From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Tue Nov 03 2009 - 06:49:34 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
Mid-point
Hotels
Murder, she wrote
Golf, formal, traveling
Formal affair and such
Opening night and scheduling
Quiet Evening At Home
Formal affair and limo
Working schedule
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2010 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
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Mid-point:
We're now just under 6 months from the big event!
We're starting to see web activity pick up, and the increase
in mailing list joins, which we usually see about this time
of year, has begun. Mailing list is back up to 915 at this
time.
Please continue the discussion on all fronts.
Two areas on which we must concentrate are the Welcome
Celebration (please continue to brainstorm) and the
closing bash, whether or not we adopt the "Formal/Prom"
theme for it.
One of our major needs is feedback on both of these!
Another item we need to get going on now is ...
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Hotels:
By tradition, we announce our suggested hotels in early
December. That's a month away, and it's time to begin the
hotel selection process.
As a recap, we rejected motions to name one and only one
suggested hotel, to name one hotel as "primary", and a
motion for a three-step three-hotel plan was never formally
raised.
Therefore, we'll name one or more suggested hotels with
the usual nomination-discussion-vote process.
We have voted to do the Hotel Hostess program this year,
which means that for each hotel we name as a suggested
hotel, we are committed, collectively, to provide someone
to perform in this role.
One principle I would like to see is that we have at least
a tentative volunteer for Hotel Hostess for each of our
suggested hotels prior to the vote.
Another thing I want to see this year is one and only one
round of suggestions, meaning no additional hotels named
in January or February, as we've occasionally done.
If you would like to review last year's suggested hotels,
the 2009 hotel page is still on line (no direct link) here:
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlv2009/2009hotels.html
The survey ratings of our 2009 hotels appear on this page,
about 1/3 of the way down:
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlv2009/dlvdisc/0376.html
One late-breaking news item is that of a fairly serious
restroom incident at the Gold Coast, one of our 2010 hotels,
in recent days. For this reason, we may want to think twice
should the Gold Coast come up for nomination.
The floor is now open for hotel nominations. To nominate
your favorite hotel, just reply to this mailing, name
your hotel (please use words to the effect of "I nominate")
and say a few words in favor of using your hotel for DLV
2010. We'll keep track of the nominations and seconds and
call for votes toward the end of November. A duplicate
nomination will be considered a second.
Nominations?
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Murder, she wrote:
Holly writes:
>>It's your call, and now is the time to make it. You have all
>>of the options, but as we move on, others will plug things
>>into the timeslots, so if you're going to move it, it would
>>be better to do it soon.
>Amy's facility for the MM is availible Monday, Tuesday,
>and Friday as she is participating in the LT (Wednesday)
>and NSD (Thursday).
>Monday=Welcome Party, Friday=Farewell Party (yes, tenative,
>I know). If we are going to use GB for the MM, I don't see
>any other option other than Tuesday.
And, actually, as I said, I think Tuesday is a good fit. I
don't believe any of the planned activities for Tuesday
will seriously threaten the turnout of any other.
>Moving the event from GB is a possibility but if I have to
>pay for a room, it will add to the cost of the event. I
>would rather spend the money on prizes and gifts for the
>participants than on a room.
>It could also mean changing it from a safe venue to a more
>mainstream function (maybe not a bad thing). I think, for
>now, it has to stay on Tuesday.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it! My suggestion is to go
with GB on Tuesday.
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Golf, formal, traveling:
Mindy writes:
>Things are looking up for me making it to DLV this year.
>Diane has managed to get her family obligation scheduled
>during that time frame so worst case would be "road trip".
>I noticed that the golf was not on the working schedule.
Not yet. Nobody (you, Edy, Mardi) has proposed a tentative
day. It might be good to pick one early in the process and
let the other daytime activity coordinators plan around you. :)
>I would advise that we get some feedback as to the day the
>golfers would prefer. Also would golfers rather pre pay me
>or would they rather do it through Amy.
Golfers? Comments?
. . . . .
>I could see some good and bad combining the pity party
>with the formal night. Some of the people who like to
>perform might prefer to do formal and pass on performance.
>On the other hand they might like the idea of a dressy
>group.
