Knoxville Gathering?

[JSnellArt]

Whoa, didn't know AdCon was moving to Memorial Day. We are wanting to go next year, but if not too many people are going, we may not make the looooong journey.

Same...plus its on a holiday weekend.

[Dar'manda]

Do we want to actually get serious in trying to plan for this and find out a rough 'cost' so we know if it's feasible or not?

[Gotal'ur Chaab]

Well, I say we use previous AdCon trips as a rough model, replacing the actual convention with some other activities(s). So, something along the lines of...

Date: First or second weekend of June

Friday:
Arrive/Check-In
(Activity)
Dinner

Saturday:
Breakfast
(Activity)
Dinner
Walkabout

Sunday
Breakfast
(Activity)
Dinner
Movie

That's worked well enough in the past. The real question is: what do we do instead of the con? I haven't been able to come up with anything yet myself and no one has really thrown out any ideas yet, so that's still up in the air. I got a Knoxville visitors guide in the mail the other day, but I haven't really had a chance to go through it very much. The 501st "Trooperfest" has been mentioned as precedent for an event such as this. Anyone have any idea what those are like or what they really do?

[Dar'manda]

Maybe have some armor workshops/prop demos/panels? Those would likely be popular enough.. As basic as advice on using bondo, or advanced as A'dens crazy weathering...

[Mir'ika Tarvos]

This sounds good    I was thinking of going to AdCon next year, but Memorial Day weekend is not likely for me.  I've been to Pigeon Forge many times, and I agree that place will be packed that weekend, con or not.

[Taglar Dreskk]

Travis, why don't you call either the Holiday Inn or the Hilton and ask them what the cost would be to rent out one of their meeting rooms?  Probably not looking until 2011, but we can get a rough estimate now.

Novall had mentioned if we maybe get a meeting room we can set up a photoshoot, armor demos, stuff like that.  Basically make like a "company party".

[Gabrin Kinoda]

MANDOCON 2011!!!   I love it.   

[Dini'la Kyr'ad]

A year plus from now... I might actually have armor by then.

[Dar'manda]

MANDOCON 2011!!!   I love it.   

I think we even have our first name submission

I may or may not be able to help with hotel discounts, depending on which one we decide upon, so i'll keep watch, or send me a PM.. Sometimes it's a lote ($50 a night off or more) sometimes less, depends. They may also give a group rate comparable or better.

[Biohazard]

I say also look at the possibility of Gatlinburg. It's about 40 minutes from Knoxville, and is very touristy. Lots of gokarts, crafts shops, haunted houses, the works, etc...... Could be a good excursion for a day, or more even. There's also the Ripley's Believe it or Not and Ripleys Tennesee Aquarium.


Abby and I are down for this. Definitely 2011 though, for reasons already agreed upon. lol.



And....


I personally think this could be a good start to a yearly, or bi-yearly event. A Mercs Con.... or a Mandalorian Convetion. Mainly just for our group, but for anyone else who wants to attend.

[DJon Ros]

Might want to check on DollyWorld also. Maybe contact them and set up a guest appearance by the Mando mercs!!! They may even provide an operations area for us. It never hurts to ask, the worst they could say is NO. Its far enough ahead to allow for logistics planning for that year. ow would be the time too set it up.

[K-Fett]

Gatlinburg would b out of the question, they have a no helmet policy, if ur caught wearing a mask or helmet the police will stop u an ask u to remove it, HALLOWEEN is the only exception.

[K-Fett]

MandoCon sounds freaking awesome

[Taglar Dreskk]

Gatlinburg would b out of the question, they have a no helmet policy, if ur caught wearing a mask or helmet the police will stop u an ask u to remove it, HALLOWEEN is the only exception.

Honestly I think that rule applies all across TN as well.  When we were at Adcon this year a cop had stopped me (out of armor) and asked what was going on with the costumes.  He informed me that normally they don't let folks walk around with their heads covered because of the KKK issues.  I informed him that it was because we were at a Star Wars convention.

But if there's no convention...we might find it hard to wear our armor out in public...

[Jardon Sydor]

I like the idea but I still think we need to hit adcon because Adam still wants us there