Midwest Squeeze In

[Helen]

I have written a great place where we have done dulcimer camps for years.

 

It is in a recreational camp for disabled people so it would be accessible for everyone. Everything is on one level.

 

There are several dormitory style cabins - long rows of beds in rooms. Bathrooms and showers. Can have different wings be male and female.

 

When we do the dulcimer camp we have lots of people and use all the cabins and other buildings to hold workshops.

 

So if we were to grow, we could still use this place.

 

They want to know:

1. when we would arrive and when we would leave

2.number of attendees we think we would have

3.time of year we would come.

 

The price is less in winter. I don't know the price yet. There are facilities for food. When we go for dulcimer, they come in and cook. We won't have that many people probably. There are microwaves in the cabins. I would have to ask about the kitchen facilities.

 

So, how many people are interested? Want to come on Friday leave on Sunday?

Would you be interested in coming during the winter? Probably next winter so I can get this organized and hopefully Rhomylly can help me.

 

I would do this as a poll, but I really want a narrative answer.

 

Thanks.

 

This camp is in Central Ohio about 30 miles north of Columbus. It is off a major interstate I 71. I know that workshop leaders have flown in, but I'm not sure where they fly into. Probably Columbus Ohio.

[David Barnert]

It looks like it would be about a 10-hour drive for me. The SESI would be 13. I'm considering both (actually, one or the other, not likely both).

 

Do I understand you correctly that we're talking about NEXT winter (i.e., 13 - 16 months from now)?

 

Do you have a logo? Is it as cute as the SESI's?

 

I would probably want to spend Thursday and Monday doing most of the driving, to and from either destination. Anyone in a position to share the ride should think about it and get in touch.

 

Easier than driving to Hawaii or Fiji, at least from here. ;-)

[Helen]

Yes David,

 

Depending on the amount of work necessary to organize it, I was thinking of the following winter, not the one coming up. However, if there is a lot of help and not a whole ton of work, we could possibly pull it off this winter.

 

Any interest?

 

Helen

[JoachimDelp]

Helen, if you speak about wintertime 2004 NOvember 04 - February 05, I might seriously consider to come.

Please keep ionformed.

 

Kind regards

Joachim

[Sharron]

Aw Helen

 

I want the desert island with *full facilities*

 

En-suite bathroom/ 4 poster bed/ sea&mountain view/ balcony/ all inclusive drinks and meals/ and did I mention *room service*/ a porter for all my music cases and a shopping bag for my clothes.

 

Joking aside (well maybe joking) I don't think I could make it.

 

I do want all the gossip mind if it comes off

 

 

Sharron

[Rhomylly]

I can help, definitely!

 

Now if we're restricted to Nov-Feb, we might want to think about MLK weekend in January which is a 3-day weekend for a lot of people. Or if October is considered off-season, then maybe Columbus Day for the same reason. Just some thoughts, mainly trying to avoid the Big Nov/Dec holiday craze...

 

Helen, do you know what they charge for the dulcimer, just as a reference point?

[Ken_Coles]

Two thoughts.

 

Scheduling in the winter is a gamble. If it snowed and half the reserved people couldn't make it, and you got no walk-ins, would you take a bath financially? Something like April or May might be nice in that you may be able to meet outside as well as inside, certainly one nice feature at some years of the NESI.

 

To be truly Midwestern, you might consider how to pull in the accordionists. A lot of them (in my experience) live in the Chicago-Milwaukee area up to the Twin Cities. Eventually, if not at first, a true Squeeze-In might aspire to encourage their participation. Not that I'm sure how to do this, mind you.

 

Another note. Whether you approve or not, liquid libation is a big factor at NESI. In my experience many camps (especially church camps) want nothing to do with such activity. Nevertheless, many people avail themselves of the bar at Bucksteep during the NESI. That, the scenic isolation, and the range of accomodation from camping to decent hotel rooms, is part of the appeal. Again, more of a long-term factor than for your first time, but you need to consider how this will be handled (complete ban? BYO? No-host? etc.)

 

Ken (still without my own I-net connection)

[Helen]

Rhomylly and Ken,

 

I was thinking of this camp because I knew that it would be or probably would be reasonably priced and right off a major highway. Anyone with any kind of walking restriction would not be bothered at all.

 

I don't know about the libation factor. Probably a no, but again I'm not sure.

 

Yes, I would love to have accordionists.

 

April or May would cost more, but I don't know how much more.

 

Once it gets warm, the camp is used as a camping facility and I don't know if we can get in.

 

I'll check on prices, but they were asking for a head count and time of year so I was trying to get that first.

 

Rhomylly, I did not go to the dulcimer camp for the first time this year. I forget the price. When I did the extended camp in the past (Wed. eve to Sun morn) I think it was about $185. For us, that included meals, bed in the dorm type cabin, workshops and concerts. We might have gotten a price break because we took over the entire camp - many many people. I forget how much for the weekend because for the last several years I did the extended camp. I know just for the day on Saturday was like $40 or $60 which I thought was too much for a day.

 

I was just trying to get something going. It doesn't have to be at this place.

 

And no Ken, I can't take a bath financially on this. I make very little money as I work at a nonprofit in social service. I couldn't afford the NESI this year. BUT I hoping to go next year. My stumbling block for the NESI was airfare and kennels.

 

Any help or suggestions gladly appreciated.

