BPAL meet and sniff?

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

IT just occured to me that i will be bringing my BPAl collection to Arisia, and that this may be a good time to get together with other fans....

so, any ideas how to manage a get together where we can swap scents and sniff, and generally act like fan geeks without bothering anyone else too much?  And is anyone else on line interested in this?

yes, only just now did this occur to me...... i am a merchant, i have no brain cells left , they are all packed in the van, sorry....
however i can be a central contact point for arrainging this, as i merchant on merchants row and can easily be found.

Comments

[saraphina-marie.livejournal.com]

Last year there was talk of a meet-n-sniff, but it never materialized.

Pick a time and place and let's see how many people are interested.
I have a substantial collection of imps and I am available prettymuch all day Saturday.

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Huh! I might be mixing years up, but I thought there had been one last year.

The last one had some unfortunate results, so it might be worth talking to any fellow organizers about determining and enforcing rules. Apparently some of the people there thought it was a grab pile (at least this is my understanding - it may have actually been something else entirely), which meant that the imps of some people were taken without consent.

[m0usegrrl.livejournal.com]

That was indeed last year...

[saraphina-marie.livejournal.com]

Maybe I did go to one at Arisia last year...I know one con I went to there was an issue of imps growing legs and running off.
Maybe I am thinking of Chattacon that folks tried to organize and it never actually happened.

But yes, rules! Rules are important!

[dda.livejournal.com]

Trust me, there was a BPAL meet-n-sniff last year; I ought to know, I scheduled it. :-) But I'm not doing Events this year so I cannot help at all with one this year; my understanding is that space is all (over)booked at this point.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

We're not going to do it again as an official function. There were too many complaints about the lingering smells from the BPAL gathering.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

ok, first thing to do. make up a rules list!

1. this is a meet and sniff, not a free hand out. You may be able to convince someone to part with some of their stash, you may not. Letting you sniff is not an indication they want to sell or swap.

2. appreciate the fact that you can find out if you like things, sniff before you order, and etc. Its a privilege, don't be rude.

3. swaps are at the agreement of both parties, no one HAS to swap, and no one has to swap for anything they dont want.

4. same for sales: the seller may set their own price, IF they want to sell. Meanwhile the Lab has 24 hour on web ordering so you don't have to accept their sale price if you don't want to.

5. toothpicks and other things are available for testing scents, use ONE toothpick for ONE scent, and do not re dip.. so you don't get your skin chemistry in their bottle...

6. Never, ever, apply, spray, or otherwise contact someone with a scented product without asking. People can be allergic to almost anything, and some folks get migraines from any strong scent.

7. Make sure your fingertips are free of scents, food, or oils before going off and shopping or touching things.

8. Write it down. I know it seems silly, but i bet after the convention is over you wont remember what you tried and what it smelled like on you.

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'm probably not the person to talk to about rules, but that looks pretty solid. Thank you. :)

Don't know if I'll make it, but you'll definitely see me around - I'm moving to florida immediately following the con (and I mean immediately - my sweetie is coming up to kidnap me and we'll be leaving on monday morning), and while I hope to keep coming to Arisia, it's not guaranteed. So I'll be stopping in at least once to drool over your amber and replenish some supplies. Ooh! Hey! I've finally gotten around to making stuff with the jet cabochons I bought from you - one is still loose, but one is the centerpiece for this (http://pics.livejournal.com/ayalanya/pic/0006ek75/g9) hairpiece. Just so's you know, the amber and jet is getting good use. :)

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

cool! please do come by and wave at me...
i have garnets this year.......

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Ooh, garnets. Any sizable garnet cabs?

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

no, sorry. the big cabs in garnet scked...

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Ah well. I'll still be coming in to drool over things, oh yes.

[dda.livejournal.com]

6. Never, ever, apply, spray, or otherwise contact someone with a scented product without asking. People can be allergic to almost anything, and some folks get migraines from any strong scent.

We went to great lengths last year to isolate and minimize any scents from getting out into the main con area; the folks putting it on brought air cleaners and the windows would open in that room as a last resort.

I strongly urge you to keep the scents in mind as even passers-by on Dealer's Row might well react poorly.

Depending on what I do next year, feel free to contact me about setting this up a bit earlier. :-)

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

oh no, it isnt in my merchants room. it will be kindly hosted by Octoberland in her (not on merchants row) private room.

i am the contact point because i am easy to find.

and heck yes.. i would love to have your help setting this up earlier.

i am thinking of bringing a air filter (hepa) thingy if i can scrounge one cheap.

[totient]

Do you need me to swap that room into a space that people can get to? There are a few rooms at the end of the hall on 3 that aren't Dealers Row.

Mail to innkeeper@arisia.org if so.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

since other fan BPALers will be saturday only. i think we pretty much need to make it saturday!

if all else fails, check in at my merchant room for current "who what where"

if we HAVE to i can have it in my room, but as the hotel rooms are small and air circulation can be an issue, i would rather have it elsewhere...

[saraphina-marie.livejournal.com]

For reference, which room is yours?
And remind me what you sell. I know I remember you form last year...I sat and chatted in your room for a while, but I am totally drawing a blank on what it is you were selling!

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

i uh.. dont have the number off hand.. but dealers row. umm. somewhere.
but i am Fabric Dragon, my mundane last name is Houseknecht and every year i make a "chart" near the elevators as a sneaky trick so people can find me

i sell beads, yarn, and . well. random stuff.

and that is my old photo, it helps folks id me, but i cut my hair for charity so it isnt as long as usual.....

aha! my cell phone, in case you cant find me 267 255 2771

[saraphina-marie.livejournal.com]

I am sure I can find you.
Did you have all the different yarns?
Or was I chatting with you about the awesome Chinese take-out place nearby while looking at the profusion of random shinies you had and wishing I still did Faire regularly enough to warrant buying some?

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

yup, all different yarns.
i will be getting a new shipment of sock yarns in just in time for the con also...

[kimeepower.livejournal.com]

Will you have crochet hooks, beading wire & beading needles?

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

crochet hooks, yes
beading wire, maybe
beading needles, probably.

what kind of wire do you need? what kind of needles do you like

[kimeepower.livejournal.com]

I work with seed beads size 10/11. So whatever size needle that is. I was using a friends tools but she moved away. For crochet hook, specifically looking for G (I think) :)