TAM X - Singles n' Singles

[AdMan]

Originally Posted by Horatius

They didn't really need any, but they had some. Last year was a bit of a transition year, as it was the first time they had the professionals there. The pros didn't really know what to do with us, and we didn't know what else needed doing

Precisely.

[zooterkin]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

Did they need any last year?

They had some. Whether we were needed, I'm not sure. I was on the registration desk on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, and there was very little to do at that time. However, I got the feeling that the staff from the events company were impressed by the overall quality of the volunteers (not including myself, since I didn't really have a chance to demonstrate much, except a willingness to be up in the morning!), and might have planned to make more use of them if they'd known. I guess we'll find out soon if we figure in their plans this year.

[zooterkin]

Originally Posted by AdMan

Precisely.

It may also have been that they wanted to show that they could manage the event themselves.

[AdMan]

Originally Posted by zooterkin

They had some. Whether we were needed, I'm not sure. I was on the registration desk on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, and there was very little to do at that time. However, I got the feeling that the staff from the events company were impressed by the overall quality of the volunteers (not including myself, since I didn't really have a chance to demonstrate much, except a willingness to be up in the morning!), and might have planned to make more use of them if they'd known. I guess we'll find out soon if we figure in their plans this year.

My main job was to lead the "TAM Experience" VIPs to their seating area at one of the evening events. I have no doubt that I impressed the heck out of the events company with my work.

[Rasmus]

I am sure that doing some or a lot of the leg work means it will be a much cheaper for the JREF to run TAM - wether by themselves or through another company.

[AdMan]

Yes--as mentioned last year was a learning experience. I think in the future the events company will need fewer people, and fewer volunteers will be needed. IMO it would be silly to go "full-pro" if there are volunteers willing to help out for free (and Scott does do a great job of coordinating the volunteer effort).

ETA: I'd be happy to help out in other ways too, as part of a "welcoming committee" as suggested by Allecher, for example.

[marsattacksgirl]

Hi! I hope that you will pardon my newness.
I will be attending my first ever TAM by myself and I'm single. I just found out about first time badges at a forum table and I think that's a great idea. Is this table hard to find and will they still be available Thursday afternoon, when I'll be there?
Thanks to all of you very considerate veterans!

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

I am sure that doing some or a lot of the leg work means it will be a much cheaper for the JREF to run TAM - wether by themselves or through another company.

The "cheaper" part is a big part of why volunteers did so much the first 8 TAMs. TAM 9 they seemed to want to be more slick about things.

My impression with the company that ran things last year was they were used to running conferences that didn't have a large group of regular attendees who were personally committed to making sure things ran well, and having such a group available surprised them. That most of us were actually competent also surprised them . But the end of the weekend, they were much more comfortable with us actually working the Registration desk and the like.

I like the idea of using a larger percentage of the volunteers to promote activities, though. Have some special "Ambassador" T-shirts made up, and have these people go meet people who look like they're TAMsters, and hand out flyers advertising events.

I'd still want some advance advertising if we could get it, but some Ambassadors would help.

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by marsattacksgirl

Hi! I hope that you will pardon my newness.
I will be attending my first ever TAM by myself and I'm single. I just found out about first time badges at a forum table and I think that's a great idea. Is this table hard to find and will they still be available Thursday afternoon, when I'll be there?
Thanks to all of you very considerate veterans!

Last year it was one of the first tables you saw. It was along the wall to your right as you came off the escalators and faced the main conference area.

Of course, it might move this year! But the area isn't so large that it would be hard to find if you went looking.

The badges should be available pretty early, but they went fast last year, so you should try to get one as soon as possible.

[AdMan]

Originally Posted by marsattacksgirl

Hi! I hope that you will pardon my newness.
I will be attending my first ever TAM by myself and I'm single. I just found out about first time badges at a forum table and I think that's a great idea. Is this table hard to find and will they still be available Thursday afternoon, when I'll be there?
Thanks to all of you very considerate veterans!

Welcome!

Last year the forum table was right across from the registration desk, so very easy to find.

Buttons run out quickly (or at least they have in the past), so try to get there as early as you can.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I can't believe he called me a "rude little girl'.

[bumlet5]

Originally Posted by The Central Scrutinizer

I can't believe he called me a "rude little girl'.

Well...

[Careyp74]

My lord, look at all of the planning and organizing getting done now that a certain someone isn't here to disrupt the progress. Makes you think what the actual intentions were.

Note: This post is not off-topic, or uncivil, since it goes to show evidence refuting many of the aforementioned's claims.

ETA: Scrut, he was thrown off by your picture. We all know you are a fully matured woman. Who is that in your pic by the way?

[Rasmus]

Originally Posted by Horatius

I like the idea of using a larger percentage of the volunteers to promote activities, though. Have some special "Ambassador" T-shirts made up, and have these people go meet people who look like they're TAMsters, and hand out flyers advertising events.

I'd still want some advance advertising if we could get it, but some Ambassadors would help.

Brilliant idea.

Why not also have ambassadors for newbies?

