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PlanetChristmas March 2007 Newsletter
It's About Time!
Welcome to your March 2007 edition of the PlanetChristmas newsletter! It is published almost every month and covers relative topics for the Christmas decorating enthusiast.
Here's what you can read about in this month's newsletter: __________
Our PLUS2007 Light-O-Rama Instructor
Editors note: I asked our PLUS2007 Light-O-Rama instructor to give us a little history about his lighting passion. Let Marty show you what's possible with your display!
by Marty Slack
Several years ago I began looking for ways to make my display more than just a bunch of bright lights. The lights had been a hit for several years, and they had always attracted crowds, but I wanted to do more. I wanted something spectacular that would be a worthwhile gift to my community.
One of the best things that happened at PLUS 2003 was when I met Dan Baldwin of Light-O-Rama in person. I had hundreds of questions about his new product. I spent what seemed like hours talking with Dan and having him show me what Light-O-Rama could do. I was sold. I knew that Light-O-Rama, coupled with the myriad of creative ideas flowing through my brain, was exactly what I needed to take my display to the next level. A few short months later Light-O-Rama was officially released and I was one of the very first customers.
That first PLUS sparked something inside of me and I knew that I would never be the same. But I had no idea how much my life would change. When I returned home to Utah I immediately began work on my display. I designed and built a giant metal archway to span my driveway. I built a life-size angel that would fly above the display. I built several small arches that would create a walking path through my display. I built mini tripod trees that would chase across the front yard. I bought a bubble machine and strobe lights. I built stars that would top my giant pine trees. I was inspired to give my display a name. I would call it "Christmas Utah."
It was around October when my first Light-O-Rama controllers arrived. I began learning how to use the software and started programming sequences. The work continued right up until the night after Thanksgiving when I held my lighting ceremony. The new Christmas Utah was an instant hit. Cards and letters started to pour in from complete strangers who had driven by to see the lights. They thanked me for my efforts. They told about the feelings that came over them as they watched the light show. For some it brought back memories of Christmas when they were small children. For others it brought a feeling of Christmas joy. Christmas Utah was changing lives and creating memories.
Following that successful Christmas season I was even more motivated. I continued to find new ways to create joy with my display. I built new display pieces and I spent time on the computer, programming new light sequences. In 2004 HGTV contacted me and asked if they could include my display in their special, "Outta Control Christmas." HGTV sent film crews two different times in November. The show aired several times during the Christmas season. 2005 and 2006 were both banner years at Christmas Utah.
After using Light-O-Rama for a few years I was learning the tricks that made an unforgettable light show. I learned that creating shows with Light-O-Rama is an art form. Through my experience I found ways to evoke emotions by coupling the right music with the right light effects. Every new computer sequence was better than the last.
The crowds kept coming. The lines of cars waiting to see the display got longer and longer. Often people waited in line for over an hour just to get a glimpse of the show. Once they finally arrived at the display they would be grinning from ear to ear. It was a magical experience. Christmas Utah was creating memories that would last and last. See some videos of the display at http://www.christmasutah.com Now it is time to attend another PLUS but I'll be teaching Light-O-Rama classes. I want you to learn all the tricks I have so your display will be that much better. There's no sense for you making the same mistakes. If you use Light-O-Rama products, I look forward to seeing you in my class. I might also learn something from you! Another editors note: Don't let humble Marty fool you. His display really is spectacular. He was the winner of the PlanetChristmas 2005 Worldwide Decorating Contest as well as the 2006 Light-O-Rama grand prize winner. Marty really knows his stuff! Click here to see his grand prize entry in the Light-O-Rama contest. He actually wrote a whole lot more. Check his blog at http://blog.planetchristmas.com
Putting On PLUS
Life on the Merchandise/Fund Raising/Patron Committee
Editors note: There's a lot going on behind-the-scenes to put on PLUS2007. I asked one of your Steering Committee members to give everyone some insight. Carrie couldn't wait to tell you what's going on. by Carrie Sansing
The first idea we had was the creation of the official PlanetChristmas
membership sign. If you've visited the merchandise
page on the PlanetChristmas site, you've seen them. I found a highly
recommended small local sign shop and worked out the details with
them. The owner of the shop turned out to be Christmas *nut* and we
negotiated a very fair price.
Our next idea was to write The
PlanetChristmas
Cooks! cook book. The
Steering Committee discussed it, approved, and Chris and I found
ourselves looking for a publisher. After a lot of searching, we found
the perfect partner, an Internet based publisher where we could log in,
type the recipes, and they would take care of the rest. We designed the
layout, prepared a cover design, and then the call went out for
submissions from our PC Family. Recipes poured in! It was all we could
do keep up with the typing. I'm here to tell you, we have some
outstanding cooks on PC and the recipes ran the gamut from favorite
holiday treats like delicious Marshmallow Meltaways, Rocky Road Bars and
Key Lime Pie, to tried and true main dishes, veggies, snacks, salads,
you name it, as well as a few funny ones (Wild Possum Kabobs, which uses
road kill, boiled water, and toast!) The cookbook is a wonderful
compilation created by and for our
PlanetChristmas
family. Anticipating a large demand, we decided to
order plenty to bring back after PLUS in order to make them available on
the web site. Pick one up on the merchandise page as we approach
PLUS2007.
