The first ever Global Haflah / best laid plans ...

[Freddie]

Gals and Guyz,

I know I was a little tipsy last night when I suggested this on another thread last night, but in the cold light of hangover city it still seems like a good idea to me.

So on the night of August 2nd (7pm to midnight UK time), I am hosting a Global Haflah. A little piece of history just for us Bhuzzers.

Based at my gaff, all in the locality (Liverpool) are welcome to attend as long as they are glittery and happy. Those who can't amke it in person are invited to attend via webcam and we will have a couple of PCs set up so that we can see your dances at your end too.

Teckies feel free to advise here. I've said it before, give me an IBM mainframe or AS/400 and I'm laughing but with PCs I am a bit lost. Barry says it will be simple enough so let's DO IT!!!

Right. What do I need to do apart from put up the gazebo and fairy lights????

[ozma]

I will probably be traveling down to Kyoto to meet up with a Seattle dancer visiting. If that changes I'll be at teh global hafla.

[Freddie]

Good girl and if you can't make this one you can host one your way some time!! xx

Also very glad to see you do the "teh" thing too - it's the bane of my typing life.

[MelanieBD]

What a great idea! Unfortunately, me and mine will be at the Celtic Blue Rock Festival, where we will be doing workshops and performing as part of the Baubo Moon Room community arts group, promoting belly dance activities in West Wales. I'm intrigued by the idea of a web cam, but wouldn't know where to start to get this set up in the middle of a field. I'll have to ask my resident computer whizz, see what he thinks.

[Freddie]

Hmm in the middle of a field then my guess is you will need a mobile phone and a laptop. You may even be able to take footage on the phone and zap it directly onto the laptop knowing the wonders of modern technology.

Glad you like the idea, it's a shot in the dark but if I can pull if off it will be a great party!

And of course if you can't do it, I we will raise a toast in your honour and watch a bit of youtube footage of you if you have any - same goes for Ozma.

It won't be real time but we will still enjoy watching!!
xxx

[theesfield]

Here is my suggestion. I am hang out frequently at a website called Stickam: Stickam - The Live Community it is a live interactive community that boradcasts world wide via webcams. I have a readio show on the site and we have a small audience of about 10,000-50,000 a show. But if the show is advertised right, the viewers can hit exorbant numbers. It's all real time. It's a free site and you really dont need a membership to sign up, although it is encouraged. Perhaps you want to try your global hafla though that venue.

Nilaja

[Freddie]

Originally Posted by theesfield

Here is my suggestion. I am hang out frequently at a website called Stickam: Stickam - The Live Community it is a live interactive community that boradcasts world wide via webcams. I have a readio show on the site and we have a small audience of about 10,000-50,000 a show. But if the show is advertised right, the viewers can hit exorbant numbers. It's all real time. It's a free site and you really dont need a membership to sign up, although it is encouraged. Perhaps you want to try your global hafla though that venue.

Nilaja

Wow that sounds great (and probably addictive!). I shall check it out! Thanks xx

[theesfield]

It is very addictive...be forwarned!!

Nilaja

[HOOKEDNOVICE]

How did I miss this thread?? I want to see this global hafla! I've yet to go to a hafla in person. I don't have a web cam though, can I still tune in and watch you guys? I am such a tech-tard. Also if I am on the west coast, what's the time difference?

[Freddie]

West coast. Is that like LA and that side? Erm ... if we start at 7pm on August 2nd and go on until carriages arrive at midnight (well, turn the music down then anyway), you'd be looking at 11am until 4pm on that day - Sat August 2nd. Won't that be strange. It'll get dark our end around 2pm your time.

I have no idea if we'll pull off the webcam thing but I would at least like to try chatting with some of you at the same time in the chat room or something and letting some of the guests have a chat too.

The more I thought about it the more I thought about moderating the chat etc and I don't want to get complicated about anything. It was more a case if loving talking to the bhuzzers and wishing they could come! Then wondering if technology could help. If I can do it easily and simply then I'll do it.

