Missed you...

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

I missed getting to spend time with everyone at this year's Arisia, because when I showed up to pick up my badge at registration I was told I wasn't registered, although I clearly remember pre-registering at last year's con. I recognize that these things happen, and that Arisia is operated by wonderful people who donate far too much of their time to put on the best con they can, but as you would imagine it was... disheartening.

I'd like to make a suggestion. I used to receive something each year saying "YOU ARE PRE-REGISTERED FOR ARISIA". This year I didn't get anything like that, but with my somewhat flaky mail service I didn't think much of it. I'd like to suggest that if Arisia is sending a flyer or anything to someone who was registered in the past but is not registered for the upcoming con, it should be clearly marked with something like "YOU ARE NOT YET REGISTERED FOR ARISIA 2008". If I'd been plainly told I was not registered, I could have either gone and hunted down a receipt or given up and bought a registration or otherwise made an informed decision about what to do, instead of showing up at the con and discovering to my surprise that I can't attend.

I am grateful that Arisia gets put on every year, and for the hard work of the countless volunteers who make it happen. I know it's not easy to get everything perfect, so I'm not holding it against anyone that this error occurred. The registration staff was very polite to me about it. I am making this suggestion to try to help improve the process so that there can be even fewer problems in the future.

I'll be back at Arisia again in the future, probably after the con has moved to a larger venue.

Comments

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hi Tom! I didn't know you're on LJ (adding you...in case you're wondering who on Earth I am, you know me from GSFS). A similar thing almost happened to me. My registration is apparently wandering around snail-mail lost forever, but I caught the error in time and registered, albeit at a higher rate. Those are good suggestions.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Sorry I didn't get to see you at the con either.

Yeah, I think it's nice to tell people "YOU ARE PRE-REGISTERED FOR ARISIA" but not telling people who aren't is equally important. As my case unfortunately shows.

I hope you had fun at the con this year. :-)

[quietann.livejournal.com]

There was a snail-mail flyer that went out, and I think you're right, it only indicated registration status to people who were already registered (and there were problems with that mailing, but that's a whole other kettle of fish and not something I really understand...)

[quietann.livejournal.com]

oh, I'm so sorry that happenned!

I think this was the first year that the con had a membership cap, and there are a lot of glitches to be worked out. Barring a minor miracle, Arisia's going to be at this hotel for at least another year, possibly three. Hotel space in the Boston area has become really difficult to get.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Well... I understand about hotel space. I understand it's not Arisia's fault. Really it isn't. Arisia is stuck between a rock and a hard place, due to people loudly demanding that the con must be in Boston, and at the same time that the con must be inexpensive.

I'm really reluctant to say "Arisia should consider moving out toward the 128 belt", knowing that the year it did so I couldn't go because I was poor and couldn't afford to stay there and didn't have any way to get there. (My situation has improved, but I'm very sympathetic to people suffering poverty.) However, I suggest that perhaps it's time to question if there is no other alternative.

I think three more years at the Hyatt is going to really hurt Arisia.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

There are actually no hotels big enough along the 128 belt. The Waltham Westin (1998 location) is about the same size as the Hyatt but the balance of space is not as good.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

The Hyatt Cambridge has more guest rooms, and an additional 8,000 sq ft function space compared to the Waltham Westin.

[xdaemon.livejournal.com]

The mailing that went out was far too subtle, in my opinion. Had I not been on the staff mailing list I wouldn't have noticed at all. There was a PR back in... October? that included on the mailing label just above your name your registration status... IF AND ONLY IF you were preregistered.