Kinda like a reverse "I'm just shy, not anti-social" t-shirt?

Also, would it make sense to sell the buttons beforehand? I think it said they were donated before - but if they are in such demand, why not mail them out in advance for a small fee or donation? enough to cover postage and the production of two more buttons, or something?

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

Brilliant idea.

Why not also have ambassadors for newbies?

Kinda like a reverse "I'm just shy, not anti-social" t-shirt?

Yeah, the ambassadors could be multifunctional. I'm sure we could come up with other things they could do if we gave it some thought.

Quote:

Also, would it make sense to sell the buttons beforehand? I think it said they were donated before - but if they are in such demand, why not mail them out in advance for a small fee or donation? enough to cover postage and the production of two more buttons, or something?

This could be a good idea. We'd have to find out if the JREF or the professional conference guys are set up for this, though, as previous years they did all the pre-TAM communications via e-mail.

[Horatius]

Thinking about the Ambassador idea some more: If you had enough people, you could also set up a regular schedule of Ambassador Tours. At fixed times, a group of Ambassadors will meet at Location X, and anyone who would like an introduction the the TAM experience can meet them, and have a tour that shows them where all the important things are: Registration Desk, Conference and Lunch Rooms, the Del Mar, and the locations of other events like Poker and the Drinking Skeptically.

We could also let the "Celebrity" guests know about this, so if an Ambassador sees a Name Skeptic as they're leading a tour, they can flag them down and introduce them to the group. Lots of newbies seem too intimidated to do that themselves. I introduced at least one guy to Randi, and another to Brian Dunning last year because of this.

[Rasmus]

Before anyone beats me to it - assuming anyone would ever want to make the lame pun other than myself - can we call them TAMbassadors?

[Rasmus]

Originally Posted by Horatius

This could be a good idea. We'd have to find out if the JREF or the professional conference guys are set up for this, though, as previous years they did all the pre-TAM communications via e-mail.

If not, keep it in mind for next year, and maybe even make it an ordering-option.

I was thinking about doing it in the forum only, to be honest. So maybe that's a good b-plan

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

Before anyone beats me to it - assuming anyone would ever want to make the lame pun other than myself - can we call them TAMbassadors?

Okay, but only if the shirts have a picture of Randi fishing on them!

[bumlet5]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

Before anyone beats me to it - assuming anyone would ever want to make the lame pun other than myself - can we call them TAMbassadors?

I second this motion.

[Andriiya]

Originally Posted by The Central Scrutinizer

I can't believe he called me a "rude little girl'.

It's ok, we all know you're a big girl now.

[Rasmus]

hm ... if I was at TAM (don't I whish?) and saw the forum table, chances are I wouldn't expect it to be a source that would help me to make the most out of tam. I would assume it's there to get me to sign up to the forum.

I know that's not it, or at least not nearly all of it - but I think there ought to be a way to signal to clueless newbies "you can go here and them friendly people will help you to spend your time, socialize, and what not ..."

[bumlet5]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

hm ... if I was at TAM (don't I whish?) and saw the forum table, chances are I wouldn't expect it to be a source that would help me to make the most out of tam. I would assume it's there to get me to sign up to the forum.

I know that's not it, or at least not nearly all of it - but I think there ought to be a way to signal to clueless newbies "you can go here and them friendly people will help you to spend your time, socialize, and what not ..."

Huge yellow TAMbassador Buttons?

[Rasmus]

Originally Posted by bumlet5

Huge yellow TAMbassador Buttons?

If this is a joke I am missing it.

I am not sure i have a solution - I just think I wouldn't be inclined to approach that desk if i didn't know what it was about, and that would be a shame.

Maybe have the registration desk (there is such a thing, right?) send people over, or point out what the big yellow buttons are for. Even if there were big yellow buttons I'd have no clue that they mean I can talk to those people and they will tell me about pajama parties, poker tournaments and chocolate dicks...

[Horatius]

Yes, any successful TAMbassador program would need to be at least semi-official, so the JREF could include mentions of it in e-mails and the like, so people would know to look out for them.

[Rasmus]

Originally Posted by Horatius

Yes, any successful TAMbassador program would need to be at least semi-official, so the JREF could include mentions of it in e-mails and the like, so people would know to look out for them.

This made me think that you should have a cardboard dummy of a TAMbassador with the button/t-shirt or whatever, so people would actually know what to look out for.

(And the extremely shy and socially awkward TAMsters could just hang out with the dummy instead of being forced to interact with real people ...)



But maybe a picture of the button, slogan, T-shirt or whatever will suffice ...

[welshdean]

Originally Posted by marsattacksgirl

Hi! I hope that you will pardon my newness.
I will be attending my first ever TAM by myself and I'm single. I just found out about first time badges at a forum table and I think that's a great idea. Is this table hard to find and will they still be available Thursday afternoon, when I'll be there?
Thanks to all of you very considerate veterans!

I think there's a guy organising an event for TAM newbies. Nobody seems to know where, when or what to do and it didn't sound like much fun.