As I said in another item, I'm beginning to feel concern
about the price point of the Formal, whether or not it is
rolled into another activity.
The Pity Party has always been an "affordable" option,
and I am concerned that bundling the Pity Party with the
Formal, particularly if the Formal has a one-price-fits-all
$50-ish hill to climb, might severely hurt the turnout for,
and the participation in the Pity Party.
. . . . .
>On that note we would be driving from South Bend (very
>near Chicago) and it might be fun to set up a multicar
>road trip picking up other cars and riders as we went
>along. Sort of a pre DLV road trip. If anybody thinks
>that might be fun let me know.
What you might do is post this in the DLV Discussion
Forum around the first of the year, when people are
starting to make real travel plans. If you're going
to get some takers, then would be when to do it.
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Formal affair and such:
Kimberly Kael writes:
>>Thinking out loud here ... If we assume a total turnout
>>of about 150 for DLV 2010, if an activity such as this
>>would capture 50% of the in-town people on one of our
>>mid-week evenings, that would put us at about 70 or so,
>>which I think would be quite realistic.
>That estimate sounds high to me, though I'd certainly defer
>to those who have been doing this much longer.
Ok, let's rethink the numbers. ...
I'm confident that at least for the POTENTIAL participants,
the numbers are are within the ballpark. These are the numbers
I pulled from memory when Nora first proposed the idea to me.
Turnout numbers are another thing.
Notice I said "IF an activity ... would capture ..." :)
However, I'm revising my thinking quite a bit after
listening to your thoughts and thinking back into the
behavioral history of the DLV people. Mainly two data
points here:
1. Our people detest prepayment! Many won't do it, and
required prepayment spoils turnout to one degree or another.
2. Our people also dislike "one price fits all" pricing,
and very much prefer things like dinner to be optional.
>When has a paid event generated that much attendance?
Depends on exactly what you consider "paid" to mean? If
it means any activity at which the participants will
spend tens of dollars, then we've had many of them.
Over our history we've very consistently been able to
capture 50-70% of our in-town people at the larger
activities such as Carluccio's, Hard Rock, Elvis',
Sashas/Suede/Tramps, Steven David's, etc. None of
these were cheap, but in most cases, the price for
dinner was optional.
However, as you say ...
>Even the cost of dinner at last year's opening raised some
>eyebrows and that was only $15, significantly less than
>we're talking about here. Sure, we got great turnout at
>the event but the dinner was optional.
The more I think of it, I don't think my original
numbers would be accurate for a "one price fits all"
type of thing where the meal was included, whether or
not you want it.
>Do we have any statistics handy on how many did pay for
>the dinner buffet?
IIRC, they sold 50-60-some meals, or about 50-60% of the
participants paid to eat.
I'm leaning toward believing that the $50-60 price point
is too high, in particular if it's a "one price fits all"
thing, and more so if prepayment is required.
I'm thinking that if the dinner portion (which will be
the lion's share of the cost of putting this on) is
optional, turnout, and even dinner sales will be much
higher.
>I like the idea of the event and agree it would be a
>welcome addition to our schedule but I'd hate to be really
>far off on the estimated attendance if numbers were critical
>to making it work.
Yes, numbers will be critical to making it work!
For it to "work", I think we would need to have at least
35-ish numbers if the Formal/Prom is a second-track
activity on something like Wednesday or Thursday against
LT or NSD. If it's intended to be a max-attendance thing
on the final Friday, we would want to shoot for at least
80 or so.
I really think the key to attendance at a thing like
this is keeping the price within reason, and unbundling
things like dinner. I would think that the cash bar
sales should cover much of the real overhead of putting
the thing on.
LOL (only semi-seriously) if we want to go all out with
the "prom" theme, set up a "prom committee" whose job it
is to push tickets to friends and adversaries! :) :) :)
>>Do we want this to be a stand-alone affair, or combined
>>with some other activity?
>>Do we want to perhaps use this as a theme for our closing
>>evening?
>I agree that once you get beyond the "here I am, looking
>good" part it would be better to have another purpose for
>the event.
