So...I have a couple ideas I want to propose. Tell me if they're crazy or not...
 
1. A SONAR user's meeting. This would be  held in Nashville, and would be open to anyone willing to come here for a day. We could compare notes, teach each other tricks, I could do some demos (maybe even do a SONAR-based performance), we could order pizza for everyone...have a jam with some Les Pauls or something...whether it made sense or not would depend on how many people would be interested, but I see it as a more or less all-day "meet and greet." If there were enough people we could probably occupy a restaurant or something. Maybe I could even convince Henry J to make a guest appearance if he's in town (the odds are against it, but you never know...).
 
2. "SONAR in the Real World" tour. I'd rent a car for a week or so, and visit SONAR users based in Tennessee but maybe also go into Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, or the Carolinas. I'd do videos where we'd go over projects and figure out ways to improve the mixes or master them or whatever. If this sounds like shameless ripoff of Sound on Sound's "Mix Rescue," it's close.  I think it would be cool to meet SONAR users, see how they use the program, check out their studios, show them some tricks, and learn from them. The videos could be posted on line. This wouldn't be about "stars," but about real people doing what they like to do with SONAR. This would require Gibson loaning me to Cakewalk for a week, but Henry J likes interesting ideas so he might go for it.
 
I haven't discussed this with anyone from Gibson or Cakewalk, but they like surprises . Crazy? Cool? Dumb? Interested? Not interested? Comments?

Nashville? We all know NYC and LA are the real music centers.

I want to keep the travel budget down, and I'm in Nashville - "Music City, USA."  It's not just country anymore and hasn't been for quite some time. Jack White lives around here, and there's quite a metal scene. NIN sold out the Bridgestone arena. Of course if the concept is a hit, then we could do it in other places.
 
But FWIW, I've done hundreds of seminars/get-togethers in 38 states, 10 countries, and three languages. New York and LA are the worst places to try to get people together for this kind of thing. The best-attended seminar I ever did for a single, one-time-only event that wasn't part of something else was about 300 people in San Antonio, Texas. Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, Seattle, Vancouver, Mexico City, Dallas, Portland, Copenhagen, Sacramento...those are the kinds of places where people really turn out. You can get more participation in Lubbock, Texas than in LA.
 
Prior to Gibson, I was asked to consult about a series of seminars another company was planning to do. The first thing I said was "Well whatever you do, don't do New York or LA." They were taken aback and didn't believe me. They ended up canceling the New York one because not enough people signed up (and it was free), and the LA one went ahead but attendance was way below expectations.

#1 is a great idea. #2 is good but probably would reach fewer people.

konradh
#1 is a great idea. #2 is good but probably would reach fewer people.

I dunno, #2 would generate videos which I think could be pretty popular. Actually Konrad, YOU should be one of the people I visit!! I still think your CD is extremely cool.

Yeah I know, just a little joke. I know Nashville is right up there with those cities for music.
 
Hmm, that's weird. I never would've thought that would be the case especially with all the people in the NY and LA metropolitan areas. Have you ever figured out why people don't turn out to these types of events in NY or LA?

Sort of like Presonusphere.

Maybe do a webcast so those of us in other countries can participate at some level.

Anderton 
I haven't discussed this with anyone from Gibson or Cakewalk, but they like surprises . Crazy? Cool? Dumb? Interested? Not interested? Comments?

They're not surprised now, are they
I like both ideas.
The Nashville meet and greet sounds enticing, but I really like the other idea.
 
"I think it would be cool to meet SONAR users, see how they use the program, check out their studios, show them some tricks, and learn from them. The videos could be posted on line. This wouldn't be about "stars," but about real people doing what they like to do with SONAR."
 
This really grabs me. Periodic road trips to various parts of the country(not just the Southeast), to visit Sonar user studios. If the powers that be approved it, visits to our overseas friends would be cool, but that would probably be a push.  Certainly the power users would be cool to see, but how inspiring would it be for new users to see the countless, more modest studios in use?
There is a fantastic interactive vibe going between Cakewalk and the user base right now, and this would be in tune with that.

I like the road trip idea, maybe if you got close enough, and if not, we would all get the videos :)
 
 

It's not possible for me to be personally involved but I'd love to watch any videos that result from these trips.