Brian Mao (perseus@UCLINK4.BERKELEY.EDU)
Sun, 25 Jul 1999 12:34:00 -0700
X-Sender: perseus@uclink4.berkeley.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.1 (32) Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19990725123400.008ca100@uclink4.berkeley.edu> Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 12:34:00 -0700 From: Brian Mao <perseus@UCLINK4.BERKELEY.EDU> Subject: Re: AX '99For attendees it was worse last year, but this year, staff had all the headaches since the dealers room was just so big. We have to patrol that arena and make sure no unwanteds entered. The worst part was all the dealer gripes since they were not allowed to use large moving equipment. Union regulations and all that said they either move everything by hand, or hire $100 per hour union labor. >It was infinately more insane all the time last year when it was *IN* the >hotel. This year they were kinda smart to move it into the convention >center. > I left after a while. Just watched it upstairs on AX TV. It's so nice to be able to mute/turn off some of those skits. >I missed the masquerade, and I'm not sheding any tears over it either. ;) > Yup yup. lots of gripes about the reg line. One of the lower staffers made a mistake in the beginning and the lines just got screwed up. > >Don't know about Thursday, but reg was no picnic on Friday. They made the >pre-registered people like me stand in line with the walk in registration >people. I mean, that defeats the whole purpose outside of a cheaper rate >(which for me was only $5 since I sent mine in later). The staff guys next >to me were agreeing that I have every right to complain. Actually, they are planning some new ideas for the next year. They are planning on using a permanent bar code system so people can just "scan" themselves in, rather then wait for a membership card to get printed. (I personally like having staff custom badges. I just stick a nice picture of Sakura on it =)) They tried to implement it this year, but that divided their resources, which was part of the problem. Well, that's what you get when all the staffers are volunteers. As for the gripe session, you would have had to wait a long time. Lots of really silly gripes an suggestions like putting staff on a payroll (hah!) and allowing autographs to anyone who wanted one (I'm sure that Kanno stalker would have liked that) > >If I wasn't so tired, I would've stayed for the Sunday gripe session. >The biggest complaint I've heard from people is that the con is getting >too big. Clearly AX is rapidly becoming a pro-con. With growth comes >inefficientcy. AX needs to reform some things starting with reg. Maybe >they should do it like the SDCC and mail pre-registered people their >badges. Just a thought. > >- John > >