Some Suggestion for Meeting Organizers

[xray2]

Suggestions for 4th Annual North America Heel/Boot Meet

　

1) Start organizing the meet now. Some people's calendar start filling up over a year in advance.

　

2) New Orleans would complete a diamond or cross with Chicago, Las Vegas, New York. (That's my first choice. Been there a few times before Katrina. Would love to go back.)

Washington, D.C. would be my second choice. (Been there many times and wouldn't mind going back.)

Memphis, Tennessee (with a half hour drive to a bunch of big casinos in Tunica, Mississippi) would be my third choice.

My alternatives would be Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Boston and Minneasota.

Of course, you could go back to Chicago, Las Vegas or New York.

　

3) OBSERVATION: On the West Coast, there is no place like Las Vegas for air, hotel and entertainment bargains. Yet, it seemed that no one living on the West Coast attended the event in 2011.

　

4) ADVERTISING: Create a new high heel group at meetup.com to specifically advertise this annual North America event as well as other local meetings. Do the same at Yahoo! Groups, facebook, etc..

　

5) OBSERVATION: In regards to the low attendance numbers, the High Heels Place forum is supposedly co-ed. However, it seems that most attendees (except for a few wives) to these meetings in North America and Europe are men.

While it is quite possible that normal women have no interest in these meetings, I would think that some transvestite, drag queen and transsexuals would be interested, if they received invitations.

There is a large group at meetup.com called "Women with Size 11 or larger Footwear". They have regular real-life meetings, based in New York City. Groups like this one could be sent invitations.

[Dr. Shoe]

Well, off you go and do it! You have all the ideas, why not organise it yourself?

[xray2]

Well, off you go and do it!

You have all the ideas, why not organise it yourself?

Not with this group. I would have a big problem making reservations, as about 90% of the attendees were no-shows in Las Vegas as well as New York. Furthermore, about half of those who attended on day one did not show up on day two.

[Bubba136]

Not with this group. I would have a big problem making reservations, as about 90% of the attendees were no-shows in Las Vegas as well as New York. Furthermore, about half of those who attended on day one did not show up on day two.

If that's your attitude, why on earth did you bother to make these suggestions?

[Tech]

Not with this group. I would have a big problem making reservations, as about 90% of the attendees were no-shows in Las Vegas as well as New York. Furthermore, about half of those who attended on day one did not show up on day two.

For somebody who has been here 10 minutes, you sure do seem to know everybody sooo well, Noooooooooooottttttt!

Glass half empty for you huh...

Who gives a crap about the ones who didnt turn up... How about the ones who did? So long as they had a great time, THAT is whats its all about...

Why start it and make all these suggestions, then do a 180 and run everybody down...

[Dr. Shoe]

Indeed. I am about to start a thread about organising heelmeets. The dos and don'ts.

[xray2]

Hi, Bubba & Tech I tried to answer Dr. Shoe's question honestly. There is a saying that "honesty is the best policy". Although I stated facts, I re-read what I wrote because of your posts and now, I see that what I wrote wasn't nice and was an insult to the group. For that, I'm sorry. ---- Tech, You're right that I've only been here 10 minutes. So, wouldn't it be inappropriate and arrogant for me take away iloveboots' job and become the annual N.A. meet organizer so fast? (Note that I really think iloveboots did a great job in Las Vegas and New York plus Tampa. It's not his fault that more people didn't show up in LV and NYC.) ---- Dr. Shoe, All I was trying to do was make some helpful suggestions. I do like your new "do's and don'ts" thread.

[Dr. Shoe]

In actual fact, what I meant was that there is no reason at all why you couldn't organise meets in addition to the ones organised by Iloveboots.

[ChipsHH]

I'm kinda on-board with the "Group" idea. But, as the 'youngster' I am, I was considering making a Facebook group solely dedicated to Mini-Heel Meet get-togethers of sorts. The only problems I've had with That though is: 1) Facebook has since redecorated their "Groups" in such a way that may pose a problem to non-regular Fb users (And I'm talking at least 3 times a week visitors, or even 2 times a week). That said, Events would never be discovered when made in the Group. 2) Groups also has the ability to chat amongst other Group members. I'm not entirely sure if this can be turned off or not, but many may begin to find it quite annoying to constantly receive IMs from the Group. But aside from those above, I'd be happy [without hesitation] to make a Group page for Mini-Meets or even the main Meet

[Tech]

Why facebook? We have groups here, and meet threads, if people WANT to go, they will go. Enough with the "constant" quoting "yourself" too, its very bad, and means nothing. lol.

[kikepa]

For somebody who has been here 10 minutes, you sure do seem to know everybody sooo well, Noooooooooooottttttt!

I concur. On the other hand, his recommendations are interesting.

I've been to New Orleans several times, and believe it would be a much better venue for an outing than anywhere else here in the U.S., including Vegas and New York (been there, too).

Couple of points, though - you don't want to visit there in the summer. Gah! Incredible heat and humidity, if you're not used to it. Halloween is good, as the weather is usually cooler and all hell breaks loose throughout downtown for a few days. Nothing is organized, just a tremendous number of parties going on everywhere.

My two cents.

And I'll add his recommendation: "Create a new high heel group at meetup.com to specifically advertise this annual North America event as well as other local meetings."

