Kumoricon

Convention Events and Programming => General Kumoricon => Topic started by: JoshuMiku on September 01, 2004, 07:38:03 pm

Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: JoshuMiku on September 01, 2004, 07:38:03 pm
I've looked around, and hopfully hard enough. Whats the max cap. of people we can have at the con? I remember last year we had about as many people that pre-registered this year alone, should I be worried about showing up and being told its full?
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: PezCat on September 01, 2004, 07:54:03 pm
At this point, that isn't a concern.  There hasn't been a cap officially given for Kumoricon this year, and unless someone higher up tells me differently, there isn't one planned either.

So you're probably pretty safe to drive up and buy your tickets in.  I'd be beyond surprised if we turned you away.

PezCat
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Daystar on September 01, 2004, 10:11:18 pm
from what ive read they are encourageing paying at the door... it said somthing like... "we want you to bering your friends... as many people as possible..." you know its in the thing that says the prices or maybe somewhere else... but i know i saw it some wheres
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: PezCat on September 01, 2004, 10:20:45 pm
Quote from: "Daystar"
from what ive read they are encourageing paying at the door... it said somthing like... "we want you to bering your friends... as many people as possible..." you know its in the thing that says the prices or maybe somewhere else... but i know i saw it some wheres


*points excitedly* HEYYY!  I said that!  That's why I recognize that quote!  Wheee!  =^~_~^=

I am wayyy to lacking in the sleep department to be ready for this con...  :lol:

PezCat
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Daystar on September 01, 2004, 11:29:21 pm
*looks oddly at pezcat*
lol
i honestly know how you feel though... you should sleep youve got two days before the con... not that i can talk... im going to stay up till three drawing on a black shirt for my monday/saturday costume... prolly monday...
I'm going as...
The way to obsessed, overexcited, sleep deprived, anime fan!
im gunna have a grunty on my head...
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: procyon on September 02, 2004, 08:01:37 am
We do actually have a limit, we need to cap attendence at around 1000 individual people throughout the con. We've got something like 450 preregistered, and expect that many at the door. So it shouldn't be a problem, but if you're worried I'd recommend showing up early if you haven't preregistered.
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: on September 05, 2004, 05:11:40 am
and here i thoight the page said u were aiming at 1500-2000 this year.  1k does seem kinda limited.  I know over 50 people were turned away.  quite a bit o cash there... *shrugs*  just voiceing my concern.
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Oubeji on September 05, 2004, 06:25:21 am
Wow, that many were turned away on monday alone!? I wonder what it is going to be like on Sunday....
and that's today.(O_O) It's too bad you guys had to limit the number. Especially knowing how it feels to miss out on a event like this. :cry:  But safety comes first I guess... I certainly hope we can have more space next year.  :)
Title: Capacity
Post by: loroo on September 05, 2004, 03:48:32 pm
:(

Well, it would be nice if the website were at least updated to reflect the attendance level so that we don't have to make unnecessary trips down to the con only to be turned away.

We showed up today and were told that the con was at capacity.

We agree that a capacity of 1000 seems awfully low, too.

Well, I guess better luck next year, maybe...
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Oubeji on September 05, 2004, 09:16:01 pm
I don't mean to rant but....
I was frusterated about the infrequency of the site being updated as well. I visited the page on daily basis, practically read through ALL the thread to piece together information that I needed. And that's just wasting lot of time... And I thought the con was taking place outside, so I was wondering around trying to locate the place for nearly an hour, until I met someone with kumorikon bag, and she pointed right to the hotel and told me it was taking place INSIDE... And I thought hotel was only for people staying over night. (o_o;
"Downtown Portland" for location was no help as you can see...
It's really vague.

I don't want to whine or say anything bad about the convention, and truly I have loved every minute that I got to spend, and so much work and thought has gone into it, but we can really use the 'mistakes' of this year to make the con next year a lot better. Anyway, I believe this topic can be moved over to " Help, Suggestions, Complaints" if more people want to voice in about the pro's and con's.  :)  

And please don't flame me if I've offended anyone, I'm only trying to help....  really.^^;
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: SailorNaboo on September 06, 2004, 01:42:26 am
Please feel free to post all of the constructive critism you would like here.  Rants are even OK, as long as people don't resort to namecalling or obsrnity.

