Since Fiji is the first inhabited place in the world to experience the new year, I jokingly suggested that we squeezers should hold our own New Year's party there. Others took me seriously and nominated me to organize it), so now I'm taking them seriously by creating this poll to assess potential interest.

It's really too late to organize anything for this coming New Year's Eve (and especially for me to organize it), so I'm asking about possible attendees for next year (12/2004-1/2005). This has the additional advantage that Dec. 31 will be a Friday, so we could start with the party as the first event of a "South Pacific Squeeze In" weekend, the first ever.

OK, let me know how crazy you are.

Jim

It's nice to see that you take this serious!

Henk

I'm surprised that there MAY/COULD be enough interest in folks spending the money and time to travel to Fiji, especially as this location is probably NOT the most centrally located spot from the greatest number of concertina players?

OTOH, if folks are seriously considering such a venture, I'd like to offer another venue: Hawaii.

My parents operate a B&B called MyIsland in the town of Volcano on the Big Island (yes, I'm originally from Hawaii). Their estate consists of 9 acres of botanical gardens, a main house with a number of private bedrooms and a "family" bedroom (more like a dorm with two double and two single beds), a separate 3 bedroom house, and a complex of 3 single room "apartments". They also manage a couple dozen area houses which they rent out for the owners, (many of which are walkable to their estate), some of which accommodate as many as 16 people.

Besides being a wonderful spot and easy to make the arrangements for, my folks love music and are quite partial to CONCERTINAS! They also serve absolutely amazing breakfasts and are known for their bottomless macadamia nut bowl....

Well, it remains to be seen how much and how serious the interest is.


This all grew out of a discussion oriented toward New Year's Eve, and that's how Fiji entered the picture. While I would like to visit Fiji some day, it needn't be connected to either concertinas or New Years. Ditto for Hawaii, but that's a place I've always wanted to visit and it has a much greater variety of attractions, so even if it's not for a Squeeze In, I just might contact your parents, Rich.

How about the rest of you? Would you seriously consider a concertina gathering in Hawaii? More seriously than in Fiji? I would, and I even suspect that there's a higher probability of discount air fares. Should I start another poll?


Lucky for you!


Shelled, I hope. But please don't say we have to bring our own sandwiches!

Of course, there's no particular reason why a South Pacific Squeeze In should coincide with a New Year celebration, so maybe Rich could advise us on the best season for us to visit and then we could see who's interested.

Jim,

I do not think another poll is necessary. Hawaii or Fiji is not so important. As long it is far away and an opportunity to play & have fun together it is OK with me.
BTW: Ireland is also a nice spot. Even without a B&B called MyIsland.

Henk

Crazy idea, great idea !
Fidji or Hawai isnot really important. Richard Morses proposal Hawai sounds good to me.
New Year as a date, perhaps problematic to all of us, who we have family. Cannot imagine to celebrate New Year separatzed from my family, until now. You never know.
Imagine there will be more playerws in same psoition.
#But December souinds good, giving timer to save money, end of a hopefully succesful year, having been workoing all the motivated by this great idea, could it be a well merited premium (My birthday is in December also !!)

Resuming :
Highly interested top meet more crazy Concertina Players and other Music plöaying or singing persons in Hawai in December 2004. Jim and Richard could organize it. I am reaady to help, wherever it could be possible.

Full of expectation and hope it might come true IU send you all kind regards
Joachim Delp

Just had a word with The Management (Anne). Instant reaction is that Hawaii is a definite maybe, provided we have sufficient notice to save. Flights from the UK would I guess be long and expensive. But hey - Hawaii with concertinas? This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff.

Chris

Out of curiosity, I tried to find airfare rates to Fiji.

I couldn't even find a flight.

Hawaii, on the other hand, has plenty of air travel. Plus, since it gets the standard airlines, more people may be able to use frequent flier miles.

--Dave

European attendees might eventually start from the same airport and might obtain a reduced Group Tarif ?

A bit early to ask for this, but I suppose it very possible.

Joachim

I think it's already clear that there's more interest in Hawaii than in Fiji. But is there enough? And when? Joachim seems to like December, but what do others think? And Rich, is there an "off season" in Hawaii, when things are cheaper?

