Some feedback
Jan. 22nd, 2008 09:02 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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arisiaHere'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:
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!
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no subject
Date: 2008-01-23 04:14 am (UTC)Well, when we asked if the regular menu was available - it was Friday night, I believe - the hostess told us that the buffet was the only option. Pity, we'd have probably eaten dinner at the hotel at least a couple of times if the regular menu had been offered to us.
As for the Green Room, I'm afraid we're going to have to disagree on that one! I've loved the Arisia Green Room for years; I really look forward to the food there, and the wonderful ambiance. But the new regime this year was a big disappointment for me. I went in several times, and only saw hot food on Sunday; even then, it wasn't food I cared for. It all seemed heavily geared towards vegans.
But mostly I only found plates of carrots, crackers, a few slices of ham, and lots of soda. So this was the first time in many years that I didn't find a thing to eat in the Green Room.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-23 04:21 am (UTC)Between meals the pickings were indeed slim, but when stuff was out and available it was excellent. But there didn't seem to be much rhyme or reason for food availability in the ConSuite.
I had buffet on Friday with my roommates, so I didn't think to look for the regular menu. The burger of DOOOOOM was on Saturday night. I went without dinner on Sunday night since I was on evening panels and everything was prettymuch closed by the time I was finished.
I was pretty annoyed the the much-publicized food trucks were not available during the times they were advertised to be. I know the con was working on it, but I didn't see it get resolved. Was it ever?
no subject
Date: 2008-01-23 04:57 am (UTC)We were told the same. :(
I always found hot food in the Green Room, though, save for Friday afternoon... yes, vegan curry, but also beef-and-barley stew!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-23 01:11 pm (UTC)I suspect that the improvement in the room itself might also have been a factor; in last year's room, things were so crowded that you were basically forced against the wall where all the food was.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-23 02:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-24 03:12 am (UTC)We're also definitely planning on being open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday next year. "Let's close at 7 so our staff has any chance to enjoy the con" sounds very reasonable when planning things beforehand, but when we got there and realized that limited our "dinner" hours to 5-7 and meant a lot of people would be left hungry, we all immediately agreed to expand the hours in '09. (Didn't have the supplies or staff to do it this year, unfortunately.)
Thanks for the feedback!
Suggestions on improvements
Date: 2008-02-14 01:02 pm (UTC)1) you might want to separate out the meats offered, so that the pork does not de-kosherize the rest, the chicken doesn't taste vaguely of beef (and I'm sure, vice versa) and it makes it more easy to see what is most popular, for future ordering purposes.
2) you might wish to secure a second microwave, one for staff use, and one for the people using the green room's use. The delight of cheese and/or meat goes up, for me, when it's warm, and having the opportunity to do so was quite wonderful last year.
3) Some of the food-stocks from last year were easy to have out, and just warmed (or, not) on an individual basis, like the wonderful lasagna, and the various other pastas of the years before.
4) (and I don't know how, or even if it is possible) rearrange the room, so that more than one person could get at the crock-pots at any given moment, or, put them behind a table, and have someone serving them, as opposed to what happened to me, I got trapped between two people who wanted food on either side of me, and then they got trapped, and ... it was difficult to sort out.
This might be alleviated by some sort of large (multi?) extension cord, with a piece of rug over it so people don't trip, and the crock pots on the main table, so people could get at them from multiple directions.
Thank you for considering longer hours, and keeping hot foods available across more than just traditional hours, many of us panelists have panels back to back during that time.