Homebrewers Association | AHA Forum
General Category => General Homebrew Discussion => Topic started by: chigundo on February 01, 2013, 05:21:57 PM
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Anyone got any pointers for a conference first-timer? Registration is Tuesday and I"m still not sure which type of registration I'm going for.. looking at the Social - no banquet but could be persuaded. Any info on what to expect is appreciated.
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Just go for the whole deal.
I don't think I've ever heard of anyone going full conference and regretting it.
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It's all worth to me. Go for it!
I doubt you'll regret it. :)
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I got the full w/o banquet last year and I should have just gotten the full w/banquet.
Go big or stay home! ;D
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If you have any interest in brewing, you'll regret not going to the seminars. The banquet is a lot of fun.
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When you register a guest, is that a free add-on at the time or do you pay the same price for him/her as well?
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When you register a guest, is that a free add-on at the time or do you pay the same price for him/her as well?
Same price for everyone... member or guest.
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If you haven't seen the First Time Attendee guide, it's a good read.
http://www.ahaconference.org/conference/frst-time-attendee-guide/ (http://www.ahaconference.org/conference/frst-time-attendee-guide/)
I guess it depends on your situation, but I would only consider the "social only" options if I lived nearby. It seems like a waste to spend money on travel and hotel and not spend $60 to attend the seminars.
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I used to get the full package without the banquet, but since Sean Paxton has been the chef, I now ALWAYS get the full conference with banquet.
Club Night is the best part, except for the seminars, which are also the best part, unless you count the banquet, which is the best part, but the best part is getting to see all the friends you've made each year.
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Last year was my first year and I definately recommend the full package. The seminars have some great info and most serve beer, some of which is related to the content of the talk.
And the banquet is not to be missed. I was a lone traveler last year, and met some great people at my table from all over the country. The meal and beer pairing was also excellent. And it is a great time hanging out with 1500-1800 homebrewers!
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If you haven't seen the First Time Attendee guide, it's a good read.
http://www.ahaconference.org/conference/frst-time-attendee-guide/ (http://www.ahaconference.org/conference/frst-time-attendee-guide/)
I guess it depends on your situation, but I would only consider the "social only" options if I lived nearby. It seems like a waste to spend money on travel and hotel and not spend $60 to attend the seminars.
Except Mike Bardallis didn't make it last year, and may not this year. :(
I used to get the full package without the banquet, but since Sean Paxton has been the chef, I now ALWAYS get the full conference with banquet.
Club Night is the best part, except for the seminars, which are also the best part, unless you count the banquet, which is the best part, but the best part is getting to see all the friends you've made each year.
That was what I was thinking. Especially the friends from over the year part.
The Sean Paxton banquets are always a special treat.
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And it is a great time hanging out with 1500-1800 homebrewers!
Last year was 1800+. This year might closer to 2500 :)
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Except Mike Bardallis didn't make it last year, and may not this year. :(
I'm not following, do I know Mike Bardallis?
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Except Mike Bardallis didn't make it last year, and may not this year. :(
I'm not following, do I know Mike Bardallis?
He is referenced in the first time attendee guide
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And it is a great time hanging out with 1500-1800 homebrewers!
Last year was 1800+. This year might closer to 2500 :)
The more the merrier ( or hairier or scarier ;D )
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And it is a great time hanging out with 1500-1800 homebrewers!
Last year was 1800+. This year might closer to 2500 :)
The more the merrier ( or hairier or scarier ;D )
All of the above :)
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Except Mike Bardallis didn't make it last year, and may not this year. :(
I'm not following, do I know Mike Bardallis?
He is referenced in the first time attendee guide
Gotcha - no shoes
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Do the full thing.
Read the first time attendee guide.
Get prepared for lots of beer, and lots of fun.
You won't regret it.
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Do the full thing.
Read the first time attendee guide.
Get prepared for lots of beer, and lots of fun.
You won't regret it.
You might regret it if you book an early flight for Sunday. ;)
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You might regret it if you book an early flight for Sunday. ;)
Which is the nice thing about this year...I can catch my flight at 2:30pm and still be home by 5pm.
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Do the full thing.
Read the first time attendee guide.
Get prepared for lots of beer, and lots of fun.
You won't regret it.
You might regret it if you book an early flight for Sunday. ;)
Which I've done all too often. Many times I've "gotten up" at 1-2 AM to make my flight home....
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Do the full thing.
Read the first time attendee guide.
Get prepared for lots of beer, and lots of fun.
You won't regret it.
You might regret it if you book an early flight for Sunday. ;)
Yes...don't do that! I aim for nothing less than noon. ;)
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Except Mike Bardallis didn't make it last year, and may not this year. :(
I'm not following, do I know Mike Bardallis?
If you went to NHCs in San Diego and before, you would instantly recognize him, and his wife Annette.
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Do the full thing.
Read the first time attendee guide.
Get prepared for lots of beer, and lots of fun.
You won't regret it.
You might regret it if you book an early flight for Sunday. ;)
I made that mistake last year...that was a rough morning. Luckily this year I can sleep in.
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Anyone got any pointers for a conference first-timer? Registration is Tuesday and I"m still not sure which type of registration I'm going for.. looking at the Social - no banquet but could be persuaded. Any info on what to expect is appreciated.
