convention video

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Most of you (who asked) should be getting your copies of the convention
video about now -- mailed the CD-ROMs on Thursday or Friday, making VHS 
tapes now at the rate of 2 per day (6 hours each).  Dorothy's I dropped in 
the mail today, and Charlene, hopefully in the next couple days.

Here is my proposal to the board (many of you were here a year and a half 
ago when I first proposed this; some of you are new, though):

I believe that the AGA could contribute greatly to the hobby by
making available a "media collection", which could include things like

  * Video of the conventions' presentations (CD-ROM, VHS, DVD)
  * The TAG back issue catalog (CD-ROM)
  * Contest Archive (CD-ROM)
  * Instructional materials (CD-ROM, VHS, DVD)

I've already been selling the contest archives for the past year or so, 
with some moderate level of success -- I'd say less than 25 total so far.  
Most of this, however, is from lack of advertisement.  I got a lot of 
requests at the convention, for instance.

I would like to save discussion of the TAG archive for a few months, at 
least until Diana gets stable with the back issue grab back offer and 
Karen puts out a couple "New" issues.

The issue I'd like to discuss right now is that of the convention video.
With everything edited down this year, there is about six hours.  We also
have last year's convention, which I think clocks in at a similar length.

I envision this year's being distributed in three ways:

  * Everything-on-a-CD-ROM (this is what I sent to Karen, Neil, David and
    Jack).  All six hours of convention video, still photos, slides from
    the folks who let us have their slides (Greg Morin).  I don't have the 
    stills and stuff on the CD's I sent, but would expect this to be in 
    the "released" version.

  * All six hours on a videotape.  EP mode, not super high quality, but 
    mostly good.  This is what I sent Dorothy & will send Charlene.

  * Amano's workshop, and maybe his talk, on a videotape and/or DVD. SP
    mode, better quality.  One (or two) hour(s) total.  This could be
    marketed as an instructional video for aquascaping, and perhaps a
    tie-in with whatever sort of Amano products we may offer in the 
    future.

I am also thinking we might have a couple of higher quality "master" 
versions available for checkout by local societies in good standing for 
use at meetings or workshops.


These are the major barriers cited the last time I brought this up:

  * "Discourages attendance at the convention itself; they'll just wait 
     for it to come out on video"

  * "People will make illegal copies"

  * "Speakers may disapprove"

The last point I can address easily by just asking each speaker.  The 
second we can address in two ways: by making the CD-ROMs inexpensive 
enough that it's nearly as easy to buy it and support the society as to 
duplicate, and by insuring there is a lot of promo material FOR the AGA
plastered all over the files on the CD.  So even if people do illegally 
copy it, it still becomes a way of advertising the AGA.  The end of 
Amano's workshop is one example of this.

The point about discouraging attendance I consider dubious, first because
of the very nature of the folks who attend such conferences to begin with.  
They don't want to see things on tape.  They wanted to MEET Mr. Amano in 
person and exchange thoughts with the panel interactively.  Having the 
archives available, in which people see hobbyists like themselves gawking 
at Amano destroying driftwood or asking silly questions about activated 
carbon, may instead put the idea in their head that "Hey, *I* could be in 
that audience next year!"

Anyway, in closing, while you look at those CDs and tapes, think about the 
AGA's purpose, which I will quote right out of the latest TAG:

"To disseminate information about aquatic plants, to study and improve 
upon techniques for culturing aquatic and bog plants in aquariums and 
ponds, to increase interest in aquatic gardening, and to promote 
fellowship among its members."

  - Erik

PS: I would also appreciate any technical feedback on the ease of use of 
the CDs in particular.  Jack, you're our lone Mac representative.

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com