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Megaplex - Day 1
9 years ago
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So let me begin by saying today started out...not so great.
Remember those lovely artist alley tables last year? How they were outside of the dealer's den? How they weren't policed? How you could just set up anywhere with just a sketchbook and some colored pencils? People would buy a badge or a sketch from you, you'd earn some extra cash, you'd do the drawing, and you'd be on your merry way with lunch money or money for the dealer's den.
Not this year. This year it's INSIDE of the Dealer's den. Not only that, but they wont let artists go in to set up early. Also, people showed up with professional set-ups and pre-made merch rather than the emphasis being on "art". As in stuff that was hand drawn right there. People who I KNOW I saw as dealer's last year. >n>
On one hand, yes those dealers were smart to cash in on not having to pay the table fees, but they aren't giving the little guys a chance.
On top of putting the Artist Alley tables in the Dealer's Den (which loses possible sales from people who just want to wander the halls), and not letting them set up before they let all of the other guests in (which loses them valuable money-making time), they NOW make artists fill out TAX FORMS.
That's right. If you're doing a silly little $5 badge for someone, you now have to charge them tax. If this was a large con like Anthrocon, I could see that. But not at Megaplex.
Alright, so now that I've ranted about that, let's move on to the actual venue. IT IS SO SMALL.
They made it seem like we were getting an upgrade with this hotel. The ONLY upgrade is that we completely bought out the hotel. But this con is now impossible to get into for people who just want to roam the halls.
There are always people who can't afford or don't want to buy a pass. Or you know, the people who want to scope it out BEFORE they buy their pass. This year Megaplex has so many people checking badges that you just can't do that anymore. They check in every hallway. And by every, I mean 3. One going horizontal, two going vertical.
They ONLY have 3 panel rooms this year.
Last year we had the upstairs and the downstairs areas. Honestly even though that hotel took the roomie and I an hour to drive to, we both actually prefer the old hotel to this one.
AND NOW THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
So as my roomie sits down at what used to be the pre-reg tables to draw (and I mean JUST DRAW for THEMSELVES. Not to sell) another friend of ours comes over and warned us that someone on staff had come over and told her SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRAW THERE. So okay, she then went outside, and not too long after, they went to her outside and told her SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRAW THERE EITHER.
So my roomie and I are shocked. But the roomie keeps drawing their own badge just to see what happens.
SURE ENOUGH, not TEN MINUTES LATER, a member of con staff comes over and tells them they can't draw there. I asked why. He said: "Because this is the pre-reg table."
So I said: "Okay then where can my friends draw?"
And he hesitates and then says: "Not in any of the con zones. Justin Artist Alley if they are selling there."
And then he stands there and waits for us to leave.
Not in any of the con zones? So you're telling me people aren't allowed to DRAW? To be creative? Not unless they are selling???
So I immediately went over to complain to the big boss. This con is all about creativity and fun, and the fact that someone isn't allowed to just sit down and doodle for themselves is unacceptable.
And he told me: "There must have been some bad communication. Not at the pre-reg desk. That should have been roped off. And you can't sit on the floor and draw. But any of the seats are fine if you aren't selling."
None of the seats have any form of desk. Not unless you're in the lobby, and good luck getting those tiny tables. Otherwise, you go outside and hope the wind doesn't blow around your papers.
Honestly I'm still pretty pissed about that.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE:
I did get to see friends I haven't seen in a year and that did make me very happy.
The free dessert social is honestly better this year even though it was honestly pretty late in the evening and oddly organized. But it had a much wider selection.
I bought a flask and Kiku gave me spiced rum so be prepared to see me relatively boozed up tomorrow. Just FYI.
TLDR: If Megaplex doesn't get better next year, we wont be coming back. I'm hoping it's better tomorrow. Whether it's ACTUALLY better, or it's just better because I'm Blitzed.
