SECOND Annual Northeast Tiki Tour (Ideas wanted)

Ok,

I know, I know....I'm still basking in the afterglow of this weekend's events (and I'll be basking in Epsom salts later to sooth my booze-ravaged body) but its never too early to start planning.

So here's the question for the floor....would you rather an event that focused on bar hopping like the one we just had? Or a more hotel oriented event (room crawls, more bands, etc)?

Or a little of both (like our friday night room-crawl combined with the bus tour, etc)? If both, which would you like to have the larger focus?

There's always room for improvement and growth, so I guess I'm asking (even though this weekend was great) ....what would you have done different to make it better?

You wont hurt my feelings. I'm looking for suggestions & constructive criticism.....and knowing which way the first stop is has already been added to my notes!

I've got some ideas already (some of you know them) but I want to make sure its a direction everyone wants to go.

Let me hear from you.

bargoyle

Are you thinking of having a second bus (if it does indeed include a bus tour)? I hate to think of anybody being left out!

VL- Absoulutely! More capacity is #1 on my list for next year. I'll have 2 buses ready to go and possibly a third in the wings if needed.

This many additional people means the tour must change slightly, which is why I pose the questions above.

I mean, there's no way 100 people (or more) will fit in the grotto in the back of the South Pacific...so one bus would get there at 2 and leave at 4, the next one shows up at 4 and leaves at 6, etc. It gets complicated logistically. At least with the capacity at the Kowloon we know all of us would be together at some point.

Now 100 people around the pool at the Tiki Resort in Lake George while a band plays Live exotica...a little easier, but is it what we want?

Do we want an Oasis type event, or a Bus Tour event, or do we try to have the best of both worlds and do a little of each?

JPM- Im with ya 100% but then what are the days? friday for the hotel scene, sat for the tour? How many people could take a friday off from work for the hotel hang? Or do we plan around a holiday weekend? Columbus day? Does a pool hang work in October?

[ Edited by: Bargoyle 2007-08-27 10:57 ]

[ Edited by: bargoyle 2007-08-27 11:11 ]

I love what we did this year! The Friday night round robin was an amazing development that I had no idea how involved the 'bartender/hosts' had intended. Veerry coool! (Thanks you so much for your generosity and creativity)
The bus trip was amazingly fun! But its obvious as to its limitations for participants. After this year, Im sure more will want to be part of this great event.

I would love to see a two day event - one day of events at a 'swanky' hotel with available grounds or parking lot for vendors, artists, carvers, speakers, shows or musicians, and then in the evening... the round robin! The next day, lets pile on the buses for the tiki tour, swag bags and raffle.. and maybe some special surprises at a venue or two (like our way cool Waitiki concert at the New Tiki this year!)
And... on the third day...... LOL maybe we could all go to rehab together.

I would love to see a two day event - one day of events at a 'swanky' hotel with available grounds or parking lot for vendors, artists, carvers, speakers, shows or musicians, and then in the evening... the round robin! The next day, lets pile on the buses for the tiki tour, swag bags and raffle.. and maybe some special surprises at a venue or two (like our way cool Waitiki concert at the New Tiki this year!)
And... on the third day...... LOL maybe we could all go to rehab together.

I love this idea. I, for one, was in a shopping mood and would love to see some vendors. A two-day event would be perfect and the idea of splitting it between events at the hotel and away from the hotel seems like a great balance.

I tried a few vendors this year, but with it being so close to Oasis, I couldn't get 'em to come out. The next one will be planned without conflict (hopefully), and some vendors will make it out. I think have a successful 1st one and the possiblity of more than doubling in size for the second might arouse the interest of the vendors. Plus our booth sites will be dirt cheap!

Ok, so far...ummm...everything, huh? lol. Room crawl, bus crawl, vendors, bands, seminars, carvers, clowns & catering.

Dont forget the polynesian floor show with the fire dancers!! lol.

Ok.

I'm on it. its the idea I had from the begining. With a little momentum, I thnk we can get closer to that "ultimate" tiki gathering this next go 'round...but it may take until year 3 that we get it all....or 4....we'll see.

We got anyone in the Albany area on here? I'm looking for scouts rt now. pm me.

A hotel-oriented oasis event would be awesome, methinks. It might be a little harder to fill the entire day effectively, but maybe a shorter day tour and then finish at the hotel? And ixnay on the ownsclay.

I know you're embarrassed by the whole going in the wrong direction right out of the shoot thing, but that was pure comedy gold, and I wouldn't trade that memory in for a 50th Anniversary Oceanic Arts Mug!

(of course, I don't have to, BECAUSE I WON ONE IN THE RAFFLE WOO HOOOOO!!!)

But back to business, I see the benefit to a more stationary event as well, but definitely in addition to, not instead of the Mobile Tour like we just had. Perhaps two different events so we don't have to wait a year in between? (unless that's just not an option, which I'd certainly understand)

If that's not an option, I guess I'd prefer the tour on Saturday, and the shopping, concert listening, seminar digging on Sunday.

