Okay, obviously there have been a lot of complaints about this. I am posting this thread not to make an excuse, but to explain exactly some of what we were dealing with and my personal opinions.
First off, the hotel was at no point cooperative, IMO. They screwed around with us right up until con time. They changed the rules regarding costumes and masks, and double booked the convention space. I don't blame the wedding we had to share space with, I blame the hotel's horrid ability to keep us informed and not change the rules of the game as it went along. It seemed like they were playing Calvinball, and we were simply told to keep up. Before the convention even happened, someone posted to me "this hotel is going to kill us." All I could do is nod my assent.
Second, yes, registration was AWFUL. I didn't take the reg position this year because I knew I wouldn't have time to put the effort I did the last two years. We did not have a committed registration officer until about a month before the convention. The reg officer knew that he would need X number of people, and was doing his best to try to plan things in advance. His personnel needs were not met (a failing which will NOT happen next year), which was not helped one whit by the very, very poor layout of the hotel - which may have been one of the major reasons we started with too few people. When I was told to go help reg, I did so quickly, and we immediately tried to restructure registration to use existing hotel space as best we could to at least somewhat alleviate the registration lines. Yes, it was too long a wait. But every staff member who worked registration busted their rear ends to get it done - it is NOT their fault. Staff and volunteers busted their rears, going so far as to provide water and other relief to needy congoers - as they SHOULD have done given this situation.
Side note: SHAME ON EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO DID NOT BRING THE PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS! You know who you are! It's been in the policies, and it was NOT a new rule. A lot of the problems that happen at registration are caused by CONGOERS. Yes, we had failings, and we admit and will work on that. But I know of no less than two dozen instances where an average of 2 minors did NOT have their consent forms. This ties up registration volunteers while they try to figure out how to handle the irresponsibility of the offending congoer. I personally had to handle many incidents of this, and each one ties up someone behind a desk for more than the minute or two it should take to admit someone. Maybe we should be SHARING the blame, rather than focusing on one thing... Additionally, if I have my way, THIS ENDS. You forgot your consent form? NO ENTRY. PERIOD. Yes, we were nice and helped you. But we held up other people because YOU weren't on the ball. That's not the official rule as of yet, but I pray it becomes one. Sorry to be harsh, but it's not fair to the ones who DID do their registration correctly.
The schedule and room situation was in constant flux - we were CONSTANTLY trying to adjust to cancellations, demands by the hotel, and other bizarre occurrences that the staff has to adjust to. So the schedule wasn't 100% accurate. Yes, we are sorry about that, and it will get better.
Several people have been complaining about yojimbo yelling at them. I'd like a little more detail, because I know exactly what most of those yojimbo were doing, and it was not "yelling at people" or "shoving them back," as I've heard several people say. Please, do NOT say scathing things like that unless they are 100% TRUE. Do NOT embelish things like this, as they are very serious. Many, many times people very inconsiderately blocked the already too small hallways, completely choking traffic. These people were asked to move, and frequently, due to the noise, voices had to be raised. Sorry if you didn't like it, but that's NOT shoving and NOT yelling at people. Maybe we were trying to make sure we could (1) get people to what they wanted to do, and (2) get the necessary equipment to where it needed to go. We can't do that when people are posing and chatting clear across the hallways. Posing and chatting is fine - do it! Enjoy it! Have fun! Just please don't be a traffic hazard, then get mad at the traffic cop who asks you to move.
That being said, to everyone who DID help out, even so much as cooperating when a beleaguered staffer asked you to move, I thank you. You can complain all you want, but you do not realize exactly how much work each staffer puts into this con. It's fairly safe to say that many, if not most, staff members put in at least 100-150 unpaid hours into each con, and 50 of those right around con time. There is a LOT of labor of love going on here, and we're sorry if we're not perfect. If you want it better, take a hand in making it better - kinda like with voting. That or please just hold on and enjoy the ride. We ARE trying.
We love you all! Honest! =^x.x^=
PezCat