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So here's the thing, the rover told us somewhere around 2PM we were only about 45 minutes from the door, and about 60 minutes after that inside to get the badge.  And we weren't sure we could actually get on the shuttle if we waited there, and the rovers themselves weren't actually sure what the situation was for registration at doubletree except for rumors that it *may* be faster.  So we calculated it'd probably take us 60-90 minutes going the doubletree route if our fairly big group could actually get on the shuttle, for which there was a line already, and that's why we decided to wait it out since we'd already been there for so long.  Well it turns out the rover was wrong as it probably took us another 1.5 hours to get to the door, only to be greeted with basically 3 more lines after we got in.

Had the rover properly informed us of the inside situation, we'd probably have just made the trip to doubletree, or the person could have stopped trying to line up for a badge right then.

Yes, I would like to see that.  In fact, there should probably be a line for single-day registrations.

On Friday, there was someone with us in line from 12PM to about 5-6PM, at which point she gave up because she had to leave by 8PM.  So you basically wasted a person's entire day for no reason being unwilling to try suggestions given every year that other cons have implemented in order to improve the situation.

Anyone bringing their Android: Netrunner decks?

Well they were obviously not needed as the attendees already had everything set up and were already streaming, with permission from the artist.  Whatever the official job function was, they really would just be standing there and doing nothing. :P

Last time I remembered people tried to live stream something the union people got wind of it and demanded $3000 to hire a union worker to... stand around and do nothing? Though that was at the Civic Auditorium so YMMV.

I'm assuming SJ is like SF and occasionally there are ballot measures that affect unions.  I was quite happy when they eliminated the pay guarantees for Muni operators (before that, they were guaranteed to be #2 best paid in the country.  Seriously dumbest thing ever for a bunch of employees who love to take a bunch of unannounced leaves)

If we could leave politics out of this thread, I'd be very appreciative. It is not constructive, nor conducive to helping the Fanime staff garner feedback.

Further, I've worked many conventions in that convention center (more than I care to count, really), and the Union workers have never had, and should never have, any input on what the convention staff and employees do and do not do in regards to registration. I would hazard to say that anyone who implied any "fault" regarding registration difficulties toward the union workers at the convention center had absolutely no real proof, and was merely looking for someone to grind their axe against.

I humbly suggest your information was flawed and erroneous, and should be given up in favor of facts.

Let's see, few years back, they shut down a live broadcast of a MusicFest (which the artist was fine with) because they wanted $3000 to do some sort of network setup that the attendees were already doing on their own just fine with their own equipment.

In regards to reg, the staff member mentioned they had to go through the union to set up network stuff for registration AND they weren't allowed more than X computers per square footage because of union rules.

Basically every significantly negative experience I've had at Fanime has always led back to union rules.  If it was an axe to grind, it's funny how random unrelated people have axes to grind.  Do you have facts to the contrary?

My point is if union rules are really hamstringing the on-site registration process, then maybe they should move as much of it *off-site* as possible.  Either by mail, or at another location.

I'm assuming SJ is like SF and occasionally there are ballot measures that affect unions.  I was quite happy when they eliminated the pay guarantees for Muni operators (before that, they were guaranteed to be #2 best paid in the country.  Seriously dumbest thing ever for a bunch of employees who love to take a bunch of unannounced leaves).

Any SJ measure that would weaken union ability to bargain would probably make things less ridiculous in the future.

[Anime Expo]

Hey guys, we will explore mailing out badges, but it is not as simple as stuffing envelopes. There is a reason for our established process. We will examine how that will fit in with mailing badges, but stuffing envelopes is not the critical factor.

Totally understand that there's more to mailing out badges (such as the risk of lost badges and minor consent forms).  However, not wanting to stuff envelopes was most common reason posted on the forums when the idea to mail badges was proposed last year.

I've been asking around to find out how other cons handle registration:

-Anime Expo does not mail badges.  What happens is when you sign up, you're given a barcode.  When you arrive at the convention center, you scan said barcode into a machine and your badge is printed out.  A registration member then calls your name and checks your ID with the badge.

-Comic-Con does not mail badges.  They do on-site pickup at the convention center and off-site pickup at different hotels.  Apparently, the process at the convention center goes much faster than off-site given the large number of computers and staff available, with attendees getting their badges in as fast as five minutes.

-Sakura Con does not mail badges.  Similar to Anime Expo, they use scanners to pull up a person's information.  I'm guessing they might have a large number of staff/volunteers because the process apparently only takes about 20 minutes.

