Pre-notice: Hands Off 2009

Gordon, I certainly wish you all the best in your latest hands off efforts! ;)

Thank you kindly, Fred and Thomas.

And Fred, I trust (or should that be [i]trussed[/i]? Of course it is. Bound to be.) that you dressed for the occasion.

[i]" I think what excites me most is the possibility that someone watching could get the idea that they could use the 'net to do stuff too."[/i]

Gordon, I think you probably underestimate yourself here.. Organising an event like hands-off (or even getting the ball rolling to achieve something like this) is NOT something anyone could do! You have the enthusiasm, AND your enthusiasm is contageous.. And you have a 'style' which makes everything you post enjoyable and interesting. These qualities are as rare as rocking horse dung!

"or should that be trussed?" LOL - No such luck! - it was on the telly.. The only 'bound' being housebound, looking after the children while my wife was a VIP at the Mandela concert.

Of corset is, and I should jolly well hope so too! I've been doing it for long enough.

Before the theremin discovered me ([i]In Soviet Russia, theremin plays YOU!!![/i]) I instigated an equally ambitious project - perhaps even more so - (if you're curious click here (http://internet.lodge.org.uk/contact/pastmasters.php) and scroll to the bottom of the page) and had a whole support team guiding me through it. I learned a fair deal and am enjoying exercising that skill subsequently. :-)

But that's not the point. I'm not suggesting everyone should organise theremin symposiums. (It would be nice, though... - start small, are there a couple of thereminists close enough for a Sunday afternoon jam session?) The point is - whatever you're good at, the internet is a tool that can give a great deal of leverage.

You know that. You're here for specific reasons - for research and development, to promote a product and to find people with skills that complement your own. And you understand that this is best done as a member of the theremin community, rather than through a business/customer type relationship.

"The point is - whatever you're good at, the internet is a tool that can give a great deal of leverage. "

On this, I completely agree with you! - And there has never been a better or easier way to be in contact with people all over the planet, who share common interests.


I also love the potential 'business model' which can be created by this medium - I have never been happy about 'business' - but this medium allows the kind of interaction which enables 'customers' to get what they really want, and 'producers' to identify what is wanted - less waste and frustration should result.. Also, there is the fantastic possibility of actually co-creating a product with other enthusiasts.. Through TW I have found many people who are, in a real sense, partners in 'my' business.

Sorry that I misunderstood your posting - You are right! Not everyone could organise conventions, but everyone can use the internet to do something more with their talents.

WOW Fantastic. Do we get to see you play 3 Theremins at once?.The last one created a huge buzz,
Why does my computer always underline Theremin ?
I Hope you and your family are well
All the best Terry.

I wish to be there ¡¡¡
Well, we are on time Yet.

Hoping news.
Greetings
Ernesto.

Well I am starting to save my euros and cents now.. I got into theremins too late for the last one...

Terry. That's why they call me a clever Richard. Because it has good taste.

It is great to see such strong support right from the get-go. That is what makes for a successful event - people. Last year fifty people were willing to take a chance - quite an expensive one in some instances, what with long-haul flights and so on - and yeah, we had a good time. I enjoyed it enough to want to do it again - even knowing what is involved. :-)

Anyway - look - here's a little more info - my previous caveats still apply - nothing is certain, everything is changeable - but I'll guess that anyone with a tiny bit of curiosity and a web browser could identify the White Noise Electronic Music Festival (http://www.myspace.com/whitenoisefest) as the most likely larger festival for me to partner with.

I'll be there this year - checking it out and figuring out logistics - amongst other things working out how the Hands Off schedule of activities can coexist with the White Noise schedule and avoid clashing with it.

Now - here's the thing - White Label Music, the independent label running the Fest, are populating it with acts from their own stable, which means they all are into electronic music and have a strong DIY ethos. (They're also pretty good - a fair proportion are classically trained and do more traditional stuff too.) And this means the audience (the site can accommodate 1000 people) has a high proportion of music makers amongst it, many of whom will say "Wow! Theremins!"

So a new aspect of next year's Hands Off will be to accommodate their interest and to provide them with opportunities to learn and enjoy.

And - linking back to JD and Charlie's posts - I like that name. It's not going to be a fusty old symposium next year, it's going to be an apocalypse!

Hands Off 2009 - Theremin Apocalypse!

Yup, I definitely like it. Apocalypse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse) comes from the Greek for "lifting of the veil" and that is what we shall do - we shall reveal the mysteries and wonders of the theremin for all to behold. :-)

[b]"Yup, I definetely like it. Apocalypse comes from the Greek for "lifting of the veil" and that is what we shall do - we shall reveal the mysteries and wonders of the theremin for all to behold. :-)"[/b]

even as an agnostic, I must say "Amen" to that !
;-)