George Hrab - Singer, song writer, skeptic, entertainer, visitor
For those that don't know Geo he is a musician and podcaster of some repute within the Skeptical community. He's also a speaker at TAM Australia which is why we have this opportunity.
His music is interesting. I've paid actual money and purchased everything he's produced so far. His latest album, Trebuchet, was released on his podcast to the world, for free. Many of us had been waiting for this for quite a while and it seems to have paid off. It's also available for anyone to redistribute. So, if you're interested in hearing his latest album, press play;
If you've not heard his podcast this is the latest (at the time of this post). I find it really entertaining. It's one of the top 2 that I hang out for every week. It has such wonderful segments as "Religious Moron of the week" (often more than one), "Interesting Fauna", "Rupert McClanahan’s Indestructible Bastards" and "Ask George, not the bible". If we're lucky his mum may even call in too. :) Anyway, here's the latest one as of the posting of this entry.
So, in order to get him here, providing we can fit it in his schedule, we need to raise some funds.
Before we figure that out though, how many people would be interested in coming to Christchurch for a very special SitP meetup with a very entertaining Entertainer?
yes yes and yes
would like to see / hear Geo live. More than happy to chip in for flights etc to
I'd drive to Chch for this ...
Gold, if we can get Geo to come to Christchurch, I'd drive up from Dunedin for it! Plus, I have 5 or 6 seats free in my car (the last one depending on "seat width" of the occupant!) and I'd be happy to bring other skeptics up with me. And back :-)
The next thing we need to do
The next thing we need to do is figure out how to raise the funds.
We have an offer for affordable teeshirt printing and I've been thinking of running a logo design competition for a while. Just need the time to actually put something together on the site.
Geo has also offered to do a show while here so we could presell tickets.
What do people think?
Do we have any other ideas?
Raising funds ...
Perhaps nogod.org.nz might be able to combine support for a Geo concert with teeshirts of their chosen logos ...
Actually, what funds need to be raised? Are we looking at a return airfare to Oz + accommodation?
Funds needed will be the
Funds needed will be the flight from Oz to Chch, any internal flights (at least one to Auckland), accommodation (Checking to see if he's okay with the idea of couch surfing) and potentially a portion of the flight home (if departing from NZ is going to be more than departing from Oz (I suspect, discussing this with him now.))
t shirts or a trade me auction
perhaps a signed all black shirt from timtam Australia
Just donated, got 11% of the
Just donated, got 11% of the total needed now!
We need to figure out some
We need to figure out some way of spreading the word on this a little further. :) @podblack, from Perth, West Island, has been getting the information out there. She's put this together and is passing it around the Skeptic/rationalist/humanist/atheist groups over there;
I'm awaiting a list of contacts from Vicki at the moment to spread this too. Hopefully that will get noticed a bit.
Update
Hey all,
Geo is really quite pressed for time. He's currently looking at potentially 3-4 days in New Zealand and he's trying to work out if he's able to get to Adelaide or not.
If he does work Adelaide into his schedule we'll be looking at one show here in Christchurch. If not he may be up for 2 shows (Christchurch and Auckland).
I'll keep people posted as I find out more.