[Deptheads] Meeting notes

[Eric Burgess]

Sorry I couldn't make it on Sunday but this time of the year is a challenge
and the wife double-booked us.

Please see my many comments below.

...ERB
www.boardgamebabylon.com
www.strategicon.net


On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:45 PM, Eric M. Aldrich I <ealdrich at apple.com>wrote:

> Rough Notes from the meeting:
>
> Agenda — 11 Oct 2009
>
> 0. Lunch
> 1. Welcome and Announcements
>        a. Tim Keennon is Event Coordinator
>
Fine - I'd love to understand more of what this means.


>        b. Chris Carlson is Head of Operations
>

Cool.


>        c. Victor Bugg will be "Industry Liason" or something like that
> (title to be determined -- Victor can choose)
>

I assume that's like an "Industry Liaison"? ;) Does this mean Victor isn't
doing CCGs any longer? I'd really like to understand what this one means.


>        d. Norm Carlson will still be around.
>
Also cool.


> 2. Gateway 2009 and 2009 in general
>        a. How did we do? 950 people, close to break even
>        b. What went right? Demos, Dealer room had 4 new and happy vendors,
> RPGs good, feedback pizza went well, new volunteers, Board game transition
> smooth
>
I'd like to add the smashing success of the board game library to this list.
I've had scads of happy e-mail over it, including from publishers that heard
about it separately.

Also, I think Jason Matthews was another good special guest - he was a
workhorse, running tons of demos and giving people special previews of
upcoming games. He was very popular and I call this a big success.


>        c. What went wrong? LARPs had bad locations, climate control, Mike F
> and Victor need minions, electrical in La Jolla
>

RPG HQ needed more staffing. We kept sending people over there and no one
was around. Mike needs help! (people, that is - not mental help.)



>        d. Department reports
>

Despite a few snafus with scheduling, I think we did well and a lot of good
feedback came our way. We'll continue to work on getting the right mix of
events but, honestly, I heard a lot more good than bad. We'll post a
readable schedule earlier this time and ask for feedback. After Essen, I'll
be in India for two weeks and I expect to use some of the downtime to come
up with a new proposed schedule once I get a read on the hot games we'll
want to add.

Also, I'm getting a few people to Manager for different kinds of games -
Karl for Wargames, Darrell Stark for Eurogames, Eugene Hourany for Party
Games, Dan O'Farrell for Card Games - and they'll get a big say in the
schedule so it is more collaborative..



>        e. Hotel(s)? Parking, food and its location, elevators
>

It is a CRIME that the simps at the Radisson did not bring out that snack
cart as we asked. It was another example of them just not getting it. Lost
revenue, lost good will with the attendees over learning from not just
mistake but the right moves. I know there is probably little more we can do
about it but it helps motivate me to say LET'S MOVE.



>        f. Has everyone got their money back yet? (no, unless they were at
> the meeting)
>

No, I have not. EA?


>        g. Things we've learned. Flea market can't start at or before dealer
> room -- moving to 11 am to 3 pm Sat, Sun
>        h. Winners Lists -- need them if they didn't go through payouts
> 3. 2010
>        a. Hotel(s):
>        Westin and Sheraton contracts on par
>        Westin still has park and ride, Eric to check if that is scheduled
> to go away.
>        Radisson trying to make last second offer -- if set up fee gets
> waived we'll talk
>
Glad to hear they are trying but too little, too late in my book.


>        b. Special Guests and Events: Trying for Alan Emrich for Gateway,
> trying for Richard Borg for Gamex. AEG maybe at Orccon. Lonnie Gill at
> Orccon
>

I think people are forgetting that we already have Matt Leacock of Pandemic
and Roll Through The Ages fame coming for Orccon 2010. He's just up in the
Bay Area so it's not even costly and he doesn't really do Kublacon so this
is a nice coup for us (I happen to be sharing a room with him in Essen so it
was easy to get). Plus, Uwe Rosenberg (Agricola, Le Havre, Bohnanza and the
new At The Gates of Loyang) already told me he'd come out in 2010 (I'll
confirm in Essen) so please don't fill up the dance card with - frankly -
small draws. Borg's great but he's at Pacificon a lot and been here plenty.
If he comes, it should be along with asking DoW to come and perhaps promote
a big Memoir '44 event.

Alan's a friend but I'd only seek him out if he truly have zero budget for a
guest. Lonnie would fall into the same category. If that's the case, no
problem - but tell me now before I ask big draws like Wolfgang Kramer,
Vlaada Chvatl, or even Reiner to come back.

               All demos in Foyer (Except RPGA). No selling at demos. Eric
Burgess going to Essen and will do some soliciting there
As above. Will connect with publishers, too, and get more demos/library
copies. They've been flowing in well so far and I have Lana Berman helping
me (all the more reason why I need to understand what Vic will be doing).

       c. Publicity: Get events up
Need to put up info on our Ticket to Ride and Settler of Catan qualifiers
immediately.

EA - We need to confirm that we'll cover those costs for the Settlers event
ASAP. I need to respond to them before I take off for Germany and India on
Tuesday.

       d. Website changes: Add required 3 different time options, limit the
time options for RPGs. Add an RPGA check box to adjust RPG time options and
modify listing in con book.
       e. Job Descriptions: Eric will be writing some
       f. We need an art director! Janice, see bottom of page for art
details.
Seth Halbeisen? If you are specific with what you need, my wife might be
able to help with concepting but she's no digital artist.

       g. Resources: RPGs/LARPs tight on space, 12 cabanas, Newport, La
Jolla, and Top of Radission
               Dealer Rm will be lock-down for reg
4. Misc
       a. NeonCon: Janice and Eric
       b. GAMA Trade Show: Norm
       c. Other conventions: HMGS, ComicCon, Next Oct. Camaria Ontario
I will be at BGG.con in November. If we have fliers by then (Thur-Sun before
Thanksgiving), I can distribute.

       d. Business cards: see below
       e. T-Shirts: see below
5. Q & A
Requests for Tracking new attendees.
       Con videos for website

Need artists for
Revamped logo: up to $200 offered
 What do you want on it? Again, my wife might be able to help.

T-shirt design, 1 per year: Booth offered
Con specific website art/conbook art: Booth offered for enough
Conbook/Mailer, clip art: Art contest

Tim handling sign printing
Goodie bags?
List RPGA events separately in master schedule, add midnight time slot for
RPGs
Need simple board game descriptions for con book -- will make all conbook
descriptions shorter
Tell me how many lines we can do. I can work with any length.

Broadside Bash needs to be connected with Tim
_______________________________________________
Deptheads mailing list
Deptheads at strategicon.net
http://mordred.punk.net/mailman/listinfo/deptheads
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mordred.punk.net/pipermail/deptheads/attachments/20091014/86268750/attachment.htm