Euro-meet: A Thread.

[Duggeh]

So. Lets begin to poke with the stick at the button which releases the ball which might trigger the big lever which grinds the gear that activates the idea that a European meet is a good idea.

Has there been a Headfest/Canjam which has not in some very significant manner involved those within the Head-Case userbase? No to understanding, no. So it seems logical to start this thread here. The counter-logic is the lower participation of Euro-HC people compared to NewWorld-HC people here compared to there. Also the very high posting for Amsterdam headphone nuts at HF then here. Amsterdam seems to have, by a process of many months of abortive whinging and then pre-emptory speculation, become the favoured destination.

Aside from the elusive Miss Photographer_Extraordinare (Contrastique/Indra). Are there any Amsterdam-near folk here? Or should we consider the idea of Reykjavik/Madrid/London (pour exampl

[Duggeh]

Dude, make the booking for August 2014 and we'll drink beer and scotch, and see festival and fringe acts and comedy in what passes over here for clement weather. By then I aim to be at least 43% towards being a millionaire, so the booze will be on me.

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't think Amsterdam was mentioned seriously.

Berlin?

Personally, I wouldn't mind London, but the chances of me showing are < 50%, so weight my input accordingly.

[Grahame]

I mentioned Amsterdam, both in jest, and seriously.

Do we want to use an airport hotel at the weekend, on the basis we should be able to get a cheap block booking? (and soundproofing) (as opposed to an "in town" hotel)

Pros:

International Hub airport, served by international high speed rail links, with local 15min train service to Amsterdam itself - "Central" location for Europe.

The many attractions of Amsterdam itself. (Think of our extra curricular interests - I'd hazard a guess that all can be met)

"They all speak English" - Helpful for monolingual Americans, and being Europeans, unlike Brits, probably are fluent in several other languages for our European Chums.

Cons:

Costs as yet unknown vs Other European candidate locations.

Critical mass of local, on the ground staff unknown as yet vs Other European candidate locations.

So, what are the requirements? Who are we catering for? How do we end up with the lowest weighted cost for attendee's given their number, and where they are travelling from?

I think Brussels is another cheap major hub - obviously direct flights from US makes the whole process easier for the US contingent.

If it can be held in an interesting tourist location, then it may be possible to pitch the trip as a starting point for a European Vacation for those that need to justify a European trip ...

Anyway, just some some thoughts

[cetoole]

If it can be held in an interesting tourist location, then it may be possible to pitch the trip as a starting point for a European Vacation for those that need to justify a European trip ...

Only possible way I could even think about doing this.

[Augsburger]

I would be up for any Euro meet anywhere be it Spain, Stuttgart, Edinburgh or even Amsterdam, I just need to get started fixing this minor glitch I have with my passport and Interpol. Just a silly misunderstanding, but it will take some time and money to the right people to sort out. No problem I expect.

[Duggeh]

sweet, i'll book it.

Kuscht. Once I buy a diary that far into the future. I'll mark the dates. Really though. Be sweet to do some Edinburgh shindig. It's a shame that it was ill-apt for Mike and I to meet up.

I don't think Amsterdam was mentioned seriously.

Berlin?

Personally, I wouldn't mind London, but the chances of me showing are < 50%, so weight my input accordingly.

I mentioned Amsterdam, both in jest, and seriously.

Do we want to use an airport hotel at the weekend, on the basis we should be able to get a cheap block booking? (and soundproofing) (as opposed to an "in town" hotel)

Pros:

International Hub airport, served by international high speed rail links, with local 15min train service to Amsterdam itself - "Central" location for Europe.

The many attractions of Amsterdam itself. (Think of our extra curricular interests - I'd hazard a guess that all can be met)

"They all speak English" - Helpful for monolingual Americans, and being Europeans, unlike Brits, probably are fluent in several other languages for our European Chums.

Cons:

Costs as yet unknown vs Other European candidate locations.

Critical mass of local, on the ground staff unknown as yet vs Other European candidate locations.

So, what are the requirements? Who are we catering for? How do we end up with the lowest weighted cost for attendee's given their number, and where they are travelling from?

I think Brussels is another cheap major hub - obviously direct flights from US makes the whole process easier for the US contingent.

