75 replies to this topic

[fanggirl]

I had my seat nicked too.
Oh well! I'll be gaffataping a giant teddy to it next year or something. Maybe dress it up as Vampire Eddie with a bottle of True Blood

[CosmicAvatar]

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

[fanggirl]

CosmicAvatar, on Aug 13 2010, 02:16 PM, said:

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

technically you could have a seat per ticket no, but it would mean that you may not to get to sit with your friends if you booked at different times.. so not sure it would work.

[Too Tall]

We've looked a all the different systems and decided that loading the hall in ticket number was a best for us.

People SHOULD NOT take other people's seats. Maybe we need to make this more obviously at the start of the talks.

Also maybe give out post-its so people can put their Name, ticket number and maybe ROW number on it. That way they can leave the post-it note on the seat when they want to leave.

[bezzo]

Maybe you could just physically attach ticket numbers to the chairs?

[Too Tall]

bezzo, on Aug 13 2010, 03:22 PM, said:

Maybe you could just physically attach ticket numbers to the chairs?

This is one of the systems we dismissed because as has been said, it then means that people HAVE to sit in that seat and if they didn't book at the same time as friends it means they can't ever sit next to each other.

The other issue with that is you have no idea how long it would take to "attach" ticket numbers to the seats. At an event like ET4 with over 1000 seats it takes 30 minutes plus just to get the seats out, if we start attaching numbers that time would triple at least.

Edited by Too Tall, 13 August 2010 - 02:32 PM.

[Rhianydd]

the only problem with anything fixed to chairs is the sheer number of times that the chairs are laid out then stacked back up again, you would be either removing and re-tieing then all, or searching through hundreds of chairs trying to find specific numbers  

[LisaMarie]

Just stating the rules of keeping your chair at the beginning of the talks seems a good idea to me. I'm aware that there are notices around saying the rules but maybe not everyone sees these. :)

Would just help clarify this for others.

Also the post-it notes are a good idea :)

[Blackviolett]

My partner just made a good point. If someone is there on their own and needs to leave their seat for the toilet why should someone come along and be allowed to take that seat over. Thats like someone sitting in your seat at the cinema, you just wouldnt have it would you lol. I think to leave something like a cardi on the chair is acceptable. People who steal seats are just mean, theres plenty of room for everyone in the talks and to be honest, even at the back, you can hear whats going on and with a nice zoom camera its not bad for shots either. :)  I hope it gets sorted for next year :)

[Charmer]

I don't see anything wrong with leaving a bag or coat on a chair as that's what I do myself if I need to pop to the loo or something. However, if you leave your seat with nothing by it then I don't think you can have a go at anyone in it when you come back unless you've asked anoher person sitting near by to keep it for you or something.
Peronsally I always ask people if empty seats are actually free before I sit in them and that should really go for everyone.

[Arcane]

All in all, a great con (one of the best I've ever been to - ME takes both 1st & 2nd places!)   . Just a couple of small niggles:

One was the volume of the music at the parties, partcularly the first night. Not trying to be an old fogie, but it was so loud at times I was yelling in the ear of the person next to me to make myself heard (still have the sore throat!) and having a proper conversation was like Chinese whispers! Striking up a conversation with someone you didn't already know was all but impossible. As a result, I spent much less time in the party area (as opposed to the bar area) than I otherwise would have. Congrats to whoever designed the themes though - really excellent work. And having the pole-dancers was just inspired!

I agree completely about the cheesy music on the Sat night. I started as I was just warmed up (and alcoholically refreshed!) enough to want to dance, but all the good music that had been on to begin with was over. We hung around for a while to see if there would be a change back again, but got bored waiting and went to bed instead.

The DJ seems like a nice enough lad, but toning it down a bit from 'hyper' would be better I think. I also don't think the 'game' on the Sat night went down well in all quarters. I think True Blood fans have a higher IQ than that generally!

The hotel layout was really good, and the staff very nice, but I found it very frustrating that the simple request for a couple of extra pillows (since the ones we had were wafer thin) was impossible to fulfill - what kind of hotel doesn't keep extra pillows?? A big thanks to the guy the front desk sent up the hoover up the wasps that invaded my room in the wee small hours of Mon morning though!

Having the schedules posted on the wall was great - really useful. And I can't say enough good things about the ME staff, who were always friendly and helpful, and put up with an endless stream of silly questions from me (particularly Ian - sorry, the curse of being a familiar face!).There was the odd occasion when I couldn't find any staff at all though, and I was a bit surprised that there was no one on the door checking tickets for the parties. I don't think there were any gatecrashers, but still...

