If you plan to attend this year's CarverFest here are some details you'll be observing.
As outlined on CarverAudio the 'Pecking Order' was established in 2012 by Tom Reitz to maximize benefit for our gracious hosts and attendees. Mention had been made in 2007 after the inaugural CarverFest that an overwhelming response may indeed require some sort of management of reservation activity. In light of the interest in Bob's amp build we made a few upgrades to get more folks attending while enhancing use of the limited space available.
This will be my 12th CarverFest, I look forward to seeing y'all there.
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A little Carverfest history for those not there…
Carverfest began in 2007 with a circle of folks on the forum that decided to do a get together in a beautiful spot to share their like interest in audio and specifically Carver gear. Carverfest began with three cabins for a three day event and a lot of sharing of the space, food, music and gear.
The experience for the group at the first gathering was so positive that it was quickly decided that it was not to be a one off, indeed, it was so much fun that more was wanted. So year two expanded to become a five day event. 2008 was the miracle year. In that contact was established with Bob Carver directly and lo and behold, he was interested and honored to come and be involved. This of course, multiplied interest in attending.
Since then the Fest has been so much fun that it expanded to include the two weekends at each end of a week to binge on music, equipment and food with friends. Then 10 days was so much fun, that the event grew to two full weeks. Attendance varies as you’d expect with the necessity of vacation time available, having the money to do so and the inevitable things that come along in day to day life.
2011 was a memorable year for the Fest as Bob offered a chance to build an EL84 tube power amp for a remarkable price. This drew many new folks that generally found the experience so positive they either returned in future years or wished they could. The Fest almost fully booked up the hill that year.
So with a new, outstandingly cool tube amp build coming from Bob for the 2018 Carverfest and a lot of new interest, it’s time to take another look at the way we coordinate the bookings and the opportunity for folks to get there to experience all that goes on at the greatest audio get together there is.
The council of elders, the originators of the Fest, came up with these basic principles many years back…
The "pecking" order.....
The members who have stayed at the cabins that they have been in, provided they have stayed there the entire time the years before and the prior year, have first say on getting the same cabin.
The members that have stayed in the same cabin for years [including the year before] but have not rented the cabin for the entire time risk losing their cabin for the next year [including this year] to folks that wish to rent the same cabin for the entire time.
The members that have stayed in the same cabin the entire time for years [including the year before] have first say in acquiring a cabin in which is not rented for the entire time. Consideration and respect is appreciated, with regards to this and abuse will not be tolerated.
If and when it comes down to folks losing their cabin one year due to financial considerations or other unforeseen reasons [excluding serious health issues], those members will have to "re-earn" their place in the pecking order. No exceptions.
Extended stays both before and after Carverfest qualify a member for absolutely nothing. That is their decision and it has nothing to do with the event itself. Do not ever expect to think that you can acquire a cabin based upon the premise that you will be staying longer than someone. When the event is over, you are more than welcome to move over to that cabin or the cabin of your choice, provided the Watershed Cabins don't already have a reservation. One further note on this....if the forum members requested a late checkout, please respect this and honor the time they requested.
Talking to and making arrangements with those forum members that may have the cabin you wish to stay in is not only welcome but emphatically encouraged. A friendly and professional atmosphere is what we strive for, what Bob Carver expects and it is what is expected of each and every forum member not only attending but on the forum as well. We are better than petty arguments or disputes over a certain cabin. The end result is that we are blessed enough to stay at some luxury log cabins in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina while enjoying the various rigs that folks bring. I know of no other venue quite like this and it sure does beat staying in a generic "luxury" hotel.....which is unfortunately where most audio events are typically held at.
Please not the references to "full time", "entire time" was referring to the length the Fest was in 2012, a 10 day event. Plus... "Do not ever expect to think that you can acquire a cabin based upon the premise that you will be staying longer than someone." ...is in the context of referring to staying longer than that 10 days.
The Watershed Cabins, that act as our host for this event, have treated us to very amazing prices in return for our effort to maximize cabin bookings. This is a big part of the basis for the above rules. Plus it gives those that have participated the previous year the first chance to be able to repeat their experience.
It can’t be said much better than Tom’s words when the pecking order was originally laid out…
"The main goal of these decisions will be to insure that the most gracious host of the event (Watershed Cabins) gets what they rightfully deserve. That being profit. The Watershed Cabins and their owners have bent over backwards to provide the members of this forum a luxurious get-away in the beautiful mountain of North Carolina at a SUBSTANTIAL rate reduction that the regular public is not privy too. In return, I try to make things as easy for them as possible and to get them the most amount of profit out of what little they make from us (compared to the normal rates). The staff at Watershed has gone above and beyond the call of duty on numerous occasions and they have consistently done things for Carverfest that cost them money and they would definitely not do for regular clientele.
