freeflydamo 0 #1 October 21, 2009 Hey everyone!! Please help me to develop this idea by posting your thoughts and comments. This is an idea that my friend and I are working on for 2010. All views and opinions will be accepted and considered, please be as honest as you can!?! Take from an original post here: http://www.skydive-info.com/skydiving/showthread.php?t=57 QUOTE: "The concept I am working on will include ancillary activities, as we are based about 1 hour (perhaps add on another half hour?) from Stonehenge, and right next door to us on the airfiled is a karting track owned and operated by Nigel Mansell (the only drivier ever to win Formula 1 and Champ Cars back-to-back). We are planning to engage an 'Audience with Nigel Mansell', which would include a day of karting followed by a dinner, with Mr Mansell as guest speaker. My idea will be based around the Equinox, a significant time in both Nature and History, with particular relevance to Stonehenge. In addition to these thoughts, we are also adjacent to Cornwall, which boasts some of the best surfing in Europe, and is home to the Legend of King Arthur. Plus of course we are in one of the most scenic parts of England, with green fields, dry-stone walls and hedgerows. The rolling plains of Exmouth and Dartmoor are but stones throw away, and we are no more than 10-15 miles from the beach. Add to this flights into and out of our Great Capital City of London, with a stay of one night at the beginnning and end of the trip, and I wonder if there isn't the beginning of an Excellent English Experience that one would remember for the rest of ones life? This idea was borne from the knowledge of the US / UK 'special relationship', and as you can see, the skydiving itself is simply a small part of this experience. I was thinking of including around ten jumps with the package, but it could of course be many more, if so desired (and weather permitting!)." END QUOTE If you are interested in this idea, please post here or pm me on this site. THIS IS NOT AN ADVERT - we simply wish to canvass your ideas, and find out the feasability of running an event such as this!! Many thanks, in anticipation of your responses!! The Jump Shop Simply the Best Parachute Equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mik 2 #2 October 21, 2009 I can see challenges in this appealing to a mainly US audience (I guess your intention) due to a combination of factors such as: - typical UK jump ticket prices compared to those in the US ($35-$40+ I guess at the moment in the UK??) - the availability of other boogies that are designed to be a holiday in addition to the jumping (Belize / Kenya / Thailand compared to expensive England?) - karting having limited appeal - Nigel Mansell having limited appeal (especially if husband and wife planning to travel together) - limited holiday time in the US - much less than in the UK , I believe - the overall cost of people travelling to the UK (with rig - extra luggage charge??) to do 10 jumps. And of course everyone knows that it always rains in england :) I reckon that most people who would want to visit the UK would have their own agenda in terms of places to visit (London - maybe for a few days to take in all the sights, Scotland etc etc) so unless the total package was very cheap, I would be surprised if many people would be interested. To me it sounds a bit like someone organising a skydiving-related trip for Brits to somewhere like Tokyo. In my experience, Tokyo is an interesting place but its a long way to travel, jumps cost something like £45 each and everything seems very expensive relative to the UK. In the current economic climate I would do something closer to home / cheaper. But I have been wrong many times before and it would be interesting to see what others think *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydamo 0 #3 October 21, 2009 Hi Mik, Thanks for your most eloquent response! I appreciate very much the feedback you have provided. Indeed since your pm this morning, I've given this idea much more thought and my colleague and I have come up with a questionnaire based on some of the points you have outlined above. We are presently re-hosting our website onto another server, but we have our domain already functioning with a holding page. Please see; www.skydivegreatbritain.co.uk Soon after propagation of the site has taken place, you should be able to see a 12 point questionnaire, which will take no more than 3 minutes to complete, and would help us greatly. I'd like to respond to the points you have made, here goes.. I know the UK seems expensive, compared to The States, and the weather can sometimes be unpredictable here - which was why we were looking at alternative activities.. Maybe Nigel Mansell is not as well-known over there as he is here, so that could be a non-starter? We were simply drumming-up ideas for stuff to do locally that MAY be of interest! I can of course see that the Mansell thing would almost definitely have a limited appeal On a positive though, the scenery in the UK is amazing to skydive over. Rolling green fields, and where we are there is a view of the North and South coastlines on the ride to altitude. I appreciate that if a US skydiver is going to spend their hard-earned cash, and sacred holiday entitlement over here, they would want value for money. We have thought about whether to increase the number of skydives you could do during the trip (10 was only a suggestion, so it's great to hear you want more!) - also, to make the alternative activities opt-in, so maybe you just pick and choose more what you want to do, and sort it out for yourself? Also, we could have a 2-3 day London sightseer in there too, it's all still open for discussion! From speaking with Americans who have visited us here, they are interested in the history of Great Britiain, and England and much of this history can be traced to the South West - for example, the Legend of King Arthur, Stonehenge, and of course more recently, many US bases were here during WW2. Maybe you know of some 'hooks' to get people interested in this 'English Boogie' idea? Here's a question.. What could we offer that would make you say 'Damn, I need to see / do this'!! Thanks again for taking the time to comment, please keep it coming!! Blue Skies The Jump Shop Simply the Best Parachute Equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydamo 0 #4 December 21, 2009 BUMP!! Please help us - take two minutes to complete our online survey www.skydivegreatbritain.co.uk Thank you very much, and Merry Christmas The Jump Shop Simply the Best Parachute Equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
