[Deptheads] Re: Computer Room Tourneys

[Victor B]

To be fair...............
Robert looks bad because he was not being politically correct.
Of course we have families that attend. He never said we did not- he just implied that the convention does not have the facilities or staff that the other conventions do that cater to kids . How many of the families that show up are staff? How many are convention regulars? Having kids show up and being set up for many kids are not the same. Basically all of this debate is based opinions that parents reading our website and seeing "video game lounge" would not want to attend because strategicon would appear non-family oriented. The families that come are not going to be turned off  by a room named "video game lounge". In fact many families that atend a convention (as mentioned) want to get their kids off of video games. Why would you bring your kids to a convention to get them off video games and then watch them hang out in the video game room playing video games? The room name is not your concern for a family oriented con. The programming available for
 you kids and tweens is. The teenagers are ok.
Best tween event we had last year was the live-action fighting circle. They stayed packed for hours on friday and saturday and always had people there. People like to smack each other with padded weapons or watch 2 other people do it. Good event.

Robert's statement is correct- We are basically saying "just bring your kids". We do have mundane token kids events as he mentioned and nothing special or a draw. No kid guests.. The wiggles are not attending. We don't have a storytime room or daycare attendants like other conventions. Liability and security issues are real and we all know in this day and age a lawyer is 1 step behind a mishap. Catering to family requires more than we have now which is just some games and a volunteer watching the kids.

That being said .....
Patrick is also correct.
We want to attract more families (not just the parents who bring the kids along) and we hneed to ave to have actual programming and set up for tweens, not just run some kids games. Tweens are our future.
I understand kids at con. Trust me I see the most of them during the weekend and I WELCOME them.
There are many ccgs that are from kids tv shows and japanese anime and every convention we have 1 or 2 that pile up the players in big numbers. We have had over 125 in one event before. We will have 200+ in may for a pokemon regional.
The problems is not the kids (7-14 year olds). The issue for me is finding something for the parents to do that are not into gaming and are just dropping off kids.. I do makeshift parent's lounges . I put a veggie platter in there with water and cups and peanut butter crackers with science fiction/fantasy show themes playing as music. They loved it. Funny when you have to cater to many parents who are not into gaming but their kids love pokemon, naruto, magic or pirates etc.. I also took the time to talk to them as a group and explain the convention and showed a few of them the boardgames where alison, karl, patrick and others were there to meet and greet them. Their smiles and upbeat attitude make non-gamers feel like they are at a friend's house. They also like seeing the miniatures and of course the dealer's room. Even rpg hq gets questions about rpgs and are friendly and helpful. When they come back between tourney round I hear it. All this usually
 gets a few parents to join the convention for the day andsome for the whole weekend.

We need a department to handle kids and tweens and all liability issues, logisitcs and programming for them. And those brave souls will need plenty of drinks before and after the con.

Strategicon is a fun friendly family oriented convention full of wonderful people.
That is why I fly 3000+ miles to startegicon 3 times a year. You guys.

Now let's get back to positive energy and enthusiasm for the con. Someone paint a smiley face on grinch robert and lets get ready for a weekend of fun.


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