A Plea to Gathering/Rally Hosts/Promoters!

[grant whipp]

Well, I've just spent the better part of my "off time" the last four days "mining" various sites & Forums to fill out the 2014 DESTINATIONS! Page for the teardrops.net website! (Should be up before Christmas, BTW!) Do I have them all? Without a doubt, no. But what has become painfully clear is that a LOT of folks posting their events have either forgotten, or were never told, that the most important information in your announcements is the "When", "Where", "What", and "Who to contact" ...! It's fine if everybody in your region or "group" pretty much knows what you are talking about, but what about those folks who are new, willing to travel a little ways, or just passing through and looking for a rally/gathering to attend while in the area? It would be immensely helpful if everyone hosting or promoting a get-together would follow a simple, effective, and time-proven formula when introducing or announcing the event:

Dates: pretty self-explanatory
Location: nearest City and State (country, too, if outside the US), as well as campground/park/facility name
What: event title, and maybe a few descriptive words about the area or what makes your event special/unique/interesting (you don't have to write a book, though)
Who to contact: this includes host/promoters' e-mail and/or phone # for more information, and maybe the website for the facility (certainly their e-mail address and/or phone number if reservations are required)

We're trying to make it as easy as possible for folks (new and old) to find these events and get the basic info they need to make their plans ... when they have to wade through pages and pages to find what they are looking for (or, there just isn't enough info to begin with), they'll become frustrated and loose interest in attending, and worse yet, come away with the impression that we really are NOT that friendly and welcoming bunch of campers we've all been saying we are!

Believe me, I don't do this for any reason other than to be a service to Teardroppers and Trailerites, old and new ... I don't make a dime off of the page, and it takes a lot of effort trying to be as thorough and informative as possible, and it doesn't cost you a thing (except the little bit of effort it takes to follow that simple formula). PLEASE! ... do everyone the favor and put up as much basic information as possible, then be ready to watch your event's attendance grow! It would also help if you sent me the information instead of me having to go look for it!

Thanks!, and as always ...

CHEERS!

[PKCSPT]

Thanks Grant, I for one appreciate your efforts.

[Vedette]

Grant
Well said!
I agree that Gathering info should be on one big list with all of the important info you have listed.
I hope to have our date(Canadian Gathering) to you ASAP. I am just waiting for the official date of the 2014 IRG to set our date.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Esteban]

Thanks for your very welcome effort, Grant, to compile and host a master list of teardrop gatherings so we all can plan ahead.

There are two summer 2014 camping music festivals in my area, the California Central Coast, that people here might enjoy. Recently I posted information about them here: Camping at Calif. Central Coast Music Festivals Summer 2014 and in the South West forum with more detailed information and YouTubes. They are festivals where a teardrop would be very welcome and useful.

The Live Oak Music Festival happens Father's Day weekend, June 13-15, 2014 at the Live Oak campground in Santa Barbara County, California. I have attended, and volunteered at, Live Oak many years.

About a month later the second Seven Sisters Fest will happen on July 11-13, 2014, at El Chorro Regional Park which is located on Highway One midway between Morro Bay and the City of San Luis Obispo (about 5 miles to either city) in San Luis Obispo County, California. It is a craft beer, music, and camping festival. The park is large with a county campground, hiking trails, an adjacent public golf course, and a botanical garden. The campground has a limited number of spaces so early reservations are advised if you want to camp on site.

If you feel these camping festivals deserve to be added to your Destinations page I can/will format the information better for you.

[Roly Nelson]

Wow, good for you Grant, trying to milk out the info on all of the future planned gatherings and outings for TDs and Vintage trailers. I am constantly looking for places to go, and often times, have only heard of them after they are over. Being fairly accustomed to where the So Calif events are taking place, I am sure there are others that may not be too far away, if only I knew where and when.

Teardropping is a way of life, as is vintage trailer usage, and I do hope it continues to grow and prosper. However, I must admit that prices in the 35 and 40 dollar range, is a bit out of my limit. I only need a bit of water, no power, sewer or any of that expensive stuff. However, I will continue to attend, as I always have a great time, meeting new folks and blowing their minds with my goofy stuff in my TD. There are always new, friendly folks that I look forward to touching bases with, share a bit of wine around the campfire, and if I am lucky, even get invited to share a great prime rib dinner with them at their campsite, which really hasen't happened yet! Damn.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody teardropper........among another one-off design.... pending. (?)

