Feeback on Conventions in general (Crossposted from my Facebook)

[per_solo]

My request, if you can do this, is that you pick 3 things that you think are habitually done wrong with local cons, and tell me what they are. I have my own ideas, but I want feedback from those who go to the same cons I go to, and who go to others.

Given that my groups go to InCon, Gencon, Penguicon, Horror Hound, SBI, Dragoncon (Have fun those of you there this weekend) and MANY others, I'm trying to poll for ideas.

Because, things never change if people don't know what problems are viewed.

:-)

Now, if you also want to tell me what 3 things you think are done right at these same cons, I won't be unhappy with that idea. Nor does this have to be cons local to my area..if you are in any state that you've been to a convention in (I think the furthest I went was Mars, PA), then give me that, too. Location helps.

Thanks.

Comments

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Wrong:
1. "We've always done it this way, and it worked in the past, therefore there is no reason to ever change anything."

2. Not utilizing the internet enough for advertising and promotion

3. Certain number of people taking the free ride of attending every year, but never actively helping out in the planning/preparation, and then spewing vitriol about How Much This Con Sucks


OhSoRight!
1. More intimate feel than the ginormous cons

2. Huge, eclectic variety of panels and activities

3. Consuite! Consuite! Consuite!

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

Keeping in mind that the ONLY local con I've ever been to is InCon, and therefore is my ONLY basis for comparison....

Three things I think haven't been done terribly well in the past:

The filk room. Yes, there are people who come to InCon solely for the filk. I have been at multiple InCons in the past where they had a special room set aside for the filkers at all hours of the day, and there was ALWAYS someone in there filking. Or they used the room for filk-related activities, such as music workshops. Those were pretty cool. Also, normally by the time the "open filk" starts in whatever corner they've shoved it into, I am either too tired to go, or there's another program going on that's more interesting (such as a showing of RHPS). Therefore, no InCon filk for me.

The consuite. There is never any actual food in the consuite. So the purpose of having this room at the last few InCons has been....?

I (have probably told you this before) am coming from an upbringing in Mensa. At Mensan RGs (regional gatherings) they have food. And I mean FOOD. They feed their guests. Having never actually run hospitality before, I don't know how it works out money-wise, but am thankfully related to someone who's done it a couple of times if you have any questions. (This person is otherwise known as my mom, and would, I'm sure, not mind having her brain picked about this topic.) I believe that part of the problem with the Sharaton was that they were trying to get people to patronize the bar/restaurant thingy in the lobby, so that was especially sucky on their part. But it's much more convenient to be able to go to hospitality to get noms, quickly eat the noms, and then go to whatever panel you were wanting to see, rather than have to plan out enough time to leave the hotel to get something to eat. Even when leaving the hotel only involved going to the food court in the mall (which of course we won't have in future cons, being at a different hotel).

Third....I'm not really sure what the third one is >_> I might be wrong about this, but I think it might be worth doing more Mensan brain picking about group room rates. Admittedly I was just a kid, so I wasn't really paying attention to how much mom was paying for my room, but the fact that I usually had my own room at an RG tells me the rates couldn't have been all that astronomical. So *shrug* there's my two cents worth. Although at this point it's probably more like a buck fifty's worth >_> Sorry this turned into a novel, but you DID ask me for my opinion :P

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

One of the challenges InCon has had with regard to food has always been the hotel catering clauses. We're not allowed to serve hot food at all, and all food that is served comes from a shoestring budget and a lot of donations. We've discussed at length ways to expand the selections without raising the price of the admission (or charging extra for use of the consuite), though, and are always looking for new ideas and suggestions!

Out of curiosity, how much were the registration fees for Mensa events?

[per_solo]

Part of the back and forth this has created in the past is the idea that the convention is not able to feed all its attendees. Monetary being a big reason, but also the theory that any convention in an area needs to have a good relationship with the businesses surrounding it, which does mean trying to get people to eat at local restaurants. Or, for people who complain about money being too big a deal for them to eat out, for them to bring their own.

Another issue with consuite comes in the form of allergies..I remember having a near panic attack at realizing just how many allergies one of my guests had...and that year, we removed peanuts from teh Con Suite..not a BIG deal, except for those wanting peanut butter sandwiches, but..

I guess what I'm trying to sum up is that it feels like a constant balancing act.

BTW, thanks ALL for responses to this so far. This is extremely helpful, and exactly the kind of information I'm needing.

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

*nodnods* Understandable. But from what I've noticed, the people who go to InCon, and the people who go to RGs aren't that dissimilar. Given the relationship there seems to be between being a nerd and having allergies (you'll admit, there seem to be more of us with them than 'danes), it seems to me that the hospitality chairs at RGs would have similar problems.

Like with peanuts, for example--there are certain things that obviously have peanuts in them. Like peanut butter. Would it be a Bad Thing to expect those with peanut allergies to not eat the peanut butter, but still have it available for those without those allergies?

[per_solo]

*nods* I agree.

And, this case I'm referring to was a bit more exceptional, otherwise that's kinda my take..if you have an allergy, don't ingest.

This was the type of allergy that if there was any crossing, it was bad..like, two epi pens bad (not sure I spelled that right)...even the oil would have bad affects.

But, fortunately, I was able to find out just how bad the allergy was and work with it. Under normal circumstances (like for pre-parties), we go with a label...people let us know which items (like Coconut) are extremely bad, and we make sure it gets labeled.

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

Labeling things is another idea I would suggest. And for the peanut issue described above, maybe sequester the peanuty products away from everything else AND label them. *shrugs*

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

*nodnods* I grok all of that ^_^

I believe the pre-reg prices were comparable to the InCon reg prices--somewhere around the $40-$45 mark depending on the event. Of course being that that's pre-reg, the price does go up after that closer to the event.

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

Also, I think the "no hot meals" thing is something that they negotiate as part of their hotel contract. They usually, in my experience, had at least one hot meal for one dinner (say, Saturday night, for example) that, as far as I know, was paid for and provided by Mensa. Another thing I remember them doing sometimes (and it depends on the group) was negotiating a catered dinner provided by the hotel as part of the contract. That way the hotel still gets some food-related money, and the conventioners get their hospitality room.

Honestly, my mom knows a lot more stuff about this than I do ^_^() But I seem to remember these sorts of things happening at past RGs.

[per_solo]

You're doing great, and the information you are providing is helping my mindset. :-)

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to know I'm being helpful : ) If you need my mom's contact info, just let me know. I will of course let her know that you'll be getting in touch with her if you decide that you want to : )

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

i don't know. to be honest beside one trip to gencon i've only been to incon and then really only once as a visitor.

most of the issues we've had in the past have been fixed and i think the new location, despite the lack of food within inside walking distance, will be a good change. considering all will be on one floor and even have rooms there is a plus especially for those like me who are severely claustrophobic and have issues with elevators.


we'll see i guess but i don't know. most of the issues i can think of were to due to lack of large areas and handicap accessibility. those are fixed now that we've moved, at least i think they have from what i understand about the new layout.

really it all comes down to programming for me, big surprise there right? as long as there's a glut of it which has a good span of things to offer for people i think a con is generally good and i think we do that pretty well.

ok, this is soooo not helpful to the discussion so feel free to pillage for anything useful or completely ignore as my babbling.

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

Oo, all the rooms will be on the same floor this year? That will be nice.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

for panels i'm pretty sure. again haven't seen the layout of the marriott.

[ardent-firesong.livejournal.com]

*nodnods*