I wonder if there is some way to get the venues to have drink "specials," of which they make a lot, knowing we're on the way? A couple of the bars seemed to get utterly slammed and the drinks were kind of slow. I know if I had walked in a door and been greeted with "$5 Mai Tai, ready right now!" I'd have been all over that, and they might not get as far behind on menu orders.

Yeah, the bars didnt seem to think we were really gonna show up. I told every single one, "bring in extra help...there will be 50 thirsty people who all will want a cocktail all at the same time"

Now, if they had, and then we show 1/2 hour late, they would be bitching at me about paying the help for the 1/2 hour!! lol

Shows how great Ping was at teh Mon Kou. 1 bartender...no help...had drinks FLYING out constantly.

Once again, I think with one under our belt, we've shown that we're serious, and I think we'll have their attention for next year!

On 2007-08-27 13:03, Bargoyle wrote:
Shows how great Ping was at teh Mon Kou. 1 bartender...no help...had drinks FLYING out constantly.

Yeah, Mon Kou and South Pacific had it going on. New Tiki... less so... but they made up for it with WAITIKI!!! and lots o' swag.

On 2007-08-27 11:56, The Granite Tiki wrote:
But back to business, I see the benefit to a more stationary event as well, but definitely in addition to, not instead of the Mobile Tour like we just had. Perhaps two different events so we don't have to wait a year in between? (unless that's just not an option, which I'd certainly understand)

If that's not an option, I guess I'd prefer the tour on Saturday, and the shopping, concert listening, seminar digging on Sunday.

I love these thoughts. Two events per year would be fantastic.

But the 2-bus thing... That gets very tough. However, if it was done in shifts, thus they'd have 4 or 5 hours of 50 drinkers, then maybe they'd actually get the extra help. It's very tough to get an extra bartender for 2 lousy hours.

A stationary hotel thing... What about guest speakers, like the Bum? How about other "specialists" in various Tiki/Polynesian/Exotica?

And how about those among us?? I could be convinced to do an hour or two on rums - sampling, sipping and rambling. And we could get Pappy to re-live his bartending experience - Live On Stage! Is there someone who knows exotica music enough to fill an hour? We could ask Tikisgirl to give a History Of Tiki Mugs.

Seminars, vendors, live music, movies (South Pacific, anyone?).... We could fill 2.5 days - start Friday afternoon, go to Sunday afternoon.... Northeast Tiki Con...

I am down with all of it.

Friday evening with an organized trip for dinner (just like you did this year) followed by room crawling back at the hotel. Don't get too swanky a hotel though. You want one that has a pool but appreciates the rooms you book and will be tolerant of room crawlers and a wee bit'o noise late at night.

Saturday morning is recovery and pool lay-about time. A DJ spinning exotica tunes would not hurt either. This could be agood time for some of the locals to put on a carving expo too.

Stagger buses about 2 hours apart so as not to burden the host establishments and also give those needing more recovery time another option.

Saturday night poolside and/or room crawl continuation. This would also be a great opportunity to set a projector to show any old classic films on the lawn.

Sunday relaxation poolside maybe a couple bands or just a lot of the Waitiki boys. A nice polynesian brunch catered by one of the host restaraunts?

Lovin the ideas people. My original thought for next year was to sort of emulate the Tiki Kon. Part bus tour, part hotel hang. It seems to be the general concensus so far, so thats the way i'll plan.

Rugby, you're absolutely right. Hotel choice is key. I liked the super8 because of the horse-shoe all doors lead to outside thing....and its a super8. They were pretty tollerant of our wackiness.

Granite-I think a once a year thing is all Im good for. we'll still have our regular meetings, and as we get an FOM chapter together, there will be those meetings as well.

Anyone have a preference for a time of year? I dont want to be too close to any other event, and while I love the idea of the Northeast in the fall (leaf peepers anyone?) fall means the pool is just a place to gather, not swim.

Thoughts?

Early or mid-September? Early enough to still be warm, but late enough to not interfere with Oasis?

Ok, constructive criticism?

I don't have a lot, because things went REALLY well, and the giveaways and raffle stuff was awesome.

Hotel perhaps. one with a pool. I know that outside of Yarmouth in Cape Cod, it's tough to find a hotel with kitsch appeal. But a little nicer would be cool, and at the same time I am not that critical, because it wasn't that big a deal.

Sully, you need to tell the yayhoos in the back of the bus to keep it down when you are talking on the microphone for the raffle. :wink:

that's about it. :)

..sb

Regarding dates for next year, just please not July 12-13!

The only and I mean only thing (except for all the previously mentioned things;) is make sure that it takes no more than 20 minutes to get back to the Hotel after the last stop. That way I feel like more drinky and less sleepy=) Otherwise, yeah!

