TAM London - October 16-17, 2010

[Chris H]

Website launches today, tickets onsale on the 29th of May.

[xinit]

Someone at the JREF is psychic... or *I* am... I'm already plotting a trip over the Atlantic for unrelated events. Didn't even consider this possibility.

Though, if I go to Amsterdam for the 14th and 15th instead, I can go to London for the 16th and 17th... Oooo... Guess I'm going to have to learn some Dutch after all.

[Chris H]

I'm already attending TAM Vegas and TAM Australia this year, but I would LOVE to go to this. England is my favorite place in the world, but I don't think I can justify another trip in 2010. Only just got back from there in February. Maybe next year. :-)

[SusanB-M1]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear - I'm going to Australia on the 16th.
So - I'm ordering a copy of the video right now.

[Cethis]

My credit card account needs to recover from this year. Maybe next year.

[zooterkin]

Anyone know what the cost is likely to be? Two days to go before the tickets go on sale, you'd think that would have been decided by now.

[DocM]

Strange. I was confused by the question, since I clearly remembered a price tag of 220 pounds per ticket. But when I checked, they had actually removed the price, and somebody on Facebook has asked about this as well.

There were quite a few complaints about the price, but I think it may still go up, as three more speakers have been announced.

[zooterkin]

I must have missed that; I looked before there were any prices, and then again today to see, as you saw, references to the prices that had been there briefly. :)

I suspect that, if I get a ticket, I'll be getting the train in like last year. The venue is more convenient for Paddington than the Mermaid was.

[Chris H]

I like the idea of having an independent website for TAM that contains all of the information anyone would need to know. Infact I'd go as far as to say that the TAM London website is significantly more comprehensive and better organised than the TAM Vegas info on the JREF website. tamaustralia.org redirects you to the Australian Skeptics TAM page, so I guess we can expect the same thing for TAM Down Under too.

[Chris H]

I like the idea of having an independent website for TAM that contains all of the information anyone would need to know. Infact I'd go as far as to say that the TAM London website is significantly more comprehensive and better organised than the TAM Vegas info on the JREF website. tamaustralia.org redirects you to the Australian Skeptics TAM page, so I guess we can expect the same thing for TAM Down Under too.


I've taken it upon myself to register tamvegas.org for a sort of unofficial TAM Vegas website. Thought it would be nice to have somewhere outside of the forum for all of the info and updates that are usually hard to find on the JREF site (such as the next years dates) plus information that generally only gets discussed on the forum (like South Point sales). Might never get off the ground, but it only cost me $9.95, and I quite enjoy building websites. I'll do my best to have something up shortly. Now I've just gotta hope that TAM doesn't change location next year... ;)

[zooterkin]

Still no price for the tickets, nor any explanation, and less than 5 hours to go. This is getting a bit silly. Not that it will stop me, but some might be having second thoughts.

[lionking]

Any ideas on the cost of the TAM Australia tickets?

[zooterkin]

Update: The cost is £208

[zooterkin]

Got mine, I think. The pop-up window I was interacting with disappeared, but then I got taken to the PayPal window, so I've paid. Oh, yes, I've got email confirmation too.

[Morwen]

Me too! I'm going! I'm really going! *does happy incredulous dance*

[Rat]

Once again, I'm not sure how that went. When I saw the only way to pay was through Paypal I knew there'd be trouble, since I have a Paypal account, but the only card I had registered with them is expired. There is no way to just enter details of a new card and pay with that, so I had to use the "eCheques" thing. Still, I have a confirmation email, so I'm hoping it's fine.

[bjornart]

Once again, I'm not sure how that went. When I saw the only way to pay was through Paypal I knew there'd be trouble, since I have a Paypal account, but the only card I had registered with them is expired. There is no way to just enter details of a new card and pay with that, so I had to use the "eCheques" thing. Still, I have a confirmation email, so I'm hoping it's fine.

I just pressed the (slightly non-obvious) link "I don't have a paypal account" and got to enter my credit card details... Ticket secured.

[zooterkin]

Once again, I'm not sure how that went. When I saw the only way to pay was through Paypal

Not sure why you thought that, it says "Delegates can book online using all major credit or debit cards. The checkout system is Paypal, so if you have a Paypal account you can also choose to pay using that."