After we had the signs and cookbooks under our belts, Chris and I talked
about what else could we do? Once again, we brainstormed. Chris
suggested we hold a Silent Auction, it sounded great to all of us on the
Committee. The money we raised with the Silent Auction became part of
the seed money for 2007. Anyone who was at 2005 will tell you, it really
was great fun. Please consider donating an item to the 2007 Auction. You
don't need to attend to donate, just contact either of us and we'll make
it easy for you.
What else do we do on our committee of two? From managing the databases
for the Harvard Business School Club, I borrowed the idea of a Patron
level. If it was good enough for Harvard, it was good enough for us!
The Patrons were treated with special attention and although we made a
few mistakes in 2005, we've learned from those mistakes and 2007
promises to be better than ever for our Patrons. If you're considering
it or want to know more, drop us a PM or email.
Speaking of the *giveaways*, that portion of our duties has been an
ongoing adventure. Finding the right merchandise at the right price
point is not as easy as it might appear. There are thousands of vendors
out there, thousands of items to choose from, and we have a unique group
we're buying for. We don't want to give away too much or we'll spoil
the surprise, but this year, every attendee will be receiving a gift bag
with some highly useful items in it. Want something extra special? Come
to PLUS to see what's new this year. T-shirts are always a favorite
and we'll have several to choose from as well as some other surprises.
It's been a good amount of work that goes on year round. Whenever
you click on the buy button on the merchandise page, the order is
routed through the
PlanetChristmas
servers, and forwarded to us. We package and
ship your items to you. Yes, there are little Christmas elves in
Illinois and Minnesota that work year round on behalf of PLUS. Has
it been worth it? You bet, its been a delight and an honor to work
on PLUS2005 and 2007. Chris and I both look forward to seeing you in
Gatlinburg this summer.
Another editors note: Carrie actually wrote a whole lot more. Check her blog at http://blog.planetchristmas.com
PlanetChristmas Tip of the Month
Ever thought about displaying your Christmas village year round? A great idea came in from Gypsy269. She found someone that put the village on top of the cabinets in the kitchen. Great idea!
PLUS2007 (Our bi-annual gathering August 2-4, 2007)
Our bi-annual gathering (called PlanetChristmas Lights Up Symposium or PLUS) is moving ahead and we're nailing down the final details on the wide range of educational classes being offered. If you've been to PLUS before, prepare for different classes with new instructors. If you've never been to PLUS, well, why not? It's the perfect place to share ideas and get inspiration for your 2007 display.
We're very lucky to have our very own Marty Slack teaching the Light-O-Rama classes. Marty won the PlanetChristmas 2005 Worldwide Decorating Contest and he was the 2006 Light-O-Rama grand prize winner. You probably saw him on TV during this last Christmas. Marty brings a wealth of knowledge and is eager to share it with the newbies as well as the old-timers.
Our vendor list continues to grow as the industry finds out about this premier event. If you know of a vendor that really needs to be at PLUS, we only have 500 square feet of space left, so send me an email ASAP.
PLUS2007 is in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, August 2-4, 2007. The www.PLUS2007.com website is online and accepting registrations for the event. Here's a hint: there's a special discount coupon on the front page of the website. Use it now before it expires.
Here's another hint: book your hotel room reservations now. Our block at the Glenstone lodge is just a few room nights away from being sold out. Keep an eye on the PLUS2007.com for hotel alternatives.
If you attended either of our major PlanetChristmas Lights Up Symposium (PLUS) events, you know a great time is in store. There is plenty being taught by the experts, but you also discover so much more sharing information with other enthusiasts and also talking directly to our vendors. The key to success for PLUS2007 is the continued growth of the PlanetChristmas community.
Blink Off (comparing some of the computerized lighting products at PLUS)
You've read all the info from the vendors about how you can synchronize your Christmas lights to music. At PLUS2007 we're going to pit them against each other to see who can make the best 16 channel, synchronized-to-music light show in 60 minutes. This is going to be fun and VERY educational! What are we going to call this little challenge? If the food industry can have a bake off, we can have a Blink Off! See ya at PLUS!
What's New at PlanetChristmas?
Our Blog service has been reborn. Check it out at http://blog.planetchristmas.com
The PlanetChristmas community has experienced tremendous growth. With so many of us, it's easy to misinterpret what's going on. Our three fundamental rules of family friendly, positive and Christmas centric guide what we say and do. The real key to our community is a willingness to exchange information so others can have better displays.
Checked the Chatroom Lately?
Talking about a gold mine of information, this is the place! If you haven't found it yet, go to http://www.planetchristmas.com/talk.htm. We've recently added more forums and made it a little easier to get around. Once you're a member, feel free to change the look and feel of the chatroom by going to "My Account/Preferences/Board Theme." Don't forget to update your profile so others can learn about your display. Also remember the part of the chatroom you can see when not logged in is indexed by the Internet search engines, but once you're a registered member, many new forums open up but are invisible to the search engines. PlanetChristmas believes strongly in protecting your privacy.
PlanetChristmas Radio is STILL on the Internet!
The PlanetChristmas radio station is still on-line and available to anyone with a fast Internet connection to tap into. Christmas music 24x7... even in the middle of Winter. How can you go wrong? Find the details at http://www.planetchristmas.com/PCRadio2007.htm
Newsletter Suggestion?
Have a suggestion for a main topic or want to write an article for a future PlanetChristmas newsletter? Send me an email: csmith@planetchristmas.com If you know someone that really should subscribe to your newsletter, send them to http://planetchristmas.com/lists/?p=subscribe
Next time: look forward to more Christmas decorating tips.
Chuck Smith of PlanetChristmas |
