From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Sun Nov 08 2009 - 07:53:13 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
Welcome Celebration
HRC Welcome
Hard Rock Proposal
HRC Welcome
Welcome thoughts
Hard rock welcome
HRC opinion
HRC and music loudness
Another welcome proposal
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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Welcome Celebration:
This mailing deals exclusively with the Welcome Celebration,
and mostly with the comments on Suzane's proposal, although
one other totally different suggestion is included toward
the end of the mailing.
Several other items have come in (Golf, hotels, Prom, etc.)
and these will be included in a subsequent mailing in the
next few days.
One thing we do owe to Suzane is a timely preliminary
response to her offer. If we can't form a consensus,
this may come down to a vote very shortly.
Thanks to all for your feedback. Please continue.
. . . . .
The big question: Is this (Suzane's proposal) the
direction we want to go for our Welcome Celebration?
Yes or no?
As to where I personally stand on this item ...
Here's what I want to see as goals for our Welcome
Celebration, no matter what we finally decide upon:
1. Absolute maximum turnout!
2. Comfortable for all, rank newbees to mainstreamers.
3. Absolute maximum turnout!
4. Environment conducive to Quality Social Time.
5. Absolute maximum turnout!
6. High level of enjoyment by all.
Oh, did I forget to mention absolute maximum turnout? :)
If the new HRC and Suzane's plan will meet these goals,
then I'm all for it!
If Suzane's plan fails to meet any of these goals, then we
need to adjust it or consider other options.
As I think about it more, I think this has a very good chance
of being the best-attended and most-enjoyed activity in the
entire history of DLV! Suzane has done the legwork, made the
contacts, and essentially has given us a drop-in activity.
Now, to address two concerns which have been brought up by
multiple people:
1. Music, meaning the loudness of such. IMAO, if we cannot
select the level of the background music in the area we
occupy, it's a deal-breaker! No-go! Period! Any dissention
on this point? {silence} I didn't think so! :)
2. Finances. For the time being, at least, I would like
to concentrate on the "is this the way we want to go?"
question, and soft-pedal the financial aspects until we
get a good solid "go/no-go" answer to that question.
Why?
If this is not the way we want to go, the whole finance
issue is moot.
If this is the way we want to go, then Suzane and those
who choose to assist can work out the financial details.
I see this (finance) issue as one which can easily become
a "black hole", absorbing all energy within its force
field, and we need to concentrate on the bigger picture
at the time, the direction in which we want to go for
the Welcome Celebration. (As well as the other details of
DLV 2010).
. . . . .
There is also another, highly different, proposal for a
Welcome Celebration below, which would be more similar
to what we had last year. This also must be considered.
Comments on the direction we want to go will be
appreciated.
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HRC Welcome:
Vivian Chen writes:
>I'm fine with the HRC idea.
Thanks, Vivian.
. . . . . . . . . .
Mary Beth writes:
>I'm in favor of using the Hard Rock for some sort of event,
>although I'd rather it be something without a cover charge
>or any other type of fee above and beyond one's own drink
>and food tab.
Agree!
To assure maximum turnout of the Welcome Celebration, there
can be no cover charge, nor mandatory fee.
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Hard Rock Proposal:
JoAnn writes (first-person, no quoting):
How to keep this a simple response-- *An Executive Summary *--
*Overview:*
We need a "wow" venue with a statement that says to our Diva members
that they need to be there. And I believe that the South Strip HRC with
a 3rd floor venue is the place to be!!! The evening requires
pre-payment and should have the support for an advance sign-up just like
the Limo or NSD.
*Location:*
Yes, it should be the HRC-South Strip --third floor. We deserve our
space and our own restrooms. And we should not have to make a deposit.
See below.
*Restrooms:*
We should be able to commit to using only the 3rd floor restrooms. Why
go elsewhere and possibly become an issue.
*Music/ Entertainment:*
Yes, the sound level needs to be agreeable for lots of conversation. We
might want to think about having a short program (10 minutes). Also we
could have something unique during cocktail time ---like a harpist.
*Cocktail Hour:*
The "no host" time frame should be from 6pm to 7:30pm. We need to have
a set price for "well" drinks and a designated beer. This need to be
reasonable price, and then let all of the other drinks be what the
"market will bare".
*Dinner:
*Maybe we should be looking as this event as a "fixed price" dinner at
$30.00 [sit down] which includes the meal, venue cost, and tip. So I
say can we do it for $25.00 provided that we have 75 people. They would
offer one of three choices: baked fish[salmon], vegetarian ravioli, or
stuffed chicken breast. The meal is salad and the main course. Wine is
a "no host"- 'well price' per glass item.
