Thanks to everyone who helped me make this 2nd Event bigger and better than the 1st! I'm still going through all the review forms each attendee filled out and I've got to say that some of you came up with some GREAT ideas. Look for the "3rd annual Nail Tech Networking Event of the Smokies" to be held (tentatively) on Sat. June 26th, which would leave Sun. and Mon. for private nail classes (per someone's suggestion!).
Many, many techs were requesting more products to purchase, so all the educators/ nail companies need to be aware of that. They also requested info on the classes be posted ahead of time, along with the schedule for the Event. This will mean that next time I'll have to be made privy to each educators classroom agenda in order to get the word out to attendees in advance, plus educators will have to have their meeting rooms locked in months ahead of time. In order for me to send the Event's educator lineup out only once (per someone's suggestion), and not the many emails with updates, would mean that the announcement would go out in May, as educators sign on whenever their company finally gives them permission. Some sign up early, while others wait till the last minute (perhaps according to their P&L statement arriving in March/April maybe?). This strikes me as rather late notice. So for those that do not want to get several updates, please email me privately so that I can take you off the list of contacts. Or just delete the emails when I send them! Some attendees wished that the Event could be held in downtown Gatlinburg (sorry to the 1 or 2 that wanted it moved to another city like Nashville, but then it wouldn't be the "Networking Event of the Smokies", now would it? I might as well just hold it here in Bowling Green and save myself the trip!). I researched plenty of meeting rooms and the Brookside Event Center was the biggest, most modern, had the most parking and didn't require we use their catering firm (as they don''t have one). Other meeting rooms cost just as much, but offered less space, low ceilings, looked dated from the 80's or 90's, etc. One possible place had NO parking, which would mean everyone would have to walk down the block and PAY to park. Many required we use their catering firm, which would appeal to those who didn't like the pizza lunch, but that would jack up the cost considerably. We'd have no choice but to raise the price of the Event in order to afford any catering firm, so please let me know if that's the way you'd like it to be next year. I'll be giving this lunch thing some serious thought in the meantime. In order to get a larger space, we'd have to go with the downtown convention center. Which in addition to requiring that we carry our own liability insurance, also costs much more to rent. And you have to PAY for parking. Frankly, I'd like to keep it at the Brookside Resort Event Center, limit it to 100 attendees, and have no more than 12 educators booths (that's the most that will fit inside the space comfortably). That way we can keep it intimate, not impersonal like the larger shows in Vegas and Orlando. OR.....we can do away with the lunch, omit the round tables to eat on, and have more vendor space. That would mean everyone would have to brown bag it or leave the Event Center in search of food. Factoring in traffic and travel time, this would cut out about 1-2 hours of time at the Event. What do you all think (you can email me privately if you wish at [email protected])? The most requested nail company was CND, so I'll be working on that for next year (any CND educators out there that would like to demo?). One of the other suggestions was that we create a list of attendees that would like to have their cell phone numbers given out, so that way as techs rolled into town they could phone each other and no one would have to be alone for dinner, etc. A few of you said the Event went on too long, but the majority said it didn't go on long enough. Some said the room was too cold, while others said it was too warm. Obviously, you can't please everyone! I'd rather have the cold ones put on a sweater as opposed to the warm ones taking off their shirts! Some said the Brookside Resort's rooms were old (but clean).......well, I DID mention that in the description and offered some other suggestions for overnight stays, too. The entire town of Gatlinburg is covered up with lodging options and no one is required to stay at the Brookside, but next year they will be offering us techs a discount if we book a block of rooms for the Event. Anytime you get a room at ANY hotel that's streamside, you run the risk of it smelling musty thanks to the moisture in the air that the stream puts out. I just spray Febreeze or call housekeeping to bring over some air freshener. Problem solved! You all were such a fabulous group and I'm extremely pleased that you liked the Event. I LOVED getting all your feedback, good and bad, because this will help me to fine tune this Event to suit the majority, and next year it'll be even better. I don't take anything personally, because as Trump say's "It's not personal, it's business"! Sincerely, Jill Wright On Jun 29, 3:08 pm, Renee Parnell <[email protected]> wrote: > Once again, the Gatlinburg event was just awesome! Great education from our > guest speakers, Dr. Robert Spalding and Jaime Schrabeck, and all the > companies represented were just wonderful! It was so much fun and so > inspiring. I've got lots of stuff on my wish list now. =) It was also > FANTASTIC to meet so many of the people I have been talking to all this > time, and make new buds too. If you missed this event, you really missed a > great time. Thanks to Jill for all the hours and hours and hours of work it > took to bring this all together. You are very much appreciated! I'm looking > forward to next year already! > > -- > Renee Parnell > > Chattanooga, TN --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. 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