Your input needed for 2008

[Mr. Wonka]

Hi everyone. I wanted to run some things by you and get some input on improvements we have been talking about for next year’s AGI.

The $500.00 price has been the same for 3 or 4 years, and we did not have any intention of raising it. We have looked into several things to make the event better, but of course that will require more money to do so.

Here are a few improvements we are considering:

-All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) will be included in the price, along with hiring 2 or 3 more cooks to help Kevin. This would give us a more diverse menu (including vegetarian dishes) from morning until the wee hours of the night / morning… no donations of food or cash will be needed.

-Bottled water coolers / heaters in each building (2 in the Lewis Wilson Bldg.) for cold drinking water and hot water for tea and coffee.

-2 or 3 large canopy tents (with tables and chairs) in the yard for shade from the sun / shield from the rain.

-Luxury port-o-johns: Our supplier just purchased several large units with lights, flushing toilets, running water, and air conditioning that we can rent in place of the standard units.

The extra funds needed for these amenities would probably raise the ticket price by $75 - $100 each, and I was wondering if people are willing to drop a few extra bucks to cover the costs.

It sounds reasonable to me, considering that most people would spend that (or more) on just food alone for the week.

Thanks for listening, and feel free to chime in with your thoughts and opinions.

Tom Doner
(724) 791-2100
info@glass123.com

[somberbear]

Im ok with up for spending some more for food,

bottled water/heaters .....
alot of bottle water went to waste. i probably was one of the people to blame... i wouldnt mind having a 5 gallon chiller i can fill my can out of , but i only would need a hot water tap at the bar area....

Tents and benchs .... great idea... im up for that

Luxury port o johns ..... not a big deal for me.

if you feed me ontop of every thing 600 is very resasonable and easy to do...

[UmaJulz]

I think the first two items are good options to include: food (more would be good, though I know it is hard to estimate how much a bunch like us, with such, uh, variable schedules and preferences would eat at each meal) and water in a less wasteful dispensing way- maybe we could each be issued our own water bottle to refill, personalized even. :D I brought 5 gallons with me, thinking I would try to drink up to a gallon a day... I only got through about 2 gallons, refilling the same bottle over and over. I use the hot/cold dispenser unit here at home, and I think they're pretty handy for a large group.

I'll be bringing more seating and shade with me next year, so I don't know if the tents and chair are so important to me.

I thought that this year's "nice" porta johns were just fine. The "ladies" (#5 on the right, :D) was cool, clean, and relatively odor free. So I'd guess that if there were more like that (with the sink, soap and towels), it would be nice. But lights and air conditioning? Nah, that's not camping, it's just not necessary. After all, you do have two showers, and two restrooms for freshening up. It's pretty good as it is.

I have some inexpensive tips for fly control too- stuff I can bring with me that could help in that area. The bites that some people got were horrific.

Thanks bunches Tom and Elaine!

[steven p selchow]

Airconditioned port a johns?

That should eliminate the need for a motel.

Add direct tv to them and Im game.

steve

[themoch]

600$ would be fine for me, that's about how much extra i was chipping in with the food and stuff anyhow.

I would totally not mind adding that to the price.

and the water dispenser are also a great idea.

[fattubes]

the cost is more thatn worth it. im with the luxury port a johns if there would be an attendant at teh door to hand out warm towels???

martin

[jcherrellglass]

I'll vote for the luxury port-a-potty!!!!!!!!! I double extra vote for those! And I'm all for the water! Less waste + more personal hydration = awesome. I could take or leave the tents with tables and chairs, personally. I would rather see an ice machine on site.

Over all the extra cost is way worth the food, water and nice porta-a-johns!

[loydb]

Another hundred bucks would be fine with me. Water coolers would be great -- I bought like 10 cases of that bottled stuff, and felt bad every time, but people were guzzling them down...

[Greymatter Glass]

Yes on all fronts.

Maybe consider $600/500 and give people meal tickets in advance, and let those staying in town fend for themselves.... That way you can easily ration the food, so we don't run out of things too soon, or end up with piles of left overs.

A/C in the bathrooms might be a bit overkill, but some lights would have been great. Rather have more in the lounge, than in the pots. The worst thing about the john was the (please god let it be) mud. A load of DOT spec base course in that lot would improve things tremendously.

Good tents are always a good investment. Perhaps a beer garden is in order too.... I'd pitch in on a nice CO2 tap system like we had at the party for the whole week.... or buy one used somewhere, I have a CO2 tank you can have for it.

