Hi Tom,
Ok, so how it generally works... is a GM (wonderfully giving soul) steps up and offers to run a game. We put it up on the open games page, and then players join it as they see fit. Once the game is full, it starts.

It is rarely done the other way around, where 10 players need a GM... I would say you'd have to find one who wants to run it! We have done private games before, where a group of friends signs up, but they've always had a GM already w/in the group, so we could open the game right away.

So - Do you want to run a 9-player game for the other 9 then? Or would someone in your group?

Or, post away in the Open Games forum, and see if you can find someone out there who's been interested to GM an American Empire game. (any takers out there?)

Or one from your group run it, and then we'll easily find 1 more to play.

I just played in that one Trout ran, and got killed. Was a fun variant tho, definitely one to try if you haven't already.
-mike