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Be Part of a New Midwest Clinic
Tradition:
Join Us at McCormick Place West in 2010
64th Annual Conference, December 14-18
In 2009, The Midwest Clinic moved to Chicago’s McCormick
Place West!
In this new location, we have opportunities to improve every aspect of
The Midwest Clinic for years to come, while bringing the events that you
count on for inspiration, support, and professional development together
in a superb new facility.
At McCormick Place West, you can attend concerts in elegant ballrooms with
excellent acoustics and participate in clinics held in spacious, comfortable
rooms. You can also explore a single exhibit hall, which allows us to accommodate
more publishers, instrument manufacturers, music schools, and music industry
representatives than ever before. And of course, there will be abundant
opportunities to socialize and learn from fellow music educators – all
under one roof.
We have tried to anticipate and answer questions you may have about The
Midwest Clinic in McCormick Place West and the new facility itself. Please
read on for details.
Why did The Midwest Clinic
move?
Put simply: to allow us to present a better conference. In recent years,
the conference has grown, and our former headquarters and other venues
became very crowded. Events at the 2008 conference were spread among six
different buildings, with attendees experiencing long lines and crowded
spaces. The move into McCormick
Place West (MPW) enabled The Midwest Clinic
to once more hold everything under one roof, allowing you to attend more
clinics and concerts in greater comfort, and providing us with opportunities
to add features and create new programs to better serve music educators—all
while preserving the truly special character and spirit of this event.
What can you tell me about
McCormick Place West?
Opened in 2007, and billed as “the preeminent meeting facility in
the country,” this $800 million construction is located on Cermak
Rd. and Indiana Ave, one and a half miles southeast of the former site,
the Hilton Chicago. It provides ample space to host the entire conference
and even allows room for long-term growth. The facility was designed with
attendees’ comfort in mind, featuring abundant natural light, a simple
layout, and open spaces. The clinic rooms, primary performance spaces,
exhibits, registration, and a food court and restaurant are all located
in close proximity to one another. There are also rest and communal areas
throughout the building. An open plan enables attendees to view all levels,
so that they never feel cut off from the rest of the space. Shuttle and
taxi drop-off points place attendees right in the middle of the action,
and a 1500-space parking garage is attached to the building. During the
conference, The Midwest Clinic has reserved all the space in MPW so it
will be the only event held there.
What can you tell me about
the concert venues?
Before making the decision to move to MPW, the Board of Directors and staff
ran extensive acoustical tests of the concert venues, including holding
a live concert band rehearsal, making recordings, and building computer
models to simulate concert conditions. We determined that the venues not
only feature superior sound to the ballrooms in the Hilton, but also offer
more seating, larger stages, better lighting and sightlines, and easier
access for audiences and performers. Thanks to the move, we were able to
abolish the band concert ticket system in 2009!
What about the clinic rooms?
McCormick Place West provides enough space to replicate all the clinic
rooms that were utilized at the Hilton, Congress, Palmer House, and Blackstone.
In almost every case, the MPW rooms are larger than those we used at these
hotels.
Where are the exhibits
located?
The exhibits are located in a single hall directly across a foyer from
the main performance venues. This hall is more than 50% bigger than the
five combined halls at the Hilton. Each booth is 20 square feet larger
than the booths at the Hilton and all aisles are 2 feet wider. These upgrades
enable attendees to see more exhibits in less time and to locate specific
exhibitors, thus finding their way around much more easily. Thanks to the
additional space, returning exhibitors can expand their displays, and new
organizations that once languished on the waiting list can participate.
The exhibit hall also features a food court so that exhibitors and attendees
can have lunch or a snack without leaving the hall.
Has the conference program/schedule
changed?
The same (or more) number and types of clinics, rehearsal labs, and concerts
are featured throughout the week. Now that space limitations no longer
dictate what we can offer at the conference, we can explore ways to enhance
the program and provide more services to attendees.
Is there a hotel close to
McCormick Place West?
TThe Hyatt McCormick Place is currently the only hotel within walking distance
of MPW, although more hotels may open in the future. Because of the limited
number of rooms in this hotel, it is reserved for exhibitors, clinicians,
the board, and conference staff. Complimentary shuttle service between
the conference hotels and MPW is provided throughout the conference.
What did the move mean for
the Hilton?
The Midwest Clinic has a special relationship with the Hilton. For those
who can’t imagine staying anywhere else, we encourage you to continue
enjoying The Midwest Clinic’s connection to this beloved hotel and
to fill it with festive voices and happy reunions. Because the exhibitors
and other blocks have been transferred to the Hyatt, there is now room
for more educators to stay at the Hilton. There is also no need to wait
until April 1 to open reservations and no pressure to call on opening day
to guarantee yourself a room.
How can I get from my hotel
to the conference center?
Complimentary shuttles run between the official conference hotels and MPW
each day of the conference. For information about other transportation
options, please click here.
What about dining options?
McCormick Place West features two food courts, a variety of food kiosks,
a coffee shop, and a bar. Information about nearby restaurants can be found
on our interactive
map of Chicago.
Can music associations meet
during the conference?
Association meetings are an important part of the Midwest. We are pleased
to make space available at MPW and participating hotels for meetings and
receptions.
Is there anything else I should
know?
The move to MPW was aimed at presenting a better conference, not bigger.
The decision to relocate ultimately came down to improving the experiences
of attendees. The Board of Directors recognizes the special connection
that The Midwest Clinic shares with its devoted attendees, and the move
was undertaken with the deepest respect for that connection and for the
tradition and history of this event. Just as the moves to the Hotel Sherman
in 1947 and the Hilton in 1973 expanded the prospects of the Midwest Clinic,
so too has this move created unprecedented possibilities. We could not
be more excited about the opportunity to join with you each December in
celebration of our brilliant future together.
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Please
send it to
.
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Are you a member of the media? See our media release for
more details about the Midwest Clinic's move to McCormick Place West.
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