We are the proud owners of two webcams I think, god only knows where they are. One is probably at the studio. We have about 4 PCs/laptops here at any one time. Microphones? What else? That site that theesfield suggested definitely looks like it will do the business for us so it's not completely out of the question.

Anyway, watch this space! I'll post details as/when I have them.
xx

[HOOKEDNOVICE]

Cool.

[BreaMorgiane]

I thought World Bellydance Day was the first global haflah?

Either way, I'd love to attend...but sadly have no webcam.

[Freddie]

Is it? I have lived in a bubble for so long that I have no idea what's going on around me these days.

OK then this is just Fredie's Bash and you are all invited. Somehow lol!

[Sonja2]

Hmm. If you have a camera built into the top of your computer (like on iMacs) is that like a webcam? It would be fun to join in.

[Freddie]

Yep that's exactly it. We will use something like theesfield's suggestion to show footage and all PCs this end will have the bhuz window up and we will have a thread going. I think.

[Freddie]

Well, setting this thing up has turned out to be harder than implementing a £2 million insurance system. Apart from the technical side of things, there other stuff that I hadn't thought about that have made me reconsider:

I was nearly there with it and then a couple of my students mentioned that they were a bit uncomfortable with having footage of themselves dancing broadcast around the world. Typical of me not to think of that. Duh.

Then someone else mentioned that drinks would probably be spilled on the keyboards of the three computers I was going to use. Again, typical of me not to think of that either. Double-Duh! (is that "duh-duh" then? In which case is that like a lazy "tah-dah"? Sorry for that surreal digression).

There were a few other problems of a non-technical nature that got throwninto the works too but I won't bore you with them. Suffice to say it's been one of those weeks, if I had more time I would raise a thread to ask for positive vibes and to sound off about some stuff but I don't even have time to do that. At this stage of the game I will be happy if I can just take a breather from work and have a drink.

It's such a shame I can't do what I originally intended - all fired up with the enthusiasm of Bhuz, loving you Bhuzzers, and wanting you to come to the party - we will just have to get this chat room thingy going.

I'll try to do the Bhuz chat room bit tonight so look out for us all. But no webcams and only one laptop allowed, which must stay away from the drinks and the food.

Ah well, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that!

The real (i.e. not virtual) party is still on so those in the Liverpool area get your glad rags on and get your behinds to my house at 7:30pm.

Will post photos as soon as I recover.
xx

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Freddie

Well, setting this thing up has turned out to be harder than implementing a £2 million insurance system. Apart from the technical side of things, there other stuff that I hadn't thought about that have made me reconsider:

I was nearly there with it and then a couple of my students mentioned that they were a bit uncomfortable with having footage of themselves dancing broadcast around the world. Typical of me not to think of that. Duh.

Then someone else mentioned that drinks would probably be spilled on the keyboards of the three computers I was going to use. Again, typical of me not to think of that either. Double-Duh! (is that "duh-duh" then? In which case is that like a lazy "tah-dah"? Sorry for that surreal digression).

There were a few other problems of a non-technical nature that got throwninto the works too but I won't bore you with them. Suffice to say it's been one of those weeks, if I had more time I would raise a thread to ask for positive vibes and to sound off about some stuff but I don't even have time to do that. At this stage of the game I will be happy if I can just take a breather from work and have a drink.

It's such a shame I can't do what I originally intended - all fired up with the enthusiasm of Bhuz, loving you Bhuzzers, and wanting you to come to the party - we will just have to get this chat room thingy going.

I'll try to do the Bhuz chat room bit tonight so look out for us all. But no webcams and only one laptop allowed, which must stay away from the drinks and the food.

Ah well, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that!

The real (i.e. not virtual) party is still on so those in the Liverpool area get your glad rags on and get your behinds to my house at 7:30pm.

Will post photos as soon as I recover.
xx

Wish I could pull on my best duds and come to Liverpool for the party! So when do you think you'll be doing the Bhuz live chat thingy? I think I'm about 5 hours behind you, so I guess I should pop in about 3 p.m. my time (8 p.m. your time)?


Sylvia

[Sirius]

Checked in several times to the chat room, and nothing was happening. Sorry I missed you all. :(

Hope you had a smashing time.


Sylvia