Messages

31

Discussion / Re: Drinks list

« on: June 20, 2013, 12:56:10 »

It was officially Purple Rain.

As for proportions, sorry but now I do not know.  However, I think if you just use a little google-fu you should be able to locate the real names of all these drinks based on their content, and also the measurements.

Many thanks.

Rizzo

32

Discussion / Re: Drinks list

« on: June 17, 2013, 22:51:46 »

Cocktails:
 
Black cat:
Vodka, cranberry juice, and coke
 
Dirty Mare:
Vodka, Kahlua, and cream
 
Moscow Mule:
Vodka, ginger beer, and lime cordial
 
Big Brave Bull:
Silver tequila, and Kahlua
 
Horny Bull:
Gold Tequila and orange juice
 
Wild Anaconda;
Jack Daniels and white zambuca
 
Virgin Vixen:
VK blue and Ruby Port
 
Frog in the boot:
Vodka, apple sours, lemonade, freshly squeezed lemon
 
Woof Woof!
Vodka, archers, and cranberry juice
 
Sex on the Beast:
Vodka, Peach schnapps, orange juice, and lemon
 
The Snugglebunny:
Blue Curacao, vodka, grenadine, lime juice, pineapple juice

33

Discussion / Re: Drinks list

« on: June 17, 2013, 12:36:43 »

At work right now but yes, I'll post full drinks menu later. They are all known cocktails just with different names :-)

34

Discussion / Re: Photos

« on: June 11, 2013, 23:31:51 »

Nice pics Yag. Wish I could have gotten out there in Wiggy for some.  What a stunningly nice day!

35

Discussion / Re: Possible themes for Next Year

« on: June 11, 2013, 23:23:50 »

I've never seen an "Haunted"-Theme at an Furry con

Eurofurence 14 - "From Dusk Till Dawn - The Horrorconvention"

I'd say Horror, and haunted are two different things.  Haunted house is more eiry scary, but I guess to pull that off we would need a lovely old mansion somewhere   I love horror and scary stuff tho myself.

36

Feedback / Re: The food

« on: June 11, 2013, 23:21:57 »

Thanks very much to Colin for all the work that went into food and drink this year.  I know those represent a large proportion of the work that goes into venue planning and this year I was very impressed.  I hope next year's hotel can be convinced to be flexible.

Thank you Ferret.  This was very much appreciated.  I have already started work on Hilton, and tomorrow I have meeting with the Event Manager to set very early on expectations of what we want based on just how fantastic Hinckley were this year.  I remain hopeful they will deliver a fantastic package to us.

37

Discussion / Re: Shuttle bus/train times.

« on: June 07, 2013, 22:59:50 »

Not very fun to wait 2 hours under the rain and no shuttle... I finally shared a taxi from Nuneaton train station.

The shuttle time tables were posted on the website and this included a lunch break for the bus driver.  This really is down to the attendee to check the website in advance.  Of course for next year, this will no longer be an issue, and one of the reasons behind moving is the additional cost of putting on the shuttle service.

38

Feedback / Re: The Queues ￢_￢

« on: June 07, 2013, 12:52:14 »

It was a big surprise to see how early people needed to queue for stage events, and how long some of those were, especially Pawpets.  The Hinkley staff were great at bringing around drinks and snacks, but I think (especially for newcomers) the 45-60 minute+ queues were a bit much.

I really hope the queues can be improved at the new venue, especially as the con gets bigger.  Early seating? Sponsor seating? It would also be helpful to set some expectations in the conbook and adjust the schedule leading up to big events.

Hi Coadey,

I do believe that we only had the 1 event this year that ran significantly behind schedule.  Everything else was very much on time, or started only 10 minutes late, which by convention standards, this is outstanding time tabling.  Given the limited seating availability in our main stage and numbers in the venue (safely seating only 400 in Paris suite, but having 800+ attendees) we could not implement an early come in and sit down policy as it would be unfair to non sponsor attendees.  This issue will be eradicated at the next venue as the main stage can accomodate upto 2000 people.

We ourselves cannot control how long people queue for.  On more than one occassion, people started to queue before we even put our barriers up.  Its their right to do so, and if they are willing to be patient to ensure they get the best seats, then unfortunately, they will always dictate when the queuing begins.  We coudl try and dispearse them, but they will only come back and queue again.  The wait time is regretable, but in the grand scehem of things, and a vetran of attending other conventions, I can assure you 45 minutes is a small wait.  I once waited 4.5 hours just to get registered for a US con, so it puts it a bit into perspective for you the kinda of queues we are referring too, and year on year we are always looking for ways to further improve our wait times.

The Hinckely staff were brialliant and their idea to have mobile sales stans really helped a lot. It ensured that people had drinks whilst they waited in what was sometimes a bit of a muggy corridor.

We appreciate your gripe with it, but also thank you for understanding and patience you endured to queue for some of the shows.  As said, we take everything onboard and will look to further improve any processes we can for next year.

