HUG <hug...@gmail.com>

Here's the promised discussion thread. The following uke fests (and
the like) are in the planning/EOI stages for 2010...

Feb 2010 - Melb Uke Fest (see Dino Divo's posts on this site)
Mar 2010 - Adelaide Fringe (see email previously circulated)
Jul 2010 - Cairns Uke Fest (see email previously circulated)

HUG has been invited to participate in all 3 but it would be huge to
commit as a group to each event. Please reply to this post with any
thoughts you have as we need to make a decision as a group. Here are
my thoughts to start off the discussion...

First, some quick 'pros' for each event...

1. Adelaide's invitation was 'first in'.
2. As the first (to my knowledge) Aussie uke group, Melbourne seems an
obvious choice for the first national uke fest (if that's what it
evolves into!). HUG definitely exists purely as a result of MUK! Also,
Melbourne is a lot closer for us at least!
3. Cairns is pretty warm in July...definitely in marked opposition to
an Hobartian winter!!!!

If all 3 are to go ahead before I decide which event I'd like to
attend I'd like to peruse the programs. The planned activities, acts,
etc would also impact my decision. If you feel the same, it makes it
difficult (impossible?) for HUG to appear on any program until after
it's produced! A chicken and an egg thing!!

Additional thoughts...(I know the Adelaide Fringe isn't strictly a uke
fest but) I tend to feel that the more uke gatherings there are over a
short period the more depleted each one must become. Is it a choice of
a lot of little fests or one big one? As you know, an international/
national uke fest is something I've been talking (but doing nothing)
about for quite a while now so, obviously my preference would be for
one (inter)national uke fest with all Aus groups working together to
make it the biggest and best possible (run annually and the location
rotated around the country!). But maybe others think a number of fests
around the country is better. However, I, for one, don't have the
time, nor the dollars, to commit to Melbourne, Adelaide AND Cairns.
Maybe enough members are able to and if so, there isn't a problem. If
not, we need to decide which invitation HUG will accept.

Your thoughts required!!!

Cheers...Jennifer