We already do have a new, profressional level wemaster lined up for next year, that's one thing taken care of.

Honestly, we had no idea that we'd reach the attencance cap!  That wonderful article in the Oregonian provide so much promotion, we were just swamped;
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Oubeji on September 06, 2004, 08:27:13 pm
I think a new anime-ish layout would be cool! Frequent updates would be great, I'm glad it's already taken care of. I think we should also recruit more volunteers ahead of time and get the word out as much as possible, and the newspaper article definetely helped! I wish I could have gotten the article, did anyone cut it out so we can post it on the site or show it off in the next years con?
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: PezCat on September 07, 2004, 07:38:21 pm
The unexpected boost in numbers actually came as a result of the wonderful spread we got from the Oregonian.  We had planned our numbers without that, and many of us didn't know about that article until it was literally too late to prepare for it.

To be exact, my reaction to the article when I read it less than an hour before my departure to the con was "WOW!  We got publication in the Oregonian!!!" - Quickly followed by "Oh crap, we got publication in the Oregonian... registration is gonna be BRUTAL!"

I felt like the worst, most horrible person on earth every time I turned someone away from the registration desk... We wanted to let everyone in, but we weren't able to due to those things like fire codes and capacity... When I got told on the first day that we were too full as it was, I turned around in shock, and looked at the guy who told me that with this "what are you talking about" look on my face... then I looked past him and saw how FULL the lobby was and went "ohhh myyyy Godddd....."  I truly struggled to find ways to let every person in I could without breaking the rules, to the point I was making myself ill over it... but it was worth it every time I was able to actually get someone in the doors when the words and looks of relief and thanks were sent my way.

I will never feel like I will be able to apologize enough to each and every person who couldn't get in for even one day.  It goes without saying that we'll be doing everything in our power to prevent people from missing out.  The biggest piece of advice I can possibly give to make sure that you aren't turned away in 2005 is to pre-register as early as possible once it becomes available.  We haven't chosen a time yet to open that (and it will likely not be for several months), but we will be posting it on the website as soon as we know, so register then to not miss next year!

PezCat
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: kylite on September 07, 2004, 08:17:55 pm
I heard the total amount turned away was about 1000.  kinda a large numebr but i do understand.
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: Radien on September 07, 2004, 09:25:13 pm
Well, to start off, please let me throw out a few reasons we have to turn people away. Any other staff can jump in at any time:

1. Most of you should see this one coming, but a big reason is fire codes. While it's difficult to estimate the capacity for a single huge hotel, each room has maximum capacity, and if we ever have to start asking people to leave major areas just to meet fire codes, then we are obviously approaching our limit.

2. When people are forced out of an area due to being overfull, they are going to be pissed. If we accept money from new people entering at the door, only to make the new arrivals and the ones already there both unhappy, well, that pretty much screws up our con. Better a wasted trip than wasted money, right? (Note that that last sentence is only referring to people who lived within commuting distance)

3. We always have next year in mind. Having high attendance but subsequently low con quality will give us more money this year, but lose us our reputation, which is important not only to you the con-goers, but also to our relationship with the hotel industry and the nearby community.


Having said all that, the attendance at KumoriCon this year was HUGE!!!!!111 I literally stood there staring wide-eyed for a good 30 seconds when I heard how many people we had to turn away. 8O

Yes, I feel bad about people having to turn around and go home, but unfortunately it always happens to some people at every con. That's why we have pre-reg... we have to. Still, I know turning away 4 people from the Karaoke Contest was hard enough, so turning away hundreds at the door is simply hard to fathom. At least we could guarantee some of them first shot at the next day of the con....
Title: Maybe I missed this, but size limit for the con.
Post by: PezCat on September 07, 2004, 11:48:16 pm
Quote from: "Radien"
Still, I know turning away 4 people from the Karaoke Contest was hard enough, so turning away hundreds at the door is simply hard to fathom.


Very simply, it hurt.  Badly.  I don't even mean from a PR standpoint or that we just couldn't take people or money or whatever... I know I've said it several times on these forums, but I still feel so badly and so guilty for every person I couldn't let in.  

PezCat :cry: