Author Topic: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback  (Read 6531 times)

Offline Cosmo

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CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« on: May 26, 2009, 22:14:49 »
OK, here's your chance to tell me what you thought. Is there anything you think was done really well? Could anything have been done better? Was the layout ok? Is there anything you think I, myself, could have done better? Is there anything else you can think of that you'd like to say about the Dealers' Den? If so, please leave a comment here. Anything that could help me improve it for you guys would be greatly appreciated and I'll do my best to implement as much of it as possible.

Thanks

Offline Dingotush

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2009, 23:22:29 »
I'd like to apologise profusely (again) for repeatedly disrupting Sangluna's area to get into the cupboards at the back of the dealer's den.  Let's not keep random Con stuff in the dealer's den again!
Who was she kidding?  It was easy to be a vegetarian by day.  It was preventing yourself from becoming a humanitarian by night that took the real effort. - Angua (Pterry)

Offline LevLion

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2009, 00:12:59 »
We wont have storage in the dealers den again cause their arent cupbaords in the new one and I think we have alternative storage areas avalible.
I for one welcome our Muppet overloards.

Offline Cosmo

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2009, 00:19:45 »
We wont have storage in the dealers den again cause their arent cupbaords in the new one and I think we have alternative storage areas avalible.
I believe there is a big cupboard at the end of the main hall


Offline LevLion

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2009, 10:29:45 »
We wont have storage in the dealers den again cause their arent cupbaords in the new one and I think we have alternative storage areas avalible.
I believe there is a big cupboard at the end of the main hall



I think thats a bit more than a cupboard isnt it another room?
I for one welcome our Muppet overloards.

Offline Alexfox

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2009, 00:47:21 »
((from my general comments))

1) Dealers den opening.

Why is the opening so late in the afternoon, and the hours so short? I would be complaining too much, but I did get more commissions on this year and not much time to deal with them (I am still working on two now). I also had to say to people that I couldn't take colour picture commissions at the con due to the restricted time (I wasn't the only dealer making that restriction).

I wouldn't want something stupid early in the morning, but what's wrong with a 11am start like EF? I really don't want the feeling of stress on the Saturday evening again!

2) Artshow closing.

Only the artists at the show when it closed? Did the rest convention know that the show was closing at that hour? Also closing halfway though dinner was sucky, I think most of the convention was too busy trying to get something to eat at that hour. Disappointing if, like me, you had work in the show.

However the den was an improvement on last year better organised and run on the whole.

Offline LevLion

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2009, 10:23:38 »
The artshow closing was posted on a sign in the lobby so anyone going to the stairs or lift would have seen it. The original time is posted in the con book.

The half way through dinner thing was actualy an extention, it was due to close before dinner but we extended it to allow people more time to bid etc, You will find furs that want art are willing to miss the start of a meal for it.

Can say about the late start thing, We were using the room to store ALL CF stuff except my stage stuff the night before so all that had to go then we had to construct the room into the form you saw so I guess thats why. It wasnt too late for some people who diddnt check in until way after the times asked for so it seems some like it early and some like it late. You cant please everyone but hopefully we can resolve this next year.
I for one welcome our Muppet overloards.

Offline Cosmo

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2009, 10:25:45 »
((from my general comments))

1) Dealers den opening.

Why is the opening so late in the afternoon, and the hours so short? I would be complaining too much, but I did get more commissions on this year and not much time to deal with them (I am still working on two now). I also had to say to people that I couldn't take colour picture commissions at the con due to the restricted time (I wasn't the only dealer making that restriction).

I wouldn't want something stupid early in the morning, but what's wrong with a 11am start like EF? I really don't want the feeling of stress on the Saturday evening again!
This was mostly because we had set meal times at the YHA. To ensure that everyone in the den was able to get lunch, we decided not to have it open through lunch, and thus not before either as there didn't seem a lot of point opening it in the morning and then closing it for lunch only to reopen it after lunch. Next year it may not be such a problem since, as far as I know, meal times won't be so strictly set as they were at the YHA. We also plan to have more staff dedicated to the dealers' den next year so we may well be able to keep it open longer than it was this year.

2) Artshow closing.

Only the artists at the show when it closed? Did the rest convention know that the show was closing at that hour? Also closing halfway though dinner was sucky, I think most of the convention was too busy trying to get something to eat at that hour. Disappointing if, like me, you had work in the show.

However the den was an improvement on last year better organised and run on the whole.
I'm guessing that you're talking about the lack of interest there seemed to be while we had auction items on show after the den closed (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). Some of the feedback we got last year was that people would have liked it if we showed all the items that were going on auction during dinner. This year we did just that, and I did put a notice up on the whiteboard (though I couldn't make it as big as usual because somebody had drawn over it in felt tip pen) which said that all the items would be on show during dinner yet unfortunately only very few people came up and had a look. I'm not sure why this was or how I could improve the uptake but it is something I will look at and, again, would happily consider any ideas anyone has.

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2009, 11:55:39 »
We did also announce this at the stage event before lunch, and in the foyer as well. :)

Offline Akinokaze

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2009, 23:39:08 »
Obviously I'm not a dealer [though who knows how things will change in a year] but I think it was great [but then I have nothing to compare it to XD]

My only gripes were about:
- the size of the room [already solved for next year,]
- the heat of the room [I hear there will be more fans next time?]
- and the queuing to get in [the increase in room size should help to move things faster but there is still the issue of being stood in a very hot and sweaty corridor while you wait (hope that's solved) also it's hard to get out when you only have a single door. Would it be possible to arrange things so you que to enter one door and you exit another which leads back into the con so you don't have to push past?]

If it's possible [though I doubt any con does this for security reasons] could the den be more a part of the con itself, what I mean is that I feel it's unfair that the dealers are unable to take part in anything else that is going on because of being in there for so long.

My thoughts on that are:
1) Shifts? [So dealers can pick times to be there (doubt this is possible at all.)]
2) Monitors streaming the events [with so many camera's going around the con, would it be possible to set up some for of transmission so that people in the den can watch the events while not busy? If not live then as uncut video starting right after the event ends.]
3) Perhaps place it more central or in a less formal fashion [possibly a second semi-den in the new sites version of the Lobby?]

Just some things to liven things up for these wonderful people.
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Offline LevLion

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2009, 09:27:12 »
Size of the room: Yea well as you know things will be different next year and we couldtn really do much about the size this year it was the biggest we had.

Heat of the room: This was an oversight, last year it wasnt even slightly that warm and with teh rain leading up to the con there was no reason to think it would get so hot. Fans hmm well we will see its a solution but also a problem, fans + lots of paper on desks. When we work out the format and layout of rooms we can better work out about things like that.

Queuing: There will always be a queue to get in a dealers den at the opening each day, furs egar to get that item they always wanted or is hot off the press, they want to be the first to get a comission or shake someones hand so this is unavoidable. Unfortuantly most out our rooms for next year dont have more than one set of doors but even if they did this is a bad idea from a security point of view since teh staff have to make sure things are running smooth, deal with our own sales and yes unfortunatly make sure nothing is taken out without paying. So 2 doors imediatly doubles the work load even with shifts thats 2 on and 2 off all the time.

Same sort of anwser for it beign part of the con itself, it is a big part of any con but it has to stay in a room that can be locked for obvious reasons after hours. You will also find some dealers come to cons just to sell their stuff and really dont want streamed footage of shows. For the most part if dealers what to be a part of something they leave their table and put down a sign. This is alot simplier than the hundreds it will cost us to setup a distribution system through the hotel ;) Maybe we cna look at some stremed distribution as a cheap alternative but Im sure 90% of the dealers wouldnt want it on and its not quite a priority yet ;)

The lobby is very open and theres no way to secure it. It has the big front doors which are a risk of things going missing. And it has one of the bars at the other side so risks people wandering over with a pint and spilling it. Its also the enterance to 1 main convention room AND our stage room so although the space is big access is needed in all corners. Plus these areas are better suited for people socialising as theres tables and chairs for people to just sit and chat or play cards etc.
I for one welcome our Muppet overloards.

