[dlvorg] Social aspects of our event, etc. ...

In this mailing:

Org List
Less than 6 months to go
Social aspects of TG events
Oooo-ooo that smell
BGal Boutique
Registration workflow
Blue Ox
Illness
Administrivia
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Org List:

This is the DLV 2015 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg_at_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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Less than 6 months to go:

That is correct! DLV 2015 will occur sooner in the calendar year than
any of our previous events. This means that many of our checkpoints and
milestones will occur sooner than in recent years.

As a reminder, our suggested hotel selection process will begin shortly.
Those whose priorities include such things as special group rates, fee
waivers, etc., should be doing their homework now.

Please continue with the discussion on the items below, and anything
else of relevance to the strategy of our 2015 event.
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Social aspects of TG events:

Sherry writes:

My 2 cents. Altho I've attended the last 4 DLV's. I've also have made 5
trips to the SCC convention. I miss some things there and it's NOT the
lectures. Some girls there don't attend any of them. They go just to
socialize.

Here goes: Anytime u want company there, just walk into the lobby during
the day.

There's always other dressers to chat with. And, every evening the bar is
packed with new and old friends. U feel like u can start a conversation with
anyone. And, even tho that's not my nature, I do.

So, how could u give DLV the convention feel without being one? How
about an anchor hotel? Or, several walking distance apart? Where girls
could drop into a bar there any evening and find a friend?

A morning coffee get together there mite draw a number of girls. But, 7
AM is VERY unrealistic for most of us. The "Lunch with" mite actually
draw more if it was at the same place, convenient to the main hotel.
Instead of getting stressed driving all over Vegas to each new venue we
could walk there.

There is a certain comfort and reassurance about returning to the same
place and seeing friends there. The only event at DLV like that is
dancing at Paris. And, I think it's getting more popular every year.

If u can find a way to lessen the stress of driving all over, the
getting lost, late stuck in traffic, parking a half mile away, I think
it would make some girls happy. I have no idea how to make this happen.
Or, if it's even possible.
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Thanks DRS. :)

You bring up several very important points relevant to the discussion at
hand.

Let me respond to your talking points and let's hear what the others
think on these as well.

First is the overall social environment at TG events, whether they are
true conventions or avowed non-conventions. I have to admit that we are
weak on some of the items you cite. We have no "common area" such as the
hotel lobby, the room or suite used as the event "office", the vendor
area, etc.

Establishing some kind of an "office" or common hospitality room has
been a recurring suggestion in feedback for many years. I must admit
that this would be very handy to have. (No, having something like this
does not make us a convention or even push us in that direction.)

There are a few requirements which, unfortunately, are roadblocks to us
having something like this, including:

1. It has to be conveniently located, in proximity to where our people
are staying or within a convenient walking distance.

2. Somebody has to pay for it.

3. Somebody has to staff it. (And coordinate it.)

The answer to number 1 is obvious. In the hotel where most of our people
are staying, which is almost always the lowest-priced of our suggested
hotels. Anything requiring a drive or a taxi ride simply will not work.

The lowest-priced suggested hotel is kind of by default our "anchor"
hotel. Over the past few years, all of our suggested hotels have been
within walking distance of each other, assuming you like to walk. :)

As for 3, this is quite a load, in terms of person-hours, to place upon
our volunteer force.

I saved 2 for last. :) Lacking a sugar-mommy, we simply do not have the
bucks, and no, I do not think the need justifies the complexity of
having a registration fee! A suggestion came in a couple of weeks ago
which would have vendors pay for it.

The closest we've approached this in recent years was when we had "Hotel
Hospitality" get-togethers in 2010. The concept was great, but it also
placed a load on our volunteer capacity. We could re-visit this if there
is a desire.

Years ago, the casino bar at the Sahara was kind of a default gathering
place. For one year, one of the casino bars at the IP was likewise. If
there is a demand, we can designate one of the convenient casino bars as
a semi-official place to meet others.

We could also re-visit having either a single suggested hotel, or one
suggested hotel that is "more equal" in Orwellian terms. These were
rejected a couple of years back.

I agree that the morning coffee session is too early for most. With our
model, it's up to those host(ess)ing activities to set the time. "Those
who do the work call the shots" has been one of our organizational
tenets from year one.

Now for "Lunch With", which used to be one of our shining stars, but in
recent years has seen a significant drop-off in attendance.

We had the absolute best turnout for "Lunch With" when it was at a
consistent location, the Sahara Buffet. In recent years we've been
moving this from day to day. When Lunch With was in the Sahara, the
hotel in which the greatest number of our people were staying, yes,
it was very convenient for them.

We could re-visit having a fixed location for this if we want.

If we are to do this we need comments and feedback now, since the
movement seems to be to further diversify this, as in throw in a mix
of such things such as coffee shops and regular sit-down restaurants
in addition to buffets.

The Dancing At Paris has worked out well. Ain't broke, don't fix it. :)

That gives us three daily recurring activities which can be used for a
touch-base. We can adjust any of these to better serve the needs, if we
have the desire and the volunteers to make it happen.

We could also add more recurring touch-base activities. A mid-afternoon
session similar to the former hotel sessions, or a "pre-happy-hour"
could be added if desired, ditto for a mid-morning get-together.

Now, as for driving and the physical proximity, or lack of same, of our
activities. With our model, it will be close to impossible to eliminate
the necessity of local transportation. Our event would not be what it is
if we held most everything in the architypal Moapa Room in some hotel.
That's just not gonna happen.

