And another thing

[giza]

Let me give you some advice, folks. There are no simple answers for complex problems. Anyone who thinks that a complex problem with multiple facets (like say, spam) can be solved with a simple thing (that nobody else could have possibly thought of!) is either lying, trying to sell you something, or completely talking out of their arse.

Take running a con for example. There are quite a few factors that affect how useful a hotel is to us. These include:

• How many rooms? -- Anthrocon needs a hotel with at least 500 rooms. Anything less just won't do.
  
• Cost of rooms
  
• Cost of parking
  
• How open the staff is about our kind of convention
  
• Location -- Is it near a major airport? Is it near a major highway?
  
• Corkage -- Most hotels require you to use their catering services, which are overpriced. This is how hotels make money. Sometimes when you give them enough roomnights, they'll let you bring in limited quantities of your own stuff for a Con Suite or Sponsor Lounge. But this can vary by hotel.
  
• Function space -- This is a big one. Anthrocon uses over 40,000 square feet of function space. This is a LOT. Most hotels don't have it.
  
• Is the function space in the same building? If not, people might have to walk to panels or the dealers' room through rain. And this will kill a con.
  
• Physical layout. Sure, the Adam's Mark is tall and has elevator issues, but laying it on its side would mean lots and lots of walking to get somewhere. That's not so good either.
  
• Unions -- This is another big one. If a hotel has union labor, it means that we cannot carry in our own artist panels, unload our own trucks, and dealers cannot carry in their own merchandise. This would at least double the cost of membership and kill the con.
  

The reason I wrote this is because it's just a few days after the con, and I am already getting e-mails that say, "The con has problems a, b, and c, and implementing solution x would magically fix everything", where x is usually a "new hotel". See what I said above about when someone makes platitudes about how their solution can magically fix everything. The world doesn't work that way.

Oh, and more often than not, the person writing in doesn't give us a specific hotel, they just say, "How about one in... Baltimore?" That's just not helpful. Don't you think we've CHECKED hotels in other cities by now? Implying that we haven't done so I find to be QUITE insulting, since it implies that we aren't constantly looking at other venues.

Think of my blood pressure, please.

Comments

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

So this is why you no longer have hair on your head. :o

[brahma-minotaur.livejournal.com]

This is why I don't offer advice about fixing AnthroCon. I just say "Great job! I'll definitely be there next year!"

[mindslide.livejournal.com]

HAY GET A NEW HOTEL OK

Well within your rights

[blackfeather.livejournal.com]

If you didn't check elsewhere. If you are running the con, you choose the venue -- others are free not to come. That may sound harsh, but if they want to change things, they need to get invovled. Someone who wanted to see the con at a new hotel, for example, should volunteer for search committee (assuming the concomm actually is interested both in a new venue, and in that person in that role).

So the fact that you have checked elsewhere shows you've gone out of your way to accommodate. :)

I wasn't able to make it, alas, but from all I've heard, it was a really good job, congratulations.

Hopefully I will be able to attend next year; even if I spend 10 months in Russia, I should be back by AC.


Cheers!
Blackfeather

[giza.livejournal.com]

>1. Y'all live there

How do you figure that? Only Bennie, Kage, myself, and Susan Deer live in the area. Triggur lives in Coloado, Tigerwolf (the REAL Tigerwolf, that is) lives in Ohio, Rigel and Xydexx live in Virginia, Wyldekyttin lives somewhere in the mid-west, KP lives in Florida, and Petercat lives in New York. We're about as geographically diverse as cons come.

>3. For whatever reason, Kage has made enemies.

Yep. He's got a strong personality, and he interacts with a lot of people. Statistically speaking, in this fandom there's a good chance that he's going to bump into his fair share of people who don't like him. Stuff happens.

>4. A lot of people feel that the con seems understaffed and mismanaged in general.

The individual who handled registration in previous years is no longer in charge of registration for just that reason.

Regarding this year's registration, are you aware that we processed about 200 pre-registered congoers in the first 15 minutes? I consider that to be quite fast. And do you know why the line for main registration was so long when it started? It's because people started to get in line OVER AN HOUR BEFORE REGISTRATION OPENED! Just what do you expect us to do about that?

