The Berserkerfests garner a LOT of attention, which is fantastic, but so much so that they can easily become unmanageable. To see that much interest is exciting, and I wonder if we might consider expanding the Berserkerfest model to something more significant, and in fact, use it as a vehicle for bringing new Berserkers to the community!
In essence, rather than use the forum community to populate Berserkerfests, let’s have more Berserkerfests, and open them up to everybody, perhaps almost taking on a life of themselves!
I’m sure the winemakers would be pleased to have parties brought to them, as they would sell wine. We already charge ‘admission’ to cover expenses of renting furniture as needed, food, etc., so that is to be expected. We could introduce our community to those who have not yet experienced Berserkerdom, and expand out community while hosting events throughout the country.
I’d like to open this thread up to discussions about this concept. If anything were to be pursued seriously, I’d need to find somebody to be the event planner…
With a good event planning personality, since we have many connections already through various members on the forum, plus the core group of Berserkers here amongst us now to start filling the events up, I think it could work well.
We only have to look and see the interest level to know that this is a valid concept - it’s just getting the right personality to head it up…
Instead of having these events in Dallas and So Cal., spread them around the country every other month. I would love to have one in Seattle either at a winery or a nice restaurant.
If we have more events, all over the country, but in a similar spirit to the traditional (what has become, anyway) Berserkerfest, then the pressures on each event will be reduced, and more people can be included!
I’m not saying we replace Offlines with Berserkerfests, as the smaller ‘Offline’ is a different ballgame altogether, but something more significant in nature, a multiple-day event, but in various parts of the country.
Jack, you have a crew that does this on a VERY large scale for your festival - what is your direction for such an idea?
My festival is four very high end dinners and an outdoor 2 day picnic for 40,000 people. Although the crowd goes beserk on the weekend, it is realy a totally different concept with everything pay as you go since it is all a charitable fundraiser. We have James Beard Chefs making amazing 6 course meals, TV show winning chefs cooking demonstrations and challanges all the way down to slices of pizza and small dishes served by the plate at the picnic. It really has nothing in common with the drunken love fests that Beserkerfests have become, although the eye candy is first rate at our festival and worth seeing. http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think it is perfectly reasonable to consider doing a large scale event with winemakers present as exhibitors, such as Family Winemakers, only with screened exhibitors, making sure the quality of wines is of the highest quality.
I totally agree Todd. I invited Mike and Leah Smith to beserkerfest and all that they did was bring amazing Bluefin toro and tuna and serve a group of us great wine on Sunday morning. I love bringing in some of the younger and well schooled winermakers and giving them exposure to our wine buying members and us exposure to their well crafted juice.