Contemplation
Jun. 4th, 2007 07:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysAs usual, nothing that is in any way a proper con report. Just throwing stuff out there.
I was most impressed with the organisation of the con. There were a few glitches but nothing that couldn't be lived with. It is just a pity that there were not more people there to enjoy it (OK, that is down to organisation too, but you know what I mean).
I was very happy to see lots of programming items. I didn't attend a whole lot but the option was always there and I did end up attending more that I have for a while. The con bid for '09 made a big thing about having less programme items - idiots, they need a good kicking. The '09 con will be in Auckland at QB weekend (big tick on that one). I am rather concerned about one trend though - both the '08 & '09 cons will have australian fan guests of honour - just what does that signify?
The quiz went well I think. If the only complaints I received were about a couple of typos then I can feel pretty happy. I was very pleased to see that the team that included Russell Kirkpatrick was even able to answer this one "Name the author who wrote the 'Fire of Heaven' fantasy series and this year had the first book of the 'Husk' series published."
I think this is the first time at a NZ con we have managed to have both FFANZ delegates as well as DUFF and GUFF delegates all together at a con. Dave & Ang were great fun to have join us. The other guests were excellent too. Although I wasn't all that impressed with Eric Flint in some respects, he had a lot of very interesting things to say.
The walls in the hotel rooms were really thin and the rooms were very small. It is an old building with refurbished rooms but the age did show through - including rather disconcertingly the lift. On the plus side, they never ran out of beer (even if they had to keep nipping out the back to restock the bar fridge), there was a good range of con room sizes and there were no run ins with the staff. I was a bit worried that it might just be slightly too far from the rest of town for easy walking, but in practice it wasn't an issue at all. In fact, so easy was it to get to places of use that I didn't eat a meal at the hotel. That may be the first time ever. Lots of good meals actually - there was always a group available to join or gather.
The Aussie SF scene panel was pretty good - we covered all the bases that I wanted. Anybody who agrees to be on a panel and then professes to being a girly swot should be encouraged as they do lots of preparation (yes I do mean you Rowena). Of course with Dave & Russell you just need to wind up the big key and away they go.
I am no longer on the SFFANZ board. Hooray. I am now free of any fan positions for the first time in 15 years. To do this stuff, you need energy and enthusiasm. I don't seem to have enough to go around at the moment. Perhaps in a year or two I may be able to get back into it. The AGM was its usual rambling unstructured self, but all the issues god dealt with and there were more than usual to get stuck into this time.
No room parties. Not one. Nothing. One was advertised but then cancelled - well it was moved to the bar. The small hotel rooms & thin walls were a factor but it is much more than that. No room parties. None. We are so so so sad. There was plenty of other socialising going on and the bar/lounge area was busy. But no room parties. None. Oh where, oh where are the young fans who are serious about their parties?
Time to start thinking about packing for Convergence.
I was most impressed with the organisation of the con. There were a few glitches but nothing that couldn't be lived with. It is just a pity that there were not more people there to enjoy it (OK, that is down to organisation too, but you know what I mean).
I was very happy to see lots of programming items. I didn't attend a whole lot but the option was always there and I did end up attending more that I have for a while. The con bid for '09 made a big thing about having less programme items - idiots, they need a good kicking. The '09 con will be in Auckland at QB weekend (big tick on that one). I am rather concerned about one trend though - both the '08 & '09 cons will have australian fan guests of honour - just what does that signify?
The quiz went well I think. If the only complaints I received were about a couple of typos then I can feel pretty happy. I was very pleased to see that the team that included Russell Kirkpatrick was even able to answer this one "Name the author who wrote the 'Fire of Heaven' fantasy series and this year had the first book of the 'Husk' series published."
I think this is the first time at a NZ con we have managed to have both FFANZ delegates as well as DUFF and GUFF delegates all together at a con. Dave & Ang were great fun to have join us. The other guests were excellent too. Although I wasn't all that impressed with Eric Flint in some respects, he had a lot of very interesting things to say.
The walls in the hotel rooms were really thin and the rooms were very small. It is an old building with refurbished rooms but the age did show through - including rather disconcertingly the lift. On the plus side, they never ran out of beer (even if they had to keep nipping out the back to restock the bar fridge), there was a good range of con room sizes and there were no run ins with the staff. I was a bit worried that it might just be slightly too far from the rest of town for easy walking, but in practice it wasn't an issue at all. In fact, so easy was it to get to places of use that I didn't eat a meal at the hotel. That may be the first time ever. Lots of good meals actually - there was always a group available to join or gather.
The Aussie SF scene panel was pretty good - we covered all the bases that I wanted. Anybody who agrees to be on a panel and then professes to being a girly swot should be encouraged as they do lots of preparation (yes I do mean you Rowena). Of course with Dave & Russell you just need to wind up the big key and away they go.
I am no longer on the SFFANZ board. Hooray. I am now free of any fan positions for the first time in 15 years. To do this stuff, you need energy and enthusiasm. I don't seem to have enough to go around at the moment. Perhaps in a year or two I may be able to get back into it. The AGM was its usual rambling unstructured self, but all the issues god dealt with and there were more than usual to get stuck into this time.
No room parties. Not one. Nothing. One was advertised but then cancelled - well it was moved to the bar. The small hotel rooms & thin walls were a factor but it is much more than that. No room parties. None. We are so so so sad. There was plenty of other socialising going on and the bar/lounge area was busy. But no room parties. None. Oh where, oh where are the young fans who are serious about their parties?
Time to start thinking about packing for Convergence.