Bus Rallies in General

[Slow Rider]

I have only been to one bus rally and that was without the bus.  So I can not comment from experience there.  But I have been to many rallies in the motorcycle world.

There is NO perfect rally!

As has been stated you can't please everyone.  So you go for the best you can do.  All different rally sizes and variations have their place.

The small rallies with just buses and people are great for swapping lies, meeting new folks and relaxing.  The large rallies with planned events, seminars, entertainment and catered meals are also great.  Where else can you find such expertise and knowledge of buses crammed into  one place. 

When possible I like to attend every variety available.  The small informal rallies are great weekend getaways.   The major rallies are an event, a destination. 

At the large motorcycle rallies they use colored wrist bands.  Day passes are one color full attendees another.  They also have another color for meals.  This becomes more work for the host for sure.  But , they post the event well in advance and the menu choices are listed.  When you send in your paperwork you pay accordingly. 

Most event planners I have talked to say they plan a small percentage of extra for late shows and those who decide at the last minute they need a meal ticket.  I think at the large rallies the meals are a positive draw for new attendees.  It would be for me, my bus is still a steel tent, so not having to go find a restaurant or prepare meals on a camp stove every meal is a plus. 

As far as seminars, I like them.  And they don't have to be tech seminars only.  The wife said she would like to see someone put on a seminar for new folks about the changes you must make in your lifestyle for every day activities like cooking/cleaning/bathing/laundry  etc.   

I think the cost for most vendors prohibits them attending small rallies.  But at a large rally vendors are great and so are flea markets or individual items at buses.

Music is a can't win situation.  No matter what type it is someone won't like it.  And if you don't have it there will be those who will not be happy.  Whether it is a paid performer or an informal jam session the only request I would have is that it be kept to a dull roar so those who do not wish to participate don't have to walk around with cotton in their ears.

So the short end to this long rambling is they are all good

Frank

[Blacksheep]

Ok thanks for the comments! I'll go right to my point!
I talk to a lot of people during my stay at bussin and over the years, I continually get asked if next year will be different? My reply is usually, in what way? The return reply is usually centered around things to do. Let's face it, if it weren't for the personal junk for sale, times COULD get boring for some. Note I said could! I'm never bored. I'm always into something that satisfies ME, but I've been there 9 years! It's the newbies I'm concerned about!
I had a friend go there for his first time last year and his response to me was, where are all the vendors? He was expecting more since he was familiar with the hot rod Turkey Run held in Daytona. To say the least, he was dissapointed and didn't return this year! I guess this rally started out as my idea to share other conversion ideas, tips, tricks, etc amongst other self converters and back when I mentioned it, Jack took the ball and ran with it. It has become what it is and as we know it. I hate to hear or see anyone NOT wanting to return because its the same ole thing year after year other than different buses and a few new faces. Jack is happy with the way it is on the scale he can handle. I on the other hand would like to see it grow even bigger. Maybe its because its during a special time of year, more peeple are coming this way anyway, and why not include it in your travels, that THIS rally should be special with special activities for EVERYONE!
I agree, not all music, food, or seminar topics will please everyone but with more choices, everyone could be pleased and want to and look forward to returning next year!
I guess what really got me to thinking was the fellow that said the rally was big enough! Granted I really like the small down home pot luck rallies where everyone knows everyone but Bussin is special, during a special time, and should show that it is special.
With all due respect to Jack for what has been done, I for one feel it could go further, attracting not only more buses but people in S&S too!
Another point I would like to make is the comment on rally fees. This sort of reminded me of MPG fuel talks. If your going to sqaubble over 1,2,3, mpg, why do you have a bus? If your going to worry about an extra 5-10-20 bucks, how come your not staying at a motel instead where you only get a TV and a bed that you don't know who slept in it before you! Pay whatever the charge is at a rally and get something for it!
Ok off my soap box but I DO appreciate the comments!
Ace

[JohnEd]

Ace,

Great idea for this thread.  Great idea for the annual get together.  Great idea for making it BIGGER.  Thanks for all that.

Idea....When my Dad was alive I used to take him down to Ft. Myers, Fl every year for the winter.  He lived in Pa. and winters were often brutal.  We stayed in a RV park named Pioneer Village.  It was enormous!  When checking in I was asked if I had any dogs on board and indeed I had two.  The clerk said I would have to stay in section ? and that it was commonly known as "Dog Patch".  Well when we arrived and got settled in we had 8 or 10 residents come over and welcome us like we were staying at their home.  Super friendly and we were told that the following day the street would be blocked of for the weekly pot luck and we were asked to come "without" a dish as we were new. At the Pot Luck I was introduced to the "Mayor of Dogpatch" who had been re elected for a fifth term.  Great fun was had by all.  I asked the guy next to me what breed of dog he owned and he said his wife was allergic and they had never owned a dog.   He shared that he found dog owners to be a breed apart and that he wouldn't live anywhere else on his vacation.  He shared that "there is no camaraderie like this anywhere else in the park.  You might want to keep an eye out for the size sufficient to support a "Dog Patch" at Jacks Rally.  We don't feel ostracized unless our site is under water and more than 60 yards from dry land.

I liked the idea of inter spacing the repeat visitors with the Newbees and maybe even buses and S&S.  Lotsa ideas floating around to interfere with your free choice and randomness.

