Fan gathering?

[Caitlin]

I've been throwing this idea around in my head for a while now. The idea is taken from the gathering of Harry Potter fans that has occurred last year and will occur again this year. At the gathering they can take classes, take part in Quidditch (their sport), among other things.

What I was thinking about is a gathering of Hayley fans, though I'm not sure where, London seems likely. It would probably span three days. At this gathering we would have the opportunity to learn the lingo of the Kiwis, and the native language and dance of the Maori people. We could also learn about New Zealand, take virtual tours (maybe even of Christchurch with Hayley as a guide?), have karaoke contests, CD cover art design contests, and plenty of time to bond as Hayley fans.
I have also imagined a Q and A session with Hayley, and a possible performance...with guest stars Sophie and Issac?

Any thoughts? Think this might be conceivable someday?

<3 Caite

[roger]

WOW!

It's ambitious and it will take a miracle but, if we can pull it off, it will eclipse every major achievement so far. To be honest, it is almost certainly far too late to organise anything for this coming summer but, for next year, it might be worth taking a serious look at the possibility.

What some of our newest members may not know is that we did have something along the lines of a gathering of fans last September. There were 36 of us in London for Hayley's concert in Piccadilly - they included many members of the forum and associates of HWI from around the world including Holland, Germany, America and new Zealand. I never thought we could beat that but..... never say never!

Okay everyone, maybe it is too much to hope but let us know your views. If it works, it could be absolutely mindblowing.....

Roger

[Joe]

I have dreamt of such an event occuring. Roger and Richard were waiting for me at Gatwick Airport. I remember dreaming this happy feeling when I spotted them. There was a sort of Hayley convention and HWI were treated like royalty.

I know in my heart that it will happen someday. Perhaps not next year, but someday.

Oh, Caite, I did consider attending a Harry Potter convention in Salem, MA last year.

[roger]

Of course Hayley would not be expected to "perform, sign stuff and basicly entertain guests nonstop". And it certainly won't come about if we asked her to take time out from her performing/recording/promo work. As I see it, this would be part of her promo work. Something on this scale would almost certainly have to include Decca and perhaps the NZ Tourist Board, Air New Zealand, UNICEF, etc.

If anything along these lines should ever happen, it is surely a very long way off and would require massive planning. Okay, it may seem a crazy idea but I believe it is one that is just too good to dismiss without giving it due consideration.

Roger

[kmsmith8]

It’s funny I never started posting because I was so busy with school (I have been reading the forum for a while now) and now I have an extremely long post. Really, this is only my third post, but I have to say that once you get started this is kind of addicting.

Getting on subject, I think some kind of gathering is a great idea. It is not crazy, as it has been done by countless groups of fans (not just Harry Potter, google fan gatherings to see). I have been involved with the planning of similar events in the past (but not on this scale and not internationally); my ideas are based on my experiences and also what I have seen others do. I think that the event should be focused on promoting Hayley. I don’t think that we should try to plan a huge event; we should try to pull something small off and then go from there. Anyway, I agree that London is probably the best place for something like this to happen. Furthermore, the summer of 2007 would probably work for timing. As for events, I think that there should be a relatively small gathering (100-200 people) at a hotel or conference center during the day. Items that have been donated by fans (and possibly Hayley) could be auctioned off at the event. (The auction could be supplemented with eBay so fans that can’t make it can bid on other items.) Furthermore, the people that attend it would have to pay to attend (to cover costs). Then at night there could be a charity concert that features up and coming singers (I’ve seen Holly mentioned on these threads?). I kind of liken this to something somebody is doing here in Illinois. He has concerts and auctions off items and makes a lot of money in the process (see www.mattwesselmusic.com). He obviously doesn’t include a fan gathering in the mix of things, but he has been successful with the auction/concert format. I don’t think that anything is going to happen with this unless somebody stands up and takes charge. As school will be ending for me in a couple of weeks (and I graduate a semester after that and plan to take a light load of courses the next semester) I am willing to take part in this, although I think a lot of the leg power would have to come from England (assuming this is where the event would happen).

Just to briefly mention the topic, I don’t think that Hayley should be asked to play a huge part in this; I see this as more of a fan event then yet another thing to put on Hayley’s list of things to do. However, I do think that she, her family, and any other major players in her career should be sent invitations so they can stop by at their convenience.

As a side note, I kind of had a really out there idea for a possible event (I would be surprised if this ever happens); Josh Groban is involved with a cause that is extremely similar to Hayley’s. He started the Josh Groban foundation to raise money for efficient, underfunded organizations benefiting children in need all over the world through contributions to the arts, education and healthcare. Additionally, he has sung at numerous charity events. I think that if Hayley Westenra and Josh Groban teamed up for a charity concert the results would be outstanding. Really Hayley’s management would have to plan this concert, as I don’t think anyone else is capable of contacting him. But if this were to happen Hayley would receive a lot of free publicity (she could ride off of Josh’s immense popularity). If this was publicized right I think the results would be insane. If this is marketed to Josh correctly I don’t see him outright rejecting it. But to make this happen somebody would first need to tell Hayley or her management about the idea and let them take it from there.