Regarding the Dorsai, please send e-mail to giza(at)anthrocon.org with the specific complaints you have. The only things I heard about conflicts were reports from the Dorsai having to deal with specific members who were being problematic.

[silver-huskey.livejournal.com]

I was there, and things seem to more or less run pretty well. I seriously don't have any complaints, and I enjoyed being at the Adam's Mark. But some people complain no matter what. ^^;

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

Location -- Is it near a major airport? Is it near a major highway?

Also: How close is it to food/service providers? This is a problem I encountered with several conventions over the years, where the nearest food/anything was a good mile or two walk in extreme heat or extreme cold. Not to mention CF East 1, held in New Jersey's industrial areas.

Having a big hotel out in the middle of nowhere means our attendees are pretty much stuck eating in the hotel's restaurant for all their meals if they don't have a car. Folks don't seem to realize changing hotels can easily mean trading one problem for another.

We're always open to suggestions!

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

Thus the idea that you cannot even find one other hotel capable seems a little odd.

If you'd like to give it a try, here are the requirements:

1) Must be within 100 miles of Philadelphia. Why? It is unreasonable to ask the people who work to run the convention to travel huge distances. We work hard enough as it is. The executive staff visit the hotel multiple times through the year and do all negotiations in person. Kage would go as far as DC in the South or New York City in the north, but that is about the limit of his ability.

2) Must offer rooms at a rate of less than $120 per night, preferably at a flat rate regardless of occupancy.

3) Must offer parking at less than $20 per day. (On these two points, we are already pushing the budget of the majority of attendees).

4) Must be located near a major airport so travel expenses will not be exhorbitant, preferably an airport that is a hub for a major air carrier.

5) Must be within comfortable walking distance of at least three places to eat, at least one of which should be a fast food restaurant or a "Denny's" type budget eatery.

6) Must offer (under one roof -- experience has shown that the attendees do not tolerate walking from one hotel to the other, especially in monsoon rains) the following:

a) One ballroom, minimum 12,500 sq. ft., capable of holding 130 or more dealer tables without violating fire codes.

b) One ballroom, minimum 4,000 sq. ft., capable of holding 60 or more tables for artists' alley, also without violating fire codes.

c) One ballroom, minimum 12,000 sq. ft., capable of comfortably seating 1200 or more people for the masquerade and other large events.

d) One room (or two rooms very close to one another) totalling 5500 sq. ft. for the art show (note: the room dimension must accomodate art show panels and lights. Minimum ceiling height 11')

e) Sufficient breakout rooms in addition to the above to accomodate a minimum of 50 people in each of 5 (or more) programming tracks.

7) Overall cost for rental of programming and exhibition space must not exceed $25,000 ($35,000 if you think that the attendees will tolerate the registration rates going up $5 across the board).

8) Must have availability bewteen June 1 and August 1; any other timeslot would force unfair competition with other conventions.

Thank you in advance for your offer to help. If you have any suggestions for alternate locations, please pass them on to unclekage. He'll be more than happy to consider them.

[tiggycat.livejournal.com]

If more went to and listened to Kage during the Convention's closing ceremony (I know some had to go sooner, etc.) they would have heard him explain the hotel location situation, etc. *rolls eyes*

True, it was my first Furry Convention and I have nothing else to compare it to but I loved it, got more than my moneys worth, etc.

I only wish I had had a bit more sleep/energy, but that was due to planning on my part and I just run out of energy easy for various reasons. I will be better prepared next time.

Thanks to everyone involved in making my first Furry convention so amazing (really there are no words that can do justice to how wonderful a time I had)

--- TiggyCat ---

[faekitty71.livejournal.com]

Giza you're great. I enjoyed the con a lot. Everything ran smoothly. The staff at Adam's Mark were great. The couple working the Supersponsers lounge were terrific and made great chilli. Even the elevators weren't so bad.

I have only three requests for next year that I am putting in now.

1. Please next year put the Furry Spiritually Panel in an actual panel room, not a suite. We had about 40 or so people who attended and people were standing and sitting on the floor.

2. Please have mixed music at the dances, instead of Thursday night 80's and Friday and Saturday trance. The only dance I've ever enjoyed had been the mixed one in 2001. There was a big crowd. Last year, it was all trance and did not seem as big a crowd as 2001.

