Elevator Staff...

[Junon]

Just a con suggestion.

I was wondering if this year Fanime would consider posting staff at 1st/2nd floor elevators during peak activity hours (at the Hotels connected to the con). Someone who can regulate the flow of convention traffic and keep count on how many people fill the elevators, would also be helpful to have someone coordinate people just arriving or leaving that have carts and luggage. Separating them from others to make use of elevator space a lot more efficiently.

Last year was pretty bad with the elevators from people being too inconsiderate to the parties (literally) going on IN the elevators. All of this could have been solved with some simple management.

I'm sure this is more of a hotel issue, but I thought maybe if Fanime has some extra hands, and they were able to, they could help with this.

[Kertus]

Well sometimes you reach the point like in the Marriott where people will ride the elevator down from the 2nd floor, in order to go UP.  I'm not sure if posting people would help regulate that at all.  Unsure as well as it's the hotel property as well as that is dealing with alot of people and varies as well based on the size of the person and their cosplay I would imagine.

[c2chaos]

I feel your pain. I remembered that the elevator broke at some point and the stairwells were packed with people trying to go up and down. :(

[PyronIkari]

The idea isn't bad, but it becomes counter-intuitive.

Ok, so we have a staff member act as a bellboy. This prevents people from acting unruly or "cutting" etc. Now, that person also takes up space in the elevator which, the main problem, is always crowded aduring peak times. So although it keeps down on unrulyness, now adds to the bigger problem of crowded elevators.

[Junon]

The idea isn't bad, but it becomes counter-intuitive.

Ok, so we have a staff member act as a bellboy. This prevents people from acting unruly or "cutting" etc. Now, that person also takes up space in the elevator which, the main problem, is always crowded aduring peak times. So although it keeps down on unrulyness, now adds to the bigger problem of crowded elevators.

I was thinking more along the lines of staffing outside the elevator, coordinating people to exit then enter the elevator at the lower floors, not actually have a person inside of it running the elevator. I found that most of the issues are with people entering at the lower levels. And also only to be done during peak hours (10am - 5pm or whatever it may be).

For example, say the Marriott has 4 elevators, often which are full because people fill them up as quickly as they can. The staffer(s) would coordinate who goes into what elevator.

With the 4 elevators, a couple of dozen people are waiting to get on one, including those with luggage and those large carts to transport luggage -- the staffer could say, "These two elevators are for people transporting luggage going up", and just people with their belongings that require all that extra space would get in first. And if there is space to fit individuals after getting the luggage people in, the staffer would be able to see that and put in a few people to tag along for that ride. The other two elevators will used to transport individuals waiting to get on, and luggage people will not be using that one (unless there was space for one). That way space is always used and everyone gets a chance to get on an elevator in a timely fashion. (And hopefully discourage some people from converting it into a Partyvator).

Last year was a nightmare just to get my stuff to the hotel room (on like the 23rd floor), because each time an elevator made it down to the first floor, a crowd had already built up trying to ram into the emptying elevator, and often times I couldn't fit a cart in there because the inconsiderate pretty much pulled a "I got in here first" even though I've been waiting, patiently, for about 30 minutes prior. Eventually I had to somewhat block off part of the entrance (to prevent people cutting me) and loudly and firmly spoke to those around me, "Hey, I'm entering now, I need to get up there" before getting cut off again.

I do believe with some minor coordination that the elevator situation would improve quite a bit.

[PyronIkari]

I do believe with some minor coordination that the elevator situation would improve quite a bit.

While I don't disagree with you, I see this causing more problems than it does help. With someone navigating traffic, people have to wait for the navigator to tell them where to go, then they navigator has to judge how many more people can fit, then release them in. By doing so, you're taking the time it would take to fill up an elevator and almost tripling it per elevator.

Mmmm... think of it like a freeway. People are going to cut in, they're going to merge poorly, and everyone is just in a rush and cramming in causes slowing. But imagine if you had a police officer directing traffic to tell them how many at a time, when to merge, and who can go where. Although cleaner, it causes transport time to be extremely longer to do.  Even WITH a person navigating traffic, what happens if someone is a jerk and doesn't want to listen or wait? And they just jump into the elevator and tell the staff member to shut the hell up. What is staff member going to do? He can't hold the elevator and force the person to leave so that ta rightful party member can get on. And if people see that, what is going to prevent them from just mimicing the guy and jump on the next elevator instead of waiting.

Again, I don't disagree with you and stuff, but the idea works too much on the hope that everyone follows it accordingly, and the staff member is an expert at volume and filling elevators.  If this was the case, he wouldn't be needed anyways.

Elevators are a pain in the ass due to traffic flow, but really, there isn't anything you can do about it. You either wait and hope to get on, or take the stairs.

[Mango Bunny]

The idea seems well-intentioned, but honestly, personally speaking, I would be much more frustrated if I was being policed into elevators. I'd rather throw myself in or take the stairs.

