Well, happy new year, everybody! I'm going to kick it off with a big idea, inspired by all the conversations last year at Nationals and online, and this might be a bit surprising coming from me. I think that 2014's US Air Guitar Nationals should be in Kansas City! Who's with me?

Ok, perhaps that was a bit sudden. Let's backtrack for a sec and talk about it.

What? Why Not Boston?

I know what you're thinking. I love Boston air guitar so much I made a whole website about it. Why not push for Boston to host Nationals? And I do, of course, want Nationals to come here. But Kansas City has a lot going for it too, and in some areas it's clearly got Boston beat. Besides, just because I'm agitating for 2014 Nationals to be in Kansas City, it doesn't mean I don't think 2015 Nationals shouldn't be in Boston! Or any other year! Or hey, hold the Northeast Regional here this year, how about that? Besides, while people are welcome to stay at the Bacon Ship (aka our house) if an event takes place in Boston, our beds are in separate rooms and we can't make a Megabed.

So now onto reasons that Kansas City would be a great host city:

1. Location

It's in the middle of the country - it's centrally located! Not only does that mean a reasonable flight for most people (or even a drive in some cases), if you don't have to take a whole day for travel, as you would if you were going from one coast to the other, you can cut down the number of days you have to take off work. This is a very real concern to most air guitarists I've spoken with - either your time off policy isn't very generous, or it's a busy time, or colleagues tend to go on vacation around then... and it can be tough to get your travel plans to work out. Anything that makes them easier is a good thing.

2. Price

Not only are those flights going to be shorter, they're going to be cheaper than flying to someplace more touristy. Hotel prices will be really reasonable too! I'll let KC natives chime in on the price of meals and booze; I have no info there. Speaking of meals, though:

3. BBQ

Enough said.

4. Community

Kansas City has a large (and deep) air guitar community! I can think of half a dozen national-level competitors off the top of my head, and I'm sure there are some local stars who haven't seen the national stage yet, or who the regionals gave a larger stage for the first time last year. They're good people, they're talented air guitarists, and they will definitely show the rest of the family a good time when we're in town. As if that's not enough, the defending Air Guitar World Champion, Mean Melin, hails from Kansas City! I know it's not a rule that Nationals are in the champ's town, or that he gets to pick (and anyway, the US champ is Lt. Facemelter, so if that was a rule we'd be in San Diego), but I still think it's a vote in KC's favor.

I understand they have a good beer scene as well. If there's a city that doesn't have good beer nowadays, though, I'd like to know about it (so I can plan not to go there).

What do you think? Are you from Kansas City and think this is an awesome idea? Or, god forbid, a bad idea? Or are you waving the flag for your own hometown?

P.S. - let's get this happening on Twitter. The hashtag, as created by Kansas City's own Stack Attack, is #KCnationals2014 - go. Or... lazy tweet! Click here to tweet: Hey @usairguitar - let's have Nationals in Kansas City this year! #KCnationals2014