Paging dsli_jon......Paging dsli_jon......Originally Posted by buffo
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Paging dsli_jon......Paging dsli_jon......
Senior Member
super!
hope I will be riding with you from dallas!!
Sure would like to see an new record in attendance=
there is no shortage of room at the two venues or at the HIE- we got the cost last year down to $20 per nite per person plus tax. A suite is the only way to go!!
The HIE has a few rollaway beds but I like an air bed much better- if anyone has a need i can bring one of my extras for you- ( inflated free)
Getting around once there is very easy- rental cars are a waste of $$ unless you have no other way to get from/to the Airports- time your travel right and you can share a rent car.
hint to first-timers- bring a small flashlight- lots of stuff to trip over in the dark.
hak
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less
than
three
months!
(but... who's counting?)
At about this point, we should be peaking in the back of Mario's trailer at these massive 300 pound white subs, sweating in the August North Carolina sun, and saying, "Uh, we need to lift these up and carry them where????"
Senior Member
YES
Have there been developments Chef Brad in regard to use of the kitchen?
In my old age I tend to K.I.S.S.- not calling anybody mean names-- just sayin'
PM
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Haven't heard yet. Regardless it will be simple. :0)
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Would someone please be so kind as to give me a little more detail on what a noob like myself can expect if I attend. I have read every post in this thread so I have a general idea but I have a few questions.
1. Do I need to pay a registration to just attend. Or is the $60 for people who want to perform a show during the event. If payment is required for myself to attend that would cover my family as well (at most wife, 2 kids(9 & 10) and dad)?
2. Is the event basically one performer after another doing laser shows from open to close everyday with brief intermissions in between shows? Or are there hours in between show times? Or are there only shows in evenings?
3. It seems like there may be classes or demonstrations. Do any of those cost extra? (Not including the ILDA on monday, I know that one cost money from reading the thread)
4. Approximately how many people attended last year? Is this a big event?
5. How does food work at the event? I saw messages implying that a kitchen may be available.
The event sounds like an amazing time. Just gotta convince the wife that it will be worth it and as you all know they want details.
Senior Member
$60 covers you and guests, but this event is pretty much an adult event sometimes teenagers with direct supervision have been there, but a 9&10 yo prob should not be there IMO. Kids just don't have the where abouts to always look for stray beams etc. my daughter sees laser show almost daily for the past 3 years and I still wouldn't want her at the event, though I know she'd love it.
Shows it all depends on how well it is managed and setup and change over times. DZ I believe will be scheduling a lot of this this year.
The classroom stuff comes with admission.
70-100 people I'd say.
Food is a wait n see, usually donation based for the guys preparing. Sometimes people buy food to prep sometimes Buffo covers some of the cost.
leading in trailing technology
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Polishedball basically hit it all for you. I'll expound on #2. Last year we extended SELEM to cover two spaces. In addition to the 500 seat auditorium where we set lasers up on stage playing beam shows out over the audience (plus some graphics on either scrim or a screen), we also added a cafeteria across the parking lot for "ClubSELEM" that is sort of a hodgepodge of everything and has more of a nighclub feel. The auditorium is primarily "canned" shows - meaning they've been choregraphed to music and can be a wide variety of content. More and more effort is being given to try and have shows running nearly continuously there. Sometimes that's hard as the same group of people who tend to run shows may also want to sit in on seminars or play in Club SELEM. I think it's getting better every year but, has yet to have a posted "schedule". SELEM does, by it's nature, need to be a little "loose" though.
ClubSELEM on the other hand is a sort of free for all, taking turns sitting at the controls and running a mess of lasers in time with a live DJ and other recorded music. We had a mix of non-coherent light as well as the lasers and will probably have more this year. Now... it's a little odd I suppose to have a bunch of "geeky" guys (no offense meant!) all sitting around together in a mega high end dance club with no women but hey.... it's SELEM. And unless you're a whack job like me who can do it pretty much any night of the week, where else are you going to be able to be in control of like 40-50 watts or more of lasers?
The 9 and 10 year olds - yes, I'll agree. It's not the safest or most interesting place in the world for them and they may have a limited attention span after awhile. Newton/Conover isn't the most hopping place for tourists either but, as a family vacation, mom and the kids would have a fair amount of neat stuff to do within an hours drive and I can help you with that, since I've spent a lot of time in Asheville and the surrounding area.
Last edited by Bradfo69; 05-17-2013 at 08:43.
Senior Member
I have always left feeling that the event is worth way more than it cost & effort it takes me to attend- the drive from Houston is around 18 hrs. You could get lucky at the door prize pool and win an item worth ~$500- That happened to me at SELEM 2010 and 2011. Every year the prize pool gets larger too.
Only a handful win nothing (like me last year) if I can help in any way- answer Qs- give my tips to make the event more affordable =please PM me. I suggest for starters that you send your shirt size and 60$ asap- making that commitment is the first step to attending. IMO
There is a nice pool at the HIE- some guests enjoy staying there- most of us are way more interested for what happens at the venues we only think of the lodging as a place to catch a little sleep and some late night BS sessions in the lobby area- we get the use of the conference room all weekend and some laser stuff happens in there after hours.
So Buckeye 'Salty' hope to see your there-- HAK (born in Canton-- class of '70 at KSU)
Last edited by hakzaw1; 06-01-2013 at 09:58.
Senior Member
Thank you for the info.
So no kids. Check. Makes my weekend more enjoyable when I don't have to entertain them. Don't get me wrong I love my kids but adult weekends are nice. My wife's sister lives in Charlotte so maybe i'll send them down there while I play with lasers.
My dad is an old school Laser guy. Was giving shows back in the late 70s and early 80s before the company went bankrupt. Had too much broken equipment while traveling from state fair to state fair I guess. I mean when a $10K+ laser breaks because you hit a pothole driving down the road, you can't just stop and pickup a new one at Wal-Mart. He will be amazed at what the laser scene is like now. I was telling him how cheap the scanners are now days and he couldn't believe it. He also couldn't believe you could buy a white laser fits in a suitcase.
As of right this moment I do not have the 60 bucks (had to buy LSX software) but I will next time I get paid. Also need to make sure everyone is available to travel. How do I make the payment? Paypal? I'll post my shirt size when I pay.
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