It is for this reason I try to make the best outcome for them, so in return they will keep providing the outstanding service as well as pricing that we have been privy to experience and in a way…come to expect. That said, a new “pecking order” will be laid down so that there is no confusion as to who may get what cabin and why certain members may not get what cabin they really wanted. This not only benefits the cabins but the entire group in the long run. We need it to be a win-win situation for all parties involved…"
So to help facilitate the maximization of bookings and the access to space for all, we have come to agreement with Watershed on the following additional clarifications.
- All bookings come through the forum. We are returning to notifying them who’s where for what stay. The forum list is the official booking list and then Watershed accepts the payment as always. So you come here to this website first and when it’s agreed to, you can arrange the booking with Watershed and they will know what you are booking before you contact them.
- Due to the 14 day length that Carverfest has grown to and the demand for space, there will be opportunity to book the first week or second week in a cabin if it’s not committed to by someone for the full duration. Shorter stays fall in lesser priority than longer and cannot be booked until those booking for one of the weeks or the full 14 day stays have been given first opportunity. If two parties can agree in advance upon a week each at a cabin then it’s the same priority as any party booking for the full 14 days. Your rental price though for each individual is as established by your booked stay.
Dates to remember for Carverfest 2018…
Carverfest 2018 is September 5th-19th. Week one bookings are 9/5 to 9/12. Week two is 9/12 to 9/19.
Two months out (or sooner) make deposit….One half deposit is due to Watershed by July 4th. So any commitments not acted upon by this date are released back for others interested. Any cabins not booked for 1 or 2 week commitments are available for agreement for lesser stays as of this date.
One month out…Payments to Watershed are due in full by August 6th. Cabins released from Carverfest hold and opened to be available to be booked by the public.
Some important fine print, so please read carefully…
As commented on in the past….one party is booking the cabin and is responsible for it and the full price for it to Watershed for the agreed upon stay. So you are responsible for the cabin and its contents. If some damage occurs, you are responsible for it. See the Watershed rental agreement for full details on this.
If you agree to allow someone to stay with you, whether it’s a bedroom, a futon or a corner on the porch, your agreement with that or those parties is between you. But the person on the contract with Watershed is the responsible renter, so chose wisely and know if they cancel at the last minute for any reason, it doesn’t change your commitment to Watershed. You may want to request their monetary contribution up front, when you’re making your payment and make sure you have an agreement that you are comfortable covers the details.
If you are unable to attend the full 14 days, you are encouraged to coordinate 7 day stays with a second party and get it booked as early as possible. If unable to book for a full 7 or 14 day stay for whatever reason, then start working the forum for someone agreeable that has space they can provide. Folks can be very agreeable as it helps to reduce their total vacation costs.
One other thing to point out….Attendees have brought valuable and irreplaceable equipment to Carverfest along with many fine pieces of equipment of all kinds of brand names. (We get to see some pretty cool stuff!) Plus we have a very open door attitude and love to host people coming by our cabins and show them what we’ve got and how it sounds. But it’s been universally agreed that we just want to know who is who at the fest in return. By posting up names and locations they are staying, we have a chance to know who it is coming through our doors.
By no means should this be interpreted as discouraging visitors to drop-by, it’s just that we want to know folks and who’s around. So if someone is coming for a visit or any stay, it should be posted in advance and if it’s a drop-in then they should have a host that is showing them around. Many a person that was a newbie at one time or the other has become friends or even like family (or better). We want to continue feeling comfortable with our guests and have them inversely enjoy having taken the time and expense to come to Carverfest. Nowhere else will you find folks more welcoming and generous than at Carverfest…let’s enable that attitude to continue to grow in Bob’s spirit of openness and friendliness.
And finally, Watershed has agreed to add four additional cabins that are close by to the Carverfest cabin group with the same Carverfest price reductions as the original ones. These will fall under the same booking priority as those on the hill. Some very beautiful cabins…three are in close walking proximity to each other. Here is information on those four additional locations that are only a couple miles from the original Watershed group…
Cloud 8 - 3 bedroom 4 bath
Cloud 8
https://watershedcabins.com/listings/cloud-8/Image
Fontana View 1 - 2 bedroom 2 bath
Fontana View 1
https://watershedcabins....listings/fontana-view-1/
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Fontana View 2 - 2 bedroom 3 bath
Fontana View 2
https://watershedcabins....listings/fontana-view-2/
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Fontana View 3 - 5 bedroom 4 bath
Fontana View 3
https://watershedcabins....listings/fontana-view-3/
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After arrangement here on the forum for a cabin is completed, call Watershed and talk to Chris to arrange booking. He is the one knowledgeable of who is to book where and the discounts that can be applied as a member of the Carverfest group. Chris works basically 9-5, Monday through Friday and would like to get you taken care of. Calling otherwise and talking to others will get you incorrect pricing and if not arranged space with the forum list, it will later get cancelled. So talking with Chris to book (after arranging here), is who you want to contact at Watershed, the first time, every time.
Look forward to seeing you and sharing the priceless experiences of the Carverfest family this September!
I was there "At the Fest!" Hope you were too!
