This year it would have been 30 at main tower, 30 at exec tower. Adding a third building into the mix would now become 20 at Main, 20 at Exec, 20 at new.
Well I certainly hope they didn't have 30 yoji at the Exec tower. There were only what, 5 rooms at that
hotel? Most of them small classroom style panel's/workshops? The only time when things would have needed
excessive yoji pressence there was durring the adult content times and even then, the yoji pressence was
lacking and I rarely saw much choas because of it. The executive tower was a satelite, an overflow area and
being as there wasn't a whole ton going on there, and it was all downstairs... I think that made things
considerably easier to maintain with the few yoji I did see over there. I am not saying it was understaffed, they
seemed to be doing just fine. And honestly I only went to two things over at executive tower, even though I
was staying there, so there may be panel/workshop rooms I didn't see. As far as I know though, you could split
the numbers higher for the main tower and the third hotel, and leave maybe 10 or so yoji at the Executive tower.
Also, if there are the same number of staff this year as there were at K-con 2009, then we don't have any
choice but TO cap the reg. The staff can't handle as many people as we have, let alone more. It isn't feasible
to grow without our volunteer group growing as well.
Next thing you need to factor in is weather. If its raining, how many people would want to walk that distance for a panel or viewing room, especially those in cosplay.
I cry for my fellow Oregonians, I really do. It's hard to live here. But to Quote 30 days of Night:
"We live here because nobody else can."
You simply have to be prepared for bad weather. How does Sak do it? Even in April (maybe especially in april)
Washington can be even rainier than us! It's cold and wet and windy all the time, Oregonians and Northwesterners
have to expect it. Much like trick or treating you take into account the rain and the dirt and the cold and you
prepare for it. Unfortunately that means some cos-play choices are not feasible, or you have to be prepared to
Scotch-gaurd the buttons out of it. Umbrella's may not be an Oregon tradition but perhaps a friend with a less
intricate costume/prop can hold one for you to protect the wings you spent 12 hours hand making. Or maybe you can
get one or two of those rain ponchos and (since you are a master of the craft, and I mean that in a very real
way, some of these costumes just baffle me how they can be made by real living people and not machines!) create
a poncho that fits your costume, props and all, without damaging it. For those with trains and trailing cloth, think
about how it was handled in the 1800's. Mud was much more prevalent then, and girls HAD to wear floor length
dresses. Pick it up and start walking, or figure out a way to get it off the ground for the trek. There really is no
way around that.
It's difficult, no body is questioning THAT. However, it is the burden a beautiful cosplayer must bear to show their
wares and their art. Especially in Oregon and Washington.
And then the next factor is time. We all know DT-Ptown is full of creepers, so would K-con be using this building with the 24 hour time frame, or would it be different.
Its a good idea to try and get a third building, but IMO, the second building thing isn't fun either.
I think the solution for this is simple; Other than events that are for adults only, try to keep the offerings at
the far away hotel meeting space only durring daylight hours. Once the sun starts to set things should either
begin to shut down or at least move to straight adult content so that the kiddies return to the main hotel.
Anything after dark that allows children or under 18's into it should be at the main hotel so as not to have them
walking around late at night. As for adults... The buddy system is your friend, big numbers of cosplayers and con-
goers are less likely to be tormented if they stay together and stay focused on eachother. This is all I can really
think of as, having lived in Gresham and S.E. portland, the people of Downtown really seem rather friendly to me!
^_^
_______________________________
In the end it's the board and staff's decision to make.
Should we expand the convention to increase convention attendance allowance, in favor of longer walks between events and panels and potential security risks, or;
Do we cap attendance and keep it centralized, barring growth but allowing for security and convienience to the
attendees who do get a badge.
~Allykat