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I'm registered!

[sadluxation]

I'm registered!

We'll see about that, then!

[The Central Scrutinizer]

We'll see about that, then!

Tracy likes me. So there!

[Fitter]

Tracy likes me. So there!
Scrut that was a restraining order, not a love letter.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Scrut that was a restraining order, not a love letter.

Well, she signed it. That was a nice personal touch.

[Chris H]

Any ideas on the cost of the TAM Australia tickets?


Nope. Nor do we know when tickets go onsale either. I asked around at the Young Oz Skeptics forum, and was told to be patient. :-/

[Rat]

Not sure why you thought that, it says "Delegates can book online using all major credit or debit cards. The checkout system is Paypal, so if you have a Paypal account you can also choose to pay using that."
Yes, I know, but since I have a Paypal account, the checkout procedure recognized me as such and tried to use that. At that point, there was no way to enter new card details. Anyway, sorted now.

[Professor Yaffle]

Everytime I see a new speaker lined up for this, I get more depressed that I have no money and can't go. Is there anyone out there with more money than sense...?

;)

[zooterkin]

Yes, I know, but since I have a Paypal account, the checkout procedure recognized me as such and tried to use that. At that point, there was no way to enter new card details. Anyway, sorted now.

Ok, I'd decided to use Paypal so I didn't see the problem; though I did have some problems when the pop-up window seemed to have an unfortunate interaction with the script-blocker in my browser and disappeared at what seemed to be an important point. Luckily, it then took me into Paypal and everything seemed to go through OK, though I might have missed something.

Looking at the site now, it does still seem to be offering tickets; perhaps this year the venue is big enough to satisfy demand.

[Soapy Sam]

Everytime I see a new speaker lined up for this, I get more depressed that I have no money and can't go. Is there anyone out there with more money than sense...?

;)


There might be some with more money than morals.:cool: What can you offer by way of return?
(Enter several large JOKE smilies here).


Incidentally- anyone know if tickets are transferable, as I may have to back out due to shift changes and I'd be happy for a deserving person to get the ticket if so.

ETA- I think the problem is the PAYPAL radio button is checked by default. You must UN-check it to use a credit card. Bad design.

[Soapy Sam]

Follow up on the above. For a reason as yet unexplained, Paypal rejected the payment. As paypal has access to an account with plenty funds to cover it, I have no idea why they would do that.
Anyway, beware the paypal default.
I give up.

[Chris H]

Everytime I see a new speaker lined up for this, I get more depressed that I have no money and can't go.



Me too. :(

[SusanB-M1]

Everytime I see a new speaker lined up for this, I get more depressed that I have no money and can't go. Is there anyone out there with more money than sense...?

;)
Well I join you in feeling depressed that I can't go, but it's because I'll be on my way to Heathrow and then Brisbane.

One thing that makes me smile is that, whenever my screen reader says Paypal, it sounds like papal!

I see that 'two extra speakers' have been booked. Anyone know who they are? I might as well add to my gloom by knowing who else I'm going to miss.

[Professor Yaffle]

Well I join you in feeling depressed that I can't go, but it's because I'll be on my way to Heathrow and then Brisbane.

One thing that makes me smile is that, whenever my screen reader says Paypal, it sounds like papal!

I see that 'two extra speakers' have been booked. Anyone know who they are? I might as well add to my gloom by knowing who else I'm going to miss.

The last three speakers added were Richard Dawkins, Alan Moore (which could be veeeeeeery interesting if he is going to talk about magic and the occult) and Graham Linehan (Father Ted writer).

[Soapy Sam]

"The Watchmen" Alan Moore?

[zooterkin]

"The Watchmen" Alan Moore?

The very same.

[DocM]

Also "V for Vendetta", "From Hell" and "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", just to stick to the ones that were kidnapped by Hollywood. (In every single case I would recommend the comic/graphic novel over the movie.)

Melinda Gebbie, his girlfriend and collaborator on "Lost Girls" will also be there.

[SusanB-M1]

The very same.
I'm afraid I've never heard of him! What does he do?

[Professor Yaffle]

I'm afraid I've never heard of him! What does he do?

Short answer = comic book writer.

Long answer = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I'm afraid I've never heard of him! What does he do?

