ENNIES: Production Staff.

[Kid Charlemagne]

Well, I don't know what a McAnallis spread is, but I can throw up a perfectly competent lighting plot. Thing is, if we do get a space that has a lighting grid, they'll probably already have a general light plot hung and ready to go for us. In any case, I'll be happy to tweak the lights and run the lighting board.

One thing to keep in mind: you should check with the convention center to determine their requirements - I don't think Indy is a union town, but if it is, using any ENWorlders as technicians would be right out. It may be out anyway - depending on the Convention Center's rules.

That said, I have 10 years experience in professional camera and lighting experience and would be happy to lend a hand! I don't know a whole lot about getting the signal onto the internet, but I could definitely handle the camera portion of the job (and technical directing the video feed).

EDIT: Another thought - who ever is in charge of this should check with the GenCon people running the show as they may have a "convention rate" on projectors, or even a set number of projectors that can be used for meetings, meaning that the convention staff to handle some of the support may already be essentially bought and paid for as part of the GenCon deal with the convention center.

 

[Morrus]

Michael, I think you really need to contact Lawrence Liermann and ask him for as much info as he can provide about the White River Ballroom.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Anyone wanna tell me why the Ennies is not up as a Seminar for event registration at Gencon?

 

[HellHound]

Probably has a LOT to do with the fact that it isn't a... SEMINAR.

 

[Michael Morris]

A visit at the convention center

First, thanks to all of you who have volunteered to help out. I'll keep your names in mind when I actually do choose personel, but I need to gather some more information before I say yea or nay to anyone's help. Kid Charlemange pointed out how convention rules work into things, funding concerns - I have all these in mind and I'm getting myself in the business of finding out.

Anyway, as part of that I visited the Indy convention center to take a look at the White River Ballroom. It's nice and roomy, but it does have two columns coming down almost into the center of the room to support the weight of the football stands above. Shouldn't be a problem for our little show/get together.

I now know what is in the room for certain. There is one front of house lighting boom which had 7 fresnels and 4 parcans mounted but out of use in a default spread configuration for the stage. There is a projection screen already mounted off stage right and I though I saw an alcove in the ceiling where a camera would be mounted for that screen (I was looking into the room from the hallway - there was a banquet in progress I did not want to disturb). In your an Indiana Colts football fan you've seen the stage of this room - it is used for after game press conferences - so the hookups should be adaquate. The convention center is literally littered with internet hookups.

Now just because the equipment is there does not mean it can be used - it belongs to the convention center and they may wish to charge an extra fee for it's setup and use. I will stress out here that I prefer to use equipment provided by the convention center if economically feasable to do so instead of having folks bring their own stuff because the last thing I want to have happen is for someone to bring an expensive piece of gear and have it damaged or stolen.

From my lookover of the ballroom it appears more than adequate for what I would like to see done this year and its setup. That said, I need to confer with our Gencon hosts, Morrus and the Indianapolis Event Coordinator for Gencon (the person who acts as a liason between Mr. Adkinson's personell and the Convention Center's personell).

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

In addition to doing camera work, I've also worked as an Audiovisual technician for conference centers, so I can take a stab at how the room is set up

The alcove you mention is probably for a mounted, in-room projector (which could be used for the Powerpoint presentation). There might be a place for a camera up there too, but most often cameras would be run from the floor of a room (you typically want the lens of a camera to be at eye level of the people you're shooting).

Most places will allow you to bring in your own projector, but it can be tough to set up a projector in a big room with a large screen like that (and have it look nice).

Incidentally, is the screen rear-projection (in which case it would look sort of like opaque glass) or front projection (in which case it would look like a regular cinema screen, material-wise)?

In any case, there will be connections for a laptop in numerous places, especially at either side of the stage, and probably in a couple places in the rear of the room. Powerpoint could be run from any of those spots if the room's dedicated projector is to be used. If an outside projector is to be used, it would mean the PC would have to be pretty close to the projector.

 

[Eridanis]

7 fresnels and 4 parcans mounted

Yeah, sounds pretty typical. I'll have to dig through my storage room and see if I can scrounge up some gels for some atmosphere. Too bad I don't have ready access to a liko; I could have a gobo of a d20 made up to project onto the floor during the show.

 

[Ashy]

Not necessarily staff, but, IF things go right through the next few weeks, Mortality will be both recording AND broadcasting LIVE, the entire ceremony.

Last year, I tried to do this with a lap top. Bad move, that.

I've talked to Morrus, for quite some time, about this, and he agreed with the plan I had this year to do this, and as well, some other things I proposed.

IF we get certain things ironed out, which at THIS time is beyond my or Morrus' say so, we'll have a sweet setup for the LIVE ENnies.

I'll be bringing 2 full PC's, a mixer board, and a wireless microphone, plus several hard wire microphones.

PERHAPS, if Morrus gets into a certain ear soon, we can get access to a projector, which couples to a PC, for showing said slides. By using a projector, it would be essentially NO cost for slide production, ad all we need for graphics is already on the net.

I have excellent image software, where I can group nominees to show up as thumbnails, over a projector, then isolate the winner when announced.

I'd gladly offer this setup, assuming we can get access to a projector, which just about ANY conference center has several.

I can even play the music scores from said PC, going through my mixer, to whatever PA system they would be using.

Video simulcast requires ALOT of free bandwidth. If thats accessible, great. There are indeed options I have to stream this also. But BANDWIDTH !!!

I can be reached at the email in my profile, if any of you planners need ask me anything. adlon@mortality.net

Morrus, lets get this done. !!!

Adlon, Morrus, if you need help - just ask! I will help where ever I can!

 

[Piratecat]

Too bad I don't have ready access to a liko; I could have a gobo of a d20 made up to project onto the floor during the show.

Now you're just making words up.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Now you're just making words up.

The sad thing is, I know exactly what he's talking about...

Lighting terms are pretty funky. Believe or not, there's actually a kind of light out there called a "baby baby".