[Deptheads] Gateway 2010 Notes

[Eric M. Aldrich I]

We've handed over the Magic: the Gathering to Sun Mesa events. There  
are free tournaments, and they are spread over the run of the con.  
What it allows us to do is offer a whole lot more Magic events. What  
annoyed me the most was these events weren't in the con book -- just  
the free ones. We'll figure this out. I have no idea how many events  
were run.

One thing about the CCG folks is they want product, and lots of it.  
Sun Mesa provides this and extends our reach by giving us access to  
their 2000+ mailing list. We've been trying to build up every  
department, and we felt this was a necessary step. This was the first  
show we tried it.

As to the Exhibitors' Hall, it's pretty much your call. This is the  
last major area we need to fix. We're bringing in less than a third  
gross revenue wise of what that room brought in in 2003, and we need  
to fix this. RJ and I are getting together and seeing what we can do  
to address this. It's been like this since we took over, though the  
decline started in 2003.

If I can convince RJ we might extend the closing on Sunday to 7 as well.

By the way, I've been pouring over old numbers, and we've brought this  
con basically back to the state it was in 2003. We're actually better  
off in pretty much every attendee-related measurement, and we're  
making more money on the auction! (despite lowering fees and moving it  
back to Monday -- though to be fair the auction was on Monday in  
2003). We don't make as much on the flea market because (primarily) we  
run it for less time.

Our hotel expenses are about double. Everything else is either in line  
or not applicable (Dividend? You must be joking).

Overall, this year was our best yet. We've got a lot more to do.

Eric

On Sep 11, 2010, at 11:36 PM, RJ wrote:

> Here are most of my notes from the Convention, some of which involve  
> other departments and are intended to be constructive.
>
> Exhibitors Hall:
> Request for Friday Night opening:   Denied!  We have lots of people  
> just arriving at 5-6 pm to start setting up.  We can't really be  
> "open" with carts and boxes all over and dealers unable to deal or  
> watch their tables.   I was also told that dealers are too tired  
> after all the loading/unloading etc to want to be open for just an  
> hour or two.  They want to rest/game and get ready for the long days  
> ahead.
>
> Request for early opening:  Approved!   I will be modifying the  
> Dealer Room hours.  Most likely it will be a 9:30 AM opening (prior  
> to those 10AM games).  Closing still 7pm Sat, 6pm Sun, 3 Mon.   
> Comments welcome before final decisions made (7PM Sun?   6:30?  6:30  
> both?).
>
> Request FROM dealers room: Can games be scheduled with intentional  
> gap to allow players time to hit the dealers room?  Some dealers  
> feel that are packed schedules are leaving no time for people to  
> browse.  We do seem to get "waves" and people are often in a hurry.   
> Not sure if we can really do this in a practical way, but something  
> to keep in mind.
>
> Along those lines:  If there can be a game break around closing.   
> Maybe even a 20/30 minute warning call prior to room closing.   If  
> 3-4 hour games started at 3 PM on Sat for example, and the next  
> block at 7PM, there should be room between games to make a dealer  
> room run before it closes.
>
> Friday Only badges...  how many do we get?  There is no dealer room  
> Friday and they are often upset they cant come in.  Do we remind  
> them they can return to shop on ANY DAY when they get the badge?
>
> Magic Players:  Complaint/Misunderstanding that they have to pay for  
> a convention badge and then pay to play in the tournament.   Maybe  
> we could offer a special deal - if there are spaces they pay  
> tournament cost plus... $10...  to play?   Full badges have  
> priority.  This may be important with the push to increase card  
> games, and letting people know.
>
> Boardgames:   Any advertised game should have at least one copy of  
> the game.  Either the GM supplies it or we reserve it from the  
> library (like our GM TBD games).  I know that Cash n Guns live could  
> not go (left at home?).  My friend passed up a game and we were  
> first on a list for Container, but there was no copy to play.  Would  
> have done a different game that started 1 hour before had it been  
> known.   And I don't like the "If you want to play, bring the game"  
> thing...  People cant bring all their games, people want to play/ 
> learn games, people play games they cant afford (yet), etc...  the  
> first 6 players in a 6 player game should expect to play, after 6,  
> then it's someone better bring a game.
>
> Also, had a complaint about a GM teaching Through the Ages (Neil, I  
> mentioned to check the name, remember?) .   It's a long game, and he  
> did not watch the players - so one new player was doing "illegal"  
> actions, but was never backed up.  He also talked a player out of an  
> action (building up military) to buy a card - then next turn tells  
> him he can't use that card!   The player felt it was a waste of a  
> big block of time.   Do we have a feedback place for that?
>
> Coffee Cups... we are out of them.  Paper ones.  It's really my  
> problem I guess, but if anyone want to get some, that would be  
> great, since I don't drink coffee!  Not sure what people like for  
> cups... or coffee...  haha.
>
> Donuts:  Will probably do the advanced list send out again, then pre- 
> order them.  I got a good price last Con by paying in advance, and  
> they were ready to go when I got there.  I think that went well this  
> time for Reg/BG also.
>
> Um...  where to sign up for stuff...  guess that already covered...   
> can we put a note on any sign we put up whose department the sign is  
> from?  The Pandemic LARP was not clear where to sign up, and I did  
> not know where to send people..  LARPs?  Special Events?  Board  
> Games?  At Penthouse?
>
> OK... one more Email and I think I am done for a bit... really....
>
> RJ
>
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