[Deptheads] Reg Desk Layout and Signage

[t.aldrich at comcast.net]

These topics seemed to need a separate response because it's long.

Layout/Signage
> > I'd also like to take the demo tables in front of the Dealer room, to put 
> > the Payout crew there, so they have a bit more room to spread out.
>
> Doubt we can do this either -- what was wrong with where they were other than 
> lack of signage?

> I agree we need to move them out from behind the pillar, we had a LOT of people 
> wait in the reg line waiting to turn in their dealer dollars only to be told to 
> go over to the next table, not a good thing.  We need much better signs for then 
> and to move them out from behind the piller.  I was at the reg desk most of the 
> con and only saw the "demo" tables used for about 3 to 4 hours total, to me that 
> was a big was of space, give it to Fran and Beth.   Also on Friday and Sat when 
> everyone was coming to get their Pre-Reg badge it created a major traffic jam 
> having the payout table there. 

Something tells me that the tables in the reg desk area need tweaking. Eric has some ideas, including removing one of the demo tables and expanding the Reg Desk/Payout area.
Another thing that would probably help would be getting the hotel to move the immovable potted plant.

And then there are signs. I think signage would help the problem too.

> We'll also put signs up a lot of places

Of all the issues that have come up, this is the one I could rant about. We got three beautiful signs for Orccon 2007 that worked really well at the Westin. Three more were commissioned and found by end of this con. [sigh] I still have issues with these signs that I would like someone to work on. 

We need a way to direct people to turn 180 degrees and go. This wasn't really a problem at the Westin, but it is now.

I hate having to go from sign to sign to find a place. I would like to find a way to add the room name as well as an arrow, to give people two methods of navigation. Ballrm A-D, Ballrm E-F, San Jose, La Jolla, etc. Also, once we get a decent map of the con, I'd like a poster sized copy of it for near the reg desk to help point people more visually. I find "you are here" maps more useful than arrows in a lot of cases. It gives perspective.

We could use permanent signs for things that are always going to be needed.
Exhibitor Room Open   [ I liked the design for these signs, but not the taping 4 pieces of paper. ]
Exhibitor Room Closed [ It was necessary. ]
Convention Registration
Dealer Dollars [or whatever the appropriate title is.]
Flea Market

These don't have to be signs per say, but some form of obvious identification for each area.
Demo Area or Table
Open Gaming           [ posted in each appropriate dept ]

It would be nice to have signs for the slots in front of each door, listing the dept and function as appropriate for any room with one owner/function.

> We need to establish our set up and then con goers will know con to con where 
> things are. Familiarity will be our ally.
> And as I mentioned above--daily programming signage listing all events of the 
> con hour by hour (and one inside the program would help too).

And this is one more sign idea which I have seen some of in the recent past, but could use more. I would assume this to be a dept responsibility.

> Signage signage signage.

No kidding. :)

Tanya