3. Better cheesecake at the Supersponsor's Luncheon :-)

*hugs*

[drakenhart.livejournal.com]

Heck The best thing about the Adam's Mark as a convention venue, is that there are OTHER hotels -nearby-. Try finding hotel space in the middle of center city when using say the convention center. I dare you! Most of the decent ones are at least two city blocks away once the main convention-adjacent hotel is full. ^.^

Walkign across the parking lot is a heck of alot better then trying to walk two city blocks.., in teh rain. ;) *chuckles*

Unions too, ugh. Working with the AIPH when we were moving our computer labs from building A to buidling B ( which was considered a 'construction site' ) was a pain in the ass. The Electrician's Union had a shit fit. o.o All we were doing was lifting the machines, and taking them into the labs. Hooking them up, but not plugging thme in ( because they were still working on teh electrical system ). OMG the student worker and tech teams had to sit OUTSIDE of both buidlings, until the situation coul dbe delt with.., gawds and demons.

The level of nit-picking and detail-screwing that went on...,

Anyone who hasn't ever worked with one of the unions before just don't know. They are there to protect the intrests of the union memebrs. But they can be a pain in the butt too. >.<

Don't let it get to you man. Most people are just un-eductaed about such things. Not having the experiences leads to silly comments. ;)

[foxiecrumz.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely right about walking to panels
in the rain and such being a con-killer. Icon
sucks for this very reason and I don't go anymore.

[foxiecrumz.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah...and for whatever it's worth I'm all
for keeping the con at the adam's mark. :)

[foxiecrumz.livejournal.com]

I have no complaints about where the spirituality panel was located. 40 people were motivated enough to find it plus I got to sit at the head of a big long imposing corporate evil looking table. I LOVED it. *bwohahahaha* I don't think the downstairs rooms would have been better. A circle formation would have been impossible no matter where we were. It is worthy of note that the panel went on for 5 hours and even if I can't run one next year, someone really really should because the demand is very much there.

I also wish to furry god that they'd show a little compassion to us old timers who can't wriggle out of our responsibilities on a thursday night and play some 80's tunes on friday or part of saturday instead. Those of us old enough to remember the 80's have a harder time getting away on a thursday. *sobs*

I realize your powers are limited but I just thought I'd get these laments into the ether.

Cheesecake schmeezecake. I'm a super sponser. I want a pony! ;)

*hugs* :)

[foxiecrumz.livejournal.com]

BTW..chances are good that I will run the spirituality
panel again next year and I wanna reiterate.
Suite goooooooood. :)

Well oiled geisha girls even better but do what
you can. ;)

Re: We're always open to suggestions!

[alohawolf.livejournal.com]

We At Califur Would be Willing to do a Date Swap with you guys if you find a hotel that can get you dates in may.. I would be willing to move the dates Further South

Robert

[alohawolf.livejournal.com]

Finding a Hotel isnt an Easy Process.. there are very few Hotels that meet the requirements for a Furry Convention.. you need to find a Hotel that is willing to trade catering for Roomnights which is a tall bill.. even Anthrocon Competes with Weddings for Space.. even tho it fills the hotel.. a 50k wedding looks like a somewhat better deal for the hotel.. this I can tell you right now, moving your dates is about as fun and easy as being in Buffalo in Winter in a Pair of Bermuda Shorts and FlipFlops.. either way its not fun.. so all you people who whine about a hotel, bear in mind.. its not as easy as it looks

Robert Johnson
Chairman Califur

[kamberlane.livejournal.com]

Ponys are always good.
Course I am biased.

[quentincoyote.livejournal.com]

Bah, I just really love the Adams Mark, anyway. AC anywhere else, while I'm sure still kick ass, just somehow wouldn't be the same :)

Send all jerks to me

[hotmaewest.livejournal.com]

Just like I told Sam, If you send the jerks to me I will put them to work on the super sponsor suite. By time I am finished with them they will not question anything!

WWWWHHHAAAA!
See you next year sweetie!

[bigtig.livejournal.com]

Actually, that line formed more than an hour in advance. Almost all registration locations opened at least a half hour ahead of time. (The exception being Saturday, when the downstairs opened only 10 minutes early.)