Preparations for Silicon

[kevin_standlee]

I went down to the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose this afternoon for the SiliCon staff meeting so I could meet briefly with the head of programming and the hotel liaison to review the set-up we'd prefer to do Match Game SF at SiliCon. The current plan is for us to be the final program item before the "Hiss & Purr" session on Sunday, with a run time from 2 to 4 PM. That means that in practice we have until 1:45 at the latest, and based on our usual run time per game, the most we could conceivably fit into that time is five games, and four -- or even three if we go into tie breakers -- is possible.

They are putting us in the primary programming space -- the same room as the Masquerade and other "big tech" items. That's good and bad. The good is that it has a stage and therefore we should be able to do the staggered-tier seating for the panelist. It's good because we'll have the mainstage tech available. It's bad because it's likely that the convention tech team will want to run the tech, and that's likely to going to cause Lisa to not want to do anything at all. She can do a very good job on the tech if people get out of her way. What's not easy is bringing people up to speed on exactly what we want to do with no rehearsal or set-up time.

Remember that I fret a lot over set-up, and that the shows normally go pretty well. As the show's executive producer, my job is to worry. As the host, my job is to smile and make everyone else look good on the day.

The SiliCon folks were kind enough to let me get my business done early, so I could go ahead and leave less than an hour after I arrived, which meant I only had to pay for an hour's parking.

Comments

[garyomaha.livejournal.com]

You cannot even imagine how much I want to help with audio on this some day. Some people wish for fortune, some for fame, some for never-ending chocolate -- me, I wish for the opportunity to tech on Match Game SF.

[trinsf.livejournal.com]

That's great! I seem to remember I had been asked about doing something else late on Sunday; I will make sure to leave my schedule open for this. I hope this gets us a nice audience, too!

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

I would like to do a Nelson Reily impersonation at a SF Match Game. That would be one of my top five lifetime fannish moments.

[howeird]

so I could go ahead and leave less than an hour before I arrived
Neat trick. The last time I did that, I had serious help from the International Dateline. :-)

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Fixed. I told people I was still a bit disoriented.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

"disOriented"

Going east, are we?

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

If main stage tech need to do things, maybe Lisa wants to just take on the buzzer? Or maybe the prizes? (though I think she'd have more fun with the buzzer) I could then do the other of the two.

I understand she may just want to not see the hash they make of our smooth (ha) operation, but it's an idea to keep in mind for the day, at least.

My nose will NOT be pushed out of joint by any such arrangement!!! up to and including being told to just fetch water - or heck, to go sit in the audience (and maybe I could hear the answers then).

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that Lisa could easily get so irritated by anyone other than her operating the sound that she might just walk out, but we'll have to see when we get closer to the day. There is of course the possibility that she won't be able to come at all, if we don't get her vehicle problems fixed. (She has three vehicles -- all three of them are out of service right now. Thank goodness the Vanagon waited until just before she got home before the alternator died.)

On the other hand, I was considering asking if you'd like to take on the announcing job as well? Eric can't make it to Silicon, you see, and I'm running out of options.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I shall serve in whatever capacity is needed, from announcer to gopher to audience member.

Yippee!

[maurinestarkey.livejournal.com]

What ever happens, let us know where we can help. If that means getting out of the way too, just tell us. We are so happy to have Match Game at SiliCon.

I see you made it home fine.
BTW,
Marchall had the parking stickers for our passes. Which would have made parking 5 dollars. Did you have to pay more than that? I didn't bother reading the sign.

Re: Yippee!

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Parking was $3/hour, so if you parked for more than one hour, the sticker would have made a difference. I was there for less than one hour, so I paid the lower amount, and the sticker didn't matter. Thank you!

Great,

[maurinestarkey.livejournal.com]

As long as it didn't cost you more. That was my worry.
MO

[crookedfeet.livejournal.com]

Do you need any prizes?

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I think we're good this time, although we may need something the next time we're asked.