That Worldcon report...
Aug. 15th, 2009 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bovil...or at least highlights and lowlights.
Wednesday: Flew non-stop from SFO to YUL. Departure was delayed by a FAA-enforced sleep-in for the crew. We were a bit late getting to the Delta, and eventually caught up with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
steverogerson's BritFan Pub Crawl. It was a blast. Highly recommended, Steve puts a lot of work into doing recon a few days before. We should have taken the Metro to get to the Latin Quarter, but we walked. Live and learn.
Thursday: We got registered. K installed his space suit in the costume exhibit. We looked at the dealers' room. It was tiny (not unusual for a Canadian Worldcon). We checked out the Fanzine lounge. It wasn't the best location or space (Noreascon 4 still had the best "in exhibit space" fanzine lounge).We met a bunch of folks (hi,fringefaan) and caught the Metro (having learned a lesson) to the Latin Quarter again for dinner at Restaurant Au Pied de Cochon. This place is what a Bistro is supposed to be, casual space, lots of people, fabulous food. The Foie Gras Cromesquis were to die for. We were there for hours (Worldcon sent the restaurant a lot of business on Thursday). When we got back to the hotel, the Reno in 2011 party had already closed, so we adjourned to the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed until oh-godawful in the morning.
Friday: We slept. K did a panel. We ate. We went to parties. Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark, but didn't stay up quite as late. The hotel night manager and hotel security had a meltdown over parties and the elevators were overloaded, so we used the stairs to get around.
Saturday: K had 2 panels and masquerade stuff. I slept late. We ate. I went to the masquerade. It was pretty good, and there were a lot of new faces (not unusual for a Canadian Worldcon). K had a great time working with Julie Czerneda, she's a total sweetie. We went to parties. (Say it with me!) Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Sunday: K had a panel. I slept late. We ate. Reno was announced the winner of the 2011 Worldcon bid. Raleigh was announced the winner of the 2010 NASFiC bid. We went to the Hugos. We cheered when Cheryl won. We cheered when Scalzi won. We cheered when Weird Tales won. We cheered when Girl Genius won. We cheered when Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog won. It was a good awards ceremony, and a lot of fun. We went to parties. (Say it with me!) Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Monday: K had a panel. I slept late. We ate. We went to closing ceremonies. I wish we had the time and money to go to Australia next year, but it's not in the cards. For dead dog, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Tuesday: We got up, got breakfast, packed, and went to the airport. Somehow we weren't affected by the crazy-ass weather going around the Northeast.
So, all in all?
There was a significant level of programming failure in scheduling, rescheduling and ensuring that panelist tech needs were fulfilled. The tabloid-sized pocket program (that was significantly wrong) didn't help. At least the infamous pink sheets were better than Anaheim's dumping program corrections on the newsletter where they would only fit at 4.5pt type.
There was a significant level of hotel failure on the part of the Delta regarding the party floors.
I've been reading complaints about hotel distances, and have to say, for the most part, they were within the realm of reasonable for a Worldcon. No, they weren't Anaheim (nobody is Anaheim). They were a bit longer than San Jose and Philly, probably equivalent to Boston and much shorter than Toronto, Denver or Glasgow.
Otherwise, the con was pretty damned good. Major events started nearly on time. They ran smoothly. Tech did the best job they were allowed to do (and for events they did very well). Info desk was staffed by cheerful and helpful people. Attendees had fun at the convention. I'm not going to saddle Anticipation with the review that Denver got. It wasn't a better con than it deserved to be, it was just a good con.
And, you know?
I had a great time.
Wednesday: Flew non-stop from SFO to YUL. Departure was delayed by a FAA-enforced sleep-in for the crew. We were a bit late getting to the Delta, and eventually caught up with
steverogerson's BritFan Pub Crawl. It was a blast. Highly recommended, Steve puts a lot of work into doing recon a few days before. We should have taken the Metro to get to the Latin Quarter, but we walked. Live and learn.Thursday: We got registered. K installed his space suit in the costume exhibit. We looked at the dealers' room. It was tiny (not unusual for a Canadian Worldcon). We checked out the Fanzine lounge. It wasn't the best location or space (Noreascon 4 still had the best "in exhibit space" fanzine lounge).We met a bunch of folks (hi,
fringefaan) and caught the Metro (having learned a lesson) to the Latin Quarter again for dinner at Restaurant Au Pied de Cochon. This place is what a Bistro is supposed to be, casual space, lots of people, fabulous food. The Foie Gras Cromesquis were to die for. We were there for hours (Worldcon sent the restaurant a lot of business on Thursday). When we got back to the hotel, the Reno in 2011 party had already closed, so we adjourned to the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed until oh-godawful in the morning.Friday: We slept. K did a panel. We ate. We went to parties. Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark, but didn't stay up quite as late. The hotel night manager and hotel security had a meltdown over parties and the elevators were overloaded, so we used the stairs to get around.
Saturday: K had 2 panels and masquerade stuff. I slept late. We ate. I went to the masquerade. It was pretty good, and there were a lot of new faces (not unusual for a Canadian Worldcon). K had a great time working with Julie Czerneda, she's a total sweetie. We went to parties. (Say it with me!) Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Sunday: K had a panel. I slept late. We ate. Reno was announced the winner of the 2011 Worldcon bid. Raleigh was announced the winner of the 2010 NASFiC bid. We went to the Hugos. We cheered when Cheryl won. We cheered when Scalzi won. We cheered when Weird Tales won. We cheered when Girl Genius won. We cheered when Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog won. It was a good awards ceremony, and a lot of fun. We went to parties. (Say it with me!) Once again, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Monday: K had a panel. I slept late. We ate. We went to closing ceremonies. I wish we had the time and money to go to Australia next year, but it's not in the cards. For dead dog, we ended up in the Fanzine Lounge After Dark and stayed up too late.
Tuesday: We got up, got breakfast, packed, and went to the airport. Somehow we weren't affected by the crazy-ass weather going around the Northeast.
So, all in all?
There was a significant level of programming failure in scheduling, rescheduling and ensuring that panelist tech needs were fulfilled. The tabloid-sized pocket program (that was significantly wrong) didn't help. At least the infamous pink sheets were better than Anaheim's dumping program corrections on the newsletter where they would only fit at 4.5pt type.
There was a significant level of hotel failure on the part of the Delta regarding the party floors.
I've been reading complaints about hotel distances, and have to say, for the most part, they were within the realm of reasonable for a Worldcon. No, they weren't Anaheim (nobody is Anaheim). They were a bit longer than San Jose and Philly, probably equivalent to Boston and much shorter than Toronto, Denver or Glasgow.
Otherwise, the con was pretty damned good. Major events started nearly on time. They ran smoothly. Tech did the best job they were allowed to do (and for events they did very well). Info desk was staffed by cheerful and helpful people. Attendees had fun at the convention. I'm not going to saddle Anticipation with the review that Denver got. It wasn't a better con than it deserved to be, it was just a good con.
And, you know?
I had a great time.
