I wouldn't underestimate the influence of the convention center itself on the process. I work in Philadelphia, home of the beleagured Philadelphia Convention Center....one of the largest ones around, and the subject of constant battling and speculation.
I've attended an Origins and WorldCon there. Both highlighted what an unmitigated disaster labor relations can become. Having six different unions, each with separate contracts, makes for some of the stupidest situations EVAR. Labor negotiations have led to fistfights between union leaders.
For example:
Originally in the Philadelphia Inquirer
The most recent problem occurred on April 24 when six Philadelphia police officers were dispatched to an exhibit hall during the setup of the Oracle Applications Users Group trade show, officials of the show said.
The show officials said they feared a fistfight was about to erupt between members of the laborers' and carpenters' unions over whose job it was to set up directional and informational signs.
There are plenty of tales of not setting up booths because only carpenters could put up the frames, but not the signs, and only electricians could change the light bulbs. And DON'T YOU DARE DO IT YOURSELF.
I have no idea what went wrong at Gencon this year, and it sounds like it really SUCKED for a lot of people, which is lamentable. But I've been to fan run conventions like Otakon, which rocked the house, and I've been to professional cons that did not. And I've been to fan run conventions which were abysmally run.
Examples: Otakon has never failed to impress me with their handling of queues and lines. People are shuttled through quickly and they improve each year. Bucconner in Baltimore has never forced me to take a long time to get a badge, either. Philcon, however, jumped the shark sometime in the 80s, and I haven't been back since.
Please let us know what PA says (or doesn't say), Joe.
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