|
Community Links |
Social Groups |
Pictures & Albums |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
08-20-2009, 07:24 PM | #1 |
Joecon Guru
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 2,431
|
Ok.. so here's