*Cost of Venue Reservation of $1,000:
*The 3rd floor is not giving them any money when it is not used and a
Monday night is a low/ no use night. At 75 people give meal and drinks
they should be very happy, and if not, I'm sure there will be several
venue who will accept us!!
Suzanne's should not have to risk making any type of deposit. We need
to see ourselves in a "reasonable power position" to be accommodated as
a $4,500+ customer.
*Summation:
*So who am I to make this sound so simple. The times dictate!!
With care and hoping for "on point dialog"...
. . . . . . . . . .
Here are my comments on these talking points.
1. Prepayment. For a maximum-attendance Welcome Celebration,
payment as a condition of entry, whether before the fact or
at the door, will kill the turnout!
If it must be prepaid, we need to use it for some other
purpose than our Welcome Celebration or any other
intended-maximum-turnout thing.
I want to see our Welcome Celebration be a convenient
and comfortable activity for newcomers and a "must-do"
for returnees!
2. Location. What more can I say! Location, ambiance, etc.
First-class, number one! No question about this.
3. Restrooms. IMAO, don't ask, don't tell. We can request
that our people use the third-floor facilities. The less
said about this item, the better.
4. Dinner. Yes, there may be a way to "bury" some or all
of the venue cost in the price of dinner, drinks,
fund-raising thing, etc.
5. Cost of venue on a Monday. Yes, I'm sure that they are
aware that an empty room on a slow Monday translates to
zero revenue. In all of the conversation, there has been
no active negotiation (yet). "Not Negotiable" is an oxymoron
such as "Small Crowd", "Freezer Burn", "Inside Out", etc. :)
Yes, the times do dictate. I'm very sure that they do not
have people beating down their door offering to buy the
third floor for a kilobuck each Monday! :)
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HRC Welcome:
Gina writes:
>I think the HRC is a great option and I'm in for a C-note
>to help front the deposit, a contributions jar can be at
>the door if people want to help.
Thanks, Gina. :) It is appreciated by all. :)
>Full menu would be my choice, but a limited menu with a
>good salad would be fine.
The way it looks is that unless we exceed the 100 body
limit, we're gonna get the full menu. If for some reason
we're stuck with a sucky "party menu", there's always
the option for you to step downstairs, drag some others
along if you like, and just get a table in the regular
dining room.
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Welcome thoughts:
Vanessa writes:
>I'm in favor of using a mainstream quality venue such as
>the HRC.... if you are coming to Vegas for DLV you might
>as well just "jump in the pool" right a way and get wet...
>and really the HRC and using the third floor area is
>pretty much the shallow end of the pool.
>Let's put this on the schedule as proposed, enjoy it and
>then twist some arms to get an extra $10 of gaming money
>out of the attendee before the lose it in a slot machine.
Thanks, Vanessa. :)
The more I think of this proposal, the more I think it
will work, particularly in terms of meeting the goals
for a maximum-attendance welcome mixer.
It would be a very classy affair in a very classy venue!
Not everyone is in agreement, however, and it may come
down to a vote very shortly, as to whether we proceed
or turn down a different path.
So far, even with all of the well-presented concerns,
I see nothing that can't be dealt with or worked around.
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Hard rock welcome:
Ginger writes:
>The new Hard Rock may be a good place and the third floor
>seems to be safe for newcomers, but I have serious doubt
>that we can obtain the numbers required to make the $8.34
>number work for the $1,000 room charge.
>A safe way to do it would be to get 10 people to guarantee
>the room up to $100 each (or some equivalent numbers) and
>mail our checks made out to the Hard Rock Cafe into a
>designated person in advance, maybe even the HRC, who would
>hold them to pay for the shortage whatever that might be.
>Pro-rata refunds could be made out of the cash collected
>on the evening.
Well, I was gonna say that I would put my money where my
mouth is and pledge $100 to the cause, but Gina beat me
to it, so it will be Gina and not me who's in for the $100!
:)
Seriously, if we need pledges of $100, I'm good for it.
>Other than that I see no problems and the bathrooms in
>the new place seem to be an improvement over the bathrooms
>in the old place.
>I hosted a gathering at the old Hard Rock several years and
>Peter, who was the manager then, was great about the whole
>thing.
>However, as I recall there was a bathroom incident which
>occurred later in our visit when some other guests complained
>about our bathroom usage. The HRC solution was to station a
>staff member by the bathroom doors to act as traffic director
>admitting DLV guests and other guests separately and
>alternatively to the bathrooms.