Monitor your drinking. I was mostly a drunk fool for my first conference, less so for my second one and never really drunk for my third one. There is a lot of great beer, if you aren't completely enjoying a beer then just dump it (but not in front of the brewer). Drink as much water as you do beer. Also tell people to only give you short pours. I make a point of only drinking 2oz or so of a beer unless it is absolutely fantastic. During my first conference there were a couple of guys that were absolutely hammered 30 minutes into club night (frat boy hammered), don't be that guy. Plus, the more you monitor your alcohol intake the easier it will be to wake up for the talks. You learn a lot of great stuff from the talks as well as have some great beer at them. The conference is awesome and you are going to have a great time.
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Monitor your drinking. I was mostly a drunk fool for my first conference, less so for my second one and never really drunk for my third one. There is a lot of great beer, if you aren't completely enjoying a beer then just dump it (but not in front of the brewer). Drink as much water as you do beer. Also tell people to only give you short pours. I make a point of only drinking 2oz or so of a beer unless it is absolutely fantastic. During my first conference there were a couple of guys that were absolutely hammered 30 minutes into club night (frat boy hammered), don't be that guy. Plus, the more you monitor your alcohol intake the easier it will be to wake up for the talks. You learn a lot of great stuff from the talks as well as have some great beer at them. The conference is awesome and you are going to have a great time.
WISE WORDS! I was "that guy" at my first conference, too. Fortunately (?), health issues have forced me to really cut back on my drinking. I don't start til noon now and try to limit myself to less than 3 pints total over the course of the day. Not saying that anyone else should follow that policy, but I do think that to a degree less is more.
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I think everyone is "that guy" at some point. :)
I try and be very careful at these big beer events since it's a marathon and not a sprint. Even still, by the end of conference I'm exhausted by the mix of beer, socialization (hey, introverts lose energy socializing!) and lack of sleep. It usually takes me a day of peace and quiet to catch up to myself.
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It really doesn't help when they schedule a mead seminar at 9 in the morning with lots of free samples, but if you go slow you can make it.
Crispy told me at a conference once that he sampled every beer at club night. He used a very, very small glass.
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Crispy told me at a conference once that he sampled every beer at club night. He used a very, very small glass.
I will say that these days I'm betting that would be an impossible task unless one was using a nano glass. I'm not even sure you could get around the taps in the time for club night.
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Crispy told me at a conference once that he sampled every beer at club night. He used a very, very small glass.
I will say that these days I'm betting that would be an impossible task unless one was using a nano glass. I'm not even sure you could get around the taps in the time for club night.
Don't you recall Crispy's nano mug? Can't be more than an oz.
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Crispy told me at a conference once that he sampled every beer at club night. He used a very, very small glass.
I will say that these days I'm betting that would be an impossible task unless one was using a nano glass. I'm not even sure you could get around the taps in the time for club night.
Don't you recall Crispy's nano mug? Can't be more than an oz.
Looks like I'm bringing a shot glass to Philly!
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Last year, I was kind of "that guy" at the BN anniversary party. Definitely drunk but not the obnoxious frat boy drunk. I tend to get quieter. The next night I went a lot easier, sticking mostly to sours that were offered. I also drank my rinse water between fills, which I think helped.
Friday was more towards Wednesday ( man I have a short memory ), and Saturday was steady but without overdoing it. Good thing too since I won a medal. Can't imagine what I would have done if I had been too far gone ( trip on stage, hug Charlie, rub Gary's head, etc ;D).
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I'm always "that guy" regardless. I have a reputation to uphold.
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I'm always "that guy" regardless. I have a reputation to uphold.
The last night of NHC last year was fun. But I had to drive, so I stayed sober.
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That's a very good excuse. Drunk driving is especially stupid. So, fwiw I'm not "that guy".
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Take good notes in the tech, sessions. You will always go - "I remember Ray/Stan/Greg/Vinnie/Matt/Denny/Drew saying something important, what the heck was it?". Notes written in the back of the program help.
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Take good notes in the tech, sessions. You will always go - "I remember Ray/Stan/Greg/Vinnie/Matt/Denny/Drew saying something important, what the heck was it?". Notes written in the back of the program help.
Jeff, with me I think the word is "goofy", not "important"! :)
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"I remember Drew saying something important, what the heck was it?".
I defy anyone to name one thing important I've said! :)
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Giving some of the guys here some shout outs, and they shout back!
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"I remember Drew saying something important, what the heck was it?".
I defy anyone to name one thing important I've said! :)
How would anyone know after they go deaf from all the f bombs? ;)
Thanks for trying, Jeff!
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Giving some of the guys here some shout outs, and they shout back!
:)
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How would anyone know after they go deaf from all the f bombs? ;)
One pleasant surprise out of watching Chip Walton's taping of my presentation last year - I don't swear all that much.
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How would anyone know after they go deaf from all the f bombs? ;)
One pleasant surprise out of watching Chip Walton's taping of my presentation last year - I don't swear all that much.
I expected more cowbell... but that's just me.
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I try and be very careful at these big beer events since it's a marathon and not a sprint.
I don't know, but three days seems more like IronMan than a 'little marathon'
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I don't know, but three days seems more like IronMan than a 'little marathon'
Sunday morning
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT1BBnEPYZus3qB2MNDPgheHZbs7pyhmOrrapoF2nfAPWzxYPxoJygYQN-vxw)
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HA
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I don't know, but three days seems more like IronMan than a 'little marathon'
Sunday morning
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT1BBnEPYZus3qB2MNDPgheHZbs7pyhmOrrapoF2nfAPWzxYPxoJygYQN-vxw)
Awesome. Mind if I steal that for my avatar?
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Go ahead...it's not mine. I just linked it from the internet. ( amazing you can find something to fit every scenerio on the internet )