2006 Mazda Festivus
March-19th-2006, 10:46 AM
#46
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 661
You know there's also the TOTD meet in August from the other other board. I think this needs to be rethought, lets just start planning this for next year so that it can actually be succesful instead of a piddling attempt that's goingto be drowned out by other meets, especially the one in Florida.
March-19th-2006, 01:10 PM
#47
The man behind the mask
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
who's to say I'll be around next year? haaha.
The reason I chose this date is because in order to plan an event of this size you need time. Doing it any earlier in the year would mean we'd have 200+ people in the south during summer and the yanks don't really handle that well. Hold it any later and you interfere with school. Labor Day weekend just about everyone is off.
I think more than anything it's just people having small 30-50 member meets who are throwing this off. If they'd combine with us we could EASILY pull this off. NOPI isn't an issue for me as I personally couldn't care less about the nasty, skanky, ricey cars. I'd much rather attend an all-mazda event...especially with corporate sponsorship and chances to see and drive new vehicles.
Think "zoom zoom live" with more people and a car show atmosphere.
The reason I chose this date is because in order to plan an event of this size you need time. Doing it any earlier in the year would mean we'd have 200+ people in the south during summer and the yanks don't really handle that well. Hold it any later and you interfere with school. Labor Day weekend just about everyone is off.
I think more than anything it's just people having small 30-50 member meets who are throwing this off. If they'd combine with us we could EASILY pull this off. NOPI isn't an issue for me as I personally couldn't care less about the nasty, skanky, ricey cars. I'd much rather attend an all-mazda event...especially with corporate sponsorship and chances to see and drive new vehicles.
Think "zoom zoom live" with more people and a car show atmosphere.
March-22nd-2006, 06:58 AM
#48
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 32
Do you have an exact location? Nashville is a pretty big city.
I'm interested but I don't want to drive all the way down to TN and it being just another parking lot gathering. Can you tell me what kind of sponsors you have and whats going to happen at the event?
I'm interested but I don't want to drive all the way down to TN and it being just another parking lot gathering. Can you tell me what kind of sponsors you have and whats going to happen at the event?
March-22nd-2006, 07:23 PM
#50
The man behind the mask
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
Jay Chen, The exact location is not locked down yet. Everything is based on the number of attendees we'll have. I can't set a location for 100 cars and have 250 show up.
With enough commitment from attendees I can get full mazda support. What I'd like to put on is a mett/car show very similar to "Zoom Zoom Live" without the driving course (unless MNAO wants to coordinate that). I'm working on getting pre-production models to make it out (MS3, MS RX8, etc). I'd like to have a few tech speakers also. The only catch is that I cannot get ANYTHING unless I can promise a headcount. So far I can't so details are sketchy.
Steve, no deposit yet. We need to make sure we'll have interested people from all Mazda forums before proceeding further.
With enough commitment from attendees I can get full mazda support. What I'd like to put on is a mett/car show very similar to "Zoom Zoom Live" without the driving course (unless MNAO wants to coordinate that). I'm working on getting pre-production models to make it out (MS3, MS RX8, etc). I'd like to have a few tech speakers also. The only catch is that I cannot get ANYTHING unless I can promise a headcount. So far I can't so details are sketchy.
Steve, no deposit yet. We need to make sure we'll have interested people from all Mazda forums before proceeding further.
March-23rd-2006, 06:47 AM
#51
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 32
How many cars needed for MNAO support?
Any ideas on possible locations? Looks like your located in Alabama.
How likely are you of getting MNAO support?
Where is this $10 fee going to?
Any other sponsors besides MNAO??
I guess I'm asking all these questions because seems like your looking for people to sign up but I don't know what I'm signing up for?
Any ideas on possible locations? Looks like your located in Alabama.
How likely are you of getting MNAO support?
Where is this $10 fee going to?
Any other sponsors besides MNAO??
I guess I'm asking all these questions because seems like your looking for people to sign up but I don't know what I'm signing up for?
March-23rd-2006, 07:23 PM
#54
The man behind the mask
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
J.C. I'm pretty confident with 150-200 attendees confirmed I can get just about anything from Mazda. I haven't begun to work on other sponsors yet because I need to know what I'd ask from them...without a headcount it's very difficult to know what I'd need. If wanted a local dealership to provide catering one day and I tell them 100 people and 250 show up...I'm a little screwed. See what I mean?
From Day1 it's always been the same type of event. Saturday gathering and car show, possible speakers showing off new models, design direction, upcoming concepts, etc. Sunday judging of car show and a cruise is very possible. the main purpose of the meet is a car show. With enough support I could get more MNAO participation which would really grow the event into what I'd like it to be... A larger Zoom Zoom Live without the driving course. Unless MNAO is willing to head that up on their own.
The deposit was an earlier idea I had because the past few meets I've thrown I've had to pay for out of pocket with the expectation that people would show up and chip in...sadly this doesn't happen. I can't keep paying for everything out of my pocket all the time. The deposit was just a "good faith" note from you to me to say "I'm serious" and for me to order trophies/reservations. I have not taken ANY money from anyone though.
With MNAO or larger support I don't see a deposit being necessary.
From Day1 it's always been the same type of event. Saturday gathering and car show, possible speakers showing off new models, design direction, upcoming concepts, etc. Sunday judging of car show and a cruise is very possible. the main purpose of the meet is a car show. With enough support I could get more MNAO participation which would really grow the event into what I'd like it to be... A larger Zoom Zoom Live without the driving course. Unless MNAO is willing to head that up on their own.
