Bring Your Own Bus Workshop

[HighTechRedneck]

We are looking at two different "Workshop" programs.  There is the one we are looking into doing about March or April that would be intensive classroom and hands on examples approach.  And there is the "Bring Your Own Bus Workshop" which is the topic of this thread.  I will describe that format and I am asking for those interested to speak up so that we can get a feel for interest.

In this BYOB format, we would have 3 experts covering woodworking/interior construction, electrical systems, and plumbing systems on site for 5 days.  The expert instructors would teach you the things you need to get started, guide you as you progress, inspect your work and give feedback/suggestions, and help problem solve/troubleshoot as needed.  With a maximum workshop size of 12 buses the ratio of instructors to attendees makes it very personalized.

The idea would be that you identify one or more projects that you want to do on your bus, but that you need personal tutoring/guidance with.  Then contact us about it to arrange a consultation phone call with one of the instructors..  They will discuss the project with you and help you decide if it is something that can realistically be done in the 5 days.  And they can help identify the materials/tools you would need to bring with you.

The location of this one would be at Jack Conrad's property (10 miles out of Arcadia, FL) the week following the Bussin' 10 rally in Arcadia.  The supervised workshop would be January 4-8 (M-F), but attendees are free to join the convoy leaving the rally and enjoy the weekend post rally, rally.  And if you needed a few more days to finish the project afterward (without the instructors) that can be arranged with Jack..

The cost would be $400.  That would include:

• Extensive instruction/guidance by the experts on your project all week.
• Expert inspection of your work as you progress and when completed.  When done you will have the satisfaction of learning and doing it yourself, and the confidence of an expert telling you it was done properly.
• Attendees will have access to Jack's stationary shop tools.  Also Jack will allow use of his portable tools on an as needed basis. (You still need to bring your own portable tools. Jack's portable tools are only for those situations where you briefly need one you don't have.)
• 15 amp electric for your tools and minimal "household" usage. (No running A/C's, electric heaters or electric water heaters on it.)
• Water available on site but no black water dumping on site.  (there is a campground in Arcadia where you can dump if needed and if you attended the rally, you can dump before you leave the rally.)
• Lunch each day (M-F).

For those unable or uncomfortable with sleeping in their bus while working on it, there are motels in nearby Arcadia.

So now you know the particulars, here are the questions:

• Are you interested in attending?
• Would you likely choose to stay in your bus (keeping in mind the limited electric, water and no sewer dump) or would you opt for the motel or campground in Arcadia?
• I am looking into options to include all meals on site to help everybody get the most use of their time and to make it easy.  Especially after a day of working on the bus, a good meal with no effort could be a very big plus.  Including all meals could be an optional $100-$150 fee added to the registration cost per bus.  Would that be of interest to you?
• If your bus is already set up for dry camping we could offer a $50 discount (no contractor generators).  Would that be of interest to you?
  
• We are timing it to make it more efficient for those that might want to attend the rally and the workshop.  Is that helpful to you?  Does that make you more likely to sign up for the workshop?
• If other similar workshops were scheduled in various parts of the country, without the benefit of a rally, how far would you drive to attend one?

So if this sounds like something you would attend, please reply here with your feedback and suggestions.

[JohnEd]

Mike,

That is a superb idea you have there.  "If" I had a bus in process or being remodeled I think it would even be worth the cross country to attend.  I am not in process but I think you are vaguely looking for opinions as well as hard reservations so I will answer your questionair.


Are you interested in attending?

Yes, very much so.

Would you likely choose to stay in your bus (keeping in mind the limited electric, water and no sewer dump) or would you opt for the motel or campground in Arcadia?

I prefer to stay in my bus for a few reasons.

I am looking into options to include all meals on site to help everybody get the most use of their time and to make it easy.  Especially after a day of working on the bus, a good meal with no effort could be a very big plus.  Including all meals could be an optional $100-$150 fee added to the registration cost per bus.  Would that be of interest to you?

I would opt for the full meal deal.

If your bus is already set up for dry camping we could offer a $50 discount (no contractor generators).  Would that be of interest to you?

No!.  I would want the convenience of the limited hook up as long as I didn't need to run my gen for 12 hours per day to operate my AC.
 
We are timing it to make it more efficient for those that might want to attend the rally and the workshop.  Is that helpful to you?

Yes!

Does that make you more likely to sign up for the workshop? Yes but only a little.

If other similar workshops were scheduled in various parts of the country, without the benefit of a rally, how far would you drive to attend one?

700 miles and further if it were in an interesting location....Grand Canyon, LasVegas, Monument Valley, Seattle, etc

HTH,

John

[crown]

 hi mike
sounds like a great plan you known i cant bring a bus as i will be flying
up from costa rica again and will be at jacks for the after rally i would
not mind staying around and maybe help others and pick up some tips
by helping let me known john

[MattC]

Are you interested in attending?

• YES

Would you likely choose to stay in your bus

• YES.

I am looking into options to include all meals

• Not Really.

If your bus is already set up for dry camping ...

• Yes it would.

We are timing it to make it more efficient ....

• Yes it does.

If other similar workshops were scheduled in various parts of the country,...

• Sure would.  Getting to FL by Jan is gonna be hard.  Hopefully this isn't the only one. 

[gfcgfc1]

Hello ,I think that is excellent idea.Yes I am interested.I could probably arrange schedule to travel to event.January 2010 may be difficult are there any other locations and or dates? I know you cant possibly make everyone happy. I think it is great idea....GFC