If it can be held in an interesting tourist location, then it may be possible to pitch the trip as a starting point for a European Vacation for those that need to justify a European trip ...

Anyway, just some some thoughts

I wouldn't mind London either. It'd be a factor of N easier for me to do hands-on involement with. But 50% doesn't do. Esp for 24 months nominal advance notice.

The Pros and Cons of Amsterdam are very obvisou and very good. But the caviet really is getting people on the ground to put it together. And one has to wonder if organising a not-official-Canjam serves best for a Euro-meet. You scale it to the individuals and make it a social, rather than scaling it to the industry and make it a trade-show.

Requirements are: Plan for an event which draws not less than 100 interested parties (attendees). Scale from how that number plays. Less, make it a personal level meet. More, scale towards trade-show. (I pick 100 as a nominal number).

Brussels doesn't have the tertiary draws that Amsterdam has. If you want to do a meet in Belgium, go for Bruges.

Only possible way I could even think about doing this.

Part of the Amsterdamn prospect, true. Major transport hub.

we could get some Economic Stimulus money to fund it. or maybe some FEMA money, if we describe it as an American made disaster (alcoholic variety).

At this time, I'd say odds of such charity are slim.

I would be up for any Euro meet anywhere be it Spain, Stuttgart, Edinburgh or even Amsterdam, I just need to get started fixing this minor glitch I have with my passport and Interpol. Just a silly misunderstanding, but it will take some time and money to the right people to sort out. No problem I expect.

Do we get to think of you as Jason Bourne from now on?

[deepak]

I will throw in my 2c as someone that tried to organize a conference in Europe- large venue space is significantly more expensive than the US.

[Voltron]

Thanks for starting the thread, Squire. I think we need to consider where the most people might migrate for a visit and what is workable from a cost perspective in terms of hotel space and such. It would be nice to do a large scale meet of some sort -- maybe not Euro CanJam -- but something more than just a get-together of our gang. It would be good for European headphones geeks and might get things rolling over there more.

I will PM Contrastique to get her attention. That Dutch crew, the London/UK crew and the Spanish crew would make a nice starting point for Duggeh and Biggie to inspire and organize.

We need to kick around ideas seriously and follow up on Grahames questions and others. Tally ho!

[episiarch]

I would certainly come to a London meet. Other European cities, maybe 50% (family responsibilities etc etc), but I would try.

London Heathrow is a pretty good jumping-off point for a European trip, of course.

London itself is rather a pricey city of course, but a fun one. If we're thinking of "airport hotels" then we could look at Slough, which is a) a very short and affordable taxi ride from Heathrow and http://www.head-case.org/forums/uploads/emoticons/default_cool.png' alt='B)'> the first stop on the express trains westward out of Paddington (so there are direct Slough<->Paddington trains all the time). Also convenient to Windsor Castle and to Legoland, for those who (or whose families) would take advantage of those outings. As Slough is not itself any sort of tourism magnet, I'm going to guess hotel rooms go for less than in London proper, though I've not verified this. Finally I live a short distance from Slough, so I can provide some boots-on-the-ground services, checking out potential venues etc., though I don't think I'm the right person to be one of the prime organisers.

Anyway: +1 vote for London (or London-ish).

[Duggeh]

I will throw in my 2c as someone that tried to organize a conference in Europe- large venue space is significantly more expensive than the US.

Money spent is balanced by money in. All that changes is the scale, and all that changes with the scale is the risk (if things turn to shit). Which is why I advocate building from a core outwards. This is course, means working with a venue which can be comfortably scaled. And this (backwards reason) is where working 24 months in advance (ish) works to the favour. 2 years is a very long time in real scale terms.

Thanks for starting the thread, Squire. I think we need to consider where the most people might migrate for a visit and what is workable from a cost perspective in terms of hotel space and such. It would be nice to do a large scale meet of some sort -- maybe not Euro CanJam -- but something more than just a get-together of our gang. It would be good for European headphones geeks and might get things rolling over there more.

I will PM Contrastique to get her attention. That Dutch crew, the London/UK crew and the Spanish crew would make a nice starting point for Duggeh and Biggie to inspire and organize.

