On The Move - The U2 Conference is Postponed
Dear Friends of the U2 Conference,
I’m sorry to bring this news to you, but it’s a bad news / good news sort of announcement. So please read on.
We have a great conference in the making. We have a great topic, a great line-up of featured speakers, and great papers accepted for presentation. What we don’t have right now is a great (or even good) economy. The travel and tourism industry is being hit hard and all around us we are seeing events either being scaled back or canceled. The reality of a weak economy is hitting academic institutions and their plans for conferences as well.
Cedarville University, the hosting institution for the U2 Conference, informed me late last week that they don’t feel good about going ahead with it in New York City this May. The forecast for how many people would be able to come just didn’t look encouraging enough.
I would like to make this conference as affordable as possible for all of you who want to be there. My team is working on a new plan to make this a reality. I guess you could say we are going away for awhile to dream it all up again, in search of another time and another place.
With U2 on tour in the United States later this year and into next year, it opens up some possibilities for having the conference in a city close to their concert dates. Waiting until the fall of 2009 or the spring of 2010 also allows some time for the economy to improve.
If you have any suggestions, you could post a comment here or contact me.
If you haven’t signed up for e-mail alerts from the U2 Conference, please do so. That’s the best way to get the latest news from us.
Thanks for reading and please stay tuned,
Scott Calhoun
Conference Director
PS: Sorry - I forgot to add that refunds will be issued for registrants. And for those who were selected to come make a presentation, please keep an eye out for an e-mail coming your way. Thanks!
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Oh what a bummer, please don’t take it away from the East Coast!!! Scott, I have been hearing a lot of grumbling about the cost from people on one of the fanclub sites than I’m connected to. I’ve been a fan for 28 years now and plan on doing my best to get to this convention, but with the economy the way it is I too have to do some planning for this. I sure hope it continues to go on. Sounds so exciting. I do have one other suggestion…..you could bring it to Philadelphia! Just don’t take it away from the East Coast….Please!!!!!!
Comment by Doris — February 20, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Dear Scott,
Please don’t take it away from New York! It is such a great city for it. (I live just outside!) I am a member of the @U2 forum and I really wanted to meet Matt! No @U2 events take place here so it would be so sad to have it go somewhere else. The band loves this city. Please don’t take it away from the city they wrote a song about. Thanks so much. Oh and I have been a fan for 28 years also.
Comment by Lisa Zeitlinger — February 20, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
I second Doris’s comments, including the Philly request.
Comment by David — February 20, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Yes, don’t take it too far away indeed. I’m coming from Ottawa to present, and, as a student, can’t afford to travel much farther than New York. Any refunds planned, at the moment?
Comment by Jordan Berard — February 20, 2009 @ 10:14 pm
I agree with previous comment on keeping it on the east coast, though even better- keeping it in NYC! I know if it’s anywhere else I will not be able to attend. And while many people WILL have to travel, what location would be better or fairer than the Big Apple (think of the numbers of fans that actually reside in NYC as well). Thanks! Looking forward to the updates…
Comment by ckardas — February 20, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
[...] Back in November I announced an academic conference focused on the music and message of the Irish rock band, U2. As it turns out, the conference, “U2: The Hype and the Feedback,” which was supposed to be held in NYC on 13-15 May 2009, has been postponed.The primary reason for the postponement is economic; the university hosting the conference pulled the plug due to projected participant numbers. You can read the full explanation here. [...]
Pingback by Codex: Biblical Studies Blogspot » Blog Archive » U2 Conference Postponed (Yipee!) — February 20, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
I’m sorry to hear this. Is there any chance to organize a different meeting using the technology?
With Skype or other media you can connect together places and people, meanwhile you get a real location next year!
Best of luck
Comment by germana — February 20, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
Moving it to the Cedarville area would make it really affordable! Hotel prices in that part of Ohio are well under $100 a night.
Comment by Grace — February 21, 2009 @ 1:33 am
I just added a PS about issuing refunds. Sorry for causing any alarm. - Scott
Comment by Scott — February 21, 2009 @ 1:37 am
I’m living overseas now, but should be back to the States this fall. So, no way I could come this May. But, I’d definitely consider attending an East Coast conference, especially if it were tied to the dates before or after a U2 show
Comment by Peggy — February 21, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
Disappointing but fully understand - I was flying over from the UK for the Conference, I guess my only plea would be to get as much notice as possible to be able to rebook and make new plans as I wouldn’t want to miss this fantastic event. I agree with the comments about tying it in with a U2 show - although I am planning to get across to see as many as I can this would make it even more worthwhile.
Comment by Mark — February 21, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
I echo the disappointment that has already been expressed here, but I do understand the economic pressures that has made postponing the conference necessary. I also echo the call not to take the conference away from NYC- a wonderful, international city for a wonderful, international conference- seething with rock and roll energy as it is (of course I’m biased, it’s my city, where I live, and just so much more convenient for me than anywhere else)! I am very, very glad the conference has been merely postponed and not cancelled, as I too would have been presenting a paper, I look forward to as much advance notice as possible for the new dates/location as I, like everyone else, will have to make travel arrangements if the conference is no longer in NYC, will have to take off time from work, etc.
I hope that accepted papers will still be accepted for presentation when the conference is rescheduled and we will not have to resubmit abstracts…please let us know on that front!
Thanks to the conference committee for all your hard work, I can only imagine how disappointed you must be! I do have faith that the show will go on…
Comment by Rachel E. Seiler — February 23, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
We do plan to keep the program in-tact as much as possible. Once accepted, always accepted, Rachel.
Comment by Scott — February 23, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Thanks for keeping us in the loop. I agree with NY being the best place for it.
Comment by Jeff Danielian — February 25, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
Yes, to echo what was said above: despite this unfortunate circumstance, a HUGE thank you to Scott and all of the organizers for dreaming up this conference, and for continuing to stick behind it. When it does happen, it will be great!
Comment by Jordan Berard — February 26, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Thanks, Scott for confirming that “one accepted, always accepted” RE: presentation proposals
Again, thanks for all your hard work and your commitment to this event!
Comment by Rachel E. Seiler — February 27, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
It happened to us (People from Argentina) in 2001.
A similar situation with the economy and the social issues
I hope you can resolve it, because it’s a good idea.
I wish you the best,
good luck
Comment by Vanesa — March 3, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
Philadelphia is a great idea - easy and cheap to get to, and the prices for holding a conference are significantly cheaper than NY.
Comment by Sharon — March 30, 2009 @ 3:16 pm