Bargoyle:
Everything sounds great. A repeat of Friday is a must: a floor show followed by a round robin. Saturday you can send two busses out in opposite directions with plans to meet at the final destination (Kowloon?) for a major party. I'm sure, after this year, they'll believe we are coming. Poolside? Live music? Oh yeah... there's nothing like sipping a tropical elixir poolside. An extra day? Heaven!
One thing to keep in mind: size can become an issue. What size group is managable?
Will there be an insurance/liabilty factor? Can we become too big to handle?
Can a single kahuna protect us?
Cheers-
Rapscallion

... Saturday you can send two busses out in opposite directions with plans to meet at the final destination (Kowloon?) for a major party.

After reading that, I immediately thought exchange from Ghostbusters:

Stantz: I think we'd better split up.
Spengler: Good idea.
Venkman: Yeah... we can do more damage that way.

My gut feeling is two buses will dilute the Tour experience for everybody. I just wish I had another idea. Nothing yet...

ya, I agree with pappy ..... I hate the two bus idea! A lot of the joy of the trip is being with each other.

On 2007-08-27 18:32, velveteenlounge wrote:
Regarding dates for next year, just please not July 12-13!

Sorry [grins sheepishly]! Don't worry, I'm not going to send you my conflicts for the entire year. I just really need to be there next year!

"You're gonna need a bigger bus."

Cmon, we can all fit on one bus, right?

On 2007-08-28 17:39, Bargoyle wrote:
Cmon, we can all fit on one bus, right?

Well, they do look pretty happy!

LOVE the idea of having a hotel thingy! Bands, vendors, carvers,pool party, etc... LOVE the bus tour too, but you KNOW next year you will have double the amount of people wanting to go on it! You may have no choice but to run two buses.
No matter what you do Sully, you obviously have 110% support from A LOT of people and anything you do will be a success.
The west coast has Oasis, the south has Hukilau and now the north east has NETT!!! Wooo Hooo!!

Luke

I hate to be the contrarian here, but I would suggest NOT having two separate buses. The even is so much about a group activity, it would be a shame to split them up, even if just to meet up in the same place later. Plus, could you imagine the logistics for the planner? It would be like planning two different tours going on at the same time! I would say if a bigger bus doesn't work, or two buses at the same time, we'll have to bite the bullet and move one bus at a time.

Oh yeah, just to throw out other suggestions, how about a tour of Wildwoods, NJ? But that may be out of the New England scope. I understand there are a lot more tiki places in Mass?

I love the idea of wildwood. I used to vacation down on the shore as a pup all the time. ANd its called the Northeast Tiki Tour so that we wouldnt rule out Lake George, NYC, etc.

Unfortunately, there's not a heck of a lot of "tiki" on the Jersey Shore per se. Some great old googie arcitechture and some super swank old hotels....

It might make an excellent place for a Hotel event, ala Oasis though.

ANd I agree that two buses would be a logistical nightmare. It was hard enough keep ONE on schedule. And then how do we raffle? short wave radios? raffle at the bars? two seperate raffles?

Its all stuff to think about.

We've got plenty of time, but 50 of us took about 4 months of planning & chasing leads & contacting vendors, bars, hotels, etc etc. ( dont get me started on the original hotel it was gonna be at!!) I figure to do it twice is big is gonna take at least another few months!

Anyway, keep the ideas coming. I dont think we can do EVERYTHING everyone has suggested, but its all great inspiration for me.

[ Edited by: Bargoyle 2007-08-28 19:07 ]

Is a pool very important in the North East? Even an indoor one?

No one on the tour struck me as the pool type, of course, I could be totally wrong. I know I'M not the pool type!! :)

There's nothing I love more than swimming, but it has to be VERY warm to get me into the pool. Like Caribbean warm. My MIL's pool in RI is typically too cold, even in August.

We don't actual go IN it we just drink AROUND it;)

I'm with Primo here. Just a nice spot to congregate.

Trust me, no one wants me to unleash the Great White Belly and jump in that pool anyway. :)

On 2007-08-27 17:21, Suffering Bastard in Maine wrote:

Hotel perhaps. one with a pool. I know that outside of Yarmouth in Cape Cod, it's tough to find a hotel with kitsch appeal. But a little nicer would be cool, and at the same time I am not that critical, because it wasn't that big a deal.

I have to agree, if just for the atmosphere. Not an item of huge importance, but some water, even in a manmade basin, adds a lot to the atmosphere. Plus, the patio furniture is conducive to relaxing and enjoying cocktails.

I have to agree, if just for the atmosphere. Not an item of huge importance, but some water, even in a manmade basin, adds a lot to the atmosphere. Plus, the patio furniture is conducive to relaxing and enjoying cocktails.

And it gives geeks like me an excuse for an entirely new wardrobe segment--"poolside attire!"

Bargoyle,

If guys like you and I didn't go in the water what would the well meaning hippies in the zodiacs have to circle?

Poolside is coolside! That style of patio/ pool entertaining was a major part of swanky get togethers back in the day.

Look forward to joining in one way or another next year!

here's another excellent idea: Sven!