We need to kick around ideas seriously and follow up on Grahames questions and others. Tally ho!

Kuscht, it'd be very apt and most helpful to have Indra in on this idea. Euro-Canjam as a idea though, if we follow it, will not, I think, be smaller than Canjam. It will possibly be bigger in terms of interested commercial parties (numerically, if not in terms of money). Quad, Precide, Sugden and the like and such, are going to be more keen to be involved in a small display at a show in europe than either a big display at a speaker show or a small table at some event stateside. There are also Euro players in the retail game (HiFiHeadphones pour example) who are already clear about how keen they are for Euro-side events.

by the time this meet happens, i might be in a serious relationship again, which, strangely, makes attending easier, in my mind at least.

*did I just double post after that comment?*

[Duggeh]

I obviously didn't which is odd, because it means that either a tab of post vanished into the aether.

The original context was along the lines of "If you won't be single by then, find a good lady with a tall, red-haired sister who likes short haired men with old world accents" or similar.

[Duggeh]

You'd best not, as my entire new three year plan (first time in my life I have direction beyond bullshit) depends entirely on their (futher) good grace plus 0.065% net whinge from HC/HF.

[Absorbine_Sr]

Anywhere in Europe during July/August/September would be attractive to me as it would plonk me down smack in the middle of the Grand Prix season. So in addition to hanging with you crazy kids, I might get to visit somewhere historic like Spa-Francorchamps or Monza. All it takes is cash and with 24 months I might be able to scrape it up.

[deepak]

ooooooh monza

Cracking good fun it is. Though everything is pricey as sin that weekend. I had more fun at Casino De Montreal Canadian GP

[Absorbine_Sr]

Cracking good fun it is. Though everything is pricey as sin that weekend. I had more fun at Casino De Montreal Canadian GP

I'm sure, but as a true Tifoso, I must visit the holy shrine at least once. (But truth be told, Spa would be my first choice - to be able to see F1 cars flat through Eau Rouge)

[Dusty Chalk]

Do we actually know anyone in Amsterdam? I mean, we should at least pick a town that we know someone in. And, of course, they would need to volunteer.

[spritzer]

Well I'm up for basically any location but we do need a solid core of people on the ground to make it work.

As for Iceland, any form of a trade show is out of the question given how insane our customs officers are. I'm sure I could rally up all the dealers here so Sennheiser and Grado etc. but the real focus of the meet would be to just have a great time.

[faust3d]

I will be in eastern Europe the first two weeks of September

[MASantos]

If this happens in 2011 count me in, for attending and if possible any help on the organizing part here in Europe.

I'd really love to see this happen, and if I weren't the only portuguese guy here and there ( well, not the only, but the onlyone which participates a bit) I'd suggest Portugal. We have nice great places and prices in and nearby Lisbon and prices are really decent compared to other places in Europe, furthermore the Summer is low season in Lisbon, which further brings the prices down. We have great wine and food too, lots of sun and beaches!

This said, count me in for wherever it is!

ps: I have a few friends working in travel agencies and hotels throughout Europe, so if/when we settle on a location, there is a remote chance I can get some nice place with a discount!

[dsavitsk]

An EU meet close in time (and perhaps proximity) to E.T.F. might make a trip more possible.

[spritzer]

ETF... :drool:

[Torpedo]

Woah!!! I'll do my best to attend such meet. Madrid wouldn't be that bad to host it, big airport and all that, but hotels are on the expensive side of things, getting worse by the VAT rise. Freaking hot on summertime though. Iceland sounds great too

[Icarium]

Having just gone there for business I recommend Wroclaw, Poland. It's really nice there and most of all its relatively cheap since it's not on the euro. I'd say cost of living there is 70 percent of what it is in the states. There are tons of pretty girls, and the beer is great. And it's a pretty place with a lot of things to do for a short trip. You'd probably want to venture elsewhere if you were planning on being there longer, but for a couple day meet is well worth it.

[Grahame]

^

Other suggested venues ...

Britons behaving badly: The stag's guide to playing away - This Britain, UK - The Independent

Prague - a cheap paradise for British stag tourists - Radio Prague