CONVergence !!! Anyone going???

[William_MacKean]

Apparently they aren't going to have a party room this year
http://www.youngmetropoly.com/category/tags/convergence

I've never quite understood how they applied to Scifi/fantasy fandom either. My understanding it the Robert Schug is in charge of the parties this year.

He, I trust.  I hope he cleans things up.  I heard the party rooms were not filled, so a lot of 4th floor parties got freebie upgrades to the cabanas.  No confirmation, tho...

[groomporter]

Yeah, as of a couple weeks ago I think there were a couple cabanas that were still open for last minute party ideas.

In the past we've toyed with the idea of doing a gaming hall party, but decided if we wanted to work that hard at con we'd still be in the Dealer's Room. I am going to have a piece in the art show for a change since my new dragon-themed game board can fit a fantasy theme... http://tinyurl.com/2edu7td

[William_MacKean]

Yeah, as of a couple weeks ago I think there were a couple cabanas that were still open for last minute party ideas.

In the past we've toyed with the idea of doing a gaming hall party, but decided if we wanted to work that hard at con we'd still be in the Dealer's Room. I am going to have a piece in the art show for a change since my new dragon-themed game board can fit a fantasy theme... http://tinyurl.com/2edu7td

Awesome!  Can't wait to see it at Fest.
(The cover over your booth looks a tad rough, BTW.  I been remodeling the mead booth's interior.  It was bad.)

[groomporter]

Yeah had to replace a couple boards last year and didn't have time to totally repaint the trusses. Need fresh skeeter netting as well.

[groomporter]

Looks like the con has increased the amount of space requiring badges http://www.convergence-con.org/news/20100618b.php so no exploring the party rooms for people without badges.

They're apparently making some accommodation for non-con hotel guests so they have access to the pool and workout room

[William_MacKean]

IMO, that is going backwards.  CON should have day passes and/or Dealer's Room passes whereas people pay $10 to browse the Dealer's room but get $10 back if they show they purchased something of $10 or more.  Sure it would require an attendant to DO something, but it might increase traffic to the dealers and expose the CON to more people.

Foolish, and possibly illegal, since it is a public building.  Only hotel workers on a person-to-person basis can ask someone to leave the building.  However, absent that, any one is allowed free access to ALL locations of the hotel not privately rented or 'available for rent.'  Even monitoring the hallway to CONsuite is dubious.

No matters.  Lots of people are upset.  I guess there was a scene at a volunteer's event recently involving aggressive flirting bad enough that the recipient of the 'attention' left the event.

[groomporter]

Yeah when I was a dealer I thought it would be nice to be able to get a little more business if people could get a day pass, or dealer's room pass.

But it's not really a public building... it's a privately owned building that is open to the public, and the hotel bar and restaurants will still be open to the general pubic. The Mall of America enforces their curfew on people under 16 years old based on a similar rational. And I can see the desire to keep what Con sees as free loaders away from the party rooms, it probably slightly reduces their liability risk as well.

[MissBubu]

Picked up our badges last night, and as we were walking from the Sofitel parking lot to the Sheraton, we found someone's badge on the ground. We turned it in to registration, who then sent it to the Bridge.

Hint: It was someone from this forum. Did you get it back? (eta: he got it back and didn't have to pay to replace it)

[groomporter]

Yes  I got it back...

[groomporter]

Boy did I feel dumb

[MissBubu]

Everyone can lose things, I'm just glad you didn't have to pay for the replacement.

[groomporter]

Had a great time, I hear next year's theme is steam punk? -But, but we already an airship crew two years ago. Guess I'm just ahead of my time in the past. May need to recruit some fresh crew I guess, although the old one can still be pretty "fresh"

2008:

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Due to family issues, I had to sit it out this year. BUt I did get the news that this year's convention was a blast.

I will be there next year. Possibly doing a few panels as well.