 

Helen

[Ken_Coles]

Ken: (Surprised that my last post actually appeared, as the school internet connection crashed as I was posting it!)

 

I've always suspected that getting a Squeeze-In started would take either a business with a bankroll or a very flexible venue. The NESI may have economies of scale. You might email Rich Morse and ask him what their experience is. I'm sure he'll tell you.

[Helen]

Thanks Ken,

 

I had moaned about wanting a Midwest SI and hoped someone would do one. Then Rhomylly said she would help me and I thought, oh, maybe I should get off my duff and help be the someone.

 

I will ask Rich about the NESI and I'll also ask the South guy, sorry remember your avatar but forgot your name.

 

I thought if I projected it ahead a while we could get a handle on how to do it.

 

Not only the site would have to be flexible, but also the atendees. This is not what Rhomylly and I do for a living.

 

It could be fun. It might be doable.

 

If there seems to be enough interest, we could certainly give it a shot.

 

Helen

[Frank Edgley]

Sounds interesting. I think close to Chicago would be a good idea---lots of musicians there.

[JimLucas]

I've always suspected that getting a Squeeze-In started would take either a business with a bankroll or a very flexible venue.

Not at all. You only need to set your goals to match your resources.

 

Our first Scandinavian Squeeze-In was officially a 1-day (Saturday) affair, with 8 persons attending, including a couple from Russia and England. "We" -- Pontus, Louise, and myself -- are simply three concertina-playing friends who decided it would be a good thing to do. The venue was a community house in a rural community known to Pontus. We prepared our own food. (As an unexpected side effect, we did a lot of a capella singing while preparing dinner.) Staying overnight in that building was not an option, but we went late into the evening and most of us shared a cabin for the night (arranged in advance) and Sunday breakfast at a nearby camp. I forget what it all cost, but it was cheap! It cost me more to get there and back (1½ hrs each way, including the ferry from Denmark to Sweden) than for the rest put together.

 

Later that year some of us attended some music lessons held at a scout house in the same area, which we thought was an excellent site, and we've held the following three annual SSI's at Gamlegård and already have have it booked for next April. These days the main meals are provided by a caterer, but we provide and prepare the breakfasts and snacks. And we run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. The cost was still under $80/person -- not counting transportation to and fro -- for the full weekend (in spite of the weakening dollar).

 

We've been growing gradually, and with only 28 beds we may actually have to turn people away in 2004. If that happens, it will be a new issue to deal with. But as you can see, a small beginning doesn't require major resources, and adjustments need only be considered as the need arises. Frankly, if I were running a B&B, I'd reserve it for a weekend (or more than one) just to have a small concertina gathering. And I recall a Morris gathering in Maine on a farm where the barn had been converted into numerous guest rooms. (The owner was rich, and only lived there part time. He let the caretaker -- a Morris dancer -- use it thusly when he was away.)

 

Don't ignore any possibilities, but be creative, and seize any opportunity.

Edited November 19, 2003 by JimLucas

[Helen]

I have some prospective costs.

 

In peak season which is the summer, $35. a night. I was told it would be considerably less in the winter. Winter is Dec. - Feb.

 

Breakfast is $5.25

Lunch is $5.75

Dinner is $7.00

 

and he hastened to tell me this was all you can eat.

 

Beverage bar throughout the day.

 

The price for lodging goes down with a higher volume.

 

This is an alcohol free environment because of its mission to people with disabilities.

 

They don't believe in being snowed out. He just mentioned we might not want to walk around the lake. They are expecting 200 people on Jan. 5, 2004.

 

A lot of the time when I went to the Dulcimer camp in March we had snow.

 

I like this venue if at all possible because they really really worked with us dulcimer people and wanted to help us. As our camp kept growing we were able to be accommodated. We used the cabins and other buildings to hold workshops. It is off a major highway and not too far from an airport.

 

Let me know how people feel. I was getting a bit discouraged, but must say that Jim has renewed my enthusiasm.

 

Thanks Jim.

 

Help, Rhomylly, what do you think?

 

And if we block off the small outer room and put up posters, we could convince Sharron that she is in a tropical Island.

[ScottC]

About 5 hours from my house, I'd be interested. I travel to Dayton all the time on business and could probably coordinate a trip.

[Dave Weinstein]

My personal preference would be for early summer.

 

For one thing (and admittedly, this may just be my case), the travel costs for the midwest and the travel costs for Hawaii are almost identical if you are going to use frequent flier miles. And having been to both the midwest AND Hawaii, one of them is more fun as a trip.

 

If it the MWSI were in late June, then it would give a nice 4 season spacing.

 

--Dave

[jmm]

I'm just an occasional lurker, but I might come if this were in the Columbus area--I'm near Chicago and it isn't too far. Winter is a bit of a problem, though. The people who run the camp may not believe in being snowed out, but anyone who is travelling would have to consider whether to invest in a weekend when weather might well make driving/flying impossible. I'd suggest April, even at somewhat higher prices. Cheap doesn't help if you can't get there or end up unable to get home afterwards.

[Helen]

Yes,

 

I am leaning towards April myself.

[Nancy]

I am interested, but, of course, will need more details. I wouldn't want to commit to a time when there is a fairly high risk of snowy roads, especially since it would be a 250 mile drive from southwestern Michigan for us.

 

Good luck!

Nancy Wells