BOOZECON 2016
Remember those lovely artist alley tables last year? How they were outside of the dealer's den? How they weren't policed? How you could just set up anywhere with just a sketchbook and some colored pencils? People would buy a badge or a sketch from you, you'd earn some extra cash, you'd do the drawing, and you'd be on your merry way with lunch money or money for the dealer's den.
Not this year. This year it's INSIDE of the Dealer's den. Not only that, but they wont let artists go in to set up early. Also, people showed up with professional set-ups and pre-made merch rather than the emphasis being on "art". As in stuff that was hand drawn right there. People who I KNOW I saw as dealer's last year. >n>
On one hand, yes those dealers were smart to cash in on not having to pay the table fees, but they aren't giving the little guys a chance.
On top of putting the Artist Alley tables in the Dealer's Den (which loses possible sales from people who just want to wander the halls), and not letting them set up before they let all of the other guests in (which loses them valuable money-making time), they NOW make artists fill out TAX FORMS.
That's right. If you're doing a silly little $5 badge for someone, you now have to charge them tax. If this was a large con like Anthrocon, I could see that. But not at Megaplex.
Alright, so now that I've ranted about that, let's move on to the actual venue. IT IS SO SMALL.
They made it seem like we were getting an upgrade with this hotel. The ONLY upgrade is that we completely bought out the hotel. But this con is now impossible to get into for people who just want to roam the halls.
There are always people who can't afford or don't want to buy a pass. Or you know, the people who want to scope it out BEFORE they buy their pass. This year Megaplex has so many people checking badges that you just can't do that anymore. They check in every hallway. And by every, I mean 3. One going horizontal, two going vertical.
They ONLY have 3 panel rooms this year.
Last year we had the upstairs and the downstairs areas. Honestly even though that hotel took the roomie and I an hour to drive to, we both actually prefer the old hotel to this one.
AND NOW THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
So as my roomie sits down at what used to be the pre-reg tables to draw (and I mean JUST DRAW for THEMSELVES. Not to sell) another friend of ours comes over and warned us that someone on staff had come over and told her SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRAW THERE. So okay, she then went outside, and not too long after, they went to her outside and told her SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRAW THERE EITHER.
So my roomie and I are shocked. But the roomie keeps drawing their own badge just to see what happens.
SURE ENOUGH, not TEN MINUTES LATER, a member of con staff comes over and tells them they can't draw there. I asked why. He said: "Because this is the pre-reg table."
So I said: "Okay then where can my friends draw?"
And he hesitates and then says: "Not in any of the con zones. Justin Artist Alley if they are selling there."
And then he stands there and waits for us to leave.
Not in any of the con zones? So you're telling me people aren't allowed to DRAW? To be creative? Not unless they are selling???
So I immediately went over to complain to the big boss. This con is all about creativity and fun, and the fact that someone isn't allowed to just sit down and doodle for themselves is unacceptable.
And he told me: "There must have been some bad communication. Not at the pre-reg desk. That should have been roped off. And you can't sit on the floor and draw. But any of the seats are fine if you aren't selling."
None of the seats have any form of desk. Not unless you're in the lobby, and good luck getting those tiny tables. Otherwise, you go outside and hope the wind doesn't blow around your papers.
Honestly I'm still pretty pissed about that.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE:
I did get to see friends I haven't seen in a year and that did make me very happy.
The free dessert social is honestly better this year even though it was honestly pretty late in the evening and oddly organized. But it had a much wider selection.
I bought a flask and Kiku gave me spiced rum so be prepared to see me relatively boozed up tomorrow. Just FYI.
TLDR: If Megaplex doesn't get better next year, we wont be coming back. I'm hoping it's better tomorrow. Whether it's ACTUALLY better, or it's just better because I'm Blitzed.
BOOZECON 2016
ButterflyMaiden909
~butterflymaiden909
I've never been to a con but damn I feel your pain.
dechuri
~dechuri
Well be glad you got to go e^e.... wish I could have gone. ....
