Fan gathering?

[Martin]

grant said:

For what it's worth, I could provide a venue up here in the Midlands; it's not the Ritz but it would reduce costs a little bit and it does have a stage! I also have access to a superb caterer.

Do any of you own a private jet? That would make things a bit easier. Best wishes
Grant

Hi Grant
Surely, to land in your back garden then it would have to be a helicopter?

Martin

[Dave]

Hi guys,

This idea comes up every year or two and it always sounds attractive initially but it's not one that I am personally in favour of. Roger may think differently and I know many members do but I would prefer to continue the spontaneous, informal meetings which occur from time to time at Hayley events. Occasionally, these develop further into a little something "after the event" and I like that, it's just the idea of a "fans gathering" for its own sake that I feel uncomfortable with. Having an event primarily for our own benefit, rather than attending a Hayley event primarily to support her just doesn't "feel right" to me, I'm afraid.

I may be in a minority of one here but as I've meant to say this before, and I never have done, I thought I should mention it. If such an event was to be arranged, I'd go along with it (if I could get to it) but I'd stay pretty much in the background.

Well, now I've finally got that off my chest, I will return you to the discussion!

Cheers,

Dave

[grant]

martin said:

Hi Grant
Surely, to land in your back garden then it would have to be a helicopter?

Martin

Don't you mean a 'Hayleycopter' Martin?

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

Hi Dave

I understand what you mean and I guess I agree too. Any fan gathering would have to include Hayley and, as I've already said, her family as well.

Best wishes
Grant

[roger]

My overwhelming feeling is that, although this is a great idea and I'm sure it would be a lot of fun, I believe it is totally impractical. To entice people to come from all over the world, it would have to be a pretty major event, along the lines that Caite proposed last year. The organisation would be colossal and it could never be absolutely guaranteed that Hayley would be able to attend even if she had provisionally agreed. If she had to pull out at the last minute, those of us who had booked flights and hotels may regret making the decision to book in the first place. Due to the enormous risk involved and the pure logistics of it, I don't seriously think it will ever happen.

Roger

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I'm in agreement with Dave and Roger. We've had some good little gatherings at Hayley's concerts, and there's going to be another one at Liverpool Street Station this afternoon to see Fiona Pears. I doubt if Hayley will be there, but it's going to be fun! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Stephany]

For what it's worth, I've been dreaming of a HWI meeting with Hayley in Disneyland Paris.
Would be fun to take pictures of Hayley surrounded by Winnie the Pooh & Mickey Mouse

Stephany

[Richard]

Hello Steph!

You might get your chance at Shepherds Bush!

Mickey Richard

[Martin]

stephany said:

For what it's worth, I've been dreaming of a HWI meeting with Hayley in Disneyland Paris.
Would be fun to take pictures of Hayley surrounded by Winnie the Pooh & Mickey Mouse

Stephany

Hi Stephany
I always saw Hayley as a Snow White surrounded by the seven dwarfs. Perhaps she could make an exception and be surrounded by seven HWI members (on their knees).

Martin

[Martin]

I would agree that the sheer logistics of arranging such an event would make it almost impractical.

I've often thought also that it would be useful if, by networking we could arrange for members going to a concert who live near to each other to share lifts. But again the diversity of members' locations would also make it difficult to organize.

Martin

[meldy]

I just discovered this thread too and Caite I think it is a marvelous idea, too. Meeting fellow Hayley music fans would be wonderful! I do agree that the cost for transportation, etc. would limit some members from attending I've always wanted to visit the UK so if the date is at a time I can go over there then I may be able to attend. Maybe we can add a little fundraising stuff for Hayley's bikes for Ghana or other charities....

Meldy

[Mark]

Hi everyone

I'm in two minds about this. On the one hand, what you originally suggested Caite sounds really great and It would be alot of fun, of that I am sure.

However, the arrangements would be difficult and would require alot of planning for everybody involved. I guess perhaps something could be arranged more on a regional basis. For example, for members living in Europe etc. a fan gathering could be arranged around London. I guess we sort of do that already. Perhaps members in the States & Canada and anywhere else close, could arrange a fan gathering next time Hayley is out there - if you get what I mean. Even this would require some organisation, but for most it would be a less costly option to one world wide gathering perhaps.

Mark

[postscript]

You are not the only one in two minds, Mark, although mine is two minds over Grassington! Technically I've said to myself 'sense says don't go, emotion says do'! So I still don't know what I'm doing! Thank you Roger--I heard that stage whisper you're glad I'm back to normal!

However, enough digression off-topic. Is not the best way to handle this problem the way we are handling it without intending to do so? The RAH gathering (without Hayley, it seems!) and the Shepherd's Bush Empire being classic examples. We all know in advance when who is meeting where--and this is the point, we don't usually get that amount of advance notice on suitable events when they are Hayley controlled and in the right place.

I won't be attending the Empire because the idea of standing so long just isn't on with my present condition. I had thought of bringing one of those three-legged camping stools but might that be construed as an offensive weapon?

The point is that people knowing who is going to be there and/or the number of people going to be there (where ever 'there' is) determines whether it is worth their while to turn up for the camaraderie of all and the hope of Hayley at the end.

People can meet early enough to have a meal. Someone might be prepared to book a table in a nearby restaurant and that gives you the chat opportunity in comfort, or simply by gathering at the right time and knowing what is available take pot luck or--as it is now supposedly summer in the UK! --have a picnic. Bring your own sandwiches or buy them en route.

Is any more formal organising required? That way we actually have many meetings which I would suggest is so much better than a big bash at which half the membership will never be able to attend?

Perhaps we should either have another board or thread where we can record those gatherings, instead of 'losing' them in the show threads. Say a pre-concert thread, separated from the concert report, or simply 'HWI Socialising'?

In fact, while obviously Hayley's presence at some time would be great, would it be 'time out for her' or still 'on duty while off duty'? After all, we are the ones continually telling her to 'Take a break, girl!'

Peter S.

[Stephany]

postscript said:

I won't be attending the Empire because the idea of standing so long just isn't on with my present condition. I had thought of bringing one of those three-legged camping stools but might that be construed as an offensive weapon?

Peter S.

Peter, there are seats on the first floor! They are unreserved but if you arrive early I don't see why you wouldn't get one.
Sorry I'm off topic!

Stephany

[roger]

postscript said:

Perhaps we should either have another board or thread where we can record those gatherings, instead of 'losing' them in the show threads. Say a pre-concert thread, separated from the concert report, or simply 'HWI Socialising'?

Peter S.

Hi Peter,

Well, a dedicated thread for pre-concert gatherings is certainly a possibility. However, I suspect that some would still only say they will go to a particular concert in the concert thread. Meanwhile, others will ask in the concert thread who will be attending even though it has been posted to the pre-concert thread. That could cause unnecessary duplication and confusion.

On the face of it, it would seem more practical to hold separate events in various parts of the world. However, I suspect that may only work in the UK but we are already doing something along those lines. The USA and Canada are so vast that you would have to regionalise the events. Then, you may only get one or two members attending each one which somewhat defeats the point. We only have 4 or 5 members in the whole of New Zealand and only 2 or 3 in Australia so I doubt that would work either.

That brings us back to the idea of one event for everyone but that would have to be on a grand scale to encourage so many people to make the journey. If such an event was practical, I suspect we would have done it long ago.

Roger