And deff bring your own water containers next year!!


either way, I'll be back.... might not drive, but either way... $600 with food would be a great deal, if the food is of the same caliber.

More (or larger) tubes for the sausage would be good too... and maybe Bandhu can come up with a turning device.

-Doug

[JANKYglass]

my only suggestion would be change the dates to one of the first 2 weeks of july(when i have my mandatory vacation from work)or its gonna be 13 more years until i can make it for the full week.

[steven p selchow]

Quit your job, take early retirement.

Was fun when you were their.

steve

[Rockrat]

Be glad to chip in more money for improvements or just plain chip in a donation to improve things for you around the place and would be glad to join in in a weekend to help out.
Scott

[rkhpa]

I think a bit of a price increase would not be much of a deterent to folks wanting to attend - especially if the announcement was made with plenty of time to come up with the extra funds.

Kevin's food was awesome but having a meal plan and some dedicated helpers is a great idea and would be well worth it. Yeah for more Veggie options !!!

I don't think the luxury port-o-johns would be worth it. I'd vote for wider ones, of course it could just be that my ass is getting wider instead of the johns getting smaller.

A bit more shelter and seating would be nice. I don't think you'd need that much more. Except for mealtimes there seemed to be enough room to hangout at the RMBG.

Yes to more water/less waste. I'm planning to bring a couple of recycling stations with me next year and taking plastic/glass bottles back to MI to recycle.

Ray

[Mr. Wonka]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to look into what we can do to make it even better next year and let you know way in advance how it will change the cost.

If there are any other suggestions or criticism you might have, feel free to post it and I'll do my best to make it happen.

Since so many of this years guests want to come back again in '08, we are working on a whole new lineup of demonstrators to keep things fresh and exciting... stay tuned for updates as they become available :)

Tom

[cheng076]

Hey Tom,
Thanks again for including me in the group. I find it very stimulating and extremely rewarding to have the opprotunity to meet and talk to so many talanted people, especially the younger artists from all over the country and to meet so many names from the board. I have the dates on my calendar for 2008! The increase in cost is reasonable to me especially if full food is provided. I never did find a good breakfast place;-(( I will look into the Comfort Inn for next year. The extra 12 mile drive is not so bad and the costs were the same or a couple bucks cheaper than the "Bates" motel for better facilities. Maybe a block of rooms could be prebooked at a good price and car pools are no problem.

I thought the porta potties were adequate. Mostly clean and little odor but I might suggest putting down straw in front of them to keep down the mud...... if it rains or dust if it doesn't. Suggest people bring an led flashlight or headlamp; worked for me. A/C in them is way overkill IMHO.

The hydration situation was bad. Lots of waste, empties all over, etc. The souvenier for next year might be an insulated cup/mug/water bottle w/ AGI logo that people could put their name on and use all week for cold or hot beverages. Along with that an ice machine and cold/hot water dispenser would be great.

The snacks were plentiful but very unorganised. If snacks are there people eat them, then leave the empty or open packages laying around. Can't think of a way around that except to get people to act more responcibly.

Kevin did a spectacular job on the food but he was overwhelmed at times. Having help and/or more food prep people to help out would go a long way toward having meals at scheduled times; especially good for us with blood sugar problems. Maybe ask for volunteers to sign up to help out for one meal, start to finish, 2-4 hours would work out.

Sun or rain, more shade/shelter would be great as well as more seating outside. Benches, plastic lawn chairs or folding camp chairs would be awesome. I would come a day early to help build benches, tables etc.

I was not bothered by the flies but some people had really terrible problems with them so if someone has a solution for that it would be great. Maybe lots of Citronella candles, spray, whatever, would work?? Better policing of the food/snacks etc with more trash containers would work?

Put me down for next year.Just tell me how much and where to send it.

And max cudos to Elain for her unflagging work to keep things running smoothly and to all the 'staff' for their help.

PJH

PS, I thouight the group size was good. A few more wouldn't hurt but I observed that everyone was mostly comfortable and had space/time to work on a torch and/or lounge around.

PPS, For the NC room, find a place in the woods where no one (revenuers) can find it and build a fire pit for melting the glass then throw some old bentup copper tube around for decoration. Gotcha, Joe! Love to Donna;-))

[Greymatter Glass]

well lets see......

If we're gonna get AC in the john, how about a TV/radio combo in each one as well, and daily newspaper delivery. Would feel just like home for me. Hell, set up a cot in one corner, and it could be for a week.....

