it doesn’t have the feel of being commercialized at all. Yes you had to pay for an autograph, but you could just walk up and talk to them also without paying a dime. In fact I didn’t feel that it was commercialized at all.
I would also suggest you, Audra and/or Sean get a press pass. My friends have a website and they were able to get an interview with Jamie. She had to apply for it ahead of time, but the celebrities are very willing to give short interviews.
I’m in for a Vegas meetup as well. And Chuck, don’t feel bad, I’ve never been to a sci-fi convention either. Hold your head high, sir.
Yup. In fact, that’s one of the selling points for me and The GF. It’s like Disneyland for Trekkies (Trekkers, whatever.)
I don’t know about the next few months, but I am serious. My wife is expecting our second child and I’m trying to clear my traveling schedule between the few weeks before the baby’s due date (12/24) and the first two or three months of her life, so I’m not planning on traveling much between late November and late March/early April (and I’m probably skipping a conference I should otherwise attend because of this, as well as skipping two concerts by my ensemble in DC).
I know, I know: totally lame from the guy who made the suggestion, right? It’s just a complicated time for us, alas. A late spring (mid-to-late May?) might be doable, though.
Well, depending on the season four start, it may just be appropriate.
Heck, if they split it, we may get another meet-up opportunity out of it.
Here’s my thinking: if you look over in Leon’s thread about an LA meetup, it seems to be moving toward the idea of getting together in the LA area to attent Bear McCreary’s sweet BSG music concert – which isn’t going to happen until next year sometime, and maybe not even early next year.
I’m totally down for that, but I might be up for a quickie meetup sometime before Christmas in Vegas if even a few others are down with it. This might even fit with your schedule; though I don’t have any kids, the experience I’ve gained from friends who do tells me you might want to fit this in before as opposed to after the birth. Just a thought.
My schedule opens up starting around the middle of October, and runs until the holidays begin. I know most people have things going on around the holidays, so we should avoid those times, but otherwise, let’s talk dates. Maybe a weekend deal, so we’ve got time to meet for that drink in Quarks, and see some of the sights, too?
One other advantage to Vegas: it’s pretty easy to snag cheap tickets there from almost anywhere in the US. Rock!
We could always have it at the Bear McCreary Concert.
Right now, Bear’s blog pretty much says, “January 2008” – which I’d guess means that this is going to fit in right around the launch of season four. I sure hope he gives us enough time to get at least 14-day advance airline tix!
Well, my own schedule, barring the birth of the kid, doesn’t clear up till mid-November. Judging by my wife’s last pregnancy, I would like to keep travel down throughout December given that our daughter, who is now five, was born ten days before her due date. The other thing is that I would love to bring my wife along, and, well, flying when you’re in a late-term pregnancy is not recommended (and airlines will seldom let 8-9 month pregnant women aboard their planes for fear of the insurance liability).
That said, the idea of an L.A. meet-up around Bear McCreary’s concert sounds really cool to me. And, given my profession, I might be able to deduct it off my taxes or even have my employer contribute to the trip, if I can work up some research angle (like maybe arranging to meet Bear or something, I don’t know).
THAT has possibilities…
Normally I’d be all over this…especially for anything in Vegas and ST:EXP. But budget just won’t allow for this right now. I’m in full out saving every penny mode due to some surgery I need next spring. 
I have sent an email for information from ST:EXP in case you guys decide to go there for a meet-up. I was there in March for a security conference and while dinning at Quark’s found out that you could purchase tickets for the attractions at the old price when you paid for a meal. Old price was $34.99, new price is $41.99 (I think). This gives you unlimited access for the day of purchase, so you can go to both the Klingon Encounter and the Borg Invasion as many times as you want…well until you puke or they close for the day.
I’ll be in LV to do some filming this weekend possibly. As long as I have at least a week’s time to prep I can pretty much get down there for a meet-up.
I’m interested in a Vegas meetup. There used to be a cool Star Trek bar at one of the hotels (I haven’t been there in ten years) with aliens walking around if it’s still there. Pick a weekend and hope everyone can get there. Imagine for a moment, what would Starbuck do with an opportunity to spend time in Sin City? I think she’d want us to try and get there.
Dawn, if you get Starbuck to be there, I’m DEFINITELY getting there.
I guess I’ll need to go check on this Saturday when I am in the Las Vegas valley. At the least I’ll be able to provide an eyewitness up or down as to whether or not such exists still.
I wish I had that kind of power!
DawnAZ is talking about Star Trek: The Experience at the LV Hilton. And it’s still there and they do still have Klingon, Cardassians, etc roaming around the shops and in Quark’s Bar.