Thanks again,

John

[JohnEd]

RJ,

I have made the last three BUS-N-USA rallies at RickReal. Orygun.   We have met and you don't remember.

At bus events I go by the pseudonym of "Phred".   This for reasons of personal SAFTY.   I'll see you there next year but I'll have a new pseudonym.

Happy New year,

John

[chargePlus]

The return reply is usually centered around things to do. Let's face it, if it weren't for the personal junk for sale, times COULD get boring for some. Note I said could! I'm never bored. I'm always into something that satisfies ME, but I've been there 9 years! It's the newbies I'm concerned about!

I've not been to a Rally at all, but this comment strikes home. It seems that folks in America today are expecting to be entertained, rather than entertaining themselves. I see it at the sports car races that I attend. When I started in the sport many years ago, we'd all sit around the campfires drinking beer (or whatever) and talking about whatever we decided to talk about. The more we drank, the deeper (philosophically and bull-sh!@t-ally) the conversations got. It was fun. It was pretty entertaining, and newbies were welcome, and strongly encouraged. Today there are hardly any folks hanging out after the races. I guess good folks and good (bad?) conversation has disappeared in favor of the hotel room and a TV.

One day Natasha and I want to attend a rally, and it will probably be a smaller one. When things get too big folks tend to get too wound up trying to see everything rather than chatting with others. I know that's how I get sometimes, and it's hard to control.

Hope to see some of you in 2009.

Cheers,

- John

[rv_safetyman]

Well folks, I have been to a lot of bus rallies.  Been to all of MAKs except Biloxi .  Been to all but one of Busn' USA events, three of Jacks rallies, several converted coach rallies and several Eagle Rallies.  We even went to the Hicks rally in MO this year.  I had fun at all of them!!  Each was different in its own way and I think that is good. 

MAKs rallies spanned the spectrum for the first one that folks have described to the last couple at the Caverns which were very laid back and much smaller.  I like both of them

The Hick's rally was very small but a lot of fun getting to know some new folks.  We had a great time till Pat broke her foot

I do like to have planned food.  We are not particular, but it is fun to experience the food, and the friendship at the table. 

I don't care much for planned "greetings" for the new folks.  I just don't think that would work.  If each of made just a small effort to talk to folks you don't know, I think that would be plenty.  I do like name tags with name, location, and type of bus.  I think that really lets meeting folks much easier.  I am not good about going out of my way to meet new folks, but I pick away at it and am always glad that I did.

I have been both a presenter and attendee of seminars.  I went to Dick Wright, George Meyers, and Dave Galey's semainars many times each and always learned something new.  I have also enjoyed presenting seminars.  While the smaller rallies that don't have seminars are acceptable to me, I favor seminars.  I do agree that if there are seminars, there should be some planned for the ladies.  Pat always try to do a craft seminar if it works out.  The ladies seem to enjoy the activity and get to know one another.

Same is true of vendors.   Been on both sides.  Always enjoyed seeing was was offered by all of the vendors.

The Converted Coach group generally have one or more round tables (separate for the men and women).  That seems to go over pretty well.  Especially if there is a good moderator.

So, if you read between the lines, you will see that any bus rally is fine with me!!!!!  As the say, "all's good, some's better.  For bus rallies, I would shorten that to say:  all's good PERIOD!!!

Jim

[buswarrior]

Thanks for bringing this up, ACE!

I'll vote for 'em all!

Or, I'll vote for none?

As long as some like-minded hobbyists are parking together, more than likely a good time will be had by all.

Vendors and busnuts are a hard nut to crack....busnuts don't spend money the same way that some other of the vehicular hobbyists do... Vendors have to make a buck to warrant attendance. That is a challenge for which a rally organizer has no solution. Good stuff laid out in front of the coach swap meet style is excellent!

Larger rallies may dissuade those with unfinished coaches from attending?

Where else in life is ok to be not finished? Busnuts of all stripes must be seen to CELEBRATE the work in progress, the work yet to begin, the almost finished.... After all, really, what good is a finished bus conversion?  Newbies weren't around last year to know it's ok, heck, it's EXPECTED for you to show up with a cooler and a mattress on the floor!  And we need to remember to tell 'em about Flying J showers and just how easy it is to live a steel tent life. Heck, they'll be regarded with awe from some quarters....

Smaller rallies lack the critical mass for more formal activities?

But lend themselves to great fireside chats, music, story telling, spontaneous ideas and show me that in the middle of the night as 15 of us head off to get flashlights and manuals. At the rally repairs, upgrades and maintenance are popular spontaneous happenings, by choice or not!

Then, let's consider the FMCA experience.... Where the attendance is measured in THOUSANDS....
I just have to do at least one of those before they get outlawed...

I like to spend time with the people. Soak it up, listen, talk, party, hang out with people.

No matter the size or complexity, there must be lots of time for people to spend time with one another.

Don't make the mistake of trying to schedule all my time. I won't like it. Formal program is just the grease that gets the people moving in the same direction for awhile.

Food? Oh, yes, the other form of caloric intake...

As long as accessing the food doesn't take too long, and as noted, there's some left for those at the end of the line....ok, but if the rally food becomes a hindrance to the use of time...I'd rather grab a sandwich at the coach and keep moving, thank you very much.

happy coaching!
buswarrior