Many thanks,

Rizzo

39

Feedback / Re: Hinckley Island Hotel Appreciation

« on: June 07, 2013, 02:44:41 »

What more can I say othe than thank you to you all for showing your appreciation.  I became very good friends with all of them given how frequently I was there, and they always greeted me with such enthusiasm and excitement.  I am very sad to be going, but the needs of the convention are a must.  However, we have extended invites to them to next years event, and I sincerely hope many of them will take up the offer.

40

Discussion / Re: My ConFuzzled Photos

« on: June 07, 2013, 02:42:43 »

Some very splendid photos here, especially the ones of Scamp, whom is quickly becoming one of my favorite fursuits from this years event   There isnt any fat rat in this set tho, but maybe I am being biased

Thank you for sharing, loving all the pics this year. Really awesome

41

Feedback / Re: The food

« on: June 07, 2013, 02:40:52 »

Cofffeeeeeee  ((O________________________O))

42

Discussion / Re: My photo gallery

« on: June 07, 2013, 02:37:05 »

Your photos are just outstanding! I always love seeing them, and so much fat rat!!!!  Thank you a million times over <3

43

Feedback / Re: Fursuit Lounge

« on: June 07, 2013, 02:35:48 »

The Fursuit Lounge could do with Security Guards at the door, to stop non-fursuiters peeking in. The Fursuit Lounge near ConOps had its door open all the time, and anyone could snap a photo of a headless furry in the lounge!

Security guards on the door would tie up staff resources as they would have to check fursuit badges of those that entered the lounge, it would be virtually unworkable.

Why would anyone want to take a photo of a headless fursuiter unless it's a close friend?

Auroa is indeed correct that posting security guards is over kill for the fursuit lounge.  It has not yet become such an issue that we have had to ensure it is posted, and most if not all attendees remain respectful of the no photos policy by the headless lounge  With it being set back from the main street also, I do not feel this was an issue, and infact the only time someone did take a photo that we the fursuit team are aware of, was in the Paris Suite waiting for the parade to start. When swiftly told not to do so, they stopped, no arguments.

The fursuit lounge in the new hotel is also offset, and behind another room, so again do not think this will become a problem.  Given that it is side by side with the nightclub, and the nighclub has a security doorman posted, this should infact resolve any concerns you have.

44

Feedback / Re: Headless Fursuiters...

« on: June 06, 2013, 01:10:31 »

This is a thread that could go back and forth for a long time with personal opinion and regardless of which side of the fence I sit on, the simple facts are that there is not now nor will there be a written policy that people have to agree to, to NOT take their heads off.  This would be applying a very strict dress code which could both be very difficult to actually police, and also would be an incredible breach of personal choice of attendees. 

As per earlier replies, how people wish to represent themselves in their fursuits is entirely down to them.  Ultimately, it is their character, their property, and their right to choose.  I cannot even agree that this is a cultural difference as has been suggested as I often see headless suiters at EF, MFF, and FC, I think its more so a case of what impact it has on the inidividual and what we choose to see/not see and/or not comment on.

The one point I would make ultimately is that this year, as with last, it was very humid and muggy due to the rain followed by a heat wave.  This is certainly reason enough for anyone to take their heads off, and whilst it might 'ruin the magic', again irrespective of my own views on this break of character, the attendees health and well being, and right to socialise and have a good time, is the conventions primary concern.

45

Feedback / Re: Fursuit Lounge

« on: June 06, 2013, 00:58:44 »

Hi Tryst,

thank you for the feedback. This is all very useful and some of which are actually already on our 'desireable' lists of things to budget for.

1) Mirrors were mentioned this year, but unfortunately the head dryer consumed most of our budget. We have had several offers from people to provide some next year, and we of course want to source and keep stock of our own. We have this on our wish list of things.

2) Something we have over looked indeed.  I saw a few of SFW's in the spot lounge and immediately fell in love with this idea. The fursuit team will ook into budgeting for this, again it would be more a desireable than essential, but hopefully we will have left over money for this, this year.

3) Tables was largely down to the hotel this year. We did have some in there, but clearly not enough.  Thank you for the feedback, we will ensure to re-evaluate this for the following year/

4) Regular checks did take place. As per other threads already, we did not always take the option to remove heads from the dryer IF there was space else where.  We want to be respectful of peoples property and not remove them unless there was no other choice.  Im sad to learn some other attendees were less than respectful of other peoples property. We need to have a debrief in the next week or so about ideas we can improve on, and more regular spot checks and head clearing is one of the things clearly we need to consider.

5) The problem with the size of the room is that a store bough dehumidifyer simply would have little impact.  The fursuit lounge at the Hilton is 3x the size of the large lounge this year.  Ergo, it would take an industrial sized one to really have any impact.  Once again tho, very much take on board what you say, and if there is a way we can consider this option, you can rest assured we will investigate and cost it.

Thank you. Some very wonderful constructive feedback here. 

Kind Regards,

Rizzo