Recently, I've gone around researching what it would take to host an event. Unfortunately, it is kind of hard without a rough headcount, so please answer the poll.
I live in the Washington DC metro area, so there are three major airports in the area and plenty of hotels. The problem is, this area isn't cheap and there aren't any cheap hotels with meeting rooms. I have an eye on an older hotel nearby and that is close to the airport, so car rental wouldn't be necessary. I have no idea what the event prices are, once again headcount needed, but they do have smaller meeting rooms. No way in hell I am renting a banquet for a handful of people.
Still, the other problem is what would we do? I mean, there is the meet and greet, but there has to be something else. I certainly don't want people to come and sit in a meeting room quietly staring at each other. I can imagine everyone staring at me and I'd be drumming my fingers saying, "So we're here... uh yeah... um... so..."
Maybe special guest speakers, but then who? The only people I can think of is that guy from Hirameki and Peter Payne, but then they from the translation community, so maybe we wouldn't want them. Maybe US manga artists, but then why?
The only other idea is have people from the community present something. Any volunteers?
I can always present my paper titled "Fanservice: What it is and why the world needs it more than ever." 
As for the cost, well, like I've said this area isn't cheap. Plane tickets aren't too bad, if you get them ahead of time. Hotel rooms here range from $100 - $200 a night. Cab probably costs $20 to the hotel. Some kind of carpool can be arranged to offset that. Then there is the actual convention cost, but I would charge everyone at-cost. I have no intention of making a profit from this.
Also, I realize a good chunk of the community doesn't live in the US. I would love to have it in Europe or Asia, but it's beyond my ability (and budget) to plan such a thing.
Finally, there is the ultimate question. Is there any actual benefit to such an event? Is it really any different from what is happening here now on this forum?
having some guy known as Dan Kim around would be nice too. ) to critique the works displayed. Then at the end of the day, we bring out the B33r and all have a good laugh. The convention could last for maybe four days or a week. Any longer would be overkill. You could also start the convention by using a lecturer for general introduction as to what is a VN and what is an OELVN, history etc. before moving on to viewing the actual works.
