Ripper Conference 2009: London

[caz]

Blimey, maybe next time Adam should draw up a detailed list of 200 people's individual 'requirements' well in advance, and then it just might dawn on them that he wouldn't end up pleasing a single one of them that way.

Hi Philip,

I agreed with what you said, but you did give me one of those QI moments when the lights flash and the buzzers sound, usually when Alan Davies drops a clanger:

(please remember that UK Conferences in the past have always been around the 100 mark; 65 is hardly a decimation).

90 would be a 'decimation', which means a reduction by one tenth.

I'm sure you meant to say that 65 is not the unreasonably drastic reduction that others are making it sound, and I would agree entirely.

It appears from certain comments made that some people have not thought to check out the King's Stores for themselves on the various related websites, or they could have ascertained in advance the maximum number the function room can hold. It's not a figure that is arrived at lightly, but one that is almost certainly based on health and safety and getting everyone out in the event of an emergency.

May I venture that in future years, soundings are taken BEFORE a venue is booked? London was always going to be very popular, for various reasons...

Hi Sara,

I don't get this. Did you or Nats have to wait for Adam to come to you personally to take 'soundings'? What was stopping either of you from offering him your helpful suggestions for large function rooms in London, when he first announced the particular difficulties this year was going to present, ie when they could actually have proved helpful?

May I venture that in future years, people don't sound off AFTER a venue is booked that they have a problem with, if they could have offered to help beforehand?

As Monty keeps hinting, it's not as if there wasn't plenty of warning...

If all you do is lie back and think of London, don't blame Adam if he can't make you come.

Love,

Caz
X

[Robert]

"Govnor, I looked through the broken window and saw a lot of Bob Hinton's books...."

[Sam Flynn]

Well, I hear that the 2011 conference will be 'over the rope.'

... and, for that extra-authentic JTR experience, delegates will be required to make their doss-money at least three times each evening, before being thrown out of the conference room. Jolly bonnets optional.

[Robert]

"I'm sure a day conf is a better idea anyway since people vary in their requirements for 'luxury'' etc in their sleeping arrangments LOL!"

Well, I hear that the 2011 conference will be 'over the rope.'

[DVV]

However can I please make a plea for future conferences – keep them out of London.
Many people assume London is easy to get to, it’s not it’s a nightmare for those of us who don’t live there. Trains are too expensive, that just leaves the car. After you finish paying congestion charges, emission taxes, parking fees and so on it just doesn’t make it worthwhile.

Great idea.
Let's move to my village - Le Lavandou.
No congestion charges.
No emission taxes.
No parking fees.
Fifteen different beaches.
Beautiful girls. Nuff.
And the best bar on the beach is ruled by my English and Welsh friends. Mostly from Taunton area.

Amitiés,
David

[The Good Michael]

the procrastinators are the ones who will not be blamed for the conference.


-Graffiti found off of Liverpool Street-

[Bob Hinton]

Future Conferences

First off I would like to congratulate the organisers for managing to organise something for this year. They had very little time and I am sure the conference will be a great success.

However can I please make a plea for future conferences – keep them out of London.

Many people assume London is easy to get to, it’s not it’s a nightmare for those of us who don’t live there. Trains are too expensive, that just leaves the car. After you finish paying congestion charges, emission taxes, parking fees and so on it just doesn’t make it worthwhile.

I usually have a bookstall when I attend and was hoping to do so this year. However the lack of facilities meant it would be impossible for me to park anywhere near the venue so I could unload several crates of books.

The message is stay away from city centres; there are plenty of Travel Lodge type venues available which would be ideal, in fact if I remember correctly the very first one was held in such a place in Ipswich.

[Sara]

Natalie's suggestion is a good one for future ref.

http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/index.asp

I'm sure a day conf is a better idea anyway since people vary in their requirements for 'luxury'' etc in their sleeping arrangments LOL! May I venture that in future years, soundings are taken BEFORE a venue is booked? London was always going to be very popular, for various reasons...

Anyway those of us who are within striking distance can certainly come along and enjoy some of the evening socialising, etc. For my own part, I'm most interested in seeing the famous photo

[Sara]

I'm disappointed too. Having been a member for under a year I was looking forward to meeting some forum members, and to witnessing some live debate.

For future ref can I suggest considering the hire of one of the rooms at CONWAY HALL which is a fairly cheap venue for meetings in London? - my small professional assoc usually has its AGM there:

http://www.conwayhall.org.uk/

http://www.conwayhall.org.uk/where.htm

http://www.conwayhall.org.uk/hire.htm

http://www.conwayhall.org.uk/conwayhallhistory.htm

It's not quite in the East End - it's in Red Lion Square, in Holborn, with very good communications inc to the East along the Central Line and by bus. Red Lion Square has strong links to William Morris et al, and it's just round the corner from the Inns of Court and the Sir John Soane Museum, and not far from the British Museum, for those making a trip to London - it's a fascinating area.

The main hall seats upt to 500, and the next hall down in size can seat 100. The area is close to both Bloomsbury and Kings Cross ie full of cheap hotels - and the YMCA etc. It's always possible to socialise in the East End etc later in the day! - and to meet there for tours of the 'sites', and the sights

[Natalie Severn]

I too missed the boat and only live 15 minutes away by Central Line tube to Liverpool Street!Still I will join the fringe meetings which sound good fun.
Adam,
Ever thought of hiring the big hall at the Bishopsgate Institute----just two minutes from Liverpool Street Station and one minute from where Kate had her collar felt? I was there the other week and it held about three hundred people at least.

[Andrew Firth]

Well it looks like I've missed the boat on this one. So if I make my way down to London, my view of the conference will look like this.....



All the best
Andrew

[John Casey]

Oh. So much for that then.

I was waiting for a reply to my question about whether the venue was wheelchair accessible before deciding whether to come.

Guess it doesnt matter a twopenny bit whether it is or not now.

[Ally]

[QUOTE=AdamNeilWood;79902]

Thanks for posting that Don, you beat me to it.

Simply, a conference for 100 people would mean booking a hotel at a cost of £350 per person. People can say now they'd be prepared to pay that, but that's hindsight because this year's event is now sold out.

Hotel's in england don't let you book the conference room unless you also book a block of rooms? Bizarre. In the states you can book the conference rooms for a day and still allow every one to book their own accommodations or go without.

[Robert]

I foresee ugly scenes outside the G65 conference, with those excluded trying to break through police lines and ending up Mary Kettled.

[AdamNeilWood]

Thanks for posting that Don, you beat me to it.

Simply, a conference for 100 people would mean booking a hotel at a cost of £350 per person. People can say now they'd be prepared to pay that, but that's hindsight because this year's event is now sold out.

Andy and I decided that the only way to guarantee a full conference was to offer it on a day delegate basis, meaning it had to be in London. And as Philip quite rightly points out, there are a severe lack of venues in the East End with lecture, bar and book room facilities for a large group of people.

That's the reason for imposing a limit of 65 people, and a dirt-cheap cost of £75. And the cost is the reason why all places have sold so quickly. If we were charging £150 I'm sure there would be places available today.

In line with previous years I'll be posting the attendee list on the website in due course.

Finally, I would like to say that I'm disappointed not to be able to have more people attend. With regard to people dropping out and spaces being freed up, I have already said on the website there is a standby list and people should email me to be placed on it. Should a space become free those on this list will be contacted first. Deposits paid are refundable up to 1st August. I'd imagine that anyone who can't attend will let me know before this point, and my intention is to contact the next person on the standby list.

Best wishes
Adam

ps Claudia contacted 6 people by snail mail for Wolverhampton 2007, out of an attendance of over 100.