[CAUT] University based regional seminars

[Ed Sutton]

Israel-

I understand the potential difficulties, especially in a large region like 
California.
I can't help hoping somebody is in the middle of a perfect situation in one 
of the smaller regions.
I'll bet the chances of getting your expenses paid are better if you say 
you're attending a
seminar at XYZ University!

Ed
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Israel Stein " <custos3 at comcast.net>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: [CAUT] University based regional seminars


> On Monday, October 15, 2007 5:17:44 PM Ed Sutton wrote:
>
>>It seems that several of the regional seminars are having trouble making 
>>the
>>tradition "hotel-based" seminars pay their way.
>>A university based seminar, held perhaps on the week-end of Fall break 
>>might
>>be able to offer new ways to learn.  All those practice rooms could be 
>>used
>>for extended hands-on repair,regulation and tuning classes, maybe leaving
>>the school better off for the deal.
>>Ed Sutton
>
> It's a mixed bag, Ed. Several years ago I taught at a California State 
> convention organized by the Sacramento Valley chapter and held on the 
> campus of Sacramento State University. Peter Clark (with about 6 
> assistants) taught a three-day hands-on tuning seminar based in the music 
> building that took advantage of the availability of teaching studios and 
> practice room - and that was an unbelievable success. There were students 
> practicing tuning in practice rooms and going over what the learned deep 
> into the night...
>
> On the other hand, university staff and facilities are not geared to 
> hosting trade conventions - so, many classes were delayed, shifted to 
> different locations at the last moment and otherwise impacted because 
> facilities were double-booked, or staff was not available to deal with 
> unanticipated complications, or staff just wasn't there when they were 
> supposed to be in order to open rooms. Some students in my two-day class 
> missed sessions because of such circumstances.
>
> Walking from building to building between classes took up an awful lot of 
> time. And since there was no suitable housing on campus (who wants to go 
> to a convention and sleep in a dorm amidst 20-year olds with raging 
> hormones)  we stayed in several motels in the area - which meant that 
> there was no central area for post-class socializing and receptions.
>
> A campus might be a good venue for a specialized seminar aimed at a few 
> dozen people. Like the Peter Clark seminar as a stand-alone event. For an 
> entire convention - way too many downsides...
>
> I used to attend summer workshops at Amherst College in Massachusetts - 
> and they actively solicited conventions and seminars. Still, dealing with 
> the college staff and administration was always an ordeal. Hotels are 
> geared to deal with conventions and their staff is trained to deliver 
> service. Universities simply do not have the right mindset. I am afraid 
> that a convention with complex needs such as the PTG is simply beyond the 
> capabilities of most campuses.
>
> Israel Stein