Please help -> Collegiate/Spring Break Boogie

[Derekbox 0]

Hey peeps... here is a little background, I goto Embry Riddle, and school skydiving club is talking about putting together a collegiate BOOGIE...

So now here is where I need your help... I would like to see this be one big badass boogie. So let me tell you what I am thinking about offering, and then you guys give me your input, criticism, etc....

So here is what I am thinking:
-Date: Spring breakish March 2003, 2-3 days long
-cost: registration $30ish, 16/jump for norm. loads, special planes???
-hopefully sponsered by skydive Deland
-Planes: Twin Otter, Skyvan, probably a porter, then 1-2 specials, Biplane, helicopter, hot air balloon basically whatever we could get on our budget
-Freefly/belly load organizing + coaching jumps
-DJ/BBQ/party/fermintated beverages when the beer light comes on
-high alt jumps, night jumps, seminars (canopy flight etc)
-trips to tunnel with coaching

So thats the basics. Would probably be open to the public, but college people would have certain perks (cheaper jumps, cheaper registration??). Having it open to the public would hopefully reinforce the #s some.

I plan to send invites out to every college skydiving club. Hopefully get about 150+ people preregistered. Which should be enough to line up at least 1 special plane. I would also be more than willing to tie it in with another boogie (I know of at least one possibility already....).

So yeah, that is what I have, when things start to line up more then I will get the ball rolling (talk to DZO, email possible aircraft, etc etc). I do not plan on organizing this all myself, I lack the experience, but if I could get the #s, Im sure the DZ will help me organize.

So please drop me a line and thanks for your input, and ANY and ALL help is appreciated. And would you be willing to come too? It could easily be a DZ.com get together.

Blue Skies
Derek
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derek_the_freak@hotmail.com
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[Kennedy 0]

howdy

I'm from UMCP and went down to the Collegiate Boogie that UF / Skydive Williston put on last summer. Looks to me like you're aiming WAY high, but hey, it's Deland so why not try.

First thing I'd say, go talk to the DZO now, not later. He can make things happen.

After that, tell everyone else and just have a damned good time!!

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[kiltboy 0]

My US geography is hazy (though I've been here 5 years now) so where would this be happening? Another couple of questions would be is there camping nearby or bunkhouse with showers? How close is it to a commercial airport that I can get there from Mass without jumping in?
David

[Derekbox 0]

Deland is in Central Florida, 20 minutes away from Daytona Beach (another reason in its own to come during spring break). You can fly into Daytona Beach (DAB) which is closest, or Orlando International (MCO) which is about an hour away but would probably be cheaper.

There is onsite camping (lots of space), showers, a small bunkhouse, DZ resteraunt, many nearby hotels, orlando is about 45 minutes away (including the tunnel, disney, mgm, hella clubs, etc)

I plan on talking to the DZO this weekend, but I wanted to more or less have my shit together before I approached him. Have to do it right the first time you know.

[PhreeZone 20]

Not wanting to burst your bubble too much but last years Collegent Nationals was only attended by almost 80 students. 150 is probally >80% of all college jumpers in the US.

Also with the college schedules I've seen no more then 1/4 are the same week(s).

2 days is a weekend, not really a boogie unless its not on a DZ or on a non-standard day imo

Rod's 412 was guarenteed X money to fly at wffc, the chopper canceled at Richmond due to insurance. Choppers are going to cost a lot up front to get. Biplane was a similar deal, gaurenteed X money incase of bad weather, etc. Hot air Ballons might be easier, but the winds have to be under about 5 mph to get them up. Speciality planes are going to have to be delt with the DZO and the airport on (some will not allow ballons/choppers/ultralights/etc)


I know Lake Wales did better from the experienced jumpers that were there at the Collegents then the College students. I made 12 jumps where as most college students only did 5-6 that time peroid.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

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[Derekbox 0]

Well I know Im a little optimistic here, but yeah, I know our club would probably sport at least 15-20 ppl for the boogy. Between that, fl colleges, that would probably put us up to 40-50. So with prearrangement of a special airplane, organized loads, some coaching, and a big party, I think we could get a draw of 100-150. Then throw in the general attendance...

Ok a weekend boogy - bite me. Everything cant be perfect. ;) At any one weekend in march, 1/4 of the schools in the sountry our out... I guess I just have to play the odds there.

yeah, getting specialty aircraft is definitaly going to be the obstacle. But Im trying here. But then again our DZ airplanes alone (Otter, van and by then porter) will in themselves should be a nice draw.

But you know, Im trying here, every (well most) boogies started somewhere.... but on the whole reality side, thats why i dont think it would be a bad idea to tie this with another boogy.

[base698 19]

I definitly want to go. I haven't had a normal college spring break since I've been skydiving (which has been my whole college career). If done correctly and people show up it could be a winner.

[PhreeZone 20]

SkyDive Arizona will probally only have 90 over the winter break for the collegients. And thats in the middle of the winter break and they have all the planes listed plus ballons, king air, etc on the DZ. The majority of the jumpers there were Army and Air Force students. I think there was less then 40 regular college jumpers on the DZ for the College version of Nationals.

Tying it in with another boogie is a good idea, but then it looses the uniqueness of the boogie.

You have to offer things that most college jumpers won't get at a good value with cost of transportaion figured in. I know the Casa was a big hit with the College students last year, but based on what I saw, most were more interested in staying up late, drinking and sleeping in then jumping hard. (they can do that on the beach ) Having people come in for just a weekend involves flying since driving from the northern states takes 8 hours min one way and if you want to jump that means you'd be driving totally at night both ways. Not many college jumpers I know have the cash laying around to fly into Orlando or Tampa for a weekend, then rent a car or bum a ride, etc.

From last years Collegents.. few people took advantage of the free organization and coaching of both freefly and RW jumps, the Party was goo.. but it was also 5 days i think(New Years was a blast), tents were used because no one could afford anything else and the averge jump per day was like 3 for the college kids.

>1/4 of the schools in the sountry our out... I guess I just have to play the odds there.
That also means 3/4 of your potential jumpers are still in school...

What I'd do is instead of focusing my energy on aircraft..i'd work at getting a discount on jump tickets for college students (few bucks off) and have the DZ offer free coaching for college students one of those weekends (or all if you can sweet talk them into it) for the first year or two for no fee. Then after you can prove you can draw 40 people from local colleges and maybe a few from other places... look at getting bigger.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com