SFX Weekender 4 - What Do You Want to See?

[Stumpy]

Originally Posted by breyah

Repeat Just a Minute! I attended another panel and missed it.

I believe that the whole thing is available on Youtube. I missed it too, which now seems a huge mistake.

[wondie_kat]

As a seasoned veteran (we've been to 1, 2 & 3 and are booked up for 4) the one thing I'd like to see is a better VIP Bar.

I liked that fact that the VIP bar was in the main void last year (although we did kinda take it over with the GK) and really disliked it being shoved in a room again, but what needs to be vastly improved is the drink selection. For example, a wider range of spirits (myself and my cohort BinkyBird both only really drink rum, which they didn't have in the VIP bar) or maybe a selection of SciFi related cocktails, you know Pangalacticgargleblasters or Romulan Ale or some such.

[Spuffyforever88]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old git

If this is true, then I'd like to see VIP tickets without accomodation for those of us who live locally or prefer a better room than Pontins offer.

As for more space, would Pontins be willing to put the arcade machines into storage for the weekend - the gaming area could go there?

DUDE DUUUUUUDDDEEEEE do NOT get rid of the arcade machines it was the only thing that kept us going make them work would be a start :

[DanteLucien]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old git

If this is true, then I'd like to see VIP tickets without accomodation for those of us who live locally or prefer a better room than Pontins offer.

As for more space, would Pontins be willing to put the arcade machines into storage for the weekend - the gaming area could go there?

The arcade machines cannot be moved because... Well because it would make me sad.

[Kingy7]

I'd like a few of the quests to be of the non dr who variety maybe someone from star trek (loved George takei last year), one of the misfits or someone from Game of Thrones (Peter dinkledge is doing the convention circuit).
If something. Can be done to eliminate or at least minimise the queues that would be great too.

[rasskin]

What keeps hitting me is just how much i missed of the weekend! there were several reasons for this, but the primary one was not enough capacity in the main area to accomodate the audience.

I don't know how many seats were there, but i'd guess around 1,000? with attendance figures in excess of 6k for the weekend, it's clear the MAJORITY ot those who attend will not manage to get in (unless they go and queue at sun up,stay in the one location, don't eat or urinate all day and have no interest in going to bed or washing!)

As suggested, a video feed would be brilliant for the poor sods sitting at the back or standing at the sides who can barely see anything at all, but would also REALLY help the multiple queues. (honestly, i've never queued so much in my life. was there anything that didn't require queueing multiple times? lol)

A single line for autograph sessions. why did we have to queue for EACH guest during a session? couldn't they all be at the same table? all the events i've attended in the past did this and things moved much faster.

Could the traders be located in the dinning hall too? given that the food was so bad, i'm sure most wouldn't miss the canteen (they could easily keep the other food areas open more!), the dealers had very poor light to see by, so perhaps a different venue at least?

A display / play / rest / photo area would be good (perhaps in the traders area if they were moved?). Area 51 were great, but caused terrible bottlenecks whenever they appeared. If they had an area to pose would be great. ( i was also very concerned to see them having to bend over double, due to low ceilings, to get to the press area to change (which was located UP SOME STAIRS!) )

[Drunk Writer]

To an extent I'd like to see more of the same really. A smattering of cult guests for signings, a legion of awesome writers and artists, and a broad range of panel topics. Paul Cornell must be given outrageous bribes in order to ensure he does his Just a Minute panel again, and Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood should be given free rein in the screening zone. No one but the Rankins should be let anywhere near the awards.

If anything, I'd suggest that the derailment debacle emphasised that the event doesn't necessarily NEED a packed rosta of stars for everyone to have an awesome time. With two Doctors, two Hollies, Gwen, Ace and Ycarnos this year, who needs Giles anyway?

I had a lovely time, and I can't ask for much more next year other than more of the same. As far as the programme's concerned anyway. The various ways in which the experience could be improved at the venue have been raked over a fair amount.

[Grumpy old git]

This was my first Weekender, but far from my first event (that honour goes to Star Trek convention "Sol III" Liverpool, 1989)

I would be very disappointed if only purchasers of VIP accomodation were able to receive autographs, as I live locally and don't have to drink, so don't need a room.
If autographs become a VIP-only perk then please sell VIP passes without accomodation!

Flipping the locations of the signings & bartertown may be a better way to go - a larger, better-lit & lockable room for the stallholders, nearer the bar for the guests.

Maps of the venue showing which room is which should accompany the schedule.

Live video feeds from Main Void into bartertown would be welcomed by stallholders who cannot leave their stock (this worked well at CultTV festivals for 13 years).
A saleable DVD of the event would also be a worthwhile souvenier for us.
These would, however, require engaging some AV people for the event (Volunteer groups are available).

[A.L.]

Again a lot I would suggest has already been mentioned.

However is it just me or did the last two years seem to be more varied in what was on offer than this year. No Anime or Games zone this year, mainly auther panels where last year there were film and prop people doing talks ?
I think maybe next year the above needs to be considered. Although the panels were generally excellent more variety on what they were about would be good.

My main point is kind of off topic in that it relates to Kids. I wonder if we started something last year with Baby Davros but there seemed to be a lot more kids around this year. Considering the event is held at a Holiday camp the facilities for kids were pretty much non existant (or closed). The weather really didn't help as it meant we couldn't use the outdoor play areas. I spoke to one of the Pontins staff and she said there was infact an indoor kids play area upstairs in the main building, but this was not accessable.
Would it be possible next year to have this room available to people with children? Asking a 2 year old to stay still for even a second isn't easy thus one of us was always having to attend to him. This would be fine if we had somewhere to take them but I found the only place he could safely be allowed to run around was if one of us followed him around and around the arcade. The main rooms were far to busy / packed and it was far to easy to lose kids if you let go of them.

I'm not sure of the best solution to this and I know its our descision to bring kids. However for families not bringing the kids would mean someone having to miss the event altogether (and thats not an argument I want to have with my wife )

Would love some feedback on this from the SFX team or CHIC ?

[Ghyste]

I know it's a longshot, but something really useful SFX/Chic could do next year would be to set up some sort of arrangement with a local supermarket so that we could order food, drink, toilet rolls etc in advance and have them delivered to the camp instead of everybody having to lug them halfway across the country.