I wonder how many squeezers we could get who also dance Morris? Enough for a set of Island Mary?


Indeed it is. But I believe there are already concertina gatherings in Ireland, so I don't see any point in my organizing one.

Yes, it is conveniet to ask for off season.

I repeat my arguments in favour of December :
1. Onbe year in front for saving
2. As far as I know there are very few Concertina Meeting in Decmber anywhere
3.I do not know, but imagine that possibily when in Eurpe and also parts ofg USA it will be cold and wet, there might nice wheather, which I do not mind too much for Concertina Playing
4.Such an event, such a venture must be merited. So after a year of motivated working will come the premium
Last not least in Decmeber is my birthday. (a lotlle joke)
These reasons are making me the campaign for December.
I would try to adapt to any other month, but I think it would be good to have some months ion front for makuing the money. Consequently and as a father of kids still in School age, I think it should be in any case after summer holydas.

Ref. Ireland I agree totally with you.
Henk let´see if we can go together to Mrs. Crottys Festival next year. Seems to be a great event.

Regardes
Joachim

Fiji would be great for the following year. And yes, the Elizabeth Crotty festival would be great too, but I admit I am more partial to something in the southern hemisphere

I'm sure if we keep brainstorming this we'll find the perfect time/location

Regards
Morgana

Hi Folks,

once doing this kind of effort, should we try to organize something really speciual unique ?

Must it be only a weekend, could it not be extended to a full week ?

Previous training and learnign of CommonTunes for Group Playing

Some special Hawain Tune ?

Workshops

Concourse (not very serious) but ? Some might like

As Morgana says lets go ahead brainstorming ! Would like to read your ideas !

Kind regards
Joachim Delp

There is no "off season" in Hawaii. They're plenty of tourists all year 'round, though the summertime has more families and the winter times have more couples and older folk.

How booked a place is is defined by percentage, but rather than in New England where a hotel would report that they are 85% booked for any particular night, in Hawaii they usually run about 120% booked a month before. They don't bother recording how "overbooked" they would be when any particular day occurs as it would be silly to keep track of all the people they'd turned away. Right now my folks are booked solid until mid January and have only a few openings into February and March. June is already 80% full....

The only price difference is in the airfairs which are steep in general and extreme around the holidays. From New England the normal round trip fair is about $1200, about $1500 around holidays, and if you plan ahead far enough and seek out various specials and combinations and come/go on certain days, etc., you can sometimes get it down to about $700.

If the focus of this event is a concertina gathering in an "exotic" place to experience a wide variety of music... most likely the musical variety will come from the participants, and the further afield the place is the fewer the participants....

Ireland is exotic to me (closer and cheaper than Hawaii too!) though is fairly monomusical (which happens to be one that *I* like). For eclecticity maybe consider an established event like the NE Squeeze-in which has Irish, French-Canadian, Swedish, English, Scottish, Klezmer, some Cajun, schmaltz, blues, classical, mid-Eastern stuff.... Oh yes - and can usually field a side or two of Morris.

If held in such a far-flung place a week would make more sense as jet-lag can be a major issue.

OTOH, if the event can be timed with other interesting things happening around that time, folks that want to extend their stay can. For instance, each year in March Wild Asparagus (a great NE contradance band) holds a Contradance Week in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is only a couple of towns away from my parent's B&B.


What is a "concourse"? A broad open area full of tourists? Do you mean "street gigs"?

There are advantages and disadvantages to the end of December.

Advantages:

A great many companies are closed from December 24th-January 1st. This means that people use less vacation time in taking the trip.

Since all (or as close to all as to be indistinguishable) schools are closed for the same period, it makes vacation travel easier for families.

It gives people 14 months to get the money together for the trip.

For couples and families travelling, where one or more members may not be interested in the musical portion of the events, being right by the Volcano Park and in Hawaii makes for a more interesting trip.

It has the advantage of being warm in the northern hemisphere winter, and suitably exotic for particpants from, well, everywhere but Hawaii.

Disadvantages:

Air fare is insane. I priced out a trip (for this December, since it won't let me do it for 2004-2005 yet) on American, and it came to around $2200/person from Raleigh.

