[TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...

Sun Feb 25 21:43:57 EST 2007

Tod,
Where is that building? (city, state) and how much does it cost to
rent for 3 weeks?
Will there insurance and the local fire code allow open fires? and
compressed gas bottles? Can a group do there own loading and unloading
or do we have to use teamsters?
Just wondering
Oh, and is it available in late June / early July?
dave m

On 2/22/07, Tod Estes <testes at medicine.nodak.edu> wrote:
> I arrived back at the puter after a while away... Wow! Glad to see such an
> active interest in the ABANA conf.
> If you are lookin for a really BIG building you may want to check out the
> International Petroleum Exposition Building. It was and may still be the Worlds
> largest unobstructed interior building. It has housed monster truck races, car
> shows the worlds largest gun show, sprint car races, oil derricks, Has power,
> lights, bathrooms and concessions, parking and Tulsa is fairly cheap for food
> and lodging.
>
> Quoting Carlton McKenney <Carlton.Mckenney at mindspring.com>:
>
> > And if you look at the county fair grounds of counties immediately
> > around a large metro area they are usually cheaper, fairly large and
> > close enough to keep the "civilized" amenities available for those
> > that can't live without.  If you keep to within an hours drive of the
> > city then you can draw on the metro area for day crowds.
> >
> > At 22:28 2/22/2007, you wrote:
> > >Man jerry I never thought of a fair grounds this really is a good Idea there
> > >are several in every state
> > >Dan Scheid
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> > >[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jerry Frost
> > >Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:58 PM
> > >To: Sponsored by ABANA
> > >Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...
> > >
> > >
> > >From: "Saint Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
> > >
> > >
> > > > On 2/22/07, dann at wctatel.net <dann at wctatel.net>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> Phlip,
> > > >>
> > > >> I think Dave Mudge is a stand up guy for being
> > > >> willing to take on the
> > > >> sometimes caustic banter from this list.
> > > >
> > > > I agree. And, I know on a GOOD day, my comments can
> > > > blister paint ;-)
> > > >
> > >
> > >right on the money. Both statements. <grin>
> > >
> > > >
> > > > But I'm going to give them a chance. Wanna help?
> > > >
> > > > Meantime, I've been crunching some numbers, and
> > > > getting some
> > > > estimates, and I'm betting, if they let me, I could
> > > > put on a
> > > > conference for no more than $150 per attendee, and
> > > > likely less. It
> > > > would include free camping, although if you want a
> > > > motel room, you'd
> > > > be on your own, and would likely include a community
> > > > cook out. I'm
> > > > sure I could reserve blocks of rooms at motels nearby
> > > > for a discount
> > > > for ABANA members- we (the SCA) have done this sort
> > > > of thing before.
> > > > But, I think I could get all the basics set up and
> > > > included, and have
> > > > luxuries readily available. More numbers I've been
> > > > gewtting, the
> > > > better it looks.
> > > >
> > > > Hey, all I can do is try...
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Saint Phlip
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Group discounts are pretty easy to get if you can get a
> > >few people to use the services. Before the 2005
> > >Artmetal Shindig Deb and I called a number of h/motels
> > >in Madison and all we had to do was mention we were a
> > >group and THEY started offering discounts. From the
> > >reaction I think we might even get h/motels bidding for
> > >the business.
> > >
> > >It's the same with food and other services. The Alaska
> > >State Fair in Palmer, sees half a million people
> > >(almost more than live in the state all together) and
> > >it tends to be pretty profitable. The only things the
> > >fair pays for are the basics like: sanitation, temp
> > >personel, utilities, paid public performances,
> > >insurance, etc. Everything else, EVERYTHING pays the
> > >fair, or at minimum pays it's own way.
> > >
> > >The big name concerts (analagous to big name
> > >demonstrators) are pay at the gate and pay their own
> > >way plus a % to the fair.
> > >
> > >In off season the fair grounds are for rent in part or
> > >whole to all comers. (within reason of course) Heck,
> > >they rent space in the parking areas as no utility RV
> > >parking.
> > >
> > >There are permanent food vendors and services that will
> > >happily open their doors if enough people are going to
> > >show up. Then there are the vendors with permanent
> > >spaces who will happily show for a large enough gate.
> > >
> > >Heck if it's a big enough event the carnival will set
> > >up AND the Alaska RailRoad will put their commuter cars
> > >in service for the run from Anchorage accomidations to
> > >the fair grounds.
> > >
> > >The livestock barn is nearly 200' wide and half again
> > >as long, constructed of concrete block and steel so
> > >there is little concern for fire danger. Attached to
> > >the main barn is the small stock exibit area, neatly
> > >partitioned in concrete block with plenty of headroom
> > >to set up power hammers and the like. The fair has
> > >bleachers available for many K people. There are at
> > >least three other large buildings that would be
> > >suitable for vendors, demos and spousal attractions.
> > >
> > >Lastly, the Palmer fair grounds has a staff with
> > >decades of experience coordinating large events and all
> > >the logistics involved, including bringing people from
> > >other continents.
> > >
> > >I'm not making a bid for a national conference at the
> > >Palmer fair grounds but. . . I'll bet the gate fee
> > >would be less, the facilities, food and services better
> > >simply because the whole facility is geared to
> > >conferences, shows, etc. AND it's free market.(mostly)
> > >
> > >Mi dos centavos.
> > >
> > >Frosty
> > >-------------------------------
> > >If it ain't forged
> > >it ain't real.
> > >Wrought iron is.
> > >The FrostWorks
> > >
> > >Meadow Lakes, AK.
> > >
> > >http://www.artmetalradio.com/
> > >
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> > Carlton
> >
> > I am the evil companion that your mother always warned you about.
> >
> >
> >
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> Tod Estes
>
> People do not care about how much you know
> until they know about how much you care.
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