A new building, "The Laboratory" for me and Rob, and any other geek to play in.... we'll keep it stocked with every chemical we can find, to make colors, blow things up, or whatever. We could stock ground glass joints, neon equipment, odd sized tube that the vendors don't or can't bring (like that 100mm tube Barry had), parts for kinetic glass sculptures, etc...

A giant fireworks display during the party - get some BIG mortars and some roman candles, and a couple waterfalls.... oooo pretty.

A zero-G room, where people can just float around and blow water bubbles.

Go-Go dancers in cages....

a petting zoo!

ah, and a swimming pool.

....

I think that's a reasonable amount of projects for next year, but if you need more ideas I'd be happy to pull a few more out.

-Doug(e)

[themoch]

i'm an expert at installing zero-G chambers, i can come help set up like a week in advanced if need be :P

[jcherrellglass]

OK. I can't watch all these digs on a port-a-john upgrade! I don't need AC in the port-a-potties but an upgrade to something that flushes and some running water would be killer sweet!!! You know, port-a-potties for a week definitely qualifies as girl deterrence... unless you like sausagefests or whatever.

[J B]

Donna & I, thought about this and what PJ has said ,we mostly agree with.There was alott of waste as far as water went. We would clean the tables in the mornings & during the day and half full / full bottles with no lids sitting around / no one there to claim them ? AGI bottle would work "great"! hint,hint.... Good one !!!

Also agreed with Doug (Grey Matter Glass ) maybe a meal ticket - to ensure eveyone gets to eat. $500 /$600 As PJ said ,some people need to eat at cretain times , for various reasons.

Also maybe a team / group to go around a check to make sure "all" gas & oxy fittings are tight !!! (insurance purposes) This could work for several different things too, food ect,ect -. I'm sure you would get enough volunteers .

OH and bench height -- "shit we be short people"( Donna is only 4' 11", chairs are ok -- but I've had some scary things to happen with those = over you go. Got any wooden crates/ tall bar stools around ??? "smile" haaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaa,*#@## tall people.

I like the idea of Comfort Inn !!! "Bates " baaaahaaaaaa,haaaaaaaa

Torches / Time --- need some one to really tell newbies, how everything works at AGI, it's just that some people are alittle hesitant about getting on someone else's torch -- GTT's,Beth's and so on. Or what to expect.

Port-a -johns were ok , like eveyone else = lights = BYOL

NC Room / building PJ got an idea on this , may have move down road alittle - baaaaahaaaaaa, but could be done? I'll tell Donna for you. It was "great meeting you !
just my/ 02

there was a banjo moon
and a tiedye sky
hippies sang and babies cried
a white haired angel
looked down from above
patch work quilt of life (YES ,this song is stuck in my head ? )
Peace all Joe (JB)

[Dirty]

:bouncy::D:bouncy:Hey Tom and Elaine,
It's Darryl Coffie. I just wanted to first thank you so very much for allowing me to be part of AGI. It was a incredible experience and I really :wonka:hope to attend next year. The ideas sound great and the extra money well worth it. Just to throw something out there but maybe have large dumpster placed in the parking lot so we all can pick up everyday to keep your place looking good for business. I would be more than happy to be part of a clean/whatever committee, sounds like a good idea.

[UmaJulz]

I always wanted to be a go-go girl, to dance in cages... long ago and far away.

I handle the flies- it's my specialty!

Genuine volunteers for food prep, cooking, serving and clean-up would be excellent, and I will be first in line.

[Ro's Glass World]

i like the option of buying a meal ticket too, not that you have to.
water in cooler better, refill your own
portosan # 2 up from the far end had a sink, water and was clean, thats all we need. i hooked a flashlight to my belt so i didnt even have to hold it.
outside, seating? seemed fine, the shade tent outside the main bldg was great, just 1 more of those is great.
bug bites were only an issue in the grassy area near the fire.
it was a great time! not sure if ill do next year or go to every other year , but i will be back:)
also waste of plates was terrible, either paper we can burn or heavy plastic set that we can wash for the week. we recycle everything here so its not an issue, it seemed as all the trash was together there, that was pretty bad. everyone can also bring there own utensils: a camping issue plate fork knife spoon. would also work. they would have to get washed though.
great job Chef, the few meals i had were delicious!
ro

[cheng076]

I don't think the meal ticket should be an option. It should be used to track who eats or ate and who didn't get fed. Having some people opting out makes the whole food thing way too complicated to manage effectively.

