[roc-chat] Re: Why is HP Dying and What Can Be Done About It?
- From: "jim" <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 21:13:00 -0700
Hey Jeff;
I was looking for something else and came across this old post.
The only reason that I can think of for reading it now was to find this
little gem.
>> I hope Jack will come back *lighter and agile*. Just motors in a van
Oh man, that brought visions of Jack morphing in to Frank.
What next, selling wine on a clothing optional beach?
Thanks for the laugh! Perhaps not the image though. Fly high Frank!
Jim G.
_____
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jeff Gortatowsky
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 5:38 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Why is HP Dying and What Can Be Done About It?
I have made my living using the net since the early 90's (even late 80's)
before most of you even had heard of it. Please describe yourselves not ROC
members. I put up photo albums on flickr, facebook, twitter, and The
Rocketry Forum for every single launch I attend. I post a launch report in
The Rocketry Forum for every launch. Every person I work with has seen the
photos on the screen saver. They know almost every weekend I am launching
rockets. Ha! I have have people across the country who cheer or jeer when
things go well (or not). So please don't lump me in with any social media
luddites you may know. (I mean that lightheartedly.)
I can not tell you how many times I've heard out there: "I don't do facebook
or twitter" as if that makes that person some genius while they suck down a
budweiser watching reality TV or sports. Smug and out of touch is what I'd
call it. Same with the forum thing. Oh "email is WAY better."
HORSEFEATHERS! Email is not a forum where NEW people come. Its for existing
people (and dead half the time).
I won't go near the NAR vs TRA comment. Thats simply living 25+ years ago.
If I have to pay hazmat shipping, then all of a sudden my choices at least
quadruple in dealers. Fast cash with Jack was worth buying from him, and his
good advice! I did/do my best to support Jack. I did not and can not buy
$500 worth of motors each launch, but I did buy $100 to $200 most of the
time, and bigger a few times. I hope Jack will come back *lighter and
agile*. Just motors in a van. Cutting costs.
As for promoting ROC, everyone I meet knows ROC is the HPR location in
SoCal. I don't think there is a lack of awareness IF you are looking.
Promoting HPR in ROC? Well there is the AMA Show. RCX, and others. However
you have a catch 22 if someone is about to get hooked on the playa, but
can't buy on impulse (no pun intended).
Ok I am done ranting.
Fly high. See you Saturday! And forget I said any of this. :)
Jeff
---------------------------------------
Jeff Gortatowsky, Redondo Beach, CA | Twitter: JeffGortatowsky | Yahoo:
indanapt
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeffgortatowsky
Blog @ http://skepticalastronomer.wordpress.com
"(Scientific) Skepticism is not a set of beliefs, it is a set of methods for
asking questions about reality." -- Doctor Steven Novella
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 1:24 PM, steve jaben <steve.jaben@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Well, I had to just chime in. I love the old fart comment. In fact, I just
got a free senior drink at Wendy's this week and I am turning 55 this month.
Not sure if I am depressed or happy, or happily depressed.
I am not sure anyone understands the demographic For the target market: Who
are the audiences that you want to reach, why and how do you want to reach
them?
When I tell almost anyone about my rekindled interest and experiences over
my last year in rocketry, they tend to glaze over fairly soon. Maybe
scantily clad twenty something's in bikinis at the launches would help get
it on the map; the Rockettes, possibly. That would cheer me up!
At orthopedic surgeon trade shows, the vendors have models in the booths
demonstrating products, and it does garner interest!
When you are seeking out such a narrow niche of population who would
litterally burn money faster than most addictive habits , you have to ask if
it is possible to actually find them. My hunch is people stumble on to
this, or actively seek it out.
There is a common theme of, "I did this with Estes rockets when I
was........."
For me, I was looking for a project to do with my 17 year old son. We were
thinking about building a life sized catapult in the back yard. Something
fun, unusual and a wee bit risky. The boss over rode that. Then we stumbled
on HPR, and I guess I went a little bit overboard.
I know I can overthink things, hmmmm, maybe a common trait? So I just look
forward to learning more about this and to the next launch.
Steve
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, Kevin R. Lane <krlane@xxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm an old guy dying to get back out and launch some HPR!
The main thing for me is time. When you work 2 or 3 weekends a month it's
hard to get up at 4:30 and head out to the lake bed on a needed day off.
We planned on the November RocStock but found out the week before the launch
my wife is sick and will be in a battle for the next 6 months.
Hope to see you guys in June.
Kevin
TRA 7151
L3
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Kurt Gugisberg
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 10:42 AM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Why is HP Dying and What Can Be Done About It?
Richard,
I see another thing I see that has lead to the slow death of HP is the fact
that it has been a generational thing. Us old timers grew up during the
early space age and, I for one, lived and breathed rockets as a kid. That
was rekindled as an adult when I discovered there were motors and rockets
bigger than Estes stuff. Unfortunately, the old guard is dying off or
getting out of it, and the new guard is just not there like we were back
then. Too many new distractions keep them from focusing like we did.
Finding a way to over come that will be difficult.
Kurt
On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 10:24 AM, R Dierking <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
It's got to be obvious that there are significant problems that are
occurring in our hobby. For years, the major problem was legal challenges.
Now, it seems a poor economy has taken it's toll. However, I believe all
the decreases we have seen in HP rocketry are not because of money. Here
are some suggestions to help turn this around:
As a club, we need to start nurturing HP rocketry. The club has done a
great job encouraging low-power, but maybe it's time to focus on HP. In my
opinion, we have been encouraging LP at the expense of HP. In the past,
brochures were created that encouraged youth groups to participate in ROC
launches. How about doing this for HP? How about a HP crusade?
As a group of clubs in our region, we need to work to coordinate and come
together. For example, Tripoli San Diego is now looking for a new launch
site. Perhaps when they find one, their launches could be scheduled for the
same weekend as ROC monthly launches and they could hold them on Sunday.
Vendors could go to both launches on the same weekend. How about a
cooperative advertising program or coordinating a large launch to promote HP
rocketry?
Speaking to TRA now, because NAR is more of a LP fostering organization;
please start to provide the advertising materials and incentives to promote
HP rocketry. For example, the LDRS programs ended up making us look like a
bunch of rejects from Duck Dynasty. We have characters, and yes, odd
rockets can be fun, but really we're a lot more than that! Also, yes,
rocketry should be for everyone, but there's nothing wrong with developing a
target audience and advertising to this group. I'm suggesting support and
marketing on a national level. And, rather than just waiting for some TV
producer coming to you with a stupid idea, develop the idea yourself that
promotes what you have in mind. I looked at the criteria Discovery and
Science channel listed for a 'good' program, and a cool rocketry show could
be developed that would meet the target audience and all points listed.
TRA should outreach to every college in the U.S. with information about HP
rocketry.
ROC should advertise locally about HP rocketry. California has about 1/10th
the population of the U.S., and you just have to outreach to your target
audience. There are many people out there that just need to find out what
HP rocketry is really about.
Richard Dierking
--
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