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Post by Michael Bollow on Aug 2, 2011 8:34:28 GMT -5
Hey gang... let's re-start this discussion from facebook! Thank you!
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kearstin
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Post by kearstin on Aug 2, 2011 9:02:17 GMT -5
Let me just copy paste what I said: "1.) I loved the location. I love having it in the same building as the hotel rooms as we ALL con-goers know, cons always are about the after parties anyway. Plus, it was easier for me to get drunk LOL --- 2.) I love the Cantina bar, but I feel it wasn't a hit this year as it was last year because it was a smaller room. I think if it was out IN the ballroom, it would have been just as fun. Or in a bigger conference room. ----- 3.) I did not like the costume contest. (And not because I didn't win anything LOL) I honestly felt that it was too clumped into being a contest and a masquerade. Especially with how many categories there were. Plus, out of the three judges, I felt Thomas was the only one who SHOULD be a judge. Judges should not be entirely made of people who just wear a couple costumes, especially if they didn't make it themselves (I'm generally speaking here). I also felt that because I KNOW for a fact that not even HALF of the contestants make their costumes themselves, the contest should have at LEAST been separated by bought and made (Just like C2E2 did). Otherwise, the entire contest SHOULD be judged on construction. ----- 4.) I agree on the celebrities. I only knew GENUINELY three of them, and even then, Nicki Clyne was the only one where even SHE had been posting all over the place how excited she was to come. I feel since it's still a small convention, most of us all know each other at this one anyway so fk the celebs, let's party. 5.) ----- BETTER DJ. Although they were nice as pie, I felt like it was the Wedding Playlist almost the entire time. I had requested a handful of pop songs that are currently playing everywhere, top hits on iTunes, and the dudes had no idea what I was asking. Although I DID love the projector ----- 6.) Forget the vendors who were complaining the entire weekend. I feel that you are not expensive at all to have a booth, and if these guys hurt THAT much in their business for THREE days of no sale, then their business wasn't well in the first place. If you can't sell, then NETWORK. Networking in the long run can get you more than a few toys sold here and there. Aside from the economy, a lot of these vendors were just lumps of logs at their booths anyway. You want me to buy shit? Then convince me to buy shit. Don't just sit there and mope like you're having a terrible time because then that makes me not want to stay at your table. I think you need less toy vendors, more artists and craftsmen. I feel the convention should be the 'fan con by the fans', but it doesn't have a significant THEME yet. I vote labeling Cyphan a Sci-fi or a Horror con officially, but have a few extras here and there. It's not big enough yet to just be a convention and say "we have a lot of shit here" like Wizard and C2E2. You need to build up it's repore first!" And then that's when it all dominoed from there
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Post by jackkessler on Aug 2, 2011 10:03:00 GMT -5
Since we've got a forum to work with now, should we spread the discussion out a little? A thread for specific thoughts on hotel, vendors, cantina, clubs, film festival, etc? Leave this thread for general comments, but organize some new threads before we get to far?
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Post by Michael Bollow on Aug 2, 2011 10:19:57 GMT -5
Yes Jack, invite others and let's create individual topics to keep the info organized.
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Post by wiliqueen on Aug 2, 2011 17:00:00 GMT -5
Good call. There are a LOT of thoughts there that warrant more specific addressing. And it sounds like some of the "domino"-ing Kearstin mentioned would be useful to copy-paste into those threads, if the people who participated are willing.
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Post by Jessica Tschampa on Aug 2, 2011 21:45:09 GMT -5
I really enjoyed Cyphan, first time at this con, first sci-fi con ever, and first time vending at one to boot. I was with War Paint Artisans and I gotta admit the location kicked ass, the staff rocked, and the visitors were incredibly costumed and interested. Some things I felt were missing from this con was opening and closing ceremonies. Clearly there were some people that traveled a long way and were staying the whole weekend. Something I see done at other cons are opening ceremonies that first introduce the guests of honor, highlights to check out, and release the con goers to the great wilds of the con. Closing ceremonies are a great way to 1. keep con goers till the close of Sunday, 2. recap the best highlights of the con people costumed and doing awesome stuff (slide show of photos and video) 3. introduce improvements for next year and encourage others to join staff for next year. Sunday died fast and it seemed like other dealers couldn't leave fast enough. Closing ceremonies encourage folks to stay till the end hoping to see themselves in the closing ceremonies and hopefully keep them spending looking for Sunday deals. If you would like to encourage diversity in the dealers room, give hand crafters a $10 discount on tables, just a thought. Thanks everyone for dropping by our table and saying hi to Egypt! Hope you all drop by again and I can't wait to see you all next year. -Jess www.herpaintology.com
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kearstin
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Post by kearstin on Aug 3, 2011 9:09:09 GMT -5
^ That's a good idea on the opening and closing!
