I have to agree with most of your assessment. I found one bartender very grumpy about having to change the channel on Sunday for the "shuttle mission". (Yeah, that told you how informed he was.) He wasn't happy that he had to miss the play by play of the Indy 500 after show. Otherwise the hotel staff was extremely nice and really went the extra mile for your comfort. The dealers' room was a mess. Costumers in front of costumers, not nearly enough book vendors, and more than a few empty spaces. I heard a few of them left after a day of no sales, and many book dealers were not allowed in until they offered them space one week out, and then it was too late. My situation really sucked from the perspective of having to explain why I wasn't in the dealers' room to many anxious fans who are customers, when that is my only real local area convention. I wasn't in a position to give them a reason, just speculation. You don't mess with a major overhaul (or was that a "new mix"??) of dealers when many fans count on those vendors to be there with "lists" in hand of what they have been saving up for a year to buy. I was lead to the function space by someone who had been there before, as it wasn't well marked, and was surprised to see how tomb-like the dealers' function space was. It was actually a blessing to not deal this year and look at things from a more relaxed perspective. Sure it will hurt in the financial side, but it was actually nice to attend the social side of the convention. My hope is that someone actually listened to concerns (if they were voiced), and does something positive to correct those situations.
no subject
The dealers' room was a mess. Costumers in front of costumers, not nearly enough book vendors, and more than a few empty spaces. I heard a few of them left after a day of no sales, and many book dealers were not allowed in until they offered them space one week out, and then it was too late. My situation really sucked from the perspective of having to explain why I wasn't in the dealers' room to many anxious fans who are customers, when that is my only real local area convention. I wasn't in a position to give them a reason, just speculation. You don't mess with a major overhaul (or was that a "new mix"??) of dealers when many fans count on those vendors to be there with "lists" in hand of what they have been saving up for a year to buy. I was lead to the function space by someone who had been there before, as it wasn't well marked, and was surprised to see how tomb-like the dealers' function space was. It was actually a blessing to not deal this year and look at things from a more relaxed perspective. Sure it will hurt in the financial side, but it was actually nice to attend the social side of the convention. My hope is that someone actually listened to concerns (if they were voiced), and does something positive to correct those situations.