Some feedback

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

Here's some general feedback about the con. I'm reserving program participant-specific feedback for email, so this is the more general stuff. Quick caveat: some of this stuff may have been at the con, but I missed it. If so, sorry.

1. I'd strongly suggest putting "QUIET FLOOR" signs - large ones - outside the elevators on floors that have been designated as such. On Saturday and Sunday nights there were some very loud conversations - shouting back and forth along the corridors, actually - well after midnight, and the noise went on for some time in each case. I'm sure there was no malice behind it, but signs would probably have been a helpful reminder.

2. The management of elevators was a serious problem on Sunday afternoon. I realize that there isn't much to be done about the elevators themselves, but I spent quite a bit of time standing to one side and watching the elevators go up and down - we were, of course, waiting for an elevator. Apparently whoever was running them had decided that the "middle" floors should get little to no service, because over and over I saw elevators skip the 7th and 8th floors. And the buttons were definitely pushed, mind you! We waited over 25 minutes for an elevator, and when one finally came, it was full. This was a concern for us because my wife has a knee problem and could not possibly take the stairs.

We weren't the only ones who were stranded. One party was trying to check out, and after about half an hour or so they tried to take their luggage down the stairs. I'm told they nearly passed out.

And yes, some people - I don't know if they were staff or not - were rude about the elevators. But I saw much worse last year, so I didn't take it seriously. I mean, if someone wasn't abusing their authority it wouldn't be a con, would it? :D

In any case, if someone deliberately decided to isolate certain floors, I'd say that was a very bad idea. May I suggest working out a set of contingency service plans in advance, for situations when 1, 2 or 3 elevators are inoperative? Assuming such plans haven't been made, that is.

I'm also tempted to suggest some sort of "disabled member" system, but that could easily be a logistical nightmare.

3. Art show hours. For the second year in a row my wife and I missed the Art Show completely. We tried to go, but it was closed every time - or else the elevators were not available. I don't know if extending the hours is practical, but I know that a lot of people aren't able to make it to the show for the same reason.

4. Food cost. If a family of three (with one child) ate at the hotal restaurant for all three meals in a day, the cost would be $189. The cost for the entire con would be $680! I realize that the hotel sets the prices, but maybe someone could point out to the management that they'd get more customers if they offered a full menu in addition to the buffets - and that $32 each is a BIG stretch for dinner, for most of us.

The carts weren't bad, but I'll admit that even $5 for a hot dog kind of appalled me. Maybe I'm old-fashioned. We ended up making a supermarket run.

5. Things I miss from Arisias past:

• a formal dance
  
• the Dealer's Room (the Row was fine, but we miss the Room)
  
• the laser room (ah, that was long ago. But it was magical)
  
• a 24-hour video room. What happened to that?
  
• the amateur video contest. Although I'm not offering to run it!
  

Comments

[juldea.livejournal.com]

That totally depends on when you were in Con Suite. I NEVER saw sandwiches or sliced meats/cheese there, only ever saw the remnants of meatballs, found only brown apple slices and carrot & celery sticks for veggies, never saw hot dogs, and only once caught bagel pieces over the entire con. And Con Suite is generally where I stop inbetween each and every function I go to at Arisia. I suppose I just had bad luck, but I honestly would not have known most of those things were there had you not just listed them (and I don't have any reason to believe you to be making stuff up.)

[nippyfrog.livejournal.com]

yeah I missed out too :(

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

there was french toast and waffles monday morning, fresh fruish, juice, and goodies. the croisants most days were very good.

one of the problems with the timing was that consumption was far higher than delivery. it looked like the con suite staff had a lot of goodies, and were making it on a schedule and as fast as they could, but an entire crock pot of meatballs was consumed in under 10 minutes flat. people were in fact, making sit down meals of the food that arrived, and not just hit and run snacking. by the time you were done one course, you could wait for the next it seemed.

last year, i greatly enjoyed the food carts. this year, they seemed a little lower quality on what i ate, and priced higher. c'est la vie. was REALLY looking forward to the food trucks. no trucks. what can you do? perhaps MIT has something against them (heard they were chased off at least once).

the con suite was a big win, imho.

#

[ron_newman]

Goosebeary's truck showed up Friday night but never again. I did not see any other food trucks at all, on any day.

[tehuti.livejournal.com]

And it was crappy food, too. That one doesn't need to be invited back.

[ron_newman]

It is (or at least was once) the most popular truck on the MIT campus.

[selkiechick]

I know the con has no say over it, but I was very disappointed that the food trucks didn't come. I had been counting on them. Silly me.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

The one that came was chased off by MIT police, who were pissy about people parking in their lot. Next year all parking discussions should include a member of the MIT police.

[twistpeach.livejournal.com]

My roomies and I got smart and packed a big bin of food and soda for the con. We brought with us a little electric teakettle, ate like kings on travel-happy goodies, and shared with our neighbors to boot. When you're trapped in a place, whoever owns the place is going to charge whatever s/he thinks your desperation will make you pay. Stick it to the man. Bring your own food.