As a final note (so you guys don't have to make up names based on my username) my name is Katie.

[Joe]

Some excellent suggestions, Katie! A lot of things will need to happen for an event such as this.

Joe

[stevemacdonald]

kmsmith8 said:

... Anyway, I agree that London is probably the best place for something like this to happen.

Katie,

London's too far away for some of Hayley's biggest supporters, especially me. Why not hold synchronized gatherings stateside, say in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles? We can video-conference all the different cities so we'd all feel like we're in the same place. Japan also has a considerable Hayley fanbase, so bring them in, too. Today's video-conferencing technology is pretty sophisticated and allows for virtual gatherings on top of actual gatherings, so let's exploit that to the max.

[roger]

Hi Katie and, now that we know your name, welcome once again to the forum.

You have made some very interesting suggestions and, although the gathering has not been mentioned for a while, it is being seriously considered. We have one person who is making preliminary enquiries and I'm sure she would appreciate your offer to help.

In reply to Steve's point, unfortunately, no matter where in the world it is held, it is never going to suit everyone. The UK was proposed (by someone in America as it happens) because that is where Hayley is officially based. Also, if it took place stateside, that would virtually eliminate the possibility of any of the HWI Management Team attending which would be regretable seeing as it is an HWI event.

I previously described the idea as "crazy". Maybe it isn't but it is certainly very ambitious. To scale it down as Katie suggests would make it far more feasible but that would mean any time that Hayley is willing to put in would not be justified from her point of view. Maybe we have to strike a happy medium.

It is still early days yet so any further comments from anybody would be welcome.

Roger

[Steve H]

Firstly I would like to welcome member kmsmith8, or Katie as we will now address her! I have been following your posts from over the last week, we appreciate you taking time to participate in the forum and very much look forward to reading your posts in the future, you will find it much more fun now that you are actually part of the family!

As to the gathering of Fans, I can appreciate the problems envisaged by Roger, as I used to run Lena Zavaroni's Fan Club in the UK (but some 20 years ago before internet forums existed!) and we did have a get together but it was too much work for one person. We set up a sub committee who reported to the management and looked after the detail, it was a great success for all concerned but it was a lot of work!

One thought as an addition not an alternative to the above suggestion is to arrange a get together without Hayley being present, just so that supporters can get to know one another, and socialise, it does not need to be on a grand scale just in the form of "We will be at the ------ Hotel all weekend, all are welcome to pop in and meet up if you can make it" I for one would love the excuse for a day out !

Probably London would be best for the gathering, (and I can already hear the groans from my mate Steve M) but London is Hayley's home city, and the HWI management are based in the UK, this does in no way detract from the fact that we are an international body, and represent Hayley's worldwide followers!

Food for thought?

[kmsmith8]

First, I would like to answer to Steve. I get what you are saying, but the point of this event for a lot of us would be to meet Hayley fans from all over the world in person. I think that you suggestion of using a teleconference is good, but I don’t see this as being personal enough. However, the fact that there is an official event being planned for the UK does not stop others that can’t make it to the UK from planning other fan gatherings.

Finally, somebody mentioned an extremely informal gathering. This, of course, would not replace the larger event. I would see this more as something that could happen relatively soon (within a few months). I for one would be interested in attending.

[Steve H]

Hi Katie,

I think there are just too many Steve's here, I am thinking of changing my name to FRED!

Katie Wrote

However, the fact that there is an official event being planned for the UK does not stop others that can’t make it to the UK from planning other fan gatherings.

A good point Katie, but for HWI to sponsor an event it should realy be International, are you saying we should have more than one event? or that other groups could organise get togethers in other locations?

Best Wishes and WELCOME to the forum.

Steve H

[Andrew]

Hi FRED!

Sorry Steve...

It sounds like the idea of a fan gathering of some sort could really take off. I'll be honest... like Roger, I first thought the idea of holding such an event sounded very ambitious. If someone is at the helm of planning the event and we all put our "like minds" together... who knows?

Everybody send your brown paper envelopes with monetary contributions to Steve!

Regards,

Andrew

[Caitlin]

Why hello everyone!

I thought this idea was in the back of eveyrone's minds now. Turns out it's not!
Everyone has had great ideas...keep 'em coming! Fan support is something needed to get this gathering really running. =)

<3 Caite

[kmsmith8]

Steve (or Fred i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif)

My suggestion was to have other unofficial events in other places (i.e. others organize the events). This is just a suggestion, as everything is still up in the air.

[postscript]

Hi and welcome.

Even in the UK a physical meeting wold be expensive for many.let alone in the USA for USA fans. International though we are, and the thought of an internet forum is possible (?timing, someone will be anxious for their bed, either to get to or reluctant to get out of) regionalised seems more practical and if regionalised do they all need to be co-ordinated?

Peter