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My name is Julian, and I run an informal Proz network in Edinburgh. The group has gone from strength to strength over the years, and now regularly attracts around 30 translators at our powwow meetup events.
As well as my work in languages, I also work as a writer and composer. Next week, it so happens that I will be in London for the launch of my recent chamber opera 'Breathe Freely', at Burlington House in Piccadilly.
The opera is set in 1943, in the world of wartime chemical research. As a translator and interpreter, language is never far from the surface of any of the music I write, and 'Breathe Freely' is no exception.
I thought it might be nice to invite London-based translators along to this free event, which includes a complimentary glass of wine and live performances of excerpts from the opera.
It would be great to meet some of you and swap stories and experiences. If you do want to come along, please book your free ticket at www.BreatheFreelyOpera.co.uk, where you will also find much more information about the piece. I look forward to meeting some of you on Tuesday!
NOBODY at Burlington House knew anything about this event. No signs, either, to say EXACTLY where/which part of Burlington House. Went there, asked everywhere, no signs, nobody knew. 3 hours journey, there and back. Thank you, Julian!!!
Nobody at Burlington House knew of the event, and no signs were placed for directions as to what part of Burlington House the event was housed. I was there, in the Courtyard of Burlington House, from 6.00 pm. hoping to first meet some collegues for a chat, before the anticipated musical event, which I was looking forward very much. I stuck around, with frequent visits from cafes to B.H. but all that I could see was the 'Trees' by iWeiWei. Shame, I missed it.
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Tina Colquhoun Local time: 09:36 Danish to English + ...
London powwows
Oct 15, 2015
Powwows in London seem to be poorly organised and poorly attended. I went to one some years ago. The organiser didn't even bother to show up. It was a disorganised meet-up in a pub. No structure. No agenda. That format seems to have been perpetuated by various organisers and it doesn't work. I gave up on them.
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In my experience of organising and attending them, they're informal chats over a drink, not committee meetings.
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Christine Andersen Denmark Local time: 10:36 Member (2003) Danish to English + ...
In Denmark we have a very successful conference
Oct 15, 2015
In recent years the annual Danish powwow has been a two-day event with a speaker on some topic relevant to translators - proofreading and editing, machine translation ...
... and for more than ten years we have had an agenda and discussed rates, client management, health and fitness, unions and associations, books and resources, computer security, CAT tools... and all sorts of topics. People come from all over the country and from abroad to join in and speak Danish. Then we usua... See more
In recent years the annual Danish powwow has been a two-day event with a speaker on some topic relevant to translators - proofreading and editing, machine translation ...
... and for more than ten years we have had an agenda and discussed rates, client management, health and fitness, unions and associations, books and resources, computer security, CAT tools... and all sorts of topics. People come from all over the country and from abroad to join in and speak Danish. Then we usually have a really good meal at a restaurant afterwards.
So that is what Tina is comparing the London powwows with.
I have been to excellent gatherings where people simply met over drinks and networked, but powwows are what you make of them.
Definitely disappointing if no one else comes! ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London United Kingdom Local time: 09:36 Member (2008) Italian to English
NEver been
Oct 15, 2015
I've never been to one of these events (I refuse to use the P word as I find it offensive) although I've heard that the London ones are not exactly thrilling but as someone said, it's up to the attendees to make something of them.
However in this case, reading about the disappointing experience of those who did go out of their way to go to Burlington House, I'm even less inclined than before to go to one of these things.
I've looked in vain for an explanation from Julian Wa... See more
I've never been to one of these events (I refuse to use the P word as I find it offensive) although I've heard that the London ones are not exactly thrilling but as someone said, it's up to the attendees to make something of them.
However in this case, reading about the disappointing experience of those who did go out of their way to go to Burlington House, I'm even less inclined than before to go to one of these things.
I've looked in vain for an explanation from Julian Wagstaff as to why this didn't happen and I'm still hoping he may find the time to give us his side of the story. ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London United Kingdom Local time: 09:36 Member (2008) Italian to English
P.S.
Oct 16, 2015
Following my previous post I have received a lengthy private email from Julian Wagstaff. Has anyone else also received it? How do you feel about it? Julian, please do not contact me privately. If you have anything more you would like to say about this matter, it would be better for all concerned if you would add a post to this thread. TIA.
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Oliver Walter United Kingdom Local time: 09:36 German to English + ...
It's OK
Oct 18, 2015
Tom in London wrote: I've never been to one of these events (I refuse to use the P word as I find it offensive) although I've heard that the London ones are not exactly thrilling but as someone said, it's up to the attendees to make something of them.
I've found the long discussion about this term, that occupies 8 pages of postings from August 2014 to January 2015: http://www.proz.com/forum/powwows/274049-discontinue_the_use_of_powwow.html Unsurprisingly, it didn't come to an agreed conclusion, but some alternative terms were suggested, and some people liked them.
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Tom in London United Kingdom Local time: 09:36 Member (2008) Italian to English
That
Oct 19, 2015
Oliver Walter wrote:
[stuff
Thanks for that Oliver- did you go to this event, and did you get the reply from the organiser, as mentioned in my previous post?
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Julian Wagstaff United Kingdom Local time: 09:36 German to English
Powwow report
Oct 19, 2015
Further to Tom's post above, for which many thanks, I have completed the organiser's report for this Powwow, which contains most of the information which Tom refers to in his message. As I say in the report itself, I shall not be monitoring this discussion any further, but would of course be more than happy to hear from anyone by phone or email (details in the event report), and will respond as soon as I possibly can.
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: organizer 
: photos 
: report 
: host 