-Wondercon does not mail badges.  You bring your confirmation letter and are given a generic badge there.  I think they actually process badges manually at this convention.  Similarly, there are a large number of volunteers.  I think you also line up based on your last name, but that's just what I remember from when I went a few years ago.  I also remember waiting less than 10 minutes once the doors opened.

In all cases, minors must bring a consent form signed by their parents.  If you want, I can ask more cons, specifically ones that mail badges (if I can find them).  I focused on these because they're mostly located in California (except Sakura Con) and hence deal with the same laws pertaining to minor consent forms.  They also deal with large numbers of attendees.

I care about improving the process for next year because my boyfriend bailed and my friends couldn't attend as a result of long registration lines.  Going to Fanime with my buddies having to wait outside made me sad.  Not having a dance partner at the ball also made me sad.  I don't want to be sad next year!

PAX mails badges by default and they have 70000 attendees.

Printing badges is fast but there's 2 problems 1) The SJCC union rules sucks so the more you have to do on-site, the more problems can occur and 2) Well it's a paper badge instead of a nice plastic badge

Not fond of the idea of having the badges mailed out. So many things can and will go wrong. I've attended several cons where this idea was a MAJOR FAIL, even when badges were mailed (according to postmark) out 2-3 weeks prior to con time. Here a few problems my friends and I have ran into:
- badges that did not arrive before people had to fly out or their badge arrive just as they were about to head to the airport
- several times badges were mailed out to the wrong people
- and the worst was when several thousand never received their badges
HUGE fiasco!  Luckily each time we all had our receipts/printout to show proof we paid.  

I've only ever experienced having badges mailed when dealing with PAX, and it worked beautifully for me.

I mean, if that's your concern, wouldn't it just be an optional alternative, rather than something that happens with everyone?

If they fear their badges showing up before they leave or after they leave, i'm sure they could just choose to not have them mailed to begin with and just pick them up at the con.

I just figure that if there is an option to mail the badges for a slight extra fee, the amount of incidents that would happen would either be so major that they'd all end up just picking up their badges at the con anyway, or they would be so minor that the lines would probably be cut in half or more.

BUT I'M NOT REG STAFF SO THIS IS ALL SPECULATION AND OPINIONS

Yep, by default PAX mails out all badges.  They had 70000 attendees last year.

But PAX has a *huge* line on opening days too.  Oh wait, it wasn't a line for badge pickups.  It was just a line to go in.

Also, I've heard from staff that the reason registration is so bad is because of stupid union rules (hey SJ residents, vote against the unions for being stupid! :P).  So maybe consider doing Day 0 registration pickup *off-site* then so you don't have to deal with them.  Maybe at SJSU?  Or have half the registration at the doubletree site since obviously a place people could pickup badges (just group it by numbers, numbers X and below at one spot, X+1 and above at another spot)

#fanime

This

We also do occasional meetups in SF too, for those of you up here.

Badges: Either do what other big conventions do and give the option to mail out badges (I don't care if we have to pay extra, I'd do it to not spend 7 hours in line and miss the Thursday Swap Meet and then be given a paper badge because you didn't get our plastic badges till Monday) or double the number of people doing registration on Thursday/Friday.  Take some of those Rovers playing Move the Line and Make Them Think Things are Moving and get them to do registration instead.  If you were processing badges faster then you wouldn't have to keep moving people around.

Finally got our IDs on Monday so at least we have keepsakes now. :)

Pretty sure I didn't but is it possible they got sent there anyway?

Honestly I don't think most people care.  Plus you give people who are only here for one day an extra chance to see your cosplay.

Did you guys give it to the wrong people?  Did you just lose it?  Did you just not make our badges?

And you told us to come back tomorrow.  Are you actually gonna try to find it through all those stacks?  Or are you planning on just making them again?

I'm genuinely curious about the process.

There was a streetpass event last year as well, and it's still a good idea, but I was thinking more of a more permanent all-con thing as well.  Somewhere people know they can go at any time and find other like-minded people to play with.  If a sign does get made, all it might take is to stick it somewhere in the gaming hall after the event?

One thing I loved about the Penny Arcade Expo was that they have a handheld gaming area with beanbags for people with handhelds to go and play together.  Now that 3DS seems to be selling better and Vita is also out, it might make sense to designate some area in the gaming hall for this.  Don't need the whole beanbag stuff, but I think some marked off area that people know to go to might be nice for streetpassing and local multiplayer games.

Ca$h 'n Gun$

I might also be willing to bring some of my boardgame collection* if enough people are interested in specific games: http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/Dracil?own=1&subtype=boardgame&ff=1

*Note: NOT up-to-date

I was wearing a blue bathrobe from the game Magicka on Saturday.  I know one person stopped for a pic, but I didn't wear it for long because it was pretty hot with it on.