Banquet halls. (was Re: Comments on the 2013 Survey comments)

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This posting is from: Katie Wilson
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What part of .. **A Vacation Not A Convention** do people not
understand? It is right there smack in the middle of our title.

Banquet halls keep people indoors and for the most part closeted. DLV is
not at all like that and hopefully never will be. Banquet halls also
mean $$$$ and someone to collect the $$$$.

The only photos I ever see taken at conventions are in a hotel room with
a few friends and a bottle of wine or two, or in the hotel lobby, or
Heaven forbid... A banquet room!

Going out in mainstream Las Vegas is why I go to DLV. If it became a
convention or a conference or anything remotely like that I would not go
anymore. We certainly don't want to remodel this unique event and turn
it into a run of the mill convention. so let's forget anyone ever
mentioned *The C word" .

As for the easiness of new people. I went to my first DLV after 8 months
of dressing from scratch and I had never been out in public before that
point, If I can do it so can they--- at their own speed of course.

This is not only My 2 cents but 99% of DLVers think this way too.

Katie

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(This posting was entered by Katie Wilson, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> What part of .. **A Vacation Not A Convention** do people not
> understand? It is right there smack in the middle of our title.

People are familiar with the traditional TG conventions which are based on what I sometimes call the "Dream Model" after a 1970s vintage TG event by that name. People are comfortable with what they are familiar with, and many stated that even though they knew we were a "Vacation Not Convention", they still expected DLV to be more like the others.

> Banquet halls keep people indoors and for the most part closeted.
> DLV is not at all like that and hopefully never will be.

It seems like in recent years the "Banquet Hall" suggestion has been recurring. Often times it's in the context of "If you charged a SMALL registration fee, you could rent a banquet hall."

IMAO, we're doing much better using the facilities we have.

> Banquet halls also mean $$$$ and someone to collect the $$$$.

I really think that those who propose that (always-"SMALL") registration fee don't realize the degree of complexity and formality that adopting a fee structure would bring upon us!

> This is not only My 2 cents but 99% of DLVers think this way too.

I think that when people get comfortable with our model, they like it better. It's getting over that hump of getting familiar with the way things work at DLV and getting comfortable with it.

I haven't heard any serious talk of moving DLV in the direction of a convention for about a decade now. Back in 2001 or so, yes, there was a force trying to push us more toward the model used for Be-All, Texas T, Cal Dreaming, etc. Hmmm ... just realized that none of those three are around anymore, are they?

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This posting is from: Vickie Stone
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There are enough conventions. I don't go to them, I am not interested in
conventions.

If I want to go to one there is certainly a wide range of choices
available. Stay the course, Annie.

Sincerely

Vickie Stone

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This posting is from: Delaney
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Annie,

I've been to most of the conventions over the years, some were good,
some not so much so. Many are still active (SCC, Esprit, First Event,
Keystone et.al.). and they serve a valuable purpose, particularly for
new girls. However, there are no other DLV/Pinkfest type events of
which I am aware of, and for those of us who really don't want spend the
day going to classes and the like, DLV is the only choice.

While I do wish there were an opportunity to wear an evening gown on the
schedule, I couldn't begin to offer an option, and if there was, I
expect the cost would severely constrain attendance. I think you have
the right formula now; I wouldn't look to alter it.

Delaney

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This posting is from: Sara P.
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Agree with all that has been said about the vacation versus convention
thing. I hope DLV never changes in that regard.

Regarding Delaney's comment about evening gowns, I don't think there's
anything stopping you from finding an event on the existing schedule
where such a dress can be worn. This year, I wore an actual "red carpet"
gown by Tadashi Shoji to Bahama Breeze. Granted, it was sleeveless and
wasn't covered with sequins and beads but still, it was a long dress, a
true evening gown so to speak with a slight summery air to it. And since
no one came to me saying I was dressed inappropriately, I think it
worked alright for the room (great, here comes the MY DLV thread, "did
you see what Sara was wearing??? Inappropriatesville!!!").

Thinking of Artisan, the ambiance of that venue would also lend itself
to an evening gown (even a more sparkly and beaded one) even more
so...although I sense it is unlikely Artisan will see our large opening
gathering again any time soon, if ever again.

Of course, the year a true evening gown event hits the DLV schedule,
I'll have NOTHING to wear!!!

Sara

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(This posting was entered by Sara P., an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> Agree with all that has been said about the vacation versus
> convention thing. I hope DLV never changes in that regard.