Paper plates are the way to go. Keeping dishes for 75 or more people clean would be a sanitation nightmare. Even if everyone brought their own there is the issue of washing up after the meal and where to leave the dishes between meals.... kindercare cubbies anyone???;-)) Washing would require someone to handle that chore for about 2 hours, the duration of the meals IF it was all served on time at one time.... not easy with volunteers. People would also want to and would use their dishes for snacks between meals further complicating the issue. My observation was that the evening meal often extended into the wee hours. We definately don't want anyone getting sick!

Deb Carlson (sp) and others had very serious problems with fly bites that raised serious welts on exposed skin. I attribute this to the proximity of trash recepticles and crumbs/scraps/spilled food in the Mickelsen area. Not much to do about that except take out the trash more often and/or get covers for the bins.

I agree with Ro that perhaps one or two more canopies with more seating for outside would be enough.

PJ

[cheng076]

On another note. I believe Tom mentioned getting some new and different demonstrators for AGI 2008. I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the demonstrators this year but realize there is a difference in the styles and work between the coasts. A lot of east coast people have not had an opportunity to see/talk to/watch John Kabuki do his thing with the flower mibs. He might be an excellent choice. John is a great guy and an excellent instructor but may require advanced booking to get lined up.

There are a number of west coast talents such as Sabina Boehm, Mark Lammi, Larry Scott (beads), Larry Brickman (beads), Mike Gong, Jason MaGee (sp), and others. A little cross polination might be interesting.

Just some random musings this fine morning.
PJH

[J B]

any of those would be great ...
it's early -- more java
peace joe

[Mr. Wonka]

Thank you so much for the replies everybody. All of your suggestions and constructive criticism will be taken into account, and we’ll definitely make a bunch of improvements for next year and keep you all posted as things are confirmed.

Feel free to make any further suggestions and we will do our best to make them happen… each year we make improvements based on the prior year’s input.

Much love... Tom

[JANKYglass]

the meals should be optional.although for most people $100 is a steal for the convenience alone,but for people like myself with restricted diets due to lifestyle choices or health issues its not so nice.last time i was there kevin hooked up a feast,pig roast,deep fried turkey,smoked salmon,and fries sprayed with vinegar.looked yummy but all food i cant eat due to health issues.

[AlaskaBarb]

Thanks Tom and Elaine, for being such lovely hosts!

I'm from Alaska, so air conditioned porta potties seem a bit over the top! But, if the forecast is for torrential rain again, it might not hurt to have a few hay bales on hand to spread around in front of those suckers, as the mud mixed with urine on the floor required a lot of innovation while dropping one's pants.

Also, just a couple of strings of cheap white Christmas lights strung between them would help a lot with night-time lighting. After-Christmas, you can up 100-light strings for a dollar, and power it up with a 100 ft. heavy duty extension cord, covered with some plywood where it goes across the little road there.

Some of the fly bites were pretty bad. Here in Alaska, where the mosquito is our state bird, people use rolls of mosquito netting from places like Cabelas to temporarily screen in porches. Get some 54 or 60" wide rolls, cut them to fit vertically, and temporarily staple-gun them to the bottom of the porch there, to enclose the Mickelson Bar and Grill. People coming and going just walk through the openings between them. Covered garbage cans would help a lot.

Wish there had been more vegetarian dishes served. Kevin rocked it as our cook, and looked hot doing it!!!

So, speaking of hot.... The purple room. Oh my goodness. If you're going to air condition something, please let it be that little building!!

Trying to think of suggestions that don't cost a lot, but would make a difference.

Hmm. Ice. I wish there had been ice cubes. If there were, I didn't know about them!

Sound. Need louder PA system to hear people over the exhaust fans in the main room, or at least somebody monitoring the system for those who were talking quietly. I had trouble understanding a couple of folks. Maybe it was just me.

I really liked the ice cream truck -- very festive! Maybe a ferris wheel could be added next year! Oh wait, this is a glass conference, LOL. Never mind.

For anyone wanting to stay at the Fairfield Inn in Butler, I'd highly recommend it. A scenic half-hour drive, and the hotel is modern, clean, and you get your own little fridge. No mini bar, though.

Enjoyed meeting you all. Didn't know what to expect -- but next time, I'd definitely bring my torch. Maybe set it up in the porta-potty if it's air-conditioned. This one's mine, bi-yatch.

Hugs,
B