Hearing about a Glomp Circle like that just kinda annoys me. I'm not a touchy-feely person, you can ask any number of my friends how long it takes me to warm up to physically touching someone beyond a handshake or high-5, I'm just uncomfortable with physical contact most of the time. I've never had an issue with people trying to Glomp me...more with casual hugs where I tense up and its extremely awkward.
The one similar instance I experienced was during the Q&A after the Hetalia screening. Someone asked if they could give Todd a (group?) hug...at which point 20-30 people practically ran up to the stage. No one was hurt. This time...but I know I had a mini panic attack standing there, as a guest liaison, 5 feet away, and not be positive that everyone in that circle was okay. Todd is pretty easy going, and thankfully likes hugs. But even guests have their limits. And PLEASE! running and 'glomping' a big group of people is not a good idea. If someone tripped, and fell it would have been very easy for them to get hurt, very quickly.
But there are reasons beyond disliking physical contact to remember.
Allergies - Some people are severely allergic to coloured dyes in makeup or food or drinks, or that peanut butter sandwich you just ate, or purfume...there are lots of things that could cause someone to have a severe reaction, and if they don't get the chance to say 'No', it turns into a very bad situation.
Costumes - A number of people listed delicate costumes, but there is also the potential for pins or other sharp objects to be on people's costumes that you may not be able to see right away.
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why people need to be more aware of their fellow con-goer's feelings and boundaries on this subject, but I feel putting something in the Con Book or having more signs wouldn't exactly solve the problem. Things like that, and demos and rules explained at opening ceremonies or in a panel I feel also don't have the same effect as something mandatory...I believe in the 14 or 15 cons I've been to over the years I've been to ONE opening ceremonies, and I've never gone to a 'How to Con' equivalent panel...though I know years ago I tried to go.
To be honest the only way I can think of making sure every attendee realizes some of the problems with glomp circles or other things, is to have the info posted at the reg and pre-reg desks and make them read through the list of 'major concerns from previous years'? This isn't really practical, and it would slow down the lines even more...but its a major safety concern for a lot of people for varying reasons, and it seems a lot of attendees don't realize that.
Now that I've reiterated what's already been talked to death...>_<
My first 'concern' on a con level was lack of other staffers checking for badges. I kept taking my badge off, and holding it, or having it tied to a belt loop so that it was barely visible and while I almost always flash my badge so its visible when I enter rooms and such, there were probably at least a dozen times I could have been stopped and wasn't. I talked to at least one other staffer who noticed this during the con. (I know at least on the first day it wasn't because people knew who I was either...I was in cosplay and people I've staffed with for a few years didn't recognize me till I started talking.) And I am in no way condoning walking around a con without having a badge, or without having a visible badge! (I was very bad about it this year, and will definitely try to be better about having mine on and visible next year!) Besides, taking it on and off gives you more chances to lose your badge!
Its just something that needs to be gone over again and again with new and old staff to make sure they are checking for badges on staff and attendees. I realize it gets tiring having to check badges all day, I work at a movie theatre and I've been yelled at just for asking for a ticket stub at the door, or for ID for a rated R movie. It sucks if you end up with the grumpy person who bites your head off, but its part of a staffer's job to check, not just at doorways but in panel rooms, hallways within con space, etc.
Another bit of etiquette to remember with guests - they are very busy at conventions, after all, some people come to cons just for the guests. Our guests also run a decent amount of panels, which gets tiring after talking and being the center of attention for so long. Tiffany, Todd, and Sonny all flew in from Houston, which isn't a horrible flight all on its own, but its still exhausting when you add in travel to the airport, waiting at the airport, flying, getting off the plane, getting luggage, getting picked up by someone you don't know (we need more colourful signs for next year with bigger print letters btw), going to the con hotel, checking in, getting dinner, etc...its a lot to do before the con even starts.
So when the liaisons (the staff in charge of helping the guests while they are at the con) or the guests say they need to go - eat, to another panel, to bed, anything - that is not the time to be asking for autographs or hugs or pictures. The guests want the attendees to be happy, the staff want the attendees to be happy, but sometimes time just runs out. Our guests this year were really great about trying to do as many autographs as they could during the weekend. But there is a time and place for them, and in the hall, when they are trying to go somewhere else is not that time or place. And to be honest, this is the point when the staff tend to get snippy with attendees...which sucks on all ends cause we don't wanna ruin someone's day. But like with the glomping, no means no.
Also no one should take this personally or the wrong way! It happens at other cons (seen it at Comic Con and at Sak), it happens to movie stars, I'm guilty of being an overzealous fangirl over a guest or two at past cons. So if you're guilty of this, and feel bad about it, don't feel too bad, it happens, just try to be understanding of what the guests and staff request of you so that everyone can have a good time!
Other than those few concerns, I had a very good con - minus a few personal mishaps. All the guests were great, and fun to talk to! And the attendees seemed to really enjoy them! Which was a good thing too! I really hope to see them back again! I'm also super excited for cosplay for next year, I've got a lot of sewing to do! And yeah, don't Glomp without asking, make sure your badge is visible, and don't pester the guests for autographs and pictures!