But as I said, small niggles. I love the ME way of doing things, and look forward to coming to many more of your cons in future! Really, really hoping that things work out and I can come to Bitten 2 next year: it's at the top of my 'wish list' of cons for 2011  

Edited by Arcane, 13 August 2010 - 06:03 PM.

[Rogue26]

Charmer, on Aug 13 2010, 04:49 PM, said:

I don't see anything wrong with leaving a bag or coat on a chair as that's what I do myself if I need to pop to the loo or something. However, if you leave your seat with nothing by it then I don't think you can have a go at anyone in it when you come back unless you've asked anoher person sitting near by to keep it for you or something.
Peronsally I always ask people if empty seats are actually free before I sit in them and that should really go for everyone.

Or you could always decorate your chair!! Make it a competition!!!

[~nickichicken~]

DavidB, on Aug 13 2010, 08:58 AM, said:

I'm just imagining you half-drunk still, trying to spell your name on a tissue

Queen_Sindel, on Aug 13 2010, 09:56 AM, said:

A clever attendees prepares those in advance.  

I did it with one eye shut, concentrating reeeeeeeally hard, with my tongue stuck out and my face scrunched up - it seemed to do the trick......

although it might have said complete gobbledeegook for all i know to be fair!!!

[LucyC]

CosmicAvatar, on Aug 13 2010, 02:16 PM, said:

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

Yes we weren't going to let them get away with that! The cheeky beggars are going to the next one too, so I think I'll put something on my chair that they can't miss - like a blow up doll or something! I hope they've learned to smile before next August too  

[Rogue26]

LucyC, on Aug 13 2010, 09:17 PM, said:

CosmicAvatar, on Aug 13 2010, 02:16 PM, said:

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

Yes we weren't going to let them get away with that! The cheeky beggars are going to the next one too, so I think I'll put something on my chair that they can't miss - like a blow up doll or something! I hope they've learned to smile before next August too  

I want to know who they are now!!! lol. I didn't nick anyones seat so I know it wasn't me.

[clarabell]

Surely if there's nothing left on the seat as advised by the organisers then that seat is anyones????

I don't quite understand why you'd leave nothing there, it's like marking your territory, a cardi, jacket, empty bag, note anything really that tells that you're coming back!!!

[LucyC]

Rogue26, on Aug 13 2010, 10:27 PM, said:

LucyC, on Aug 13 2010, 09:17 PM, said:

CosmicAvatar, on Aug 13 2010, 02:16 PM, said:

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

Yes we weren't going to let them get away with that! The cheeky beggars are going to the next one too, so I think I'll put something on my chair that they can't miss - like a blow up doll or something! I hope they've learned to smile before next August too  

I want to know who they are now!!! lol. I didn't nick anyones seat so I know it wasn't me.

If you go next year - I'll point them out!  

[Rogue26]

LucyC, on Aug 14 2010, 09:06 AM, said:

Rogue26, on Aug 13 2010, 10:27 PM, said:

LucyC, on Aug 13 2010, 09:17 PM, said:

CosmicAvatar, on Aug 13 2010, 02:16 PM, said:

Yeah, my friends in the row behind me got up and left their seats and two girls behind them had leaned forward and plonked their bags onto my friends' places.  Fortunately my friends had come round to the front to talk to us in front and saw the whole thing.  They quickly reclaimed their seats by putting the bags back whence they'd come, but got some filthy looks.  (Mind you, the girls in question were walking around looking po-faced every time we saw them, so that was nothing new. )  Their attitude was completely unjustified, the cheeky beggars, as the rules of seat-owning have been made clear in several instances.

It's a shame those who insinuated themselves into others' seats and refused to move couldn't be evicted.  I can see how it might be difficult to enforce, though.

Yes we weren't going to let them get away with that! The cheeky beggars are going to the next one too, so I think I'll put something on my chair that they can't miss - like a blow up doll or something! I hope they've learned to smile before next August too  

I want to know who they are now!!! lol. I didn't nick anyones seat so I know it wasn't me.

If you go next year - I'll point them out!  

LOL I'll be there next year.  My hair might be a totally different colour but I will be there.  I'll come looking for ya!

[Blackviolett]

I totally didnt take anyones chair either lol. If I had I would have moved when told. I hate that, its so unfair

[fanggirl]

The problem is, if you've popped out to check on guest encounter results/loo/come in late etc by the time you get to your seat the talk has started and it's not appropriate to be asking people to get out of your seat.