[bumlet5]

Originally Posted by welshdean

I think there's a guy organising an event for TAM newbies. Nobody seems to know where, when or what to do and it didn't sound like much fun.

Then he turned into Cartman.

[zooterkin]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

hm ... if I was at TAM (don't I whish?) and saw the forum table, chances are I wouldn't expect it to be a source that would help me to make the most out of tam. I would assume it's there to get me to sign up for the forum.

Well, that's exactly why I earlier suggested a message from the JREF to all attendees, so they would know the forum table was the place to go to find out about social activities.

[saganite]

How much would we really even need the JREF's cooperation to put this idea into action? Other than getting their okay to do it, we could do the bulk of it on our own:

- Put out a call here on the forum for volunteers who don't mind being "information providers" throughout the conference -- people who've attended one or more TAMs, know a lot of the regular attendees, and are active in some of the forum-organized social events. I'd certainly volunteer.

- Create bright, visible TAMbassador buttons that ambassadors can wear on their badges or shirts, saying something like "I'm a TAMbassador -- ask me anything."

- Publicize on the TAM twitter feed, on the forum, at the forum table, on the dry board in the hall. Wondering where the hell you're supposed to do after the day's conferences are over? Overheard something about a game night but can't find anyone who knows details? How come people are walking around wearing Randi beards? Answer: find someone wearing a TAMbassador pin, and they'll help you out.

- Over the course of the weekend, stay current on what social activities have been planned -- or, even easier, just escort people to the forum table when they have a question you can't answer.

The JREF's role:

- Being aware of the program so they can answer questions about it when asked. Yeah, it would also be nice if they would email all attendees prior to the conference, but would it really be necessary? The program would essentially advertise itself once people arrived at the conference.

[Rasmus]

Call for volunteers by bumlet5

[elipse]

Hi, guys!

I just got a grant to go to TAM, and I've never been, and I have social anxiety.

I thought this thread might help, but then it didn't, so I skipped to the last page and now it seems like it might.

So I don't read through a bunch of bickering, has anything been decided about getting people together who might otherwise stand around wishing they had social skills?

(ususally when I go by myself to things at hotels, there's the option of flamboyant costumes, so I just let my flamboyant costume speak for me. I don't think I want to go that route this time.)

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Find me in the bar, buy me a beer and I'll show you the ropes.

[dasmiller]

Originally Posted by The Central Scrutinizer

Find me in the bar, buy me a beer and I'll show you the ropes.

There are ropes? Right there in the bar?

Vegas has loosened up a bit since I was there last . . .

[Allecher]

Hi eclipse, congrats on the grant!

Make sure you visit the forum table to say Hi and pick up a First Tammer button. Also make sure you follow the twitter hashtag #TAM2012 because there will be a lot of announcements like "A group is headed to x, meet at the horses ass if you want to come along". Make a resolution to yourself that you will attend at least one of those things each day. Some are pricey, but others are inexpensive like bowling or the Mac King show.

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by elipse

Hi, guys!

I just got a grant to go to TAM, and I've never been, and I have social anxiety.

I thought this thread might help, but then it didn't, so I skipped to the last page and now it seems like it might.

So I don't read through a bunch of bickering, has anything been decided about getting people together who might otherwise stand around wishing they had social skills?

(ususally when I go by myself to things at hotels, there's the option of flamboyant costumes, so I just let my flamboyant costume speak for me. I don't think I want to go that route this time.)

Read this thread:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=229785


And sign up for a few things. The earlier the better, so you can meet some people you might hang with for the weekend.

That and the beer thing should cover it.


And say "Hi" to Randi when you see him; he likes meeting people, but lots of people are too shy to just go up and say hi. I've dragged more than one person up to introduce them!

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally Posted by Allecher

Hi eclipse, congrats on the grant!

Make sure you visit the forum table to say Hi and pick up a First Tammer button. Also make sure you follow the twitter hashtag #TAM2012 because there will be a lot of announcements like "A group is headed to x, meet at the horses ass if you want to come along". Make a resolution to yourself that you will attend at least one of those things each day. Some are pricey, but others are inexpensive like bowling or the Mac King show.

Also follow #taminfo. That's the one we've used in the past.

[Fitter]

And buy Scrut a beer from me. I intend to get him to buy all my beer this weekend under the premise I'll repay him at TAM, even though I can't make it this year.

[elipse]

Originally Posted by Allecher

Hi eclipse, congrats on the grant!

Make sure you visit the forum table to say Hi and pick up a First Tammer button. Also make sure you follow the twitter hashtag #TAM2012 because there will be a lot of announcements like "A group is headed to x, meet at the horses ass if you want to come along". Make a resolution to yourself that you will attend at least one of those things each day. Some are pricey, but others are inexpensive like bowling or the Mac King show.

I don't have a twitter account or a facebook page. It is hard being a luddite.

However, the extracurricular thread looks promising.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I wonder if crazylegsmurphy will be attending this year? Maybe he'll be up for a penny slots meetup!!!




(I just read back through the thread. A classic!!!)