unforum

[October]

I'd totally love a Canadian ARGFest, too.

[Giskard]

I would like to post a serious response in this thread as well as my previous lighthearted one, all the more so because I saw questions about voting on a location for next year on Twitter.

We are past the point where we can just pick any city and go there, if we want to keep doing ARGFest in the same way we did for the past three years. The process of scouting for hotels, checking out their available services and trying to match them with our needs and wishes, finding and/or negotiating the right price, etc. etc. took months.

Then the next stage is coordinating with the hotel about rooms, conference space, A/V services, food, group rates and everything that is guaranteed to go wrong over the course of a few months when planning for such an event.

So just to make it clear, we will not be having a vote for next year's location. We are really very much open to suggestions though, but if you really want to "push" a certain location, you better bring something to the table (like hard numbers / hotels that fit our needs) to have it weigh in...

[Varin]

[SpaceBass]

Following on Giskard's comment, the Directing Committee is working on a Request for Proposals which will outline all of our requirements, information, and local staffing we would need for potential locations to be considered. The request should be issued in mid-August and will be open to anyone who wants to take a shot at having ARGFest 2010 in their favorite city.

[imbri]

[konamouse]

Not that I have any pull or push in the vicinity, but we've been in the north east three times now - I would like to suggest some folks in the SOUTH belly up to the bar and use some southern charm to submit their city for the next ARGFest.

[October]

ARGFest in the South

I am not opposed to ARGFest Texas or to formulating a proposal; however, I will just remind everyone how miserable FestQuest would be outdoors in Texas in July. >_> If no one minds the heat, though - Texas ARGers, let's have a chat.

[labfly]

or New Orleans or a smaller city like Savannah, GA

[addlepated]

I would totally be up for planning an Austin fest. Hell, my hubby was so enthusiastic after this year's fest that he's all up for planning one, too (Elan's magical Rock Band drum set is covered in fairy dust, is what I think). But yeah, we totally can't do it in July - at least not with a FestQuest. People would melt. It's been 100+ for over 30 days this year so far and sane people don't go outdoors unless they have to.

FestQuest in the lake? Maybe. But perhaps something like either Columbus Day in October or adjacent to SXSWi in March would be a saner choice, weather-wise.

[SirQuady]

[addlepated]

The ARGFest in Vancouver was pretty poorly attended, IIRC. And the furthest south a Fest has been since 2003 has been - Chicago? SF? Not sure which is southerer. Heck, even KC would be a nice centralish location.

[October]

[krystyn]

I have idly tossed around the idea of doing a smallish ilovebees reunion gathering in the Raleigh/Durham area, but hadn't really gone beyond casually suggesting it to a couple friends. It's really nice there when it's not summer. Even when it gets cool out, it's never really all that bad - but I say this as a native Chicagoan, of course. October-ish would be pretty nice.

It's beautiful in Raleigh - not as urban as some fest locations, but might be cost-friendly and good for some historical puzzling fun.

[imbri]

[ironnikki]

Though I don't have any solid numbers/facts, I'd like to throw my vote in for a Southern ARGfest next year. Austin would be a great location, since there's so much to see/do there outside of ARGfest, and its one of the friendliest cities I've been to. Also, it would be extremely easy to draw in players from Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, as all of these large cities are less than 5 hours away. However, I could see how Austin could be too far South for many people.