That'll cost you $15 a month, yet will yield dozens, if not hundreds of local members. Since the entire meetup system if based on location, are there any of us here from New Orleans who'd be willing to step up?

[xray2]

I concur. On the other hand, his recommendations are interesting.

I've been to New Orleans several times, and believe it would be a much better venue for an outing than anywhere else here in the U.S., including Vegas and New York (been there, too).

Couple of points, though - you don't want to visit there in the summer. Gah! Incredible heat and humidity, if you're not used to it. Halloween is good, as the weather is usually cooler and all hell breaks loose throughout downtown for a few days. Nothing is organized, just a tremendous number of parties going on everywhere.

My two cents.

And I'll add his recommendation: "Create a new high heel group at meetup.com to specifically advertise this annual North America event as well as other local meetings."

That'll cost you $15 a month, yet will yield dozens, if not hundreds of local members. Since the entire meetup system if based on location, are there any of us here from New Orleans who'd be willing to step up?

kikepa,

Thanks for being the first person to say something positive (as little as it may be) in regards to my first post in this thread.

New Orleans, which I suggested as my first choice, would be a really good place for a meet. However, I am not sure if would be a better place than Las Vegas or New York. I think of New Orleans as a 1980-1990's mix of Vegas and New York. The French Quarter really hasn't changed much over the decades, except for the addition of the Harrah's Casino and Hotel. You still got Bourbon Street with all of those little stores and restaurants. For shopping, there is the indoor Riverwalk Market and Jackson Square malls. You could take a ride on one of the paddleboats up the Mississippi. If you was there at the right time, there are the Saints football and Hornet basketball games.

However, I would agree with comments in another thread to avoid Mardi Gras because that would double travel costs as well as create an unnecessary excuse to dress up in heels. I would also avoid hurricane season.

Other than those periods of time, it should be fine. I have visited in summer time and yes, it is very hot and can be humid. That would make it difficult to wear boots, but still fine for pumps and sandals.

--------

In regards to meetup.com, it seems to me that meetup.com groups work. There are many groups there that have been meeting for a long time. As I mentioned previously, the meetup.com "Women with Size 11 and larger footwear" group in New York City appears to have done very well.

It is possible to create one meetup group in one physical location, but schedule meetings anywhere. (Of course, other locations would not show up in meetup.com search results done by location.) Also, note that there currently is no "high heel" group at all at meettup.com.. There is a way to search the entire meetup.com site without specifying any physical location.

Unfortunately, meetup.com does involve a monthly due of about $15, but that is small compared to the travel expenses that the organizer (iloveboots) must have spent going to Las Vegas and New York. Perhaps, if implemented, the organizer could request a small donation from all meeting attendees to help offset this cost.

　

　

[kikepa]

kikepa,

Thanks for being the first person to say something positive (as little as it may be) in regards to my first post in this thread.

Thank you! That's kind of you to say, xray2!

New Orleans, which I suggested as my first choice, would be a really good place for a meet. However, I am not sure if would be a better place than Las Vegas or New York. I think of New Orleans as a 1980-1990's mix of Vegas and New York. The French Quarter really hasn't changed much over the decades, except for the addition of the Harrah's Casino and Hotel. You still got Bourbon Street with all of those little stores and restaurants.

I think that's part of it's old-world charm. Imagine all of us sitting at Pat O'Brian's, sipping Hurricanes in the gas light with a band playing in the background...

For shopping, there is the indoor Riverwalk Market and Jackson Square malls.

I find that much like a mall, only even more expensive. In the meantime, there are many museums and art galleries in New Orleans, including one of the best WWII museums in the world.

You could take a ride on one of the paddleboats up the Mississippi.

Now this is a real treat! I remember my first Riverboat ride when I was a kid - awesome!

However, I would agree with comments in another thread to avoid Mardi Gras because that would double travel costs as well as create an unnecessary excuse to dress up in heels. I would also avoid hurricane season.

Agreed on both accounts, although to be honest, having lived there, hurricanes are few and far between. During the seven years I lived there, there were only two 24-hour periods where I had to batten down the hatches.

Besides, Halloween puts us largely past the hurricane season. Katrina was a fluke.

Other than those periods of time, it should be fine. I have visited in summer time and yes, it is very hot and can be humid. That would make it difficult to wear boots, but still fine for pumps and sandals.

Many summer days it's merely warm and humid. About a third of the time it can be sweltering, when all you want to do is stay inside the hotel room and enjoy the air conditioner.

On a more practical matter, there are many hotels in and around the French Quarter, and some good ones for less than $100 a night. If we had a group, we could probably rent a house for the week for less and cook in (much of the time, anyway) - that would save us a lot of money!

In regards to meetup.com, it seems to me that meetup.com groups work. There are many groups there that have been meeting for a long time.

...

It is possible to create one meetup group in one physical location, but schedule meetings anywhere. (Of course, other locations would not show up in meetup.com search results done by location.) Also, note that there currently is no "high heel" group at all at meettup.com.. There is a way to search the entire meetup.com site without specifying any physical location.

I'd forgotten that Meetup searches are, by default, limited to a single city, so it's doubtful that would be of much benefit to us. I think organizing a meeting on this site is probably the best way to go.

On that note, are there any male heelers from New Orleans, here?