If we do go all out with the prom theme, the "here I am,
looking good" is very true to the theme! :) :) :)
Seriously, the traditional high school prom is a social
event. The purpose is to see and be seen, to socialize,
you know, that Quality Social Time. (To badmouth faculty?) :)
For other proms (college, church, even the Pride Prom and
the Groundhog Prom), it's that Quality Social Time that's
really the drawing card!
Yeah, there's the crowning of the Prom Court.
>The previously floated idea of a fashion show leaps to
>mind, and fits with the fancy dress element of the evening.
True. Something like that, or some brief light type of
entertainment, might be appropriate, but I think what
the Teeming Millions will really want is Quality
Social Time, particularly on the ending evening.
>Doing it with the closing would be fun, too,
>but I worry a little about limiting inclusion by having a
>~$50 fee attached even if that does cover the cost of your
>meal.
My major concern of doing something like this as a final
bash are twofold.
First, for the final bash, we do need to consider those
who are more than willing to participate for the social
experience, but choose to eat elsewhere. With our model,
we have a very mobile audience with other options, and
thi$ mean$ that we need to remove roadblock$ to what
would be a maximum turnout $ituation.
Second, our final bash cannot even have a HINT of "c-word"
or Rubber Chicken Banquet in it! We'll lose people if it
does!
>Still, I'd be willing to give it a try. I also think formal
>dress + final evening would make a good venue for the photo
>station Britney and I talked about last year but couldn't
>find the right event to attach to.
The house photographer is indeed a part of most proms and
is actually expected to be.
They did have a photographer at Rori's. (He was in boymode
so I assume he was a paid professional and not a volunteer.)
He had a backdrop set up with a couple umbrella reflectors
and a DSLR with a "strobe on a stick" in addition. However,
not very many appeared to be stepping up to the scene. :(
Further comments, gang?
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Opening night and scheduling:
Kimberly Kael writes:
>>The restaurant of the Italian-American Club may also meet
>>these criteria, but I'm very hesitant to go in the direction
>>of a catering hall, as I think we'd lose some turnout from
>>our avowedly-mainstream contingent.
>100% agreed.
>Even the private venue for the prom strikes me as the wrong
>direction to go. A private room in a mainstream location
>like we did with Bahama Breeze last year strikes me as a
>better balance.
For our opener, I think we need that critical balance of
mainstream and comfort.
Question to all: Do you think that Bahama Breeze, if we
could get the the room to the west (to the left as you
enter), would work for our opening mixer? This is the room
we had in 2007 and 2009.
>Ultimately, though, it's going to have to be someone more
>familiar with venues in Vegas than me to identify good
>candidates.
>PTs certainly doesn't fall far from the Blue Ox in character,
>so if we want to stick with a known quantity that would work
>but it's not exactly new and different.
Of all of the suggestions which have come up in this thread,
I find the Blue Ox Sahara and the larger PTs to be the most
promising in terms of facilitating a maximum turnout for our
opening mixer.
. . . . .
>>I think it's a shame for fledgling or new activities to have to
>>compete head-to-head with old, established (and admittedly
>>popular) activities.
>I worry about giving in to that mindset. There will
>always be newcomers who want to attend some of the
>classic events Diva Las Vegas is known for, and
>long-timers who have been there, done that, and
>are looking for something new. I'd rather have a
>schedule so packed with good options that people
>go home wishing they'd had time for more than the
>other end of the spectrum.
Looking ahead here, I don't see a competitive schedule in
the making for DLV 2010. We still have quite a number of
evening timeslots open and even one entire evening (Sunday)
which we have not even disucssed yet.
Options are a Good Thing<tm>. There are really only two
places on the schedule where we don't want multiple options
and those are the times we want everyone in one place.
As I look back, the only time in our history where I
remember one activity spoiling the sign-up for another
was when we had two Mexican restaurants for EON and
one of them got all kinds of sign-ups and the other
got close to zippo.
>>I know the argument is that someone has to step up to the
>>plate and put something together. Well, has anyone ever
>>considered that maybe the reluctance in the past has at
>>least been due in part to people not wanting to take on
>>giants?
