Long Range Planning

[kevin_standlee]

One bit of news I did want to drop in here before crashing: Based on a conversation during the BASFA meeting, and subject to confirmation and technical discussions, it looks like we probably will do a show from Burning Fan, next year's Westercon in Las Vegas.

In response to numerous queries: I don't think we're doing a show at Gnomeward Bound (this year's Westercon), because I've not been asked, and I don't see where they could slot us, given the facility and technical constraints. I have to say that I'm not terribly enthusiastic about trying to fit into a Masquerade halftime with a dance immediately following -- it's a waste of the host convention's time and resources for the amount of work I impose upon them for the amount of return. This doesn't mean I wouldn't try to do the show; it just means we'd have to find a way to do it that is a win-win-win for the convention, our team, and the members.

Comments

[trinsf.livejournal.com]

So, what do we need to do, get a really big suite and host a Match Game Partay? If we're not doing Gnomeward Bound, I am finding fewer and fewer reasons to attend, sadly, given the the timing of the convention. (My office is all but *demanding* I work extra hours, because so many others are off for the holiday weekend.)

I do agree with you, though, that being the half-time show was far less a good thing than it sounded like it would be. Anyway, keep me updated. Even if I'm working part of the time, it's still only 10 minutes from the office to the Marriott.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Given that I'm probably going to have to get a suite (if I can afford it at all) for at least one night to host the Montreal in 2009 party on Saturday, July 1 (Canada Day), I did actually consider this. Unfortunately, even the largest suite isn't really big enough or shaped correctly to do a Match Game show, in my opinion.

That hotel just doesn't have much in the way of the right size space. The main stage is good, and we could certainly make it work in one of the medium-sized rooms (the ones across from the Dealers Room at BayCon. Smaller than that and we're in the position of After Dark at L.A.con IV -- too many people in too small a space.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

You know....it could be a Match Game THEMED party. Questions posted on the walls, Orange throw rugs. That sort of thing.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea, either, although Lisa is talking about doing a Japanese/rail themed party ("Is This the Train to Yokohama?") in addition to the Montreal party on July 1.

[trinsf.livejournal.com]

BTW, I sat down with my boss about hours, and I'm only doing my regular bit that weekend (see below), so other than that, I can be there all weekend. Yay!

[howeird]

How about the "Convene" foyer?

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

That's conceivable, but it requires striking the fan tables like they did for the evening events, and it would get in the way of coming and going to anything in the Convene Ballroom.

Given the space constraints, there aren't many places they can put the fan tables, and even as arranged, we were cramped and people didn't know we were down there, because there's no reason to draw people through the area other than programming in the Convene Ballroom.

[kproche.livejournal.com]

maybe we should suggest they swap the masq. reg table and fan tables...

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Now that's an interesting idea. It's possible that if they moved Masquerade Registration and the Food Service stuff down to the Convene Foyer, it would work better. OTOH, they'd need to put up more signs pointing at Food Service (and Masquerade Registration), as the hotel might not enjoy languishing down in that cul-de-sac. On the gripping hand, having some food down there might pull people in that direction.

Reckon we could raise this at a Westercon meeting?

[trinsf.livejournal.com]

If we can make this happen, I'd love to! I'd also be willing to help host a Match Game themed party, and to brainstorm cool ideas for that.

I have *one* little favor to ask, and that's that if we're doing the show, we don't do it between 2 PM and 8PM on Saturday. I have my regular transit gig then, and there's no way I'm getting that day off, alas. If I left work immediately, I could probably be on set ready to go by exactly 8 PM, but not one moment before, given I'd need to change clothes.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Got it, and thank you.

Looking at the floor plans, I think the only "programming" rooms (that is, those rooms that aren't locked into fixed purposes like Dealers and Art Show, or the Ballroom) that could possibly hold the Match Game audience are Lombard/Synergy 4 (theatre capacity 90) or Cannery/Synergy 1 (theatre capacity 70). Those rated capacity figures need to be discounted on account of using up a whole bunch of space with the three desks (particularly if you can get a tier in place), a screen and projector, and the sound desk. I reckon we might be able to seat 50 people or so in Lombard/Synergy 4.

But we'd have to have control of the room a couple of hours before the show to do the setup, which would take the largest available panel programming room out of inventory from, say, 6 PM - post Midnight. As a former head of Programming, I know would be unhappy with losing a room for that long.

This is all idle academic talk, of course, as we haven't been asked. I'm not someone who tries to impose himself on Programming except when I'm obliged to do so, like with the Business Meeting.