Because it overlaps the holidays, many families have pre-existing committments or traditions which may cause problems.

Because it overlaps the holidays, the cost of the trip happens to coincide with the expense of gift giving.

Some airlines may black out the use of Frequent Flier miles to purchase tickets over the holidays.

--Dave

concours ?

Excuse, I have been to busy or lazy to look to the dictionary, Ricahrd.

I thought in some kind of competition, establishing differnt categories.
I do not feel sure abourt it, but somebody might like it.

Street Gig sounds nice !

Regards
Joachim

In Danish and German (and I presume a few other languages), the word "konkurs" means "bankruptcy". Probably not what Joachim meant, and I don't know what it might mean Spanish or French. But in Danish "konkurrence" means "competition", and that sounds close.

Joachim, what *did* you mean?

Perhaps "contest".

Although competition would probably be closer.

Richard,

I have been to lazy or too busy to look to the dictionaire and I thought this word might ber understood as I meant.

Well I wanted to say some kind of competition with awards according to various categories :_

Best Concertinas, Players, Makers most handsome Player more or less serious.

A Street Gig sounds nice !

Regards
Joachim

Due to the Low Sight problem I suffer for over a year, it costs me some effort tollow the forum duely. I make mistakes, I am learning to overcome or better said to avoid.
So I did not find the last messages, not getting aware that there is already a secoind page. Please excuse.

Helen and Jim, yuo both are right !

Without being able to explain thiungs academically, I state :

In the Spanish Language, which I use mainly in my daily life, I would have said concurso, I guess in French could be used Concours.

Concurso/competicion :

Concurso de belleya Beuaty Contest

Competiocion deportuiva , Sports competition

Concurso de coches Antiguos - Contest of Antiqwue Cars (Beauty, Elegance)

Competicion de coches = carrera, Raciong competition

Concurso de Concertinas, probably would more refer to the instruments, in its beauty, and quality etc.

Competion de Concertinas, would probably refer more to the Players and Makers.

Concurso de Musica Musical Contest


KONKURS in the German languuage means in fact Bankrupcy, we might all get bankrupte pretending to go to Hawai, competing with the most bveautiful concertinas, eventually buyiung new specially for the contest, but certianly I did not think in this possibility, when saying the word.

Regards
Joachim

Weeelll since Jim and I are both right, maybe we can play.

Jim can be in the concurso de belleya.

Until last year I could enter the concurso de coches antiguos, but I traded in my 14 year old car.

(Very embarrassing, the Head of the Used Car Division came out to meet someone who had driven a car so long.)

It's okay, Joachim, I am just teasing.

Although of course if Jim does want to enter...

For me Hawai is $2500 and 12 hours away, so I'm still leaning more towards Fiji; unless you guys are interested in coming down under of course

Morgana

It would really help if folks would let us know where you live. Your user profile has you a day and 3 hours ahead of me (me being in New England, USA), so I guess you're in eastern Australia?

For you Fiji is close. For me Fiji is about 20 hours and $2100. We all have choices to make.

Rich-

Read the first sentence in Chapter 2 of Allan's new book and you'll know where Morgana's from!

Ahah! So, she's from Melbourne! Good thing I had a inkling of which Allan you were referring to AND had a copy of his book. Still, it would be much nicer for posters to let folks know where they are - particularly when dealing with issues as time and locations.

I had a feeling you'd have a copy.

David - which book would that be

Richard: my apologies; yes I am in Melborne (I thought I'd mentioned that in an eariler posting above).

Cheers
Morgana

Back to the original subject in this thread...

I would attend a December/January Squeeze-in in Hawai`i!

I have never been to any of the Polynesian Islands, though for the past 2 years I have been studying Tahitian Drumming, and for the past year I have been studying Hawaiian Hula and Hawaiian `Ukulele (all under the same teachor) here in Chicago, (north central USA).

(If anyone else is currently in the Chicago area, you can see us on December 13 at the annual Christmas Around the World presentation at the Museum of Science and Industry.)

So Hawai`i would be great. If it must be in Fiji, maybe I can make that part of a Polynesian trip.

