I know there is going to be a Bandster Bash in Las Vegas later this year, and I would dearly love to go but tragically it would cost me close to $1000 to get there, not including hotel/car rental! There are tons of cheap flights from Dublin to New York or Boston or anywhere on the east coast and I'm wondering if there's anyone who'd like to meet me there!!??!! I am prepared to go 5,000 miles to meet bandedkind!!! Anyone interested??? I don't mind when - preferably September or even the summer....!

Great Susan! It would be great to meet you - we're thinking of 23/24/25 September later this year....

And you too Nancy! Yay - I'm soooooo excited!

I live on Long Island, so I would love to meet you guys!

Hey guys if you wanna contact me personally then please send an email to Penni60@aol.com and I will respond.

Some very nice, hard-working, dedicated people just tried to plan a bandster bash in Chicago and it failed. IMHO--and the HO's of several others--the main reason it failed was OVERplanning the weekend. To save money and ease transportation, etc., the event was scheduled outside of Chicago, near the airport. And there was a buffet dinner on Friday, a brunch on Saturday, meetings with speakers at an undisclosed time during the day, and then a dinner dance with DJ on Satudrday and brunch on Sunday. It was a bargain for $150 (plus transportation and accommodations) for those who wanted to spend all that time together, and hear why the LapBand was a good choice (evben though the event was being marketed almost exclusively to people who were already banded) and almost NO time in Chicago. They needed to sell 70 tickets and, from what I've been told, got nowhere near that number. It didn't fly and was cancelled today. (And there were a few days of really hard feelings because some of us who might have liked to meet people for lunch or dinner, but do Chicago on our own instead of hear why the band is a swell idea, decided to go on our own...and were perceived by some as "distracting" from the original event, or being too cheap to pay, and a bunch of other things. Go figure.)

A Friday night "Meet and Greet" and maybe Saturday Happy Hour and dinner or dinner only would have had a lot more participation.

Just throwing it out there for those who are planning.

I tend to agree with Sue. I wouldn't attend a conference type bash like that. It would be nice to meet other banded people but not to attend a conference about getting banded of which I already am. Just doesn't compute. I think it is great they planned the bash and had all those speakers and such but they were playing to the wrong crowd. Anyway, my two cents for what it is worth when we had the Vegas Bash last year it was full of fun and talking and getting to really KNOW each other. I think the Texas BAsh was the same way. Just lots of fun and fellowship.

I am all about getting together, chit chatting, dinner, going out, etc. I don't like a structured conference for a bash like this. Just my humble opinion. Take it or leave it. LOL!!!

If I could I'd be there! both NY/NJ and spotlight's Chicago.

I agree, Penni, Vegas was a blast!

You'll have a great time.

I am so in. This is a great idea. I will hopefully be a bandster4+ months by then and would love to to get an extra boost toward our common goal by then. I'm in New York , Long Island to be exact. Lots to do. Theater, beach, central park(major walking if you're up to it, just went with the family to see the Gates exhibit and was insane to think we could walk the exhibit in it's entirity- 23 miles - yeah right! Had no clue there were 23 miles of pathes in the park) The weather is still in the 70ish range which makes for some good outdoor activities????

So how do you use the spell check on this board - I'm horrible!

Debby

Bandster in Training

Is there a spell check? From the looks of my threads it's obvious I didn't know it, LOL.

It would be nice to get a better idea of where everyone wants to stay, NJ or NY, which ever is fine with me, then again, maybe I should check and see which airport is direct and CHEAPER, before I make my suggestion.

Those in the immediate area, please make suggestions for airport and nearby city with access to the big apple. After we get the designation straight, then we can play the activities, let the parties begin.

The airport will or could determine what hotel I stay at.

If we fly into New York (JFK) or (LGA) then I would most likely stay in a hotel in NY.

If we fly into Newark (EWR) then I would most likely stay in a hotel in NJ.

I will do what the majority wants to do. I am so looking forward to this visit.

I am going to fly into JFK - and hopefully planning to bus/train/snowboard to NJ, to stay in some hotel, recommended by Alex (if she has time to do some hotel research...) - I'd like to do some shopping, lunches/dinners etc with all the LBT posters I can! I really don't want the lecture/speaker thing anyway Sue, I just want to meet up with the friends I have made here....almost the band thing being an aside! I'm already tentitively making plans around Penni's suggested dates 23/24/25 sept - was that right? I'll maybe book flights later this month, and start saving my $$$$$$$!!!! I just want to meet all of you soooooooo much!

YUP Sept 23, 24, and 25 those are the suggested dates. I am going to look at plane fare this week. Bright let me know what you schedule will be and maybe we can meet at the airport and shuttle over to NJ together. WHOO HOO!!!

I am going to fly into JFK - and hopefully planning to bus/train/snowboard to NJ, to stay in some hotel, recommended by Alex (if she has time to do some hotel research...) - I'd like to do some shopping, lunches/dinners etc with all the LBT posters I can! I really don't want the lecture/speaker thing anyway Sue, I just want to meet up with the friends I have made here....almost the band thing being an aside! I'm already tentitively making plans around Penni's suggested dates 23/24/25 sept - was that right? I'll maybe book flights later this month, and start saving my $$$$$$$!!!! I just want to meet all of you soooooooo much!

Penni - definitely! *****fainting with excitement!!!!************

Just from my POV planning to make your home base in NJ is bound to be a lot more cost-effective. Hotels just on this side of the river are bound to have easy transportation into the city.

I'll do some research and let you know what's what. Stay tuned!

hi love to meet everyone please keep me informed i am from jersey julie