[Deptheads] Dealer Room Friday

[XH - RJ Held]

As we currently run, opening Friday is not an option.  But I will make this thread for info and input in case we want to work on this. 

Many dealers have "day" jobs. Either stores or "real" jobs.  They work a half day, or spent it loading, to head to Con.  They arrive around 3-5 pm or later.  We still had people setting up at 8:30 pm.  Some are still working on setup saturday morning, some start then. 

I would not allow guest in during setup. It's not fair or protective for the dealers (with boxes of inventory siting in isles) and not safe for guest with debris and carts around, and half or more of the dealers distracted.  

Options would be a late night opening. Only works for fully set up vendors. Others would have to stand by to watch their tables with boxes pulled out of way.  It would have to be late maybe 8-10 pm.  That means 8 hours or less until they are in the next day. 

Starting earlier basically means a Thursday setup.  That's a room cost for the hall, and more room nights for the dealers that do come in.  People that cant come in earlier will have to set up after the Friday closing, and that means a really late night of setup (with me having to stay also to monitor) and then a quick AM turn around leaving them and me exhausted and looking at 3 days of work!   Plus the bad feelings of missing room time. 

Lunch breaks are difficult to administor and are unpopular with our guest and the dealers.  It can take time to clear the room and that eats into the window.  I also don't see it as helping much with them long day exhaustion much as it is a break but does not shorten the actually time span. 

RJ