"It's Not In the Budget"
Aug. 31st, 2006 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
davidschrothOverall, I had a good time at LACon IV. I even got a seat pretty close to all of the controversial action at the Hugo ceremony.
So, the following comments, while they reflect some of what I remember from the convention, don't change the fact that I did have a good time.
About the subject of this post - while I didn't hear the phrase as often as I've suggested, it does seem to encapsulate some part of this Worldcon experience. I did my first bit of volunteering on Wednesday, and spent several hours trying to resolve an issue. What appeared to me to be a reasonable solution (make copies of the necessary pubs at the hotel business center at a cost of $17.50) was not adopted because no one was sure if the budget could/would support that kind of expenditure. Didn't matter, at one level - an interim solution was reached, and there were strong indications that a department head was going to address the underlying problem.
I think I made it to a panel on Wednesday, as well. I enjoyed the panel. Apparently much more than the fan who got up during the panel and stalked out, angrily. The panel was slightly marred by a moderator who kept trying to take over the panel, but good info was exchanged. I only wish the panel had provided more concrete information on how to encourage fen who are trying to improve their health, without coming across as a bothersome nag.
Thursday,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mizzlaurajean and I rented a car and went to see her 102 year old great-grandmother and her 70-some year old great-aunt. Great-grandma's bowling league had just completed its season, and great-grandma had won some amount of money fo her performance in the league. We had an enjoyable visit, which included going out to lunch with the great-grandmother. There was an interlude after lunch where mizzlaurajean hijacked some photographs, and we drove all over OC looking for a Kinko's. We put copies of the photos on a DVD at the Kinko's we found, and returned the highjacked photographs. I now have some idea of where mizzlaurajean gets her proclivity for talking from...
Friday, I misread the pocket program, and went to the Art Show to join a docent tour lead bygerisullivan. Instead, I joined a docent tour lead by akirlu - equally satisfactory. Part way through, we broke away and got a bite to eat with sfrose. Both lsanderson and I headed for the hot sandwich line. And after watching them prepare a couple of hot sandwiches, we both opted for salads. Larry was pleased to find that he could get a Guinness for $5.
After lunch, I decided to do another volunteer stint. I ended up putting in 3 hours at the info desk in the convention center. Worked with some very nice people, including a couple of Worldcon virgins - one lady from Chandler, AZ, and another from Winnipeg, CA. The lady from Chandler was floored that she could talk with one of her favorite writers (Robert Sawyer) in a KaffeeKlatsch. I suggested that she should hit some of the parties, where she would almost certainly have the opportunity to speak to him one-on-one.
I forget large chunks of what I did Saturday. Not that this will help - I'm pretty sure the photographic evidence can still be found at http://lsanderson.livejournal.com/753189.html#cutid1. After those pictures were taken, I went back to the hotel room and succumbed to the migraine I'd been fighting all day (Apparently, my most potent trigger for migraines is lack of sleep. Apparently getting to bed two to three hours beforelsanderson and mizzlaurajean do at a Worldcon is not sufficient to stave off migraines. Who knew?). This prevented my going back to the dealers room to speak to the corset dealer, which is probably just as well for the pocketbook. Regardless, for anyone who is in the market for a corset, I can highly recommend Xcentricities - I liked his products almost as much as I like him. Anyway, we eventually got up, got dressed, and went to the pre-Hugo reception. Had a good time (Ian McDonald appears as if he would be a very interesting panelist), and eventually trooped out to the arena. And promptly sat down in the section reserved for journalists. We then moved to the section we were supposed to be in, and watched the Hugo ceremony. Which I thought were well done, with the exception of one presenter. And then we made it over to the post-Hugo party, where I collected one piece of loot that I need to send to frostfox.
My overall impression is that most of the parties Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights were not up to Worldcon standards. The Tor party was pretty good, but everything else seemed somewhat flat. The Saturday night parties were better.
Sunday, I made it to one panel. And then I went to help with move out. I got to experience some of the East Coast Art Show crew in tear-down mode - very impressive. And, two hours into my shift, my back spasmed while I was bending over. I finished the shift with no problems, but had considerable back pain the rest of the night. The pain was more than counterbalanced by the pleasure of the company ofgerisullivan and Jack T (WINOLJ, AFAIK). We sat around talking while Geri finished off some work, and then we went out to dinner at The White House. And after, we eventually made our way to the Old Pharts party.
Random observations:
I've been to four Worldcons now, and I've now experienced four restaurant guides. My ratings are
tied for worst - Chicon and LACon. Both contained tons of information, with no discernible organizing principle, and no real guidance about the food in the restaurants listed.
Second place - Noreascon
Best, by far - ConJose.
We kept running intothirdworld throughout the convention. I'm at a loss to explain why, although it may be a function of his position as party m\o\r\o\n\maven, and Larry's and Laura's fondness for parties. He also introduced us to agrathea, who was charming, personable, and better looking in her costume than Grant was in his.
We saw, briefly and in passing,sleigh, marykaykare, and Jim Frenkel. It was good to see them, and it would have been better to see more of them. Some other convention, no doubt.
One constant throughout the trip was the level of service in whatever restaurants we ate in. Which was uniformly bad, from the hole-in-the-wall Chinese place up to the really upscale restaurant.
I guess I'll add more later, if and when it occurs to me...
So, the following comments, while they reflect some of what I remember from the convention, don't change the fact that I did have a good time.