Yes, that is the way I remember it. IIRC, there was a family
with kids who appeared to be the one who complained. I do
remember at the time that we considered it to be an "issue"
and not an "incident", since no blood was spilled, so to
speak. :) I also remember the "traffic cop" guessing wrong
a couple of times. :)
>The Hard Rock Cafes everywhere really do keep their motto,
>"Love All Serve All."
>(Annie if I don't have this right please correct it.)
The wording is correct, but I'm not really sure if it's
their motto or their slogan. :) :)
We've had gatherings at the HRC since then. No subsequent
restroom issues that I'm aware of.
I used HRC last year for the Pre-Milano's happy hour and the
service was good as usual. What was funny is that we had two
groups, opposite each other on the bar, and the groups did
not discover each other until about 1/2 way through the HH.
("O'Leary is dead and O'Reilly dunno it!") :)
I also know that we've had groups go to HRC last year and
in prior years. We can even go as far as to say that the HRC
on Harmon was the site of DLV's SECOND activity of all time!
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HRC opinion:
Holly writes:
>I read the information about the new HRC this morning.
>My opinion, FWIW, is that the 2nd floor facility is a
>non-starter for several reasons; too mainstream for many
>of the newer girls, too loud for social conversation.
Agree on both parts.
The second floor might be good for EON, or a Sunday evening
dinner option, but if it is not conducive to socializing,
it will not work for our Welcome Celebration.
>The $1000 for the third floor knocks it out of the running
>for me as well.
>I think it would be tacky, at best, to "pass the hat" the
>night of the event to help recoup the costs for Suzane in
>fronting the money. Is that the face we want to put on
>DLV for the week? If we were to do something like that,
>we should at least be honest and upfront with people and
>tell them if they sign up for this, then in addition to
>paying for their dinner and drinks, they should be prepared
>to pay for the use of the room as well. Even if they don't
>eat, they are going to be encouraged contribute to the cost
>of the room. And in my opinion, if we tell people that, many
>are going to take a pass on the event.
>I'm also not at all comfortable allowing one of our girls
>to become encumbered with a $1000 expense, with there being
>little chance of her being made whole. Even if 100 people
>show up, it is just wishful thinking that all 100 are going
>to pony up $10.. or 50 $20... or any combination thereof.
>I know Suzane volunteered and kudos to her for that, but
>still, that is an awfully large expense for someone to have
>to swallow.
The concern about this is valid, but I do believe the
offer was made in good faith by a person of sound mind,
with very few strings attached, and after some careful
forethought. In addition, even in this first round of
discussion, other potential "underwriters" have stepped
forward, so if there is a "bath" to be taken, it will be
in a communial bathtub. :)
>And not mentioned in any of the previous correspondence,
>is the HRC going to require some minimum dinner guarantee
>for our group? If so, how are those covered if the minimum
>is not met?
Re-reading the original correspondence, there's nothing in
the way of required minima either on food or cocktails.
Things like this are always specified up front if they
apply.
>Now, thinking a little longer term, what do we do next year?
Next year (for 2011) we plan a Welcome Celebration that is
appropriate for 2011. That is a bridge which will not be
crossed until DLV 2010 has long concluded.
>If Suzane is unable to front the money for the 3rd floor
>next year where does that leave us? Would not DLV be better
>served by developing a relationship with a facility free of
>such requirements? I know nothing is forever and our current
>scramble due to the failure of the Blue Ox is a good example.
I really don't think we should avoid doing something either
because it would be a "hard act to follow" or because we
may not be able to do it again the next year, for any reason.
This year needs to be this year, and next year needs to be
next year. All kinds of circumstances can change between
the two.
>But rather than spending a considerable amount of time each
>year trying to figure out how to pay the room fee without
>offending the masses, wouldn't our efforts be better spent
>on planning the event itself?
As of this time, we need to focus on the question at hand,
meaning the road we will take toward our Welcome Celebration.
We owe Suzane an answer on this, whether she should proceed,
or halt.
The job of actually planning the Welcome Celebration,
no matter which road is taken, will lie upon those who
volunteer to coordinate and assist with that activity.
Should we accept Suzane's proposal, the majority of the
details of the activity, including the financing, will be
up to Suzane and her assistants and "underwriters", as
this is a long-standing DLV precedent.
Should we reject Suzane's proposal, it will be up to us,
collectively, to plan and implement a Welcome Celebration
which meets our goals and objectives.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HRC and music loudness:
Norma writes:
>About the Hard Rock:
>The matter of acoustic decibel level was addressed in
>several spots in your recent mailing.
