SMF Convention

Admin, I think you've got a really great idea. Since I've first seen this thread I mentioned your idea to my wife and she too thinks it would be nice. Although at this point she is not inclined to attend as she doesn't think it would be interesting for her. Go figure... Anyway, that's something to consider. Will it be just for forum members or members and their spouses?

Also, the 4 cities you mentioned "Miami or Vegas or New Orleans or SF"
are all fine cities, but they are kind of spread out. Very close to some members, very, very far from other members. If you were to think more centrally located you could probably expect a much better turn out.

For example, in my case San Francisco is more than 2200 miles from me. 31 hrs. drive time. Now, I'm an old ex trucker. I probably would make that. Probably. However, that distance would very likely deter many. Just for that reason. Distance. The average individual probably would be more willing to drive 15 to 20 hrs. Just food for thought. :)

If you give away gift bags full of copper, I am in

Sounds like a cool idea to me, I'd probably be in on it.

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Originally Posted by skylinejack

Admin, I think you've got a really great idea. Since I've first seen this thread I mentioned your idea to my wife and she too thinks it would be nice. Although at this point she is not inclined to attend as she doesn't think it would be interesting for her. Go figure... Anyway, that's something to consider. Will it be just for forum members or members and their spouses?

Also, the 4 cities you mentioned "Miami or Vegas or New Orleans or SF"
are all fine cities, but they are kind of spread out. Very close to some members, very, very far from other members. If you were to think more centrally located you could probably expect a much better turn out.

For example, in my case San Francisco is more than 2200 miles from me. 31 hrs. drive time. Now, I'm an old ex trucker. I probably would make that. Probably. However, that distance would very likely deter many. Just for that reason. Distance. The average individual probably would be more willing to drive 15 to 20 hrs. Just food for thought. :)

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No matter where it is, it's going to be far away from most of the attendees, unfortunately. I mean yes having it right in the middle of the US would make it a maximum of half way across the country for some attendees anyway. Either way there would be more than enough time to plan ahead when and if the decision is made to make it happen.

We definitely will look into sponsors/speakers etc to make it worth it.

Should be in a city that has good scrap prices and the airport rent a car is well stocked with pick-up trucks...so that folks can generate beer money.

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Originally Posted by KZBell

Should be in a city that has good scrap prices and the airport rent a car is well stocked with pick-up trucks...so that folks can generate beer money.

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lol will take that into consideration

YEah maybe cordinate it with one of the cities bulk trash weeks. We could all show up in force with truck and trailers and make a killing :)

I dunno, Admin. jus not feelin it. I mean, maybe a Cruise would be the way to go. Think about it...If the thing breaks down at sea, with 200+ misfit drunken scrappers on board, we could end up getting life time passes for coming to the rescue and getting the thing running again. Cuz if there is one thing most of us know how to do, it is to make something work, one way or another.
And if by some fluke, we ended up at sea for a week, eating onion sandwiches and what not...HEY, most of us have been there, done that, anyway :cool:

I would love a convention, that is totally tax deductible if you have the right tax structure. How about a good hardcore steel city that could use the business, like Gary Indiana??

My vote would be east of the Mississippi.

since I mentioned this a couple months ago I have been doing a little work on this but if admin wants to do this than I won't mess with this any more.

The problem with Vegas of any of the other BIG towns is the price of everything. I helped put on a convention for REACT International and by being in a smaller town we were the first to make a profit on our convention. And we are always asked to do it again because people had fun (and fresh air).

I agree there needs to be a "learning" aspect so it can be a tax write off for those of us in business.

I also agree it should be in the middle of the country (not just because I live in Nebraska) if you have it on the coast some people will have a VERY long drive. I was looking at Lincoln NE (because it is close and on I80 and not far from I29). But KC would be a good choice as well.

Cost of some conventions are over $500 most of us around this forum couldn't handle that I was looking at $100-$150 (the cheaper the better).

just googled....... 2582 miles from the UK to the nearest US landing maybe quite a long drive/swim/drive but just another small problem i'm sure with a possitive thinking it will just be another 'day in thew life story'

British- just slipping into swimwear

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Originally Posted by british

just googled....... 2582 miles from the UK to the nearest US landing maybe quite a long drive/swim/drive but just another small problem i'm sure with a possitive thinking it will just be another 'day in thew life story'

British- just slipping into swimwear

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Able to deduct mileage from taxes?

well one fact that we need to consider is this is the internet. Even if 200 forum members say they will show dont expect more than 30.

I've done meet and greets from internet forums before. The best thing to do is, either host an event at a local watering hole were a majority of the members live, or have an event hosted at some ones house that is not apposed to people spending the night either in their house or in tents on the lawn.

Vegas baby...or chicago would work...new orleans(only during mardi gras)...
Or any city with a professional baseball team works for me..as long as we attend during the season..ive been meaning to get to a new ballpark..

I need a vacation bad...

Sounds like a great idea..

Area67...u couldnt pay me to go to Gary...pittsburgh would be ok though..or detroit

Oh the fun I could have with t shirts if it's in Gary...lol.


You can count me out if it's in Gary. I want to be shot at, have drugs sold to me, or insert other crime here..I can drive 2 hours north an go to Va Beach, or Norfolk. lol.

St.Louis is central, Memphis, Nashville, all big cities with decent convention services. Of course Vegas, but I can see that ending up with 2000 people needing bail..

Far as folks showing or not..this is why you have people pay up front if there is a reg. fee. I know a couple of conventions put on by gaming companies do this. You pay your reg. fee chances are your showing. From what the admin is talking like, we're not talking some bar meet up but an actual convention. We have folks here who do it all, some run yards, some do it part time, some do it full time, some do it for kicks and giggles, some do it just cause they can..I think more then 20 will show up. I think more then 20 will volunteer to be speakers, etc.

Either way I look forward to see what comes from all this, I'll need another vacation by the time this comes around I'm sure.

Sirscrapalot - Leaving on a jet plane..(read car) for Fl in less then 10 days.

Admin,
Isn't there some way you can extract the location data from Profiles and find out where most of the members are located and then plan from there?

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Originally Posted by Twisted

Admin,
Isn't there some way you can extract the location data from Profiles and find out where most of the members are located and then plan from there?

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Like sirscrapalot said, if we did this, it's not going to be a 'bar meetup', it would be an actual convention. Speakers and activities and networking, might even go for 1 or 2 full days.

No matter where it is, it's going to be a long trip for many (if not most) of the people who decide they want to go. Our forum members are literally EVERYWHERE, more than you may think don't even reside in the US. In all reality having such an event right smack in the middle of the country wouldn't make that much of a difference. Anyone who's serious about the scrap metal business, learning and really getting involved, I wouldn't expect to be overly concerned on the location of the event. Again though this is still way up in the air, nothing is set in stone.

Regarding the no show rate, I don't think it would be anything to worry about there would be a fee to attend, naturally tickets would be available long before the event took place, and generally speaking should be paid for BEFORE the event anyway unless you live right next door. I haven't looked into it deep enough to get a rough estimate of what the admission would be, what I do know is honestly we would be far more interested in making it happen and be awesome, rather than trying to make a big profit on it.

I understand your point, but dont you think if 80% of your members are on the east coast you would want to have it there. And it would give some justification as to why you have it there? And it might put and end to the discussion of where and why this is the location you choose. Just my 2cents. Either way it's a good idea and im glad your being proactive. Btw, i'm not a drinker so i would have to pass if it was a "bar meetup"!