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Post by Sparrow of WPA on Aug 4, 2011 7:43:13 GMT -5
For Cyphan 3, try to get a listing of vendors up before the con so those curious know who to look for. Also a listing of dates and times for panels, we only found out on Friday and had wanted to schedule our shifts so we could attend the panels we wanted.
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Post by skyjammer on Aug 8, 2011 16:45:02 GMT -5
For Cyphan 3, try to get a listing of vendors up before the con so those curious know who to look for. Also a listing of dates and times for panels, we only found out on Friday and had wanted to schedule our shifts so we could attend the panels we wanted. I agree on this. I was hoping to see a list of dealers on the website, but all the website said was "The Dealer's Room is sold out!" That's nice, but if it's sold out, that means you know who is going to be there, so it would be nice to get that info out there. As for Cyphan in general, I think kearstin is right -- Cyphan needs a theme right now. Small cons need to have a laser-like focus, IMO. Cyphan can grow into something big, but right now, you should concentrate on making it spectacular in one or two niche areas. If it's going to be costuming, make it costuming. If it's going to be Science Fiction, make it Science Fiction. Having a bunch of different genres means each genre will be "watered down" because a small convention doesn't have the resources to make each area big. Once it builds up, you will have the ability to start expanding its coverage.
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kearstin
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Post by kearstin on Aug 8, 2011 16:45:19 GMT -5
The panels and schedules were up on the website, but I think you should post it differently. Most people are mobile these days, and opening a PDF to view the program wasn't so cool
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Post by Sparrow of WPA on Aug 8, 2011 18:14:00 GMT -5
It was? I tried to find it for days and couldn't!
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Post by schphgochi1 on Aug 10, 2011 4:51:04 GMT -5
I did find the list of panels and "happenings" and was glad to see it posted at the website.
I also did look for who was in the Dealers room...and was disappointed that I didn't see the names of the Dealers there..
The Dealers would have, I would guess, appreciated their names being on the website along with e-mail addresses or web sites in case you wanted to get in touch with them even after the con to purchase something you might have wanted but didn't have the $$ at the time.
I thought the two panels on costuming... the Pattern Drafting and working with spandex panels were AWESOME... and I think more panels on some of the nuts and bolts of costuming would be great.
I also feel that Cyphan is scheduled too close to Wizard World and for that matter.. too close to Dragon Con... I don't think I have to tell anyone how tight money is now... and I don't see that changing in the near future.
Until the economy picks up...trying to keep costs low will also (I think) help Cyphan's chances.
Costume contest: I think you do have to figure out if you want the contest to be "just for fun" .. or more serious-as in...did the person make their costume themselves... did the judges get a chance to look at the construction of the costume itself..
Where masquerades can be fun... from watching the Dragon Con masquerade for 3 years in a row...there are so many really BAD perfomances (almost painful) and look a the "pool" of "talent" at DC... so... at this time I don't think a masquerade at Cyphan would be a good idea. One thing is certain...the costume contest really "moved along" this year....lol..... The contest was more of a social event last year also because there were drinks available in the room and the tables were set up in a more "social" manner....
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River
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Post by River on Aug 10, 2011 5:11:26 GMT -5
I agree with some of the things stated in this thread.
from a dealer's POV. I enjoyed it, many new fans and people to chat with and talk to. As Kearstin stated above it was a FANTASTIC networking opportunity and done on such a wonderful local level.
But yes, there was the complaining. In-fact I beleive one vendor made a comlpete a$$ of himself by leaving halfwary through the morning on saturday. I sure hope you deny access to that guy.
I also concur about the cantina, it's great that it was in a room/area, but it was tucked away. I was thinking it was in the room where the Pyramid players were at.
