OK Folks, time for an update and temperature-taking. So bend over.
Here's the deal. DO THE TON has been invited to participate in the Ace Corner at the Barber Vintage Festival, as we've done for the last 2 years.
As a refresher, I am unable to attend this year.
So - in order for DO THE TON to participate in an 'official' capacity, we would need a couple of dedicated people to be the go-to people for the weekend.
DO THE TON would have 2 stations, consisting of a 10 x 10 pop-up tent and signage at each spot. One would be right at the main entry to the Ace Corner, as a volunteer staging place, congregation point for DO THE TON members etc. We'd have a tent, signage etc. and a few members' bikes parked there on display.
This would be outside the paid Ace Corner area, but is not a massive hang-out space like we had last year. Just a spot to meet up, get organized etc. right at the gate off the road.
Inside the Ace Corner proper, we would have another station with member bikes on display, people hanging out talking about DO THE TON to the public etc.
We would be a volunteer force to help with the Ace Corner. We would have 2 people at the gate helping with the ticket validation doing:
- Answering any questions Barber staff might not know the answer to.
- Using an Ace Corner provided name list to get bike show contestants their headlight sticker and give them directions to head in and up to the top of the hill
- Handle day-of bike show entrants who did not pre-reg in qualifying that their bikes "fit" the show
- Handle direction of parking of general bikes in the space available before entering the tunnel. Parking beyond the tunnel is intended for 'cafe racer' bikes for people to look at while milling around. So baggers/cruisers/'busas etc. park in the general area, cafe racers etc. park past the tunnel inside the Ace Corner itself.
We would need another 2 people on the inside of the tunnel area directing traffic for bikes to the parking area.
Last year volunteers kindly worked 1/2 day shifts. 4 people per shift x 2 shifts daily x 3 days = 24 people if each works one shift.
If we decide to participate, volunteers would receive a free Ace Corner ticket ($25 cost at the event). This gives you access to the Ace Corner for the full weekend. The cost of these tickets is being split between Ace Corner and DO THE TON. If a volunteer had already purchased their Ace Corner pass, I'd sort it out with them.
For the event, we'd need:
- 2 10x10 pop up tents. Worst case DO THE TON has to buy 2 new tents.
- Banners/signage - I have the 16 foot tall feather flag and a 3 x 12 foot banner in Toronto that we used last year. There should be one or two other 4 x 8 banners floating around the US by now. I'd work at getting that stuff into the local area for setup.
- Bikes to display at the Ace Corner DO THE TON location, and a few bikes / people hanging about the entry gate DO THE TON tent. I'd expect the 'outside' DTT tent to be pretty limited in terms of available space.
- Someone has to go there Thursday afternoon to set up the 2 tents and banners, and take them down Sunday evening. We lowered them each night last year and took down the feather flag, so nobody would take the flag overnight.
Along with volunteers, I'd look to having one or two people each day as the 'go-to' people to make sure shit gets done. IF we participate, we're part of a very large, complex, organized event with 60,000+ attendees expected. We can't be late in the morning, or have things not go as planned. Tents have to be up and signs on display etc. at 8AM each morning without fail. Our volunteers need to be in place and helping out. The tents and signs need to be stashed each night to make sure they don't go missing.
If we have enough interest, and if a few responsible folks want to take on the leadership roles each day, post up here AND send me a PM.
Again, I cannot attend. I can help tally up the volunteer list and organize the schedule, but we'd be depending on you all to make it happen. The ONLY reason we would do this is to give all of you a place to hang out, and see the DO THE TON colors flying proudly at the premiere vintage bike event of the year.
Feedback! Let me know what you think.