Not to mention, we'd need two floors of this. I usually enter from the second floor, myself. So what? Now people would have to mosey down to the first floor, a floor that generally is not used by the congoers unless it's to get from point A to point B? So then there's the fact there's 4 elevators. We'd need multiple, coordinated people doing this, or one person not letting anyone get in open elevators, thus losing the empty elevators as they go back up. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

Then there's the fact that other people DO stay in the hotel. Not many, but there are some. I've seen them! They really do exist! So what about them? They have to listen to the elevator police from a con they are not involved with? That would leave a sour taste in my mouth.

It sucks, but honestly, i haven't had any horrifying experiences save for getting out with all my luggage on Monday. I don't mind the party elevators, but then again, I rarely am rushing to get somewhere at Fanime.

[Junon]

While I don't disagree with you, I see this causing more problems than it does help. With someone navigating traffic, people have to wait for the navigator to tell them where to go, then they navigator has to judge how many more people can fit, then release them in. By doing so, you're taking the time it would take to fill up an elevator and almost tripling it per elevator.

Mmmm... think of it like a freeway. People are going to cut in, they're going to merge poorly, and everyone is just in a rush and cramming in causes slowing. But imagine if you had a police officer directing traffic to tell them how many at a time, when to merge, and who can go where. Although cleaner, it causes transport time to be extremely longer to do.  Even WITH a person navigating traffic, what happens if someone is a jerk and doesn't want to listen or wait? And they just jump into the elevator and tell the staff member to shut the hell up. What is staff member going to do? He can't hold the elevator and force the person to leave so that ta rightful party member can get on. And if people see that, what is going to prevent them from just mimicing the guy and jump on the next elevator instead of waiting.

Again, I don't disagree with you and stuff, but the idea works too much on the hope that everyone follows it accordingly, and the staff member is an expert at volume and filling elevators.  If this was the case, he wouldn't be needed anyways.

Elevators are a pain in the ass due to traffic flow, but really, there isn't anything you can do about it. You either wait and hope to get on, or take the stairs.

"But imagine if you had a police officer directing traffic to tell them how many at a time, when to merge, and who can go where. Although cleaner, it causes transport time to be extremely longer to do."

I've seen only ever seen harmony during a rush hour merge on to a highway with traffic lights dictating when cars may merge in.

It may seem slower to get on, but speed isn't the issue I really have, it's actually being able to get on to begin with, and then having some consistency with getting on after that.

You do make excellent points too. I know something like wouldn't work based on the simple concept I have. I do believe however if planning were put into such a job, it could possibly work and I don't think it would hurt to even try it once, we may all be surprised by the results.

Maybe some part-time orderly fashion could shape up the elevator experience a bit more.

The idea seems well-intentioned, but honestly, personally speaking, I would be much more frustrated if I was being policed into elevators. I'd rather throw myself in or take the stairs.

Not to mention, we'd need two floors of this. I usually enter from the second floor, myself. So what? Now people would have to mosey down to the first floor, a floor that generally is not used by the congoers unless it's to get from point A to point B? So then there's the fact there's 4 elevators. We'd need multiple, coordinated people doing this, or one person not letting anyone get in open elevators, thus losing the empty elevators as they go back up. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

Then there's the fact that other people DO stay in the hotel. Not many, but there are some. I've seen them! They really do exist! So what about them? They have to listen to the elevator police from a con they are not involved with? That would leave a sour taste in my mouth.

It sucks, but honestly, i haven't had any horrifying experiences save for getting out with all my luggage on Monday. I don't mind the party elevators, but then again, I rarely am rushing to get somewhere at Fanime.

"I'd rather throw myself in "

That's precisely the problem I have, allowing people to do this themselves. It's just kind of a push and shove to get in, and people at back just moving up front whether or not they've been waiting in the pseudo line (unfortunately to their defense, there is no official line).

The whole recommendation is not about saying who can or cannot get in or out, just someone to help people coming to the con get into the elevators, with or without luggage because luggage can take up a butt load of space. Because the elevators are populated with so many bodies, human or not, someone with a lot of luggage may not be able to get on an elevator; because it's got too many people on it, despite the person waiting longer for the elevator than the new forming crowd outside the elevator who are ready to pile in uncoordinatedly.

Of course I am mostly speaking from my 30-minute wait to get on the elevator last year after they made about 10 round trips. All levels of frustration there.  >:(

So yeah, I know my ideas are far too simplistic to work, but still, no harm in testing one out?

Those elevators are a Mad World.

All Around me are Familiar Faces
Warn out Places, Worn out Faces
Bright and Early for the Daily Races
Elevators, Going Nowhere

[ewu]

The suggestion has been made. Discussion has moved on. And so this thread is locked...


Sorry Junon, you are getting the brunt of my mod actions today....