One other thing, Signs. I think if we have signs about to direct people that would make it easier for people to know where they are going. I think i heard that it was difficult for Bollow to have signs.
I also agree with Phyllis. Perhaps having it too close to WW or D-Con wasn't intended, but it does make one consider which show they are going to. I remember talk with some congoers that Cyphan should be either an 'earlier' con or a 'later' con.
Back in my "Anime Con" days I would go to Neko Con. it was one of those 'early' cons that happened in Feb/March time frame. it was great and perfect for a start up con you had a great turnout of people coming, costumes, etc.
I can't really say I had a complaint, my partner and I were sat by two wonderful vendors, one of them being Ms. Sparrow, and we got to make some new fans. All in all, i call it a success.
I want to see Cyphan succeed. I'd like to think many of us who are posting here, are taking 'ownership' of the con making it their 'own' as Bollow had envisioned.
I hope there will be a Cyphan 3 my partner and I have already stated we'll be there!
-River
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Post by RFlatstone on Aug 12, 2011 10:00:27 GMT -5
I mentioned this in another thread, but I want to reinforce it here because others have mentioned it.
Cyphan’s appeal to me (and many others, form the look of this thread) is the local networking that it facilitates, benefits from and fosters. I coined the term Cypamily in another thread and I think that really fits. Cyphan, starting as it is in the age of social media, helps keep all of us who met at the con in communication on a daily basis throughout the year. However, you cannot minimize the value of the fact that so many are local and could actually hang out together outside of the con.
This is especially valuable with the local venders. I could not afford to make a few purchase from one vender, but his shop is in Elgin. I’m going there next week, and when I do, I’ll remind him that I got his card at Cyphan (though I’m sure he’ll remember me). That tells the vender that he got a new customer simply because he went to Cyphan.
Bottom line: I would encourage Cyphan to continue to leverage that Chicagoland, local con quality and fee. What does Cyphan mean, exactly? Chicago Science-Fiction and Fantasy Convention? Chicago Fan Convention? The branding is important, so this is not a rhetorical question.
Troy Pacelli
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Post by heatherdawson on Aug 12, 2011 13:08:56 GMT -5
Kearstin, I can address a few things with the costume contest. Thank you for the feedback. Things like this have a learning curve and we can't get better without help from our guests.
"I did not like the costume contest. (And not because I didn't win anything LOL) I honestly felt that it was too clumped into being a contest and a masquerade. Especially with how many categories there were."
I was trying to get away from the Masquerade concept, and I know we can do more and will try and do better next year. What would you like us to change to be less "Masquerade-y?" The Godzilla skit just sort of happened even to the surprise of the event staff. Although, I think there could be a place for skits and performances--not during the costume contest itself, but possibly in that downtime between the last person and the presentation of the awards. Yes, we did have a lot of awards. Cyphan has such a diverse market we are trying to attract we wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. We also wanted to try and "spread the wealth" since we know people work hard on their costumes and characterization. We are planning for next year to reevaluate the categories and try and consolidate and minimize the "categories of 1" that accidentally happened. Remember, we had a lot fewer of those than last year.
"Plus, out of the three judges, I felt Thomas was the only one who SHOULD be a judge. Judges should not be entirely made of people who just wear a couple costumes, especially if they didn't make it themselves (I'm generally speaking here)."
If we had an opportunity to do a judges introduction (already in the notes for next year) probably the method to my madness for the choice of judges would have made more sense. They were chosen because they each brought different strengths to the table: Valerie is an excellent seamstress whose strengths are patterning and sewing methods; Thomas is an expert in armor construction and fabrication techiques; Harrison was brought on board because of his extensive knowledge of pop culture, sci-fi, comics and video games to help give source context when needed. A costume may look great, but if it doesn't look right in context does that still deserve to win?
"I also felt that because I KNOW for a fact that not even HALF of the contestants make their costumes themselves, the contest should have at LEAST been separated by bought and made (Just like C2E2 did). Otherwise, the entire contest SHOULD be judged on construction."
This is something we kicked around in the planning process, but weren't sure how to do in an equitable way. I would really like to impliment this, please give me some direction on how C2E2 made it work.
Heather Dawson Cyphan Programming Director
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