For those who have responded, this is a serious thought of mine. To pull off something of the size I hope could happen will take months of investigation and planning. I would love to work towards something for next year. Hopefully next summer.
Things to consider when you do something of this scale are location and the possibility of travel arrangements for attendees, available activities for traveling family members who will not be attending the "show", adequate lodging and food nearby, weather history around the planned date, COST, etc. Then there is venue, food vendors, local licenses, etc. Then there are speakers, demonstrators of goods, any special guests, etc. Add to that development of, and review and approval of training demonstrations / classes. I could go on, but this should give an idea of what I have been pondering. I want to hit a home run.
Adequate notice to the possible attendees is absolutely a necessity. Ten months is normal to start the advertising for attendees process if the event is going to announced to out of state attendees and the demographics would indicate the possibility of younger children in the household.
For those who mentioned airfare and first class airfare - I loved traveling for business for three years. For two years I travelled almost exclusively first class. I too enjoy first class and would also much rather travel that way. I have given away tickets to everyone I know and have only saved enough for my wife and I to go to Australia.
It has been suggested that I might be willing to pay for airfare. To that, with humor in my writing, to quote Steve Jobs of Apple when he asked about whether or not Flash would be supported on the iPhone or iPad - "Uh. No."
My post was designed to get information to see if this could be a possibility. I love the banter and the joking, but in four weeks this thread will be lost to history if there isn't interest.
I appreciate any posts here - humorous or otherwise. I feel that that I may have sent the wrong signal with my initial post and wanted to let everyone know that this project is something that I would love to bring to fruition.
Maybe too optimistic,
Peter