He played the part of The Lone Ranger on American TV back in the late 50's.

[xinit]

I'm afraid I've never heard of him! What does he do?

I think that he steals lupins from the rich and gives them to the poor, with his brother Dennis.

[Wowbagger]

Alan Moore does not write comic books. He writes graphic novels.

Get it right, geektards!

:p

[DocM]

A graphic novel is just a comic book for people who think they're too old to read comics. I have no problem at all with people who want to throw their inner 8-year olds some comics now and then. :P

[SusanB-M1]

Thank you for the replies. It looks as if he will be a very entertaining speaker.

[sadluxation]

Just in case anyone else has problems using Google :p here's a list of the speakers and a short bio, as found on the TAM London website. Hopefully it will surface on Swift soon:

Graham Linehan (http://whythatsdelightful.wordpress.com/) is a television writer, actor and director who has written or co-written popular television comedies including Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd.

Richard Dawkins (http://richarddawkins.net/) is the former Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, a position he held from 1995-2008.

Alan Moore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore) is one of the most influential comic-book writers of all time and author of works including V for Vendetta, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell, Lost Girls and Watchmen, the only graphic novel to make it onto Time Magazine’s “All-Time 100 Novels” list.

Melinda Gebbie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Gebbie) is an American comics artist and writer now living in England. She is best known for Lost Girls, the three-volume erotic graphic novel she produced in collaboration with writer Alan Moore over a sixteen-year period.

In 1964, stage magician James Randi offered a $1,000 prize to anyone who could demonstrate proof of the paranormal. Now with a value of $1 million, the prize remains unclaimed.

PZ Myers (http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/) has described his blog, Pharyngula, as “evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal”.

Actor, writer and magician Andy Nyman (http://www.andynyman.com/) understands the attraction of the paranormal and how the desire to believe in it can be exploited

Canadian blogger and science fiction author Cory Doctorow (http://craphound.com/) is equally known as the co-editor of science and technology blog Boing Boing, and as a science fiction author. Boing Boing compiles the most inspiring science and technology news, on everything from space stations to sarcasm detectors

Formerly a radio astronomer and now cosmology consultant for New Scientist, Marcus Chown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Chown)is a writer and broadcaster with a remarkable lightness of touch. He has become known for talks such as My Top Five Bonkers Things About The Universe, which take in everything from parallel universes to his favourite eccentric scientists.

Stephen Fry (http://www.stephenfry.com/) - Known primarily for his extensive work as an actor, comedian, writer and presenter, the host of QI also has an inexhaustible curiosity and a passion for science and critical thinking. A prolific blogger and one of the most followed users on Twitter.

An author, broadcaster and lecturer, Susan Blackmore (http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/) is a believer-turned-skeptic and former parapsychologist. Her most famous book, The Meme Machine, expanded on the concept of the meme, the name of which was coined by Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene.

As a former stage magician, DJ Grothe (http://www.djgrothe.com/) understands how the paranormal can be made to look believable. Now a writer and acclaimed public speaker, he explains how the worlds of magic, the paranormal, skepticism and religion collide.

Comedian Robin Ince (http://www.robinince.com/) finds absurdity in religion and pseudoscience and expresses his frustration through musings on quantum theory, letters to Ann Coulter, and tales of dead scientists.

Professor Richard Wiseman (http://www.richardwiseman.com/) began his career as a stage magician before becoming the British media’s most quoted psychologist. His works sees him debunking pseudoscience in increasingly playful ways.

Award-winning Australian comedian, pianist and actor Tim Minchin (http://www.timminchin.com/) is best known for his songs on taboo subjects, taking on religious fundamentalists, medical quacks, and most recently of all the Pope.

Evolutionary biologist Adam Rutherford (http://adamrutherford.com/) has gone further than most in his explorations of science and religion.

Rebecca Watson (http://skepchick.org/blog/) is an American blogger and independent podcast host now living in London. A former street juggler and magician, she is the founder of Skepchick, an organisation and blog dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking among women around the world.

Gia Milinovich (http://www.giagia.co.uk/) is a presenter, writer and blogger, specialising mainly in new media and film. She has an acute knowledge of computers, technology, the Internet and science.