I think the key to assure that there are no further jumps aboard bandwagons to drive DLV toward the convention model is to do all we can to be sure that those who like, and are comfortable with, the convention model have a great time, feel included, and become attached to the DLV model.

> Regarding Delaney's comment about evening gowns, I don't think
> there's anything stopping you from finding an event on the
> existing schedule where such a dress can be worn.

The one thing I admit we have not had during recent years are activities or tracks where the EXPECTED dress, as opposed to the allowed dress, was upscale. For many years we had a higher-end show and the Limo Tour as a combined dress-up affair.

Our long-standing "Pity Party" was originally intended to be a "Vegas Cocktail Party" type of dress activity.

We have a chronic suggestion for some kind of a "Prom-theme activity" which has never come to fruition, and would be something along this line.

> This year, I wore an actual "red carpet" gown by Tadashi
> Shoji to Bahama Breeze. Granted, it was sleeveless

That was most definitely appropriate for the ending festivities at the Bahama Breeze. From the final schedule:

+When: 8:00pm
+What: Farewell Celebration
+Where: Bahama Breeze
+Dress notes: Casual to formal

> so...although I sense it is unlikely Artisan will see our large
> opening gathering again any time soon, if ever again.

Seasons change (and so did I) and I would not count Artisan totally out of the running. We've had complaints about each and every Welcome Celebration venue that I can remember. The food the last year at Suede; the down-scale atmosphere and location of the Blue Ox; some very picky things about Firefly; and the fact we were using an "alternative" club for Drink And Drag.

> Of course, the year a true evening gown event hits the DLV
> schedule, I'll have NOTHING to wear!!!

One thing that we do want to keep in mind is that we don't want to price anyone out of an activity. Most everyone has an outfit (or several or many or countless) that's appropriate for a "black tie" event.

But you are correct in that there are several activities where eveningwear and formalwear are appropriate. Any evening activity at the Artisan would be appropriate. Drink And Drag. Trevi/Limo. Audrey/Cosmopolitan. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

We've always had activities where it's quite appropriate to put on the dog, if you should choose to wear one.

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This posting is from: Cynthia Phillips
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Hi Sara and all,

I'm not ruling out Artisan for anything; it will always be open for us.

Sara, it would be perfect for your Shoji gown. High rollers who can
afford such finery are always welcome at Artisan to come in and flaunt
their high fashion status at all us poor little people in thrift store
rags, ha ha - kidding you big time here. (<% ~ I too have a sequened
gown that I would love to wear to Artisan for a formal function of some
sort, and not necessarily the Opener either.

It is quite likely Artisan will be on the schedule next year for
something. I'm not letting it go that easily, so keep that Shoji clean
and ready.

However, those new suggestions that have been tendered to us are now in
the works as well and I fully intend to check them all out.

Cynthia

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[annie]

> However, those new suggestions that have been tendered to us
> are now in the works as well and I fully intend to check them
> all out.

Another one that might be worth checking into is that I heard that Firefly will be opening up a new larger facility on Paradise Road. You may remember that their current one (which has received its share of bad press lately) did not have the capacity for one of our larger gatherings.

IMAO, the WC that we had at the now-closed Firefly Plaza was one of the best ones in our history!

Firefly Plaza gave us their full menu. IIRC there was a minimum imposed, but it was an easy nut to crack.

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This posting is from: Katie Wilson
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I thought that The Firefly in the Plaza was our best too!

I loved the fact that their food included smaller or snacky portions for
those who didn't want to overdo the evening meal and as you say,

Both evening wear and cocktail wear were just right for The plaza and
the afterglow mingling with the tourists on Freemont St made it the
perfect location for a kick off night. I thought it was also good for
the newer to DLV ladies and shyer ones who seemed to really enjoyed the
Freemont Street nightlife..

Katie.

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(This posting was entered by Katie Wilson, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> I loved the fact that their food included smaller or snacky portions
> for those who didn't want to overdo the evening meal

That's typical of a tapas place. The big advantage is that there's typically such a variety that everyone, even those who are the pickiest of eaters, can find something they will enjoy. As I think back I think that of our recent WC venues, Firefly had the most raves and the fewest complaints.

On the other hand, I can tell the tale of waking up in the middle of the night one time during Pinkfest with a bad case of "Franco's Revenge" after we did a local tapas place. In all fairness, it could have just as easily been lunch at Boston Market or breakfast at a local casino before I jumped on the plane that morning. Actually, more likely it was me mixing beer and those sangria cocktails at the tapas joint.