[Deptheads] Gabriel's Pacificon after-con report

[DB]

This was posted on a Pacific Coast RPGA board.  Take it with several grains
of salt.  Can someone confirm these numbers?  If they're accurate, I'm a bit
surprised at high they are.

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Hi gang,

We want to thank everyone in the community who came together for four
glorious days of gaming at the Pacificon Game Expo. Judging from the
comments `in the halls', your emails both public and private, and the
numbers, you all put on the *best* show yet.

The Marriott staff in Santa Clara could not have been more receptive to our
needs, and always went the extra step to see that our guests were treated
with respect and courtesy, as are the hallmarks of the Marriott chain. And
the parking. The glorious, glorious parking. It's like the place was built
for a game convention.

To every gamemaster, judge and storyteller who ran games at the showŠa
million thanks. We hope that you enjoyed the expanded space the new hotel
affords us, with growing room for the future. To the vendors who support the
showŠkudos to you, and we hope to see you all next year. Please support
those vendors during the year, and tell them `thank you' for their part in
supporting the local game conventions. They will appreciate hearing that.
(And though absent from the dealers room, I also want to call out Jean from
Gator Games and Gary from Black Diamond Games for their support over the
years as well.)

The feedback on the individual role playing rooms has been strong, and
according to Sr. Role Playing Coordinator Gerald Rouse, only two role
playing games did not go, which is amazing. Sr Judge Cedric Atizado's RPGA
program would have burst at the seams in Burlingame, with over 150 role
playing sessions, but was afforded ample space this year. Sr Boardgame
Coordinator Kevin Ellingson put together the finest Boardgame library (over
200 titles ­ alphabetically arranged!) in the state! Sr Wargame Coordinator
Mark Ruggiero is year by year building up the Monster Gaming program at the
show, all the while bringing games to the show that we haven't seen played
in years. And Sr Miniatures Coordinator Dave Partak with his four Sr
Volunteers put on the finest miniatures program anywhere west of the
Rockies! In fact, all the programming coordinators and senior volunteers,
most of whom returned from last year, ran fabulous departments with full
games. Even the Open Gaming area was chock full of gamers playing 24 hours a
day!

To all of our workers in registration, operations, and vendor services, as
well as FLARE's really uber-friendly security team, a hearty thanks for
doing the tasks that need doing away from the gaming activities. We all
appreciate the work you do, many year after year. Congratulations to Mike
O'Brian our new Flea Market Coordinator and Jason Pipes as they adjusted to
the new space with changes applied from day to day at the show. Marcelo
Figueroa is back working the auctions with us, and will return next year as
our Auctioneer. Aldo did his usually great job in the dealer room. Jackie
Epner from Polycon joined us this year as a Registration Coordinator,
subbing for the school/work-burdened Sean Messina. Max was great as our
logistical guy. 

We also want to thank the very best gamecon management team in the world.
With Roxanne Diesel ill this year, they stepped up to the plate and hit this
one outta the park. Kevin O'Hare (4x SF, 1x SAC, 1x LA) served as our
Managing Director, and with his reputation as the most honorable man and
nicest guy in the community kept all the people parts of the organization
running smoothly. Michael Zbella (3x SF, 3x SAC, 1xNW) was promoted to
Operations Director and was the glue that kept everything running smoothly
and efficiently. Production Manger Alexis Randall (4xSF, 3x SAC, 1x VEGAS)
coordinated every event alongside the area coordinators, and oversaw Role
Playing (Classic, LARPs, RPGA), Young Players, Special Events, Seminars, and
Hospitality. Vendor Services Manager Keisha Patterson (1x LA, 2x SF, 2x SAC,
1x VEGAS) provided Registration Support as well as managing the Auctions,
Flea Markets and the Dealers Room. Both Keisha and Alexis assisted Roxanne
with administrative preshow duties as well. Program Manager John Wootress
(2x SF, 3x NW, 1x VEGAS) provided timely support for the show in the
miniatures and board gaming areas.

Once again, we smashed our hotel rooming commitment with the Marriott. We
had 1285 attendees this year, so if you count the 15 or so who snuck in
without paying, we had 1300 participants, as 8% increase from last year. And
"games going" was in the high 90's, so all in all, a terrific job by y'all.

So there you have it. Pacificon is back. Santa Clara is our new home, and
with the hotel planning a new 10 thousand square foot ballroom in the next
1-2 years, it can be our home for another ten years easily. We are glad you
enjoyed yourselves, and encourage all of you who attended to let us know
your experiencesŠthe good, the bad, and the ugly. Though we may not respond
to everyone directly, know that we are here, we are listening, and now that
we've worked the rooms for a show, we can make the adjustments to make it
even a bigger, better and grander experience for you.

The planning begins for the Pacificon Game Expo now. September 4-7, 2009.
Over a year away from today, yet it'll come more quickly than we can
imagine. We'll look forward to seeing you as we break ground on our newest
ventureŠConQuest RENO `The biggest little gamecon in the world!' at the end
of October. Or perhaps next year in Seattle in January, Sacramento in March
or Vegas in April. Nonetheless, and once again, thank you so very much for
your overwhelming support, your love for the hobby, and the dedication of
our brave and gallant staff.

Yours in gaming,


Gabriel "Mondo" Vega


Executive Director ­ Pacificon Game Expo