>I think you can account for a lot of it with general
>ambivalence, to be honest. I talked up the notion of
>volunteering with a lot of people and heard a wide
>variety of excuses, but never "I didn't think people
>would want to go because of X." Usually it's a lot
>more about wanting to enjoy the week as a participant,
>or not having time to pull something together, not
>being sure if they'll be able to go themselves until
>the last minute, or what have you.
Our event is unique in that we probably have the highest
ratio of volunteers to attendees of the major TG events!
However, as you have discovered, the majority of our
attendees do not wish to become involved as a volunteer
or organizer.
The "busy work" activities do require a desire and a mindset
that many of our people, do not possess. Lots of them don't
like the "real work", some are shy about contacting a vendor,
and some just don't have any ideas of activities.
However, when somebody does come up with something that is
new and different (NSD, Murder Mystery, etc.) it's usually
very well received.
Usually! :) The "Nun Party" and the "DLV Funeral" ideas
did not get any traction at all. :)
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Quiet Evening At Home:
Sarona writes:
>Hello from Sarona, hoping to host a Quiet Evening at Home
>again this year. Usually I've held this on a Tuesday, but
>seeing there is quiet some competition for Tuesday night
>then maybe Wednesday will be better. It has to be Monday
>Tuesday or Wednesday only because that is when I can get
>a 2 bedroom timeshare in my price range instead of a one
>bedroom
Assuming we keep the Welcome Celebration on Monday, then
Monday will not work for your affair.
I really don't envision that much true "competition" for
Tuesday, since most everything discussed for that evening
is 20 participants or less. Only an "affordable show" and
maybe one Eating Out Night venue might exceed that.
>As you know or remember the "quiet evening at home" is a
>chance for people to have a lingerie pajama party, to show
>off or wear or display outfits that are not appropriate
>for wearing in public. It's always fun and gives shy
>people a chance to make a few close friends.
I think of the QEAH as the "safest of the safe" activities
and having it earlier in the week will be beneficial.
It could also work on Wednesday, as the Limo Tour and the
pre-Limo dinner or show will all be very mainstream and a
safe venue activity could provide some balance.
In any case, I think it's best for you to select a day now
and get it on the schedule.
>I also plan to host "open house" all three afternoons
>from 2 or 3 until 5 or 6, something to allow people to
>get ready together if desired, or to socialize in a small
>and private venue before going out.
Occasionally we do get questions regarding the availability
of changing facilities. You might want to post this in the
DLV Discussion Forum as the date gets closer.
>As far as the Welcome Celebration goes ... do you think
>there is a place that is usually closed on Monday nights
>that might be possible to use? Then we are in a comfortable
>open mainstream business without displacing regular
>customers.
If you want to do a little homework along this line, it
would be appreciated.
>Or, a place that usually closes early could stay open a
>few hours - such as ReJavanate at Flamingo and Pecos.
Rejavanate? Hmmmm ...
That sounds like a coffee place, correct?
Coffee, as in no C2H5OH? Uh, if that's correct, I don't
think that would ever work for an opening mixer. :)
If I'm mistaken about this assumption, please correct
me! I do think that it's imperative that adult beverages
be available for our opener, however.
Still, we can't summarily dismiss any serious suggestion.
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Formal affair and limo:
Kate writes:
>Hi.
>I agree, a formal dinner party / Gathering in a large hall
>sounds very much like convention material. I don't want to
>Poo Poo anything either but this is stepping close to the
>scheduling of closeted events and DLV really doesn't need to
>do that.
>We have enough venues of unique flavor during the week and
>that is what keeps DLV apart from the run of the mill
>Gatherings. (A slippery slope indeed!)
>I have a friend who attends SCC and some other conventions
>and she is afraid of trying DLV. I always considered a
>convention to be a Starter event and DLV to be the next
>regular step towards becoming your true self . "Just My
>personal observation!" .... Stepping into the real world
>is not for everyone I guess!
It's the ambience of that unimaginative stereotypical TG
event party that I think we need to avoid for all of our
activities, and in particular the formal affair and our
opening mixer.
Now, as to the scope and purpose of a dress-up affair,
even though we've always downplayed the role of DLV as
"an opportunity to dress", many of our attendees use DLV
for just that. There's nothing wrong with it.
