There are countless threads where people discuss attending events, etc... that exist perfectly within the context of threads. These are threads started by people asking who is going, where they are staying etc...
I got a PM about 3 weeks ago from a user that has never even posted on the site asking me to make a sticky post to invite geeks to an particular brand specific roadshow. My answer to her was to say "post it in the events group". What got my goat was that this person only became interested in the community once she needs to sell tickets to a roadshow. On a personal level, I get kind of ticked off about that (I guess I feel 'used'). I then find out that another member of this brand joined the site to start mass spamming users via PMs to invite them to the show. From my perspective, if you give a **** about a community, you become involved in it without the need to see $$$ in doing so.
So how is The Event different than the above?
S2 put up this site, foots the bills, participates heavily in all facets of the community and welcomes all regardless of whether there is $$$ in it or not. It has always been that way since I started the site (before S2 even existed) and it continues that way even now that S2 distributes. Ultimately the driving factor is not "what we can do for $$$", it is "what can we do for the industry".
S2 puts on an Event, welcomes all (qualified) to it regardless of the 'return', because it is something that the industry needs. People can come to The Event or they can come to The Party, or they can come to neither. I haven't posted here about it, I haven't asked others to do it (which in comparison is a rarity) and it is very relevant to the core culture of this site. In other words, I haven't leveraged salongeek.com to try and get people to come to our event (unlike others).
FWIW, I could put on an Event for the entire industry and thats all we would get: S2 brands. The cold reality is that for over 6 years salongeek.com has existed, we have literally begged other brands to join the forum and help professionals evolve, however time and time again, little to nothing manifests unless its someone joining only to use the PM system to spam members or request to make their first post a sticky advertisement for a roadshow they want to do. Last year, I asked several brands if they wanted to do something 'different', all I got was shrugged shoulders, citing that they are happy with the current crop of trade shows (better the devil you know I guess). So what did we do? In typical S2 culture, we bucked the trend and decided to do something on our own, for what we feel is the betterment of the industry. Will you see us flogging product at Professional Beauty North? Nope. Why? Because for the same reason that this site exists, we have decided to 'give back' in the only way we know we can: A celebration that will make a difference.
So (he says getting off his soapbox)... Do I want threads promoting money making events on this site made by people who can't even be asked to participate on the site? Nope. Do I mind if people are participating in discussions about 'Who is going to G-Mex' or 'Who can I bunk up with when I go to Excel' or 'Where should I stay at when I go to The Event'? Nope. Those are valid discussions. As I mentioned earlier, it is an Event for those that participate in the S2 culture. This site, is part of the foundation that makes that culture.
Now to answer your specific points
If you want to go to The Event and are a qualified professional... OR if you want to just come to The Party... you're damned straight you can go (I don't feel like it would be a party without you Judy!).
As to your point about the 'other site'... I thought it died awhile ago (unless I am thinking of another 'elite' site!).
Judy... I hope I didn't grandstand on my soapbox too much... To me, you're a unique star of this community and I don't give a rats ass what you use. I just want to make sure that you feel as welcome to come as a valuable member of the site as any other person that wants to come party or learn with us. I hope my novel help clarify my feelings on the matter for you and others.
nJoy!
