Messages

This was my first time at Fanime, so I don't know what past program guides have been like.  This year's was great; however, would it be possible to include the time/place under the descriptions?  I found it tedious to go back and forth through the pocket guide.  Thanks!

I'm sure our publications team thanks you for the compliment!  Regarding time/place under the descriptions though is like trying to hit a moving bullet with a blow dart.  One major problem is that our program guides are printed by a 3rd party vendor.  We usually have to get them the completed guide weeks/months in advance.  Unfortunately, during that time, things can change with programming.  To a certain degree, it is similar to the pocket guides this year.  I believe I heard of situations where the pocket schedule didn't 100% match with what the actual time/location of programming was, this is due to issues that arise last minute that we wouldn't know about thus having to deviate from the listed schedule (although, I believe, the pocket schedule required less print time than the program guide.  Don't quote me on that though.)

I had a problem with the con not handing out lanyards this year compared to last year. I know that Nvidia sponsored last year's lanyards, but could there at least had been a plain black lanyard? I got lucky to bring mine, that way I didn't have to use the clip which I thought equaled a higher probability of losing my badge.

That is indeed a hope for Fanime 2010.  Nvidia sponsored the 2008 lanyards but the cost of the lanyard isn't from the imaging, the cost is the lanyard itself.  I'll be fighting for a bigger budget to hopefully be able to bring you and everyone else lanyards!  If you happen to know of a place that'll give us a good deal on lanyards, I would most definitely love to hear it (registration at fanime dot com).

This one is only my opinion but-
Stage Zero. It's not hard to bypass stage zero. There is a bottom floor you can use if you don't want to get caught up in the crowd. There are two sets of stairs around stage zero you can use to avoid the crowd as well. Come on guys, you guys are complaining about something that you can avoid with... an extra 30seconds of walking. Just in case you guys don't know what I mean... The stairs on the South side of the wall that goes down into registration and then back up right where artist's alley entrance is. Or on the N side the two sets of huge steps that lead around stage zero that go to the front of the CC. Both of which are never blocked can easily be used to get around. 90% of the time, I took the first floor when I needed to get to the other side of the CC. There was NEVER a crowd and usually it was pretty empty outside of the line for reg, which was no where near the walk way anyways.

It sounds like you guys are complaining because "there are people there getting in the way of you being able to check out stage zero while walking by". Or in other words "WHY IS THERE AN AUDIENCE AT THIS EVENT THAT I WANT TO SEE WHEN I'M WALKING BY?!?!?!? There should be no audience, so I can check it out on my own leisure, and if I'm not interested, continue to get where I want with no one in any way blocking me".

Just wanted to point out that we (in Registration) tried to keep people from taking the stairs down and back up through Registration.  This is why the stanchions were put up while the escalators were turned on.  The main reason we do this is because in previous conventions, people would use the Registration area to go from one area to another then would eventually "settle" in the area since it was open.  We have limited space in that area and when people start congregating, it can lead to fire hazards (and we do tend to receive many visits from our friendly neighborhood fire marshal).  The other problem we have is that people think it's okay to use the Registration area as an exit and so will head down the stairs and cross-traffic with members who are trying to register.  Sure, one or two here and there isn't a problem but at some point the Registration area gets crowded (as more and more people think it's okay to exit) and we end up needing to grab our already limited number of staff to try to usher people out.  Our general rule of thumb is that when Registration is open, we try to keep people going one way into the con; even during slow times as we want to make sure we are consistent with our rules.

The badge thing... is incredibly good. I actually brought this up with staff members and they are going to discuss this in the future.

I'm just quoting you because you also mentioned it (otherwise I would have created a separate post :P).  I do agree that this year, the Fan Name was hard (almost impossible) to read but there is a security reason for having the real name easily discernible from a distance.  I will see about making the Fan Name larger for next year but one thing I can be sure of is that the Real Name will most definitely remain discernible from a distance.

I'm sorry to say but generally speaking, at least from a Registration perspective, things that some people may find "annoying" or "troublesome" have all risen from situations involving those few "rotten apples" that happen year after year at the convention.

Thanks for the information, everyone.  Just to point out a few things:

1) Anyone you saw with lanyards were either people who brought theirs from last year or were staff/special guests.  We had some left over from last year (by left over, I mean someone magically found a box of them with their stuff) but not nearly enough for all or even a majority of our members.  I will try to rectify this for 2010 by fighting tooth-and-nail for a bigger budget... all for you!

2) Regarding pouches for badges, ironically, those were last-minute items that we had to order because we kinda-sorta-possibly-maybe made a little ordering mistake last year. <.<....>.>.....>.<  I will see what we can do about getting even better items for people but, as you all may know, we do not have an infinite amount of funding to work with :'(

Please continue posting ideas for next year.  I cannot guarantee anything and everything but since I'm usually stuck in the Registration area trying to get all of you wonderful people in-and-out  as fast as possible (no offense, I'm sure you all appreciate that!), I don't really get the chance to talk with you and see what kind of ideas you all have.

If someone registers in October but doesn't pay the $45, does he or she still pay $45 or is it boosted to $50?

I need to know. It's very important.

The cut-offs are based on when the payment was processed (if done via Pay-Pal)  or if you planned on sending a check/Money Order, would be based on the Postmark date.

If you neither of your processes make the designated cut-off, then you would be resopnsible for the higher rate.

The unfair thing? Kalen and Arthur- I mean, Auntie SnugglyHuggerMugger and Uncle SnugglyHibiscusPoo refused to take a picture together as wife and hubby. ):
Or rather, Kalen- Auntie SnugglyHuggerMugger passed his badge to Jon to take a picture instead. D:< Badges are non-transferable!
( If you saw an adult walking around with a child's pass with funky name on it e.g. Mr. SnugglyCutiePoo, you know what I mean.)

But as long as I can add to the Snuggly- family, I'm happy.
[/inside joke]
>.>;;

<.<....>.>......<.<......>.>.....

You know, I would have hated to break up the family so early!  That and AuntieSnugglyHuggerMugger (that wasn't even the name!) is rather photo-shy.

Hello folks.  As the (since Fanime is over) ex-Registration second in command, I'm hoping to get feedback from those of you who attended Fanime this year and who may have experienced the new format for At-Con registration.  We had noticed in previous years, with the growth of the convention, the growth in wait times for people, culminating in (from what I've heard) almost 5-6 hour wait times for At-Con registration in 2007.  This year (again, from what I have heard) the maximum wait time was somewhere around 1.5 to 2 hours (I am discounting those people who started getting in line before Registration even opened) and that average wait time during the busiest time of registration was around 30-45 minutes this year.

I know different people had different experiences though and so I would love to hear what anyone might have to say about their experiences with At-Con registration and if you might have any ideas for further improvement.