Yes, because I've been in several of them (HRC and Casino)
and I know that the music level is right on the edge of that
which impedes conversation.
Also, they tend to mix the sound "flat", very "midrangey",
which hits right in the middle of the portion of the audio
spectrum used for the human voice.
>Maybe I've become a cranky old lady, but I find these
>venues to be unbearable. Here in San Diego I am active
>in various social groups which have nothing to do with
>gender fluidity. Social affairs are sometimes held in
>places which I find deafening. I have walked out to save
>my spleen from being homogenized, and have been criticized
>for doing so.
>I do not understand how one can be sociable when one cannot
>hear what anyone is saying.
If the activity is supposed to be a "dance" or a "concert",
then yes, the music is to be loud. However, for the Quality
Social Time, the level of the music needs to be that which
facilitates easy conversation.
Even though I do like loud music when appropriate, I do
identify with the way you feel. At last month's Pinkfest,
there were a few venues which I normally enjoy (Velvet
Rope Club and Ed Debevics come to mind immediately) where
I found the music level to be too loud to enjoy. :(
Huh? Eh? Say what? Pardon? Say again?
>And, of course, to make it worse, everyone has to shout
>at the top of their lungs. As a full-time transgendered
>person, I've cultivated my feminine voice. This is
>impossible to do while shouting. Shouting at full volume
>is quite unladylike.
>I'm not suggesting that venue decisions be made because
>of my opinion. The Hard Rock may be a wonderful venue for
>most DLV attendees, for all I know. But if the DLV affair
>under discussion is held at the Hard Rock, I will not attend.
I think it needs to be understood, actually I would go as
far as to say that it must be part of the contract, that
we determine the music level in the area in which we will
be holding our Welcome Celebration. Either we have direct
control of the knob, or the staff will without question set
the music to a level which we specify.
Would that convince you to attend? :)
>From your comments, it might be a good idea, should we go
with this proposal, to specify in our mailings and on the
schedule, that the music level in the area we have our
mixer will be appropriate for comfortable conversation. HRC
is well known for having music playing at a loud volume.
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Another welcome proposal:
This is another proposal for a Welcome Celebration which we
do need to consider.
Nora and Holly write (from a conversation, edited somewhat):
h>I heard from my catering friend in Las Vegas this afternoon.
h>She suggest a possible venue for the DLV Monday Meet &
h>Greet... Charlie's Lakeside.
h>The guy in charge is Chef Brett. Maureen (the caterer)
h>said she thought he would be willing to work off a limited
h>menu.
h>In addition to the inside seating, there is also a patio.
h>Sounds like it may be worthwhile to at least check out.
h>Since you're local, would you mind? If you call, mention
h>that you were referred by Maureen who used to work at the
h>Blue Ox on W. Sahara. She told him about our group and as
h>long as the money is green, he doesn't care. Let me know
h>what you think.
Charlie's Lakeside Casino
(702) 804-5167
8603 W Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89117
http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/18/1700/Las-Vegas/West-Side-restaurants
http://www.urbanspoon.com/zip/18/89117/Las-Vegas-restaurants.html
. . . . .
Nora responds:
n>HI Holly:
n>Interesting possibility. It is possible that something
n>can be worked out if the owner is willing to cooperate.
n>Offhand I see one drawback. The Facility located in the
n>Northwest on Sahara and Durango, quite a distance from
n>the strip and transportation of approximately 100
n>participants may be a problem.
n>Also, as you probably know there was another suggestion
n>of using the new Hard Rock location for our meet and greet.
n>The more possibilities the better and I will forward this
n>letter on to Annie for consideration.
n>Let's see where it goes.
. . . . .
Thanks, Nora and Holly.
This is another option, down a totally different path.
I see this as being similar to our 2008 and 2009 WCs,
but in a different venue, of course.
The location of the venue is inconvenient to some, yes,
and I do think this is a consideration, but not a final
show-stopper. There would be the sticker shock on the
taxi meter at the end of the ride! My guess is that the
cost of a taxi from the main Strip area would be like
$25-30 or so.
Comments on this option, gang?
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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
2:00pm: Studio Lites Open House (Studio Lites) - mv
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: Quiet Evening At Home HH and Dinner (See notes) - sv
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Dinner (TBA) - ms
8:00pm: Pajama Party (See notes) - sv
9:30pm: Limousine Tour (TBA) - ms
Thursday, April 22:
11:00am: Glamour Boutique Open House (Glamour Boutique) - sv
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:
9:00am: Pistol/rifle shooting (TBA) - ms
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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