We could brainstorm about if and how we can make local transportation
more convenient. We could revisit the occasionally-recurring suggestion
of a shuttle bus to/from our major activities.

We already encourage our people to share rides and to use public
transportation, but the survey consistently shows that the majority
use their own private (or rental) vehicle for local transportation.

If anyone has any ideas on how we can deal with the transportation
challenges, without invoking the dreaded "L-Word", of course, please
chime in. :)

Also, if anyone has any thoughts regarding any of these points, please
respond.
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Oooo-ooo that smell:

Robin writes:

I would like to suggest a new activity for the day time. It would tie
in very nicely with the make overs at Macy's.

I myself would like to know a little more about fragrances. Maybe a talk
on when to wear what fragrance, how to apply, When is an appropriate
time or place to wear a fragrance. Or maybe just a little history. I
find it all a mystery.

How does one decide on a personal scent? Maybe some samples of different
fragrances. I am not sure how to go about setting this up, but I am
willing to help if I can. Maybe we would do it through whoever arranges
the make overs. I live in the northeast, so it is kind of difficult for
me to make contacts there in Vegas, But if someone could get me a
contact name, I could try and set this up.
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Thanks Robin.

This is something that has never been done at DLV before. It would
probably be in demand and be well received.

Yes, you could probably bundle this in with the Macy's Makeovers, if
they will be repeated. It could also be a stand-alone activity.

Yes, Macy's would be a good choice for the vendor, since they carry all
kinds of fragrance lines, from $ to $$$$$.

Another that comes to mind immediately is Perfumania. They have a shop
in the south outlet mall, and probably one in the north outlet mall as
well. Maybe a shop like this would be interested in doing a demo session
for a group of our people.

Sara (no "h") is the one who has been coordinating the Macy's sessions.
Perhaps she can give you a contact person, or else work with you for a
combined makeover and fragrance session.
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BGal Boutique:

Edy writes:

For those who enjoy feeling/looking fem, I find earings, eyelashes and
fingernails add a lot.

Also, just recently purchased a one piece two breast pros from www. BGal
Boutique, Hollywood, Ca. Cost was only $75, looks great and fun to wear
for those tops that allow cleavage to show. Perhaps Rena Thurston,
owner, would hop to Vegas next year for a sales visit. Check out her web
site.
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Annie responds:

Thanks Edy.

I've heard of the BGal shop but never been there.

If you want to get something going, please make contact with Rena and
see if there is any interest. As I've suggested for other vendors, I
would suggest that she bring plenty of products, as our people love the
immediate gratification. :)

We could most likely find a venue such as Spotlight which would let her
do a brief presentation in exchange for the bar business.
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Registration workflow:

Dionne writes:

> My opinion is that you will get a better turnout and better level
> of participation by having this on the sign-up screen than by having
> the attendees do an out-of-procedure hoop-jump in the form of phoning

Thanks for your suggestions. I basically see the advantages of using the
DLV registration system for Bare Minerals sign-ups. I'm not clear on the
workflow that you described.
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Annie responds:

There's really no change in the workflow or the procedure that the
attendees will use.

Activity sign-up will be the same as everyone is accustomed to, except,
in the example I used, anyone who does not have a cell phone number on
file and/or has one or more no-shows on file goes directly to the
waiting list. Those who have a valid phone number (means of personal
contact) or who are returnees with a good attendance record then go
ahead of these on the sign-up list.
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Blue Ox:

Dionne writes:

> If this is to be a commercial activity, or is to segue' into one,
> I do not think that it should be our official "Lunch With" for the
> day. I also suggest that all of the official Lunch With sessions be
> located a bit closer to the center of the action.

OK, I see your point here. Maybe you can suggest;- how to better
schedule/coordinate DLV'rs from the official Lunch With event to the
workshop-we need to promise Blue Ox that we will support their kitchen
with lunch to reserve that room.

I plan to eat lunch at Blue Ox before the workshop and want to open it
up to anyone who just wants company or ?, regardless if they stay for
the workshop.
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Annie responds:

Here is the way it was set up on the schedule last year:

+Thursday, April 3:
+{munch}
+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Paris Buffet) - ms
+ 2:30pm: 2bShapely Figure & Fitting Workshop (Blue Ox Sahara) - mv

The lunch at Blue Ox was not a separate line item last year. I believe
there was an announcement about lunch being available on the forum.

Our "Lunch With" was never intended to be an exclusive activity within
its timeslot, so if you want to schedule a lunch at Blue Ox in addtion
to the regular Lunch With, and have it as a separate line item, it's
fine.

There is a movement to hold Lunch With at an earlier time, most likely
noon-ish. If you keep the schedule for your workshop as above, there
will be no time crunch for those who want to do Lunch With and attend
the workshop.

And again I would suggest that to ensure a great turnout to the workshop
that you have products available. Our people want that immediate
gratification, and the only thing negative I heard about your workshop
last year was the disappointment that no products were actually
available in real time.
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Illness:

Vera writes:

Miss Ebola Virus is not Welcome to DLV 2015!
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Hmmmmm .... "Ebola Virus" might be a good test attendee name to use when
shaking down registration and such, one that we intentionally make a
no-show. :)
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Administrivia:

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Received on Wed Oct 08 2014 - 05:39:36 CDT