Anyone down for making another summer chicago jam?

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 21 Jan 2008 11:27

I feel like the jams are too spread out, and there alot of people in illinois and around illinois that play, and its beautiful in chicago in the summer, we gotta find a place to jam or figure sumthing out, cuz i know me and atleast 6 shredders from my high school would be down!

Frank_Sinatra · Post by **Frank_Sinatra** » 21 Jan 2008 11:53

One question - what is your name is?

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 21 Jan 2008 13:24

James McElwain...I would be down to help set it up cuz we can definetly find a place to do it , for a weekend in the summer, and my boy obara'bars would love to help, as i know many would....anyone else wanna try to set something up with us?

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 21 Jan 2008 22:01

James will scare Reid

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 21 Jan 2008 23:01

who's reid and whys that? haha

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 21 Jan 2008 23:02

wait jon, im almost positive if your like the jon...you were at my house bro! we shredded in my basketball court haha

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 22 Jan 2008 12:16

First off, I don't mean to sound like I'm shooting down your idea, James. I just wanted to share some observations from my experience on your topic. I've found that it's virtually impossible to get every footbag player (Net, Squares, Hackers and what have you) in one place for regular weekly sessions. You're right, there are lots of players just in and around the city. One of the reasons, I think, for jams being spread out is just out of sheer convenience. Sometimes you just want to play right away and you don't want to drive or take public transportation for an hour or whatever, it's just easier to get a few players together that live near by and shred.

Also consider the different disciplines/games that we all play. Jon has no reason to visit a Welles park session if all we do is play serious 4-square. Conversely, I have little reason to go out to Palatine when everyone there shreds hard (I don't freestyle anymore, if you didn't already know) and net players have little reason to come to either place if no one wants to play net with them. There could many different reasons people may not show up; varying dedication to the sport, family obligations, lack of transportation, work, etc, etc. The list can go on and on. Believe me, I've heard more than my fair share of excuses. The point is, all that can come into play for regular sessions.

Big sessions are not impossible, just don't expect everybody to be able to come all the time. It also takes lots of communication and plenty of advance notice. You simply cannot expect dozens of players to show up if you just post on modified 2 days before a jam. Being able to communicate effectively when plans change is important too. If a jam is canceled or changed you need to get a hold of everyone to notify them. Jon, Dan, Tom and I have all been at a session alone when everyone else bailed. That shit SUCKS!

On a more positive note, I have had some success the past year where we've had big sessions with shred, 4-square, and net all being played at the same time. I'm hoping for similar, if not better results this year. This may have started with the huge turnout for CIC's B-day Jam in 2006.

Zeke wrote:Those in attendance:
Zeke
Reile
Marianne
Zach
Tom
Nathan A
Kamil
Damien
Ron
Josh R
Jake
Tim
Brian
Shawn
Jon
Chris O
Jeff
Freddy
Chris
Josh
Marty
Tony
Nathan
Obed
Cudo
Scott D
Alex
Scot H
Corey
Tony B
Greg
Reid
Eric
Al
Al's freind

HOLY SHIT THIS WAS HUGE!!!! It was a bigger turnout turn out than last years Midwest Regionals. Thanks to everyone for attending, I hope you all had a good time.

Everyone from that list is a local player except for Zach J. who came all the way from Michigan to celebrate 6 years if Chicago Inner Circle. That event helps to show whats possible when everything works out. I'm sure free food helped

Now if were talking about talking big jams every so often, then I see more chances of success. Getting everyone together at the free festivals like Buesfest and Taste of Chicago in downtown has been almost tradition for years now and is a great place to start. There are ususally quite a few hack circles too that you can jump in. Thousands of people, food and plenty of other distractions when we're all not playing.

The following quote was in regard to NYJ a few years back and may not be right on topic but the point he makes is still very important. It's great that you're taking some initiative but don't let it stop there. Take that extra step and make things happen yourself. It's takes plenty of effort and returns may not come right away (ask anyone thats been to ALL the NYJs) and people may not always appreciate your hard work but you do it because you really love the sport.

C-Fan wrote:Part of the reason footbag has been so slow to develop, is that so many people in the community have the attitude that promoting the sport is the responsibility of other people, instead of taking initiative themselves.

"Why doesn't the IFPA sanction this event?"

-Did you ASK them to sanction it?

"Why isn't there a tournament in my state?

-Why don't you organize one?

"Why don't the people at footbag.org...?"

-As Eric pointed out: the people at footbag.org ARE US.

"I'm too lazy to wipe my own ass. Why isn't Steve Goldberg hiring somebody to wipe it for me?"

-Seriously, taking the attitude that OTHER people have the responsibility to make footbag great is really pathetic.

When I arrived at Cornell, I wanted people to play with. So what did I do? I looked for people, then I made a club. Then I recruited with my club. *BAM*, now I have people to play with. I wanted a tournament, so what did I do? I organized one, and people came.

If you want IFPA to sanction your event, then YOU need to be the one contacting them. Better yet, join the IFPA yourself and help them be more active. But complaining on an internet forum how they should be more active in seeking out your event is just lame.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi.

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 22 Jan 2008 12:28

hell yea ! that is like what i wanted to hear, because i definetly want to take initiative...and maybe my definition of Jam is messed up

I want to try and set up like an EVENT in the summer, and i know me and my buddies can set it up and eventually contact everyone

i mean like getting a buttload of us to all go to the city party at hotels and find a place to shred and go out to eat n everything together and have a full out footbag weekend...it could definetly work and im down for organizing it

if anyone else would want to try to help that would rock but me n the palatiners can and will figure something out fir the beginning of summer to start off the summer with a bang

zeke thanks for the input i totally know wut ur saying too, and im gonna spread footbag so hard , footbag wont like me anymore !

anyone else with input please feel free, or if u want to help us organize an event

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 22 Jan 2008 12:31

also how do i join/contact ifpa?

JeffRichards · Post by **JeffRichards** » 22 Jan 2008 16:15

crazylegs32 wrote:James will scare Reid

Jam it up! I'll come...

but develop this more...

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 22 Jan 2008 19:39

yea heffs, haha im definetly fuckin organizing this thing its gonna be sick

quadgun · Post by **quadgun** » 22 Jan 2008 21:27

Does James look like Dan?

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 23 Jan 2008 11:03

Maybe bigger than Dan! Dan was (IS) scary in a different way though.

crazylegs32 wrote:New Palatine shredder- James. I think he will beat out ales and Maraxus in the muscles dept. and he shreds after only 3 months. Ive been peeing in the local water tank and its paying off in Jenkem!

James, You can start on http://www.footbag.org/ to look up IFPA.

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 23 Jan 2008 11:46

brian and i are hoping to visit chicago this summer (heads up zeke and reile) to look around at agencies and rentals. we are down for any jam, or simply just kicking with whoever can be there. we aren't sure if we will do our trip during the "normal" summer, or if we would do it during midwesterns.

anyway, if you plan an event during the summer (midwesterns or whatever) then brian and i will try to make it, and hopfully convince the rest of tennessee to come too.

ps. when thinking about the date of this event, keep in mind of college schedules... and work days.
pps. how busy is chicago on the 4th of july?
ppss. i wish i could coast on the fun i had at nyj, but i just cant get enough of you see-eye-sees

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 23 Jan 2008 12:23

I'm down, James. We do have good sized jams here and there But I'm totally in to help out if u set something up - it would be a nice change of pace.
How old are you again? dead babies.

LOL @ Kamil

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 23 Jan 2008 17:10

i just turned 17, buttt im no little boy

when i say i want to organize an event , i mean it... and like a big one

i just am having trouble where to start like is it easier then it seems?

pick a good weekend in the beginning of summer, find a hotel we can all afford and have a place to shred ? and then let everyone know of it? and it would own if we could have like net, 4 square, routines

, and all the other stuff combo generator sick 3.... like full blown

im gonna join the ifpa thing tonight and get crackin

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 23 Jan 2008 17:20

Learn how to run an event

JSACK · Post by **JSACK** » 23 Jan 2008 17:26

that link isnt working like it brings up the thread but not the thing u want me to see, ne thing else?

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 23 Jan 2008 17:28

Whoops, should have read the thread. Sorry.

quadgun · Post by **quadgun** » 23 Jan 2008 17:58

Don't listen to her ... she knows nothing.