- ALex

Have ackes today my Travel Agency for Air FAres to Hawai from Frankfurt/(Main, Germany,m bering told that difference Londion, Amsterrdam, Paris, wpould not copnsiderable,

Cheapest 750 Euros North West several Airplane changes
ASecopnd : 850 with Delta , the same circunstance

Lufthans via USA 1.100 Euros

All prices for 2003 before 15th of Decmber.

Sounds reasonable.

And there should besome reduction for Goups ?!

Rich how about lodging prices in Hawai ?

Regards
Joachim

Lodging on the Big Island of Hawaii is less expensive than on the other islands - but still pretty steep!

Rates are per person, per night with double occupancy expected. IOW, if I note $100 it means if there are two people in that room, that room for two would cost $200 per night. If one person wanted the room by him/herself, it would cost about $150 per night. Typical one-night rates for places on the Big Island are:

B&Bs: $ 50 to 150
Small inns: 100 to 200
Local hotels: 100 to 300
Resorts: 200 to 600 and up, way up....

My parent's B&B ranges from $50 to $85. I just talked with my Dad who says that they could do a special rate for a group of us and suggest taking one (or more) of their houses (that sleep anywhere from 3 to 14) which usually have several common spaces.

A particularly appropriate one could be their "Deck" house which has a huge living room and two covered decks. The nice thing about this house is that it's on the same property as the main B&B and "garden apartments" for easy walking to breakfast. The "garden apts" open onto a common covered lanai (another jamming space). Meals (beyond the provided breakfast) can be a do-it-yourself at the "Deck" house which has dining service for 16 (we can stash more service if you need it) or it's an easy walk to two general stores, a coffee shop and 3 restaurants.

Price? Dad says "about $40 to $50 per person per night" depending on which house you want and a reasonable percentage doubled up rooms - which includes breakfasts, all the macadamia nuts you can eat, lots of stories and lore (he's a writer and photographer) - BUT! You may each be required to play a tune for them to get this "special deal"....

Things I've Learned from this Thread and Why It Matters to Me:

1) Richard Morse is from Hawaii!

I'm from Hawaii too! (Oahu, not the Big Island. I grew up in Ewa Beach, but live in California now.) That's the last place I would have expected to find another concertina player!

2) AlexCJones is from Chicago, but plays Hawaiian and Tahitian music, AND concertina!

My main source of income is from the Hawaiian band that I play with. (I haven't been able to work the concertina into any of our tunes, but I get to play pennywhistle on several.) The leader of our band, aside from being a phenomenal ukulele player, is also one of the best and most creative Tahitian drummers in the San Fran area. (My wife also dances hula and Tahitian style.)

3) JoachimDelp speaks Spanish!

Por fin hay alguien aqui con quien puedo practicar mi espanol!

---------------

OK, now back to the main purpose of this thread:

- I'd love to do a concertina thing in Hawaii next year.

- I think the Volcano place is a most excellent place to have it. (A LOT easier for me to convince my wife!)

- The sooner something is set, the better chance concertinists will have to plan, plot, and connive.

And yes, I think Jim Lucas may be just a little bit crazy.

Yo hablo español, también.

Solamente poquito aquí.

Say, how do I get the Russian alphabet in here?

Just a little?!! Where have I gone wrong?

Российский ...
Путеводитель по сетевым ресурсам о российских женщинах и женском движении в России.....

Играют ли они на концертине? На котором URL-е?

Жим

Я не панимаю ваше вапрос!

Хенк

But if you ask whether I play concertina, the answer is yes. But I am not allowed to tell you anything about this URL!!

For those of you who are annoyed or frustrated by our little exchange:

Should translate as

[Was that Ukrainian, or are those spelling errors? Well, my own Russian isn't very good. ]


Not you, Henk. I thought your Russian text (clipped from somewhere?) said, "Guide to [word not in my dictionary] resources about Russian women and the women's movement in Russia." And (I thought) I responded, "Do they play concertina? On which URL?"


Which leaves me to wonder just what sort of "women's movement" is meant.

Shall we get back to the real topic?

хорощо!

Ай ай ай! Слово, которое не понимаешь, Джим, обозначает "net"!
Oh, oh, oh! The word which you don't understand, Jim, means "net" (as in internet).

Саманточка!