About the subject of this post - while I didn't hear the phrase as often as I've suggested, it does seem to encapsulate some part of this Worldcon experience. I did my first bit of volunteering on Wednesday, and spent several hours trying to resolve an issue. What appeared to me to be a reasonable solution (make copies of the necessary pubs at the hotel business center at a cost of $17.50) was not adopted because no one was sure if the budget could/would support that kind of expenditure. Didn't matter, at one level - an interim solution was reached, and there were strong indications that a department head was going to address the underlying problem.
I think I made it to a panel on Wednesday, as well. I enjoyed the panel. Apparently much more than the fan who got up during the panel and stalked out, angrily. The panel was slightly marred by a moderator who kept trying to take over the panel, but good info was exchanged. I only wish the panel had provided more concrete information on how to encourage fen who are trying to improve their health, without coming across as a bothersome nag.
Thursday,
mizzlaurajean and I rented a car and went to see her 102 year old great-grandmother and her 70-some year old great-aunt. Great-grandma's bowling league had just completed its season, and great-grandma had won some amount of money fo her performance in the league. We had an enjoyable visit, which included going out to lunch with the great-grandmother. There was an interlude after lunch where mizzlaurajean hijacked some photographs, and we drove all over OC looking for a Kinko's. We put copies of the photos on a DVD at the Kinko's we found, and returned the highjacked photographs. I now have some idea of where mizzlaurajean gets her proclivity for talking from...Friday, I misread the pocket program, and went to the Art Show to join a docent tour lead by
gerisullivan. Instead, I joined a docent tour lead by akirlu - equally satisfactory. Part way through, we broke away and got a bite to eat with sfrose. Both lsanderson and I headed for the hot sandwich line. And after watching them prepare a couple of hot sandwiches, we both opted for salads. Larry was pleased to find that he could get a Guinness for $5. After lunch, I decided to do another volunteer stint. I ended up putting in 3 hours at the info desk in the convention center. Worked with some very nice people, including a couple of Worldcon virgins - one lady from Chandler, AZ, and another from Winnipeg, CA. The lady from Chandler was floored that she could talk with one of her favorite writers (Robert Sawyer) in a KaffeeKlatsch. I suggested that she should hit some of the parties, where she would almost certainly have the opportunity to speak to him one-on-one.
I forget large chunks of what I did Saturday. Not that this will help - I'm pretty sure the photographic evidence can still be found at http://lsanderson.livejournal.com/753189.html#cutid1. After those pictures were taken, I went back to the hotel room and succumbed to the migraine I'd been fighting all day (Apparently, my most potent trigger for migraines is lack of sleep. Apparently getting to bed two to three hours before
lsanderson and mizzlaurajean do at a Worldcon is not sufficient to stave off migraines. Who knew?). This prevented my going back to the dealers room to speak to the corset dealer, which is probably just as well for the pocketbook. Regardless, for anyone who is in the market for a corset, I can highly recommend Xcentricities - I liked his products almost as much as I like him. Anyway, we eventually got up, got dressed, and went to the pre-Hugo reception. Had a good time (Ian McDonald appears as if he would be a very interesting panelist), and eventually trooped out to the arena. And promptly sat down in the section reserved for journalists. We then moved to the section we were supposed to be in, and watched the Hugo ceremony. Which I thought were well done, with the exception of one presenter. And then we made it over to the post-Hugo party, where I collected one piece of loot that I need to send to frostfox.My overall impression is that most of the parties Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights were not up to Worldcon standards. The Tor party was pretty good, but everything else seemed somewhat flat. The Saturday night parties were better.
Sunday, I made it to one panel. And then I went to help with move out. I got to experience some of the East Coast Art Show crew in tear-down mode - very impressive. And, two hours into my shift, my back spasmed while I was bending over. I finished the shift with no problems, but had considerable back pain the rest of the night. The pain was more than counterbalanced by the pleasure of the company of
gerisullivan and Jack T (WINOLJ, AFAIK). We sat around talking while Geri finished off some work, and then we went out to dinner at The White House. And after, we eventually made our way to the Old Pharts party. Random observations:
I've been to four Worldcons now, and I've now experienced four restaurant guides. My ratings are
tied for worst - Chicon and LACon. Both contained tons of information, with no discernible organizing principle, and no real guidance about the food in the restaurants listed.
Second place - Noreascon
Best, by far - ConJose.
We kept running into
thirdworld throughout the convention. I'm at a loss to explain why, although it may be a function of his position as party m\o\r\o\n\maven, and Larry's and Laura's fondness for parties. He also introduced us to agrathea, who was charming, personable, and better looking in her costume than Grant was in his.We saw, briefly and in passing,
sleigh, marykaykare, and Jim Frenkel. It was good to see them, and it would have been better to see more of them. Some other convention, no doubt.One constant throughout the trip was the level of service in whatever restaurants we ate in. Which was uniformly bad, from the hole-in-the-wall Chinese place up to the really upscale restaurant.
I guess I'll add more later, if and when it occurs to me...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 02:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 04:49 am (UTC)K.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 02:45 pm (UTC)Chicon was the "hefty" Little Leaguer,
LACon was the normal Little Leaguer,
Noreascon was a college baseball player,
ConJose was Babe Ruth.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 01:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 02:46 pm (UTC)You pretty much had to know where to look to see her at all...
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 07:45 pm (UTC)I'm glad to hear someone besides myself had that reaction to the parties. I was rather disappointed by them mostly.
MKK
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 10:07 pm (UTC)MKK