Framing Ed at Sea

[nona powers]

The Mexican cruise turned out so well, I offered to put together an Autumn
Color cruise from Montreal to Boston, October 7-14th 2006. Cabins start at
$1659 to $2289 each person.

We'll do an architectural tour of Montreal the day before we sail for those
who want to. There is the most beautiful Cathedral there, we'll go into
Old Montreal and see some modern buildings that are interesting as well.
Boston has one of the best museums in the united States, in fact two of them
close together, so we'll do a museum visit before we head for home.

I must have 20 cabin commitments to do the cruise, $350 deposit to hold your
cabin. Education at sea will be included at $20 per class.

Julie had a cocktail party arranged, bottles of wine and a special dinner in
the exclusive restaurant on board at no extra fee. We had a very good time.
A cruise is fun when you know other people on board with like interests.
After the cruise I sent everyone a certificate with the classes they had
taken listed for tax purposes.

If you can go or have questions call Julie at 1 800-925-8543 before February
1st.

 

[nona powers]

No one on TG likes cruising huh? I didn't think I would like it much then my husband and I went to Alaska and cruising is about the only way to see much of it. I've been to 49 states (need North Dakota). It was fun, relaxing and THE FOOD!!!

I really liked doing the education cruise because it kept me away from the buffet for a few hours and I learned something. Every single couple that went on the Mexican trip wants to repeat, if that gives any reassurance. A couple of people went on the last trip that weren't framers and still had a good time.

At any rate, give it some thought. With this group, the conversation at dinner would be something.

 

[gemsmom]

At least this one is not clear across the country for me. I could actually drive home.

What cruise line?

Nona, I got a chuckle out of "framing Ed at sea". What? Are we going to shadowbox Ed on the ocean?

 

[Paul N]

Hi Nona:

The problem with cruising (if there is such a thing) and education, is that they are in conflict. Not always though, read on.

I have been on over 70 cruises, business (I used to work for Cunard Line) and pleasure. The only cruises where people would willingly sit and learn something are: Cruises to no where (for example, 2 days from Boston out to sea and back). Nothing to see, nothing to distract people, so they go to class between visits to the buffet). Or when the weather is bad, same result.

But if you're cruising the French Riviera, or Montreal during the autumn / foliage season, people will not really sit in a class and forgo all the scenery!!

Best solution: There are cruises where the ship spends x number of "days at sea".

For example, the ship is sailing for 7 days from Point A to point B. Those days when the ship is not in port, are called days at sea, and those would be the perfect days for lectures / education. You have a captured audience, they have nowhere to go!

By the way, for around $2289 per person (sometimes less), one could sail on one of the top 5 ships in the world (Seabourn), with everything inclusive (from unlimited Caviar to unlimited wines and champagnes) for 1 week. Only air is extra. And, all cabins are suites.

Only problem with that, attendees might be all liquored up....

 

[Whynot]

Paul,

Nona's addicted to cruising and "framing ed at sea" is just a passably good business pretext in her case. She doesn't make a secret of it.

To sell a product one's best shot is to show his potential buyers why they need that product, not why he loves same product, and Nona is proving to be a poor salesperson every time it comes to selling "Education at sea" invitations like this.
First, she does seem to believe that grumblers frame as a hobby, are well to do, rich people with much spare time at their disposal. If she read The Grumble, she would have learned otherwise: Grumblers ponder buying at $.45 vs. $.90 and make or loose the equivalent of one cheap “ed at sea” ticket in one long year of hard, dedicated framing work at their bench on land.
Secondly, from now to Christmas this is framers' busiest period of the year. Inviting them at sea now would be equally insensitive as trying to cold sell them new picture frame lines on Saturday afternoons. If she only read on TG...
Thirdly, since better and less expensive education is always available to every studious grumbler out there, it is obvious that Nona is better advised to sell the content, not the packaging as she does now. She needs to sell see cruising, not sex, ed or food at sea. While many are sex, ed or food lovers, not that many do it at sea for $1659 up to $2289 a piece.

 

[Jay H]

Framing Ed at sea? Sounds like a murder mystery to me. How does Ed feel about it?

 

[Emibub]

Yeah, I have to say I wondered who Ed was and what he had done to warrant being framed at sea. Then I had to wonder if that was literally framed or framed as in set up for something. Either way good luck to Ed!

 

[nona powers]

See I told you the conversation at dinner would be something else.

Problem is, I'm not trying to sell the cruise. No rah rah here, just I would like to go and if anyone else would like to join me, come on aboard. if not, OK. There are lots of framers who can afford it easily, some who would just chose to afford it and the first of October is just before the crush starts. Nothing like meeting the crush rested and full.

The education would have to be worked in, but it could be. When we did Mexico we did do the classes while we were at sea. I'm sure we could find the time somewhere and it would be a tax deduction if you were going for the education..... maybe. The line is a very good one, Holland America.

At any rate, Ed, my husband Joe and I would like at least 20 couples to join us to see the gorgeous colors of the eastern coast. Call Julie if you can go 1-800-925-8543.

 

[Baer Charlton]

Less than 10% of the population have been into a custom frame shop.

28% think of Hawaii as an exotic foreign country, not as the 50th state.

Less than 8% of the US population have been outside the USA once. [That includes all military. Day trips to Mexico or Canada]

Less than 4% have been out 3+ times.[same criterian as above].

Less than 1% have been out of the USA more than 5 times, other than Canada and Mexico.

Less than 5% of US tourists ever take cruises.

So if Nona fills a second set of 20 couples.... she's doing better than the usual travel industry.

Go NONA!!

 

[nona powers]

If your percentages are correct, sounds to me like I have a ready made market. It's time more people learn the joy of vacations and cruising.

I ask in my color classes how many people have never been out of the country and I don't rmember when I've seen a hand go up. Maybe I just teach well traveled people.

 

[nona powers]

I did want to add that the price is a bit high because it is the peak season for autumn color and the trip starts from Montreal, a beautiful place to visit. There were cheaper trips, but not as good.

 

[Baer Charlton]

Nona, The qualifier to the question that you ask, may be "How many of you have been out of the country 3 times, OTHER than to Mexico or Canada.

Being from San Diego, I'm sure you know people who have just run down to Rosarita beach for dinner and an over night. Or event the group that just runs over to Pepe's for dinner in TJ...

Then there is Mar, who runs home to Canada every night.

Sometimes it is the air travel to and from that can be a killer....

I wonder what could be put together on the Delta Queen running up or down ol' Miss?

 

[Al E]

It's hard enough framing on solid ground I can'imagine a class at sea in rough weather. Paper cuts would be the least of your problems. Well, I guess if it gets bad one could take a break and go to the billiard room for a game of 8 ball.

 

[nona powers]

The Old Miss might happen, but it might not, so you have to take the opportunity when it presents itself.

On the cruise to Mexico the classes that were taught did not require glass or cutting mats, nor would it. Everyone liked what was presented, but mostly the classes were one hour in length, a couple were two, and the only hands on was a gold leafing class. Yes Don Berkman had us laying gold leaf on the high seas, Well moulding on the high seas, not the high seas. Oh you know what I meant! The other classes were subject driven except one where we just talked framing. It got pretty lively. Can you imagine a bunch of TGer's on the high seas talking framing? Goodness, what a class that would be.

 

[Jay H]

I'm in the group that would do this in a millisecond if I could afford it. A cruise is very high atop my wife and my list of things to do before we die. Ironically Vegas is also. I hope to participate soon. Probably not this time though.