I dream of a Glitch Convention..... much like the Star Trek Convention
happening one day in Vancouver BC or San Fransisco! Just hoping to put the bug in someones ear that's good at organizing these kinds of things. Would anyone else be interested? Dress up as your self or? Other ideas?
Yes Dug1138 I was thinking that too... I was thinking West Coast as that is where the offices are but something central would be nice. Something easy for our fellow Glitchen over seas too. Maybe it could rotate every year?
Katlazam that is a good tidbit ty! and I agree a Glitch Convention is a much better idea! lol
Yeah, I basically wouldn't be able to attend unless it was in Vancouver, myself. San Francisco would be a slim possibility. A rotating location would be awesome!
For some reason, since this convention would be very reminiscent of the old BBS parties in the early '90s in my mind (being a meeting of people who visit one site), I'd feel obliged to bring pizza.
DUG--regardless of GlitchCon's location, someone, somewhere would have to travel far to get there if they wanted to go. There are players in Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East...so we're pretty lucky we share our continent with TS, methinks. SF or Vancouver sounds dandy to me! :D
I too share this dream! I may or may not be working on a Glitch musical for a Glitch convention that doesn't exist yet. I also have plans to cosplay as my Glitch....
Sis a naked party sounds great! Lol..... As i noted before dress as or glitch or........ So open to things like cumbicals, giants etc. A musical would be great or an air band lol. But i must insist that Gng be played at the end of the convention!
one of the other online games that I used to play would send various staff people to do panels or events at different cons across the country. I think they also do some meetup type events a couple of times a year in the city where their offices are (unfortunately across the country from me). A *whole* con is a lot of work- are there many game companies that do their own besides Blizzard? (sorry, I'm much more familiar with small to medium size anime and scifi conventions which tend to be labors of love put on by local fan organizations and which frequently rely on large amounts of volunteer work)
ETA: I'm not saying this to be a wet blanket by any means, just a small reality check
Thank you Fern for input. I knew it most likely be a lot of work and a lot of volunteerism. I do a lot of volunteer work myself for big events and I know there is a TON of work to be done and a lot of planning. I wouldn't even know where to start myself. But I know there is ppl that are out there that do and I hope that maybe they could give us some input? For now it is just a dream that I have. Dreams do come true...sometimes.... :o)
I'm in the Vancouver area myself. It would be fantastic to do something here, even if just a small gathering. I wouldn't even know where or how to start that though.... would anyone be seriously willing to look into it? I'd be willing to volunteer of course. I just don't have the skills for organizing events.
I'm a little confused about the style of event people are suggesting above, as there seems to be a few different ideas.
This means what I'm about to post will probably be useless, but I am trying to help.
Here is some idea of the things involved in putting on paid access celebrity events.
The size of the event dictates a lot in regards to costs and inclusions.
This is based on events held in Australia where we need to fly in most of our Guests from overseas.
BTW, I've thrown this list together quickly at 5:30am while unable to sleep & I didn't bother to put my glasses on, lol :D
I know I'll have forgotten things but this is mainly to illustrate the massive amount of effort that goes into these things.
Also, different event locations have different inclusions in their hire, including additional staff, and different event companies choose to use various combinations of paid and volunteer staff.
*********
Generic Event Costs:
* Business Registration
* Public Liability Insurance
* Extended & repeat, National and International Phone Calls
* Mailing Costs
* Graphic Design
* Website
* Advertising
* Event Ticket Production
* Autograph / Photo Ticket Production
* Unsigned Autograph Photographs
* Credit Card Processing Fees
* Incentives / Extras (event showbags, prizes, commemorative tickets, etc)
* Bottled Water
* Hand Sanitizer Gel Mini Bottles
* Sharpies
Guest Fees:
* Attendance Fees / Guarantees
* Per Diem
* Flights
* Accommodation (minimum ****)
* Car Service (all transfers including to and from the convention each day)
Guest Green Room:
* Assorted Food & Drinks (including special dietary requirements)
* Secure Storage (for Guest belongings)
* Visiting Staff (ensures room is kept stocked and clean, & allows errand running for Guests as needed)
* Staffed Access (ensures access only to appropriate people, and quick access to event staff if needed)
Guest Interview Rooms:
* Quiet Room with closable door
* Staffed (ensures interviews are conducted professionally, and quick access to event staff if needed)
* Staffed Access (ensures access only to appropriate people)
Attendee VIP Room:
* Food & Drinks (including special dietary requirements)
* Secure Storage (for VIP belongings)
* Staffed (ensures room is kept stocked, clean, and safe, with quick access to event staff if needed)
* Staffed Access (ensures access only to appropriate people)
VIP Events:
* Location Hire
* Staffed (ensures Guest needs are attended to & Attendees do not overstep boundaries)
* Staffed Access (ensures access only to appropriate people)
Staff:
* Event Organiser/s (aka the bankroll for the event & the person / people with the most to lose)
* Volunteer Coordinator
* Area Managers
* First Aid Staff
* Security Staff
* PA Announcers
* Information Booth Personnel
* Guest Handlers
* Green Room Attendants
* Interview Room Attendants
* VIP Room Attendants
* Panel MCs
* Panel Ticket Checkers / Door Staff
* Admission Ticket Checkers / Door Staff
* Line Controlers
* General Helpers
* Official Photographers
* Official Videographers
* Media Liaison
* Floor Space / Merchant Booth Salesperson / Floorplaner
Wow Xombiekitty! Thank you very much for the very detailed list. It will help to put perspective into how much work does go into these events. Thanks also for taking the time to post the list. I would think though that Glitchen would fly them selves in. But maybe there would be a prize pack for a few Glitchen to win flights?
Sorry I didn't respond sooner :o( Work in RL... Blah....
I'm still dreaming the dream of this one day happening and I still stand by for volunteering for it.... but I can't do it on my own :o)
If there is ever a convention, it should probably be inconvenient for 99.9% of Glitchen everywhere... I suggest Hawaii. Inconvenient AND pretty! Also, that way, when your mates at work ask you where you're going on holiday, it sounds more normal than "to meet a bunch of people I only know from gaming online" now doesn't it?
No problem, Fadas Neboa :)
I love events & thought my behind-the-scenes experience may be helpful in some way.
I hope I am in no way turning anyone off the idea of one day putting together a Glitch convention.
Just FYI, GUESTS means any celebrities that attend, so with a Glitch event that would be TS Staff. ATTENDEES means those that come to meet the Guests, so with a Glitch event that would be us players :) Guests get costs such as flights covered, as well as additional payment to appear. Attendees pay their own costs regarding things like flights, as well as paying to access the event, which helps cover the fees paid to the Guests.
Merchants pay to have booth space at the event which helps cover the costs of the event space and equipments hire.
This is a very basic and generic way of looking at the break down. Certainly not to be looked at as set in stone :)
If you decide to ignore calls for various locations and instead choose somewhere near TS HQ, you'd save tons of money on Guest costs... unless stoot's appearance fee is astronomical I guess, lol ;D Remember, no matter where you decide to hold an event, someone... and probably lots of someones... will complain about distance. Even events that chose a different state or country each year, hear those sorts of complaints. Don't take it to heart :)
BTW, if you ran a big event, instead of a group of players meeting up for pizza, you'd want TS' blessing, to work with them, and for them to approve use of everything (it's their IP).