For those for whom the dressing for the sake of dressing
is not the primary drawing card for DLV, many of them
do like to dress up occasionally, when and where appropriate.
A Prom/Formal is indeed a when and where that is appropriate.
I do think we need to decide which of the roads on which
this Prom/Formal activity will travel, either:
a. One track of a multi-track evening.
or
b. Large single-track maximum-attendance thing.
. . . . .
>>There's no law that says we MUST do the Limo Tour and NSD
>>this coming year, but I really don't foresee any excess of
>>evening activities.
>The limo Tour is the event that drew me to DLV in the
>first place, I loved the ambiance and the way it was
>planned by Monique and co', then Jamie Barb and Toot's
>etc in later years. I have done 3 now and would do more
>if it were still available.
For every activity we have, there are some for whom it is
a high priority of great interest. For others, it's of
interest, but not to a high degree, and for some it's of
little or no interest.
I cringe when I think of what would happen if we would
seriously propose taking golf off the schedule in order
to boost the turnout at other daytime activities. I think
we would have a major revolt on our hands! :) :)
>The only thing I thought that was lacking was a get
>together immediately after the tour, Unfortunately this
>was done individually and left to the Limo occupants
>where to go and who was going, which is ok but you can
>do this anytime at home with your regular friends!
There's only one reason we've never had an immediate post
limo get-together is that nobody has planned it. If you
see this as a priority, please propose it.
>IE: The individual limo occupants went their separate ways
>after the Limo's dropped us off and even though we had a
>nice time splitting off into our smaller groups, I think
>it might have been better if we had met somewhere together
>being all dressed in our very best evening wear!
>The Charles's bar thingy didn't start till' the early AM.
>2 hours later and most limo riders had dispersed by then.
This past year, it seemed like there wasn't that much of
a break between the Limo Tour and the Charles Bar. The LT
ended at 12:30 and for many, the break barely covers the
freshen up and get there time.
Maybe a "Pre Charles Bar Without Charles" might work?
>I would come back again and again for the Limo Tour but
>NSD I think has ran it's course for me. One 2 hour drive
>out into the desert each way for an event which didn't hit
>the spot for me would be enough. Although I enjoyed the
>time I spent there and the company too not to mention the
>thought of such a very unique event, I wouldn't do it again!
>But An Absolute Yes to the Limo Tour staying, It's part of
>the culture now and really should stay I think, especially
>for those who haven't yet done it and If we eliminated the
>L/T we might be going in the wrong direction.
I only envision something like the Limo Tour or NSD going
on mothballs only if somebody comes up with absolute killer
dynamite activity of the same scope and magnitude.
>Hope my thoughts help the process.
Thanks, Kate. :)
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Working schedule:
Diva Las Vegas 2010 schedule
Tentative and subject to change
All times Pacific Daylight Time
Sunday, April 18:
10:00am: Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church) - sv
7:00pm: Dinner options (Various)
9:00pm: After-dinner common gathering (TBA) - mv
Monday, April 19:
10:30am: Makeover Tips with Stacey (Bare Escentuals) - mv
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - mv
7:00pm: Dinner (TBA) - mv
8:00pm: Welcome Meet and Greet (TBA) - mv
Tuesday, April 20:
10:30am: Makeover Tips with Stacey (Bare Escentuals) - mv
1:00pm: Lunch With Mary Beth (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Murder Mystery Interactive Theater (tba) - sv
7:00pm: Eating Out Night (Various)
7:00pm: Milano's option (Milano's) - mv
8:30pm: Mainstream-Alternative Night (Various)
8:30pm: Big Show (TBA) - ms
8:30pm: Affordable Show (TBA) - ms
8:30pm: Pub Crawl (TBA) - sv
Wednesday, April 21:
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Dinner (TBA) - ms
9:30pm: Limousine Tour (TBA) - ms
Thursday, April 22:
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
5:00pm: Night Of The Soiled Doves (CR) - mv
6:00pm: Local Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Local Dinner (TBA) - ms
Friday, April 23:
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Final Dinner (TBA) - ms
9:00pm: After-dinner options (Various)
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Administrivia:
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Diva Las Vegas 2010
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