GenCon SoCal Post Thoughts

[Scatterspell]

It was a good con. Much smaller than Indy, but much much bigger than any other West Coast gaming con.

I know the final attendance number but can't tell. Let's just say they hit their mark.

Let's all hope that next year the numbers go up. The west coast needs a good gaming con, I mean all we really have are the strategicons....and well, as far as jokes go they are ok...

 

[Krug]

Adkison's Report: http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=11207&mode=thread&order=0

 

[Henry]

A few things I found interesting in the report:

At the Gen Con auction someone auctioned off 10 display boxes of Arabian Nights...These 10 display boxes were still in their original cardboard box as they were packed out from Carta Mundi and sold for $95,000, the largest auction item in the history of Gen Con auctions.

Ho-lee Cow! Didn't even know anyone HAD unopened Arabian Nights!

Val Kilmer. He showed up late on Saturday, stayed for about 15 minutes, then freaked out and left and never came back. In fact, he never will come back to one of our shows--at least not while I'm in charge.

I'd LOVE to hear the story behind this one, 'cause I'm sure there is one, but I have a feelign I NEVER will...

William Shatner was impressive; even though he was fighting a severe cold or flu, he made all his engagements and put on a good show.

William Shatner has from what I've heard always been a stellar con-guest the past few years; guess he really meant what he said in his book Get a Life. (BTW, excellent and very funny read, I highly recommend it)

# We at Gen Con need to negotiate/pay off the unions to get them off the backs of our exhibitors.

I always hear about unions being a problem, but I've never been in a position where they were... Hope they get that successfully arbitrated for next show.

All in all, I sounds like it went off exactly as planned, which is the best that could be expected. Here's hoping next year is a great success for them!

 

[Ashy]

Wouldn't End of January-early February be a better time giving those of us in the middle of Winter more of a reason to attend.

I agree! Late January and early February are usually DEAD months post holidays.... Perfect for a Con!

 

[WizarDru]

A few things I found interesting in the report:
I always hear about unions being a problem, but I've never been in a position where they were... Hope they get that successfully arbitrated for next show.

You've obviously never attended a Con at the Philly convention center, where unions come to fistfights over territory (such as the punch-out between the carpenters and electricians at the 2001 Worldcon over who would hang a light fixture over a booth).

 

[Piratecat]

I understand that unions are also why there isn't a major con in Chicago.

Yes, i do.
Ok, At Gencon peter stated that He hoped for around 4000 people to attend.
The final numbers sit around 6500 or 7000.

Hmmm. not according to his con report, where he puts the numbers at about 4700.

 

[JDragon]

I had thought about going to check out the Con but couldn't swing it this year, maybe next year.

I still think, as I suggested on the poll they did a year plus ago that if this is to be West Coast Con is should be more centrally located for all the west coast people and not in So Cal.

I'm with Henry, and would love to hear what happend with Val Kilmer and why he will not be allowed back. BTW was he a scheduled guest or someone that just showed up?

 

[Luddite]

That was a good post-mordum from Peter. He did mention my issue, that was, there was so much space that some areas seemed very empty.

Seems like he knows what he is doing. And that things are going as planned.

I still wonder what the possiblity of it bouncing between LA and SD, but we will see.

-The Luddite

 

[Pyske]

He didn't mention my pet issue either, which was the constant announcements and their proximity to the gaming. When running games in the RPGA area, it got really annoying trying to shout over all the announcements. ("Self-marshalling" was a bit of a pain too, but not too terrible.)

Still, overall, the con went well, and if I have extra vacation time available, I may go again next year.

. . . . . . . -- Eric

 

[Pramas]

I'm with Henry, and would love to hear what happend with Val Kilmer and why he will not be allowed back. BTW was he a scheduled guest or someone that just showed up?

He was a scheduled guest, added only a couple of weeks before the show. I heard at least three different versions of why he left. I can't vouch for the veracity of any of them.

1) He showed up and saw that only five or so people were in line to get his $30 autograph, so he turned around and left.

2) He showed up, saw several weirdos scrutinizing him, got freaked out about "stalkers", and left immediately.

3) He was sick. This last one may be the excuse he used with the GenCon staff. Seems unlikely he would have trekked all the way to the convention center is he was too sick to appear though.

So says the rumormill.