KeyCon 2013

[i3oilermaker]

A lot of us have been to a few meetups which have been a blast...met some other GHers and shared/traded some cool stuff.

I had a vision to take this up a notch and host the 1st "KeyCon". 

My hopes and dreams for KeyCon 2013

• A larger group size from GHers accross the US and maybe even from abroad.
• Moderators and Admins (mkawa and iMav have expressed interest)
• Presentations from people who have created projects and want to share 
• Vendors (Techkeys for sure - hoping to recruit more)

So here is what we have for sure:

• A date - August 17th 2013 - 11:00am-4:00pm
• A venue - UIC Campus Chicago, IL
• Afterwards - Three Aces http://www.threeaceschicago.com/

The room is SEO 1000, the "Science and Engineering Offices" Building: https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=science+and+engineering+offices&data=!1m4!1m3!1d2716!2d-87.650459!3d41.8708248!4m11!1m10!4m8!1m3!1d190256!2d-87.7319639!3d41.8337329!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!17b1

GUEST WiFi INFO

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ITINERARY
11:00 - 11:15 | General Welcome
11:15 - 11:45 | Introductions
   - Say your name
   - Talk about what you brought, what you're selling, etc.
12:00 - 01:00 | Lunch from Giordano's
   - Courtesy of...
01:00 - 3:30 | Presentations
   - CPTBadAss to present on industrial 3D Design/Printing
   - Binge to demonstrate the fine art of Key Sculpting
   - i3oilermaker to present "Project Praiano"
   - Any other spur of the moment presentations
   - Break up and let people mill about the room and have fun
03:30 - 04:00 | Wrap Up and Raffle
04:30 - ??:?? | "After Party" at Three Aces

PLEASE COMPLETE THE KEYCON POLL

RAFFLE PRIZES:
Sponsored by TechKeys.us:

• 1x Wire keypuller
• 1x Keychain Set (Red, Black, Blue, and Brown)
• 1x Turtle Power Mask 4 key set
• 1x Vegas Dice Set
• 1x Turtle Power Set + Numpad

Sponsored by Signature Plastics:

• 1x Black Base DSA Blank set
• 1x Red Modifier DSA Blank set
• 1x white 87 2 shot set
• 1x black 87 2 shot set

Sponsored by KeyPop.net:

• 1 x Prototype Chickobo Keycap(Only one in existence to my knowledge)
• 1 x Set of Translucent Red Blank WASD Cluster
• 1 x Set of Translucent Red Blank Arrow Key Cluster
• 1 x Translucent Red Keycap Puller
• 1 x Translucent Blue Keycap Puller
• 1 x Translucent Clear Keycap Puller
• 1 x Smile! Keyset
• 1 x $15 coupon to our shop

Sponsored by CM Storm:

• Details coming soon

Sponsored by Binge:

• Artisan Key(s)

Sponsored by CPTBadAss

• iomania wood wrist rest that came with my KMAC
• 62g springs - 100 (from calavera's GB)

Sponsored by Krogenar

• 2x 18"x48" GH Banner

Sponsored by The_Beast

• TBD

[i3oilermaker]

Interested Members
i3oilermaker CONFIRMED
SmallFry's Father CONFIRMED (possibly Sister and Mother)
mkawa CONFIRMED
jcrouse CONFIRMED
CPTBadAss CONFIRMED (Present on Metal Machining and  Molding)
Halverson CONFIRMED
mashby CONFIRMED (and Wife)
Dianoda CONFIRMED
Dante CONFIRMED
The_Beast CONFIRMED
keymaster CONFIRMED
Boost (tentative)
amishmansteve (Can not commit)
Hashbaz CONFIRMED
tjcaustin CONFIRMED
rknize CONFIRMED
eth0s CONFIRMED
reverkiller
TheBinary
rarar CONFIRMED (with friend)
Melvang CONFIRMED (with wife)
wcass CONFIRMED
Trent (tentative)
Sifo CONFIRMED
HoffmanMyster CONFIRMED
prdlm2009 CONFIRMED
jalag CONFIRMED
jameslr CONFIRMED
binge CONFIRMED
elton5354 CONFIRMED

[CPTBadAss]

I'm attending if work permits. I'll try and find out soon. I will try and think of some things I can present or at least show off. I should have my KMAC, Epsilon, and custom Alps board to bring.

Edit: I can talk about manufacturing processes such as metal machining and injection molding if there's interest. But I'll think of some other stuff too.

[SpAmRaY]

Wife and Work permitting I'd love to attend, though probably have nothing to offer otherwise......

[i3oilermaker]

No need to feel obligate to bring things to show off or present.

[BunnyLake]

Wife and Work permitting I'd love to attend, though probably have nothing to offer otherwise......

the beard will be more than enough

[jdcarpe]

You know I'm in. Thank you for organizing this!

I'm looking forward to this regional meetup, but what I really want to attend is a CONVENTION. Anyone else want to see KeyboardCon 2013 this summer? We could have it in a central location (Chicago?), and invite retailers to sponsor it and have giveaways and such. Have reps from the manufacturers there, also, like Melissa and/or Ben from Signature Plastics, etc.

I know I risk derailing my own thread here, but I've just been thinking about it quite a bit lately.

[Halverson]

Hmmm Chicago is pretty close to Ontario. I can't say what I'll be doing, or where I'll be this fall, but if things are in good favor I will join.

Oh and I have not much to share, other than being Canadian. 

[mashby]

I'm definitely down for this.

Happy to give a presentation too, I just don't know what I'd talk about.  However, I do give presentations for a living and have spoken professionally, so if there's a topic without a speaker, happy to volunteer.

[Dianoda]

Given that I live in Chicago, I assume I'll be there.  I should have my LZ-GH by the end of the month, so I could bring some korean custom goodness with me.  And then there's also my Dolch, and the WASD, and my typewriter w/ vintage MY's, and a poker II, and a Leopold FC210TP numpad, and that darn G84-4100.  Crap, how did I get some many keyboards?  I'll probably be selling a few of those at the convention (not the LZ ).  Need to finish poker II LED mod first, and hopefully the G80-18XX's series plates are ready by then so I can have the Dolch plate-mounted.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm definitely down for this.

Happy to give a presentation too, I just don't know what I'd talk about.  However, I do give presentations for a living and have spoken professionally, so if there's a topic without a speaker, happy to volunteer.

I've got or will have a few ideas floating around if you wanted to talk about a topic and come up with a presentation. PM me.

You know I'm in. Thank you for organizing this!

I'm looking forward to this regional meetup, but what I really want to attend is a CONVENTION. Anyone else want to see KeyboardCon 2013 this summer? We could have it in a central location (Chicago?), and invite retailers to sponsor it and have giveaways and such. Have reps from the manufacturers there, also, like Melissa and/or Ben from Signature Plastics, etc.

I know I risk derailing my own thread here, but I've just been thinking about it quite a bit lately.

Yesssss, I get to meet Mr. JD?!

[CommunistWitchDr]

As long as I have a way there I'll go. Should have my bike by then, but I won't be able to fit more than a board or two with me.

[The_Beast]

Interested! But we'll see when it comes closer to that date


Also, the 15th is my birthday!

[i3oilermaker]

Beast - would you like to have a vendor booth for your woodworking?

[The_Beast]

Beast - would you like to have a vendor booth for your woodworking?

Let me decide closer to the date. I'm doing pretty much all custom orders and don't really have a stock of stuff to show or sell.

I should have some wood cases by then since I just got my tooling today. However, I'll decide closer to the date of the meetup

[keymaster]

Interested.

[Trent]

Why am I not on this list already?!

I'm interested. 

[boost]

looking at the flights, it's like $400 for the weekend. Might do it

[Tym]

looking at the flights, it's like $400 for the weekend. Might do it

Jesus sounds abit steep? Over here we have mega cheap flights such as easyjet you can go to France for £39 do you have nothing like that?

[CommunistWitchDr]

looking at the flights, it's like $400 for the weekend. Might do it

Jesus sounds abit steep? Over here we have mega cheap flights such as easyjet you can go to France for £39 do you have nothing like that?

They'll let you look at an airplane from a distance for that.

[wiredPANDA]

Definitely interested, too, but I don't know if I'd be able to make arrangements between work, training, and a 5-month old.

[i3oilermaker]

Definitely interested, too, but I don't know if I'd be able to make arrangements between work, training, and a 5-month old.

Should I put you on the list, or do you think its a low probability?

[CPTBadAss]

I just checked the schedule. As it stands, I will be able to make it.

[amishmansteve]

This sounds cool, I am moving to the Chicago area at the beginning of August and would love to attend.

[Trent]

This sounds cool, I am moving to the Chicago area at the beginning of August and would love to attend.

Well ahead of time, welcome to the Chicagoland area.  Sounds like this would be a great welcome week activity!

[ekw808]

If boost drives.

[Acetrak]

If boost drives.

[Tym]

If boost drives me the 3,803 Miles that would be great, although im not sure I could cover my share of the fuel, I'l split it with ekw808 andAcetrak ? You don't mind an inter-continental detour ?

[aggiejy]

I have family vacation that day, but such a great idea!

[hashbaz]

Great idea boiler.  I'm tentatively in, work and family obligations allowing.

[tjcaustin]

Put me down as a maybe as well.  That's far enough off that I can maybe afford plane ticket.

[Grimey]

Tentatively interested as with most folks. 

Idea: I have attended several bike swaps and have always enjoyed the portion of the event that allows persons to bring bikes and attempt to sell them in a designated area separate from the vendors.  This was done by the owner of the bike leaving a tag on said bike providing an asking price and cell phone / return time for a person to chat with them.  The mentioned concept could be extended to this provided a small number of tables where sellers could display their wares (keyboards, etc) with a tag for discussion about price and what not.

Just an idea I thought I would bring up, the shot of cutting down the keyboard collection might help motivate me to hop a state over.

[keymaster]

Tentatively interested as with most folks. 

Idea: I have attended several bike swaps and have always enjoyed the portion of the event that allows persons to bring bikes and attempt to sell them in a designated area separate from the vendors.  This was done by the owner of the bike leaving a tag on said bike providing an asking price and cell phone / return time for a person to chat with them.  The mentioned concept could be extended to this provided a small number of tables where sellers could display their wares (keyboards, etc) with a tag for discussion about price and what not.

Just an idea I thought I would bring up, the shot of cutting down the keyboard collection might help motivate me to hop a state over.

Great idea. I believe a few people at the Chicago meet did some small sales of keyboards and keycaps. Your idea would simply make everything more efficient.

[linziyi]

  Too far away, I wish I can come

[i3oilermaker]

Tentatively interested as with most folks. 

Idea: I have attended several bike swaps and have always enjoyed the portion of the event that allows persons to bring bikes and attempt to sell them in a designated area separate from the vendors.  This was done by the owner of the bike leaving a tag on said bike providing an asking price and cell phone / return time for a person to chat with them.  The mentioned concept could be extended to this provided a small number of tables where sellers could display their wares (keyboards, etc) with a tag for discussion about price and what not.

Just an idea I thought I would bring up, the shot of cutting down the keyboard collection might help motivate me to hop a state over.

For sure!  I think everyone that wants to bring their collection for showing off or for selling / trading is more than welcome to and there will be plenty of table space to lay out items.

I like the idea of tagging....or having some sort of organization / security.  I know at the last meetup, even though I trusted the GHers, I felt uneasy walking away from some of some of my $100 pieces of plastic / metal in a public place.

[keymaster]

Tentatively interested as with most folks. 

Idea: I have attended several bike swaps and have always enjoyed the portion of the event that allows persons to bring bikes and attempt to sell them in a designated area separate from the vendors.  This was done by the owner of the bike leaving a tag on said bike providing an asking price and cell phone / return time for a person to chat with them.  The mentioned concept could be extended to this provided a small number of tables where sellers could display their wares (keyboards, etc) with a tag for discussion about price and what not.

Just an idea I thought I would bring up, the shot of cutting down the keyboard collection might help motivate me to hop a state over.

For sure!  I think everyone that wants to bring their collection for showing off or for selling / trading is more than welcome to and there will be plenty of table space to lay out items.

I like the idea of tagging....or having some sort of organization / security.  I know at the last meetup, even though I trusted the GHers, I felt uneasy walking away from some of some of my $100 pieces of plastic / metal in a public place.

You know where most of us live anyway

[i3oilermaker]

Hahaha that is true, but honestly I was more concerned about the people walking in from the mall.  I have had literally thousands of transactions and have only gotten screwed over by 1 user.

[SmallFry]

I'm in (tentatively)

[Tym]

Hahaha that is true, but honestly I was more concerned about the people walking in from the mall.  I have had literally thousands of transactions and have only gotten screwed over by 1 user.

Some sort of $5 entry fee? Gets you a wrist band + Security and say a drink? Stops random members of the public wondering in?

[i3oilermaker]

I'm in (tentatively)

Who are you kidding - you will be there

Hahaha that is true, but honestly I was more concerned about the people walking in from the mall.  I have had literally thousands of transactions and have only gotten screwed over by 1 user.

Some sort of $5 entry fee? Gets you a wrist band + Security and say a drink? Stops random members of the public wondering in?

I was thinking the same thing...more so to get commitment from people, but name tags / drinks would be nice.

[CPTBadAss]

But I liked when we didn't have name tags. It made things interesting and forced everyone to socialize

[lightsout714]

Sounds like a ton of fun. I'm in so cal no way I'd be able to make it out but you guys have fun.

[Tym]

I'm not trying to hijack this in anyway just throwing ideas out there, I think selling tickets would allow you to get hold of a bigger/nicer venue as well? Oh and you need to get hold of the GH banner!

[jdcarpe]

We may not have forum badges, but we need some sweet badges with logo'd up lanyards.

[Halverson]

I'll be the only shark around I'm guessing

Why name tags?

[hashbaz]

I think name tags would be a plus, especially if there are a lot of people.

[Tym]

Dog Tags ?

[Trent]

Make mine tentative since its a bit out there in terms of time.  But given that it is on a weekend I think its very likely that I'll be able to attend

[mkawa]

If I come I will force rknize to come with me. sheesh! If I can cross country it he can drive half an hour (!!!)

[Sifo]

If Halverson drives me then I will attend too.