Offline Cosmo

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2009, 13:35:52 »
- the size of the room [already solved for next year,]
I agree about the size of the room but, as Lev said, it was the biggest conference room in the hostel and the layout was the best we could fit in there. Next year the room will be much bigger.
- the heat of the room [I hear there will be more fans next time?]
There were a few factors which led to the room getting as warm as it did - The number of people in there, the fact that the room next door was the boiler room and the general heat all added to it. I did have two tower fans running full blast in there and all the windows were open and a couple of times managed to get an air conditioner unit in there (though this often soon became needed for other events). At next year's venue, all the rooms have built in air conditioning, but I will also look into getting more fans in there.
- and the queuing to get in [the increase in room size should help to move things faster but there is still the issue of being stood in a very hot and sweaty corridor while you wait (hope that's solved) also it's hard to get out when you only have a single door. Would it be possible to arrange things so you que to enter one door and you exit another which leads back into the con so you don't have to push past?]
We had to put a queueing system in place on the saturday for health and safety reasons. There may still be a problem with queueing next year since the Dealers' den will always have a maximum number of people that we can safely allow in at any one time. The last thing we want at the con is some sort of crush. However, the room that we plan on having the den in next year is 4 times the size of this years and is right next to the main lobby which is huge and very airy so there shouldn't be such a heat problem. Also, while we probably won't be able to have separate doors being used, all of the conference rooms in the hotel have double width doors, so I may look at having one side of the door used as the entrance and the other as the exit so you won't have to push through any queue.
If it's possible [though I doubt any con does this for security reasons] could the den be more a part of the con itself, what I mean is that I feel it's unfair that the dealers are unable to take part in anything else that is going on because of being in there for so long.
As I said earlier, next year the room will be right next to the lobby, but it's also right next door to the main stage area so it'll be much more central to the con than it was this year.
My thoughts on that are:
1) Shifts? [So dealers can pick times to be there (doubt this is possible at all.)]
We wouldn't be able to have tables changing dealers in the middle of the day since it would cause far too much disruption. However, one thing I plan on looking at later this month is the system which is run at AC. There, if you want a place in the Dealers' Den, you *must* also nominate someone to cover your table for you if, for some reason, you can't be there yourself. While I have no plans to make it compulsory at the moment I may very well make it a guideline for next years dealers so that they don't have to be there all day if there's something else they'd like to do.
2) Monitors streaming the events [with so many camera's going around the con, would it be possible to set up some for of transmission so that people in the den can watch the events while not busy? If not live then as uncut video starting right after the event ends.]
This would be more Lev's area since he knows more about these things ;). As far as I know, there are no TVs in the conference rooms and I don't know whether the hotel is able to provide them or whether it has the facilities to do this sort of link-up. Also, I'm not sure whether some of the dealers would want it. A lot of them tend to be artists and they may find it a bit disrupting.
 
3) Perhaps place it more central or in a less formal fashion [possibly a second semi-den in the new sites version of the Lobby?]
It is already going to be in a more central position than it was this year, so you can rest assured there :). We wouldn't be able to extend it in to the lobby however because:
a) As Lev says, it would be impossible to secure it and would be very difficult to keep an eye on and
b) We don't have exclusive use of the lobby next year, as far as I know. While we have the conference rooms to ourselves, the lobby will probably be classed as a public area and so I doubt the hotel or other non-con guests would appreciate us trying to take over the public areas.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2009, 13:43:43 by Cosmo »

Offline JessLyra

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2009, 17:36:20 »
i loved being on the Dealer's Den. Will we have a bigger room next time though?
I wish that I had been selling on the saturday, as there was that immense que and more people around, unike sunday where the parade took away the customers heh.
Lesson learned for next year.
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Offline Cosmo

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #13 on: June 06, 2009, 18:22:11 »
i loved being on the Dealer's Den. Will we have a bigger room next time though?
I wish that I had been selling on the saturday, as there was that immense que and more people around, unike sunday where the parade took away the customers heh.
Lesson learned for next year.
Apparently the room we'll be using next year is four times the size of the one at the YHA

Offline Shema

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Re: CF 2009 Dealers' den feedback
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2009, 14:29:48 »
I've never submitted art into an art show before so I had no idea what to do, but you guys were very helpful and made it all clear and simple and you were very welcoming too. Thank you for your kindness :3