[Vedette]

Wow, good for you Grant, trying to milk out the info on all of the future planned gatherings and outings for TDs and Vintage trailers. I am constantly looking for places to go, and often times, have only heard of them after they are over. Being fairly accustomed to where the So Calif events are taking place, I am sure there are others that may not be too far away, if only I knew where and when.

Teardropping is a way of life, as is vintage trailer usage, and I do hope it continues to grow and prosper. However, I must admit that prices in the 35 and 40 dollar range, is a bit out of my limit. I only need a bit of water, no power, sewer or any of that expensive stuff. However, I will continue to attend, as I always have a great time, meeting new folks and blowing their minds with my goofy stuff in my TD. There are always new, friendly folks that I look forward to touching bases with, share a bit of wine around the campfire, and if I am lucky, even get invited to share a great prime rib dinner with them at their campsite, which really hasen't happened yet! Damn.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody teardropper........among another one-off design.... pending. (?)

Roly, you may have to set your sites a little lower! Like backyard camping at the farm with a Chicken from a Dutch Oven????
And there is always a little red around to help wash it down.
Keep Camping
Brian & Sandi
Sorry Grant ....not trying to hijack your extremely worthwhile thread. Just bumping it!

[mezmo]

Hey Grant,

Maybe you could work out and post a 'boilerplate' form that people
could use to gather that info into a concise easy to read announcement
for the gatherings etc.. It could make it easier for everyone.

Not that you don't have enough to do already ! - - - Just a suggestion...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Mary C]

I love the ones that say:' we will be looking for you at the xyz camp out, now who is going?"

Grant thanks for reminding us. Sometimes now reservations have to be made through an outsource that has not been informed about the group either. I hope they can be informed before we are left to wonder where the main activities will be in loop A and our spot is in loop k about a mile away. That info is important too.

Mary C.

[doug hodder]

For those of you that are wondering where you can go for camping with a group. You can always find a place and put on your own gathering. It doesn't have to be a big organized event like the Dam or the IRG or the ITG. Just find a spot and pick a date, hype it, and make it happen. Nothing is accomplished without some salesmanship going in to it. It can be a small intimate group or a full blown event, just depends on how much work you want to do for it. There are lots of camp outs that are just that. It's a camp out. No organized program. Just show up and camp. It's as simple as: "I'm going camping at this place at this time, here's where you make the reservations" and put in some of the pluses of camping at this location.

If you want to do a more organized thing...go for it. In the words of Nike...."Just do it"! From that, things just grow! I do one and it is always sold out for the next year before the camp out has ended, but we are restricted on space. Up at Fallen Leaf Lake near Tahoe...it started as a small group mostly vintage trailers....now it's jam packed 6 months in advance and spaces in the "loop" are tough to come by. Don't sit around and wait for it to come to you...go out and make it happen! The thing is...if you want to go, don't sit around and waffle on whether or not to attend. Commit! Camping spaces go quickly anymore. Doug

[Dave S]

Shamefully, I do not participate enough in helping put on events, and I cant express enough my heartfelt thanks to those who do (Grantt !!!!)..........and I have "chaired" many an event over the years.....however, as an entrant nowadays to many (and more, I hope) I have a plea.......please get the events and dates posted as early as possible. My reasoning is SCHEDULING. I have a 365 day calendar on my wall and I try to note/schedule "things" during the year. THINGS are holidays, birthdays, anniversary, trailer events, tear events, swap meets, car shows, race events.....and on and on (ya, I'm an old fart, no memory). If I don't know of an event, something else may fill that weekend..........sometimes going to an event or even the events themselves can change, sometimes not. Trying to leave dates open for previous (and often much enjoyed) events does not guarantee that they will happen........I know how hard it is to put on an event, but if you have "confirmed" that it is going to happen...........share with us. My 2014 calendar is beginning to fill, but I have so many past events that have not yet been announced............ie: 21st Shasta Dam Gathering...........if I miss the notices, my problem ...........however,,,,,,,, please post early