The deposit was an earlier idea I had because the past few meets I've thrown I've had to pay for out of pocket with the expectation that people would show up and chip in...sadly this doesn't happen. I can't keep paying for everything out of my pocket all the time. The deposit was just a "good faith" note from you to me to say "I'm serious" and for me to order trophies/reservations. I have not taken ANY money from anyone though.
With MNAO or larger support I don't see a deposit being necessary.
March-23rd-2006, 11:44 PM
#55
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 32
R.P.
I'm wondering, have you contacted Mazda USA? Is that what they told you? 150-200 attendees?
I'm trying to understand your logic, but you do know that at this point you don't even have a location and everything your saying about the event are very vague.
And how much have you spend on previous meets you've organized? And what did you spend on?
I'll be frank with you. Mazda will not sponsor an event just because you have certain number of attendees. I would call Mazda and find out what you need. What I could tell you is that I've tried to get corporate sponsorship for events in the past and they require a lot more than attendees. This is the reason why I've asked so many questions. They will ask you the same.
I'm guessing other "meets" you've organized are local cookout and such? And you had to pay for food or something? You would need a lot more money invested in order for corporate office to spend thousands and thousands to ship cars, man power, legal fees, promotion, etc.
I'm wondering, have you contacted Mazda USA? Is that what they told you? 150-200 attendees?
I'm trying to understand your logic, but you do know that at this point you don't even have a location and everything your saying about the event are very vague.
And how much have you spend on previous meets you've organized? And what did you spend on?
I'll be frank with you. Mazda will not sponsor an event just because you have certain number of attendees. I would call Mazda and find out what you need. What I could tell you is that I've tried to get corporate sponsorship for events in the past and they require a lot more than attendees. This is the reason why I've asked so many questions. They will ask you the same.
I'm guessing other "meets" you've organized are local cookout and such? And you had to pay for food or something? You would need a lot more money invested in order for corporate office to spend thousands and thousands to ship cars, man power, legal fees, promotion, etc.
March-24th-2006, 07:24 AM
#56
The man behind the mask
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
J. C. I appreciate your advice but yet again I've got it under control. For the past 2.5 years I worked for a non-profit company as an event coordinator and conference planner. I put on 4 large (400+) conferences a year.
The last protege-only meet (this is a mazda wide event) that received MNAO support only had 125-ish attendee's. I don't think I'd have much trouble getting help from them with more attendees. Also, I HAVE spoken with people at Mazda but in order for me to get confirmed support I'll need to get an estimated headcount to them so they can let their people who handle these matters think it over.
The last protege-only meet (this is a mazda wide event) that received MNAO support only had 125-ish attendee's. I don't think I'd have much trouble getting help from them with more attendees. Also, I HAVE spoken with people at Mazda but in order for me to get confirmed support I'll need to get an estimated headcount to them so they can let their people who handle these matters think it over.
March-24th-2006, 03:45 PM
#57
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 32
I thought you were some auto parts store manager? Isn't that what I read? Maybe its my lack of understanding but I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere. Now you are an event coordinator for some non profit company? Which non profit company?
Either case, when you say you spoke with Mazda, you do mean MNAO? I'm pretty certain that they would ask location, Time frame, daily schedule of the event, estimated cost, contacts for the location, your experience organizing events, past event results, and most importantly, if you have insurance to cover any mishap might occure at the event. I'm sure Mazda wouldn't want the legal responsibility of an event thats not well organized. And they would most likely ask you how much your policy will cover and whom you have the policy with.
So, can you actually answer any of these questions except to tell me that you know what you are doing? I can't hardly believe you actually called MNAO. Because If I were to spend thousands of dollars to sponsor an event, I would ask all these questions before committing.
Either case, good luck. If it all works out, I'll come down to TN just so I could meet you in person.
Either case, when you say you spoke with Mazda, you do mean MNAO? I'm pretty certain that they would ask location, Time frame, daily schedule of the event, estimated cost, contacts for the location, your experience organizing events, past event results, and most importantly, if you have insurance to cover any mishap might occure at the event. I'm sure Mazda wouldn't want the legal responsibility of an event thats not well organized. And they would most likely ask you how much your policy will cover and whom you have the policy with.
So, can you actually answer any of these questions except to tell me that you know what you are doing? I can't hardly believe you actually called MNAO. Because If I were to spend thousands of dollars to sponsor an event, I would ask all these questions before committing.
Either case, good luck. If it all works out, I'll come down to TN just so I could meet you in person.
March-24th-2006, 09:03 PM
#58
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 38
RP has always done a great job in my opinion. I have been to a couple of the bigger meets he has gotten together and have been very impressed with what he has done. I can understand anyones concern with what he is doing, but would just like to put in my 2 cents and say that I trust him with getting everything together.
March-24th-2006, 09:42 PM
#59
The man behind the mask
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
good god dude. You grate on my nerves like no other person I've spoken with in recent history.
I am a new manager of an auto parts store. for the PREVIOUS 2.5 years I worked out of my home as a conference planner and event coordinator. The company is the Profit Sharing 401(k) Council of america.
damn...I've never been badgered SO hard for my resume when I'm trying to invite people to meet.
Kevin, don't bother trying to defend me this guy doesn't know crap about cars or me or any of my past work and wants to come onto the forum that I run and give me crap about it. Totally worthless.
I am a new manager of an auto parts store. for the PREVIOUS 2.5 years I worked out of my home as a conference planner and event coordinator. The company is the Profit Sharing 401(k) Council of america.
damn...I've never been badgered SO hard for my resume when I'm trying to invite people to meet.
Kevin, don't bother trying to defend me this guy doesn't know crap about cars or me or any of my past work and wants to come onto the forum that I run and give me crap about it. Totally worthless.