Simon Singh (http://www.simonsingh.net/) is an author, journalist and TV producer, specialising in science and mathematics, which, he claims, are the only two subjects he has the faintest clue about (although he is now qualified to add ‘libel laws’ to that list).

‘Jack of Kent’ is the nom de plume of legal blogger David Allen Green (http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/), convenor of Westminster Skeptics and a freelance legal and policy writer working in London.

Tracey Brown (http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/about/28) is managing director of the UK-based charitable trust Sense About Science, which equips the public to make sense of science and evidence.

Karen James (http://kejames.com/) is a post-doctoral research assistant in the Department of Botany of the Natural History Museum, working on the development of a DNA-based identification system for plant species.

[SusanB-M1]

Sadluxation

I think it is very kind of you to take the trouble to list the speakers as you have done. I shall be looking at the links later. I shall absolutely have to have a DVD of the proceedings. I hope this will include the Q&As following lectures. Well, I presume it will, anyway.

[Erik A]

Does anyone here know whether the organizers of TAM London somehow can be contacted? I have tried to send several e-mails the last three weeks, without a reply. I ordered a ticket the 29th of May, and I have the confirmation and receipt from PayPal and everything, but no confirmation og certification from TAM yet (I have heard that some has received this by e-mail already?).

I have even tried to book another ticket, but then I get this message:
"This invoice has already been paid". :confused:

Perhaps I shouldn't have to worry as I have the affirmation from VISA and Paypal that £220 has been charged, but I don't want to reserve plane tickets and hotel until I know something more...

[DocM]

I got my confirmation e-mail on the 10th of June, as did my wife. So you probably should have yours as well. Did you check your spam filter?

I wouldn't worry too much, anyway, since the PayPal confirmation will be all you need at TAM London. At least it worked that way last year, when half of the delegates didn't get their tickets in time.

Oh, and I usually got answers pretty quickly when I tried to contact the organizers via Facebook. At least one or two are also reading the forums here. (I've seen Tracy and Sid posting in this board.)

[Erik A]

I got my confirmation e-mail on the 10th of June, as did my wife. So you probably should have yours as well. Did you check your spam filter?

Yes, there's nothing from them in my spam folder...

Oh, and I usually got answers pretty quickly when I tried to contact the organizers via Facebook. At least one or two are also reading the forums here. (I've seen Tracy and Sid posting in this board.)

I have tried also by Facebook and Twitter, unsuccessfully. I know there are still a few months left, but it isn't exactly a trivial issue with all that money + travelling (from Norway) involved...

[DocM]

Well, from personal experience I can assure you that if you can provide proof of payment (in my case a pdf file on my iPhone), they will not turn you away. I'm sure somebody will get back to you soon, but I really don't think you have to worry.

[TomP]

I received my confirmation e-mail on the 10th as well (booked at 29th of May, order number 86)

If you want to be completely sure and want to search your inbox for the mail (I don't know how much mail you get, so it might have been lost):
The confirmation email was sent from "TAM London <bookings@tamlondon.org>" with the subject "Welcome, delegate!"

[xinit]

June 10th as well with the subject of "Welcome, delegate!"

Also, I heard pretty quickly from Tracy when I wrote general questions on the 'TAM London - The Amazing Meeting' group's wall.

ETA: I went to a music conference this past week where they didn't have me in the computer at all, despite me signing up and paying in February; it's ALWAYS a good idea to bring your receipt. I wouldn't have been able to (conveniently) attend without that email I'd printed out 'just in case'

[sadluxation]

Does anyone here know whether the organizers of TAM London somehow can be contacted? ......
I have even tried to book another ticket, but then I get this message:
"This invoice has already been paid". :confused:

Perhaps I shouldn't have to worry as I have the affirmation from VISA and Paypal that £220 has been charged, but I don't want to reserve plane tickets and hotel until I know something more...

Sounds like you've got a confirmation if a reservation now the money has gone out. If you hadn't had a visa confirmation, I'd be worried.
Last year a lot of emails went AWOL and the TAM IT team couldn't work out why. If you still are unsure about any other details the best bet is to use the contact form on the TAM London site. They do get there, as all the fringe event email come to me - and I've had a few already.

I'd have a look myself, but I'm only doing the Fringe stuff and am not privvy to any person's private details or orders.