UK get together! - Page 2

trewornan · 02-19-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makar

Castle Donington as very much in the middle of the country.

I still think Leamington Spa would be a good choice but if not I'd rather go for Birmingham than Leicester. It's got better air, rail and road links.

But I'll declare that I'm partisan since I live in Cornwall.

sidneykidney · 02-19-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trewornan

I still think Leamington Spa would be a good choice but if not I'd rather go for Birmingham than Leicester. It's got better air, rail and road links.

But I'll declare that I'm partisan since I live in Cornwall.

Regretfully I must agree with you here Birmingham has MUCH better transport links. I say regretfully because Birmingham New Street is a b*****- I once got stuck just outside the station in a train whose doors would not open for 45 minutes.

bjrn · 02-20-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Depending on Where in the UK and When this year. I'd love to come.

Same here. I was thinking of going to the UK sometime this year anyway, it depends when the meet is and when I have time of course, but if I can I would come.

majurey · 02-20-2008, 12:18 PM

Count me in, with usual provisos about dates etc. Agree it would be great to see as many of our Euro friends too.

I reckon there will be plenty of strops and razors (custom, vintage and new) and hones, but one area we might be thin on is products. Most of the SRP vendors are US-based.

Also, if we're going to have a honing workshop, would be good if someone could pony up their microscope for the session.

Birmingham, eh? Better start practising that Brum accent now then. Anyone fancy a kippa tai?

Makar · 02-21-2008, 10:14 AM

I will PM or email some vendors, UK based shops and suppliers and maybe folk like RazorPur - Lynn suggested giving them a try also. It is tricky at the mo getting the balance to make it happen. More people signing up to support makes it more attractive for a supplier to come along with some wares and make friends and customers. Vendors signed up to attend will make it a more attractive event to members.
Will also explore some midlands based venues for prices and availability (in between trying to finish an assignment...). Going to aim at late summer.

Cheers and keep support/ ideas coming. If it builds enough head of steam it can only start to move.

SheffieldShaver · 02-21-2008, 11:37 AM

I'd certainly be interested in this

trewornan · 02-21-2008, 01:47 PM

I just did a quick count up on the googlemap page and by my reckoning there are 24 members in England & Wales plus another 5 in Scotland and 4 in Ireland. Some may be inactive, some active members may not have entries, of those who are active some won't attend, some non-British Isles members may make the trip from the continent.

Inevitably it's a bit of guesswork but I think you'll be lucky to get a dozen people attending this.

LX_Emergency · 02-21-2008, 02:06 PM

That is if all UK members are registered on the Gmap.....

Garry · 02-21-2008, 02:17 PM

Bear in mind Scotland is only small ;-)

Makar · 02-21-2008, 02:27 PM

It's good to have a reality check for sure. I imagine that there are probably more than double the gmap members anyway. It's not a prerequisite and so many people won't bother marking the map. I would certainly hope for twenty minimum in order to make it a bit more than a social and 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine' sort of affair. If it is just that then that would be good fun too I am sure. Maybe there is a need for some outreach with it. Ask/promote to members of Badger and Blade or shave my face!? Get some new members to a national event?

It's still early days but your point is totally fair - for something that would attract a vendor also, we need to have 30 or 40 people, perhaps more. If it ends up that those who want to meet amount to 10, then a get together in a pub will prob be the way- we will always need somewhere more private (some cost involved) as we can't take out razors in a pub. So there are going to be levels of organisation that will make themselves evident fairly soon in the process. At the moment it is aiming for the stars - we may clip the trees on the way up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by trewornan

I just did a quick count up on the googlemap page and by my reckoning there are 24 members in England & Wales plus another 5 in Scotland and 4 in Ireland. Some may be inactive, some active members may not have entries, of those who are active some won't attend, some non-British Isles members may make the trip from the continent.

Inevitably it's a bit of guesswork but I think you'll be lucky to get a dozen people attending this.

LX_Emergency · 02-21-2008, 03:00 PM

Get the B&B/SMF/TSD people involved. I'm sure a few more brits will want to come over for it.

Makar · 02-21-2008, 03:23 PM

Just had a reply from Martin of RasurPur in germany. He would love to come along and be happy to do a workshop on honing or stropping and bring a car load of merchandise. He needs a variey of questions answered of course such as when, where and are people interested. I think it could move wider to these other forums to attract more Brits and of course folk from over the Channel.
Any thoughts or issues with that? I am not a member of any other related fora but could drop a notice of intent in to be put out by an appropriate 'other' forum member and see what reaction is in general? It could mean a good few more people looking in this direction also!

Makar · 02-21-2008, 04:52 PM

Just a quick gauge re costs. The Ackers Outdoor Centre is 2 miles from Birmingham City centre and has a room that accommodates up to 40 people seated. They charge £10 per hour and so for a 10 till 4 day that will set us back £60. I tried another place in the city centre that wanted £750! I think that is the kind of polar ends of cost. So if we could get 30/40 people across the 'shaving' world in the UK plus a handful of interested folk from the continent it would be a negligible cost.

Keep the verbal support going and please give me green lights, or red ones re going out to these other fora.

thanks
Stephen

mr_magicfingers · 02-21-2008, 08:52 PM

Having workshops on honing and stropping would be a great idea, certainly the area I'm most interested in seeing done properly.

LX_Emergency · 02-22-2008, 09:16 AM

I posted it at Badger and Blade.

Makar · 02-22-2008, 09:20 AM

Thanks Alex. We will see if there is much of a response.

Makar · 02-22-2008, 09:34 AM

Just another thought. We could always piggy back on something related that is already set up and has a venue and perhaps a room for us to meet and do our stuff. From a few angles this could be quite a good way for a first UK meet to happen.

Heres a link to a UK Knife show happening in May, for example.
http://www.knives-uk.info/4.html

Garry · 02-22-2008, 09:35 AM

I'm stoked .. Martin is keen on the idea , having purchased razors from him it would be awesome to meet him as well as the rest of the guys

Alex neat idea posting over on B&B also ( I might get a DE lesson for my 2 DE playthings I bought ) ..

This is all good-- things are really rolling .
Mind you I'm a pretty shy guy I'll be the one hiding in the corner

LX_Emergency · 02-22-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makar

Just another thought. We could always piggy back on something related that is already set up and has a venue and perhaps a room for us to meet and do our stuff. From a few angles this could be quite a good way for a first UK meet to happen.

Heres a link to a UK Knife show happening in May, for example.
http://www.knives-uk.info/4.html

That would be cool...but there's NO WAY that I'll be able to make it in May. (I can't believe I just stated that I can't do something 2 months ahead...most be the growing up thing. I used to not plan anything 3 days ahead.....)

Makar · 02-22-2008, 10:15 AM

Just talked to Mike, organiser of the UK knife show. He would be happy for us to have a couple of tables for vendors (£90 at table) and give us a free collections or workshop table in the main hall. He suggested that there are smaller meeting rooms available in the hotel. We would have to work that one out. He also suggested if it is a decent day that the grounds outside (country house hotel) may be perfect for doing things. such as honng etc. He was positive and indicated that many people he knows have quite an interest in razors but probably know nothing about SRP. It would also give people like Martin of RazorPur a better chance for sales with more people around. Downsides - it is by a little village near Bristol (could be an upside for some) and is in May, quite early. Don't know what the eating and drinking possibilites are for after show but they are bound to have a pub in the village.

Anyway - just another way to skin the cat. Thoughts as this progresses always welcome.