arisia | Assorted comments... (Reply)

I wrote in my own journal about the fun I had at Arisia this year but I wanted to drop a shortish note here about my impressions of how the convention ran for me.

The last few years I've commuted into Arisia but I made plans with a friend to stay the weekend this year because I wanted the break, the GOHs were intruiging and I was also trying to recruit more LARPers for Intercon D and I had friends running LARPs and working the convention to be social with.

I was manning our table for quite a bit of prime time, so I got to do a lot of people watching and listening instead of attending panels. I got the impression from the staff I saw walking around that things were running smoothly which I always find a good sign. When I was able to get away, I went to a few panels and hit the dealers. Everything seemed to be happy.

The staff members that I had encounters with were great. I'm not going to be able to remember names but the ones with whom I got my meeting scheduled and our table got us set up before hand and followed up to make sure I was happy. (I was.) Our table got set up opposite the gaming room which was not only a great position for our purposes but also probably saved my sanity since I could at least watch people gaming instead of a dark wall. Thanks. I also think the crew that set up the gaming and LARPing did a great job but I'm obviously biased.

I should mention that my hotel room reservation was messed up but eventually all the problems were resolved. Skip delivered on his promises to fix the mistakes and that was no small part of my happiness with the convention. I don't think it should have taken as long as it did and that I was ready to punt the convention at one point over it. I can't compare this year to the last three but I don't remember being uncertain about my reservation for so long in the past.

Of course, the Park Plaza is it's old creaky self. I was stuck on the "cold side" of the hotel in a room with the door that nearly took out my shoulder to open at one point. And I forgot how bloody hot it gets if you're just sitting on the Mezzanine. But there was hot water in the room. Many sins can be forgiven if there is at least a (non-smoking) room with a bed and hot water. I read that there is an active search for a new site. I can't say I'll be sad if it moves to another venue but the Park Plaza has its charms, not the least of which is knowing how and when to use the staircases.

I did get out to see the art show (Gannon's stuff was amazing and the show looked really full) and visit the dealers (lots of familiar faces but it seemed like there were more on Dealers Row this year). The Con Suite looked stocked whenever I was there, too.

But to pick one nit, the badges were awful! Black on dark brownish grey? Please! Have pity on forgetful geeks with failing eyes. (I know who this is. Damn. I met her last year. Wait, wait, what does her badge say? Casual glance. Casual glance. NO! I can't read it!) Terrible loss of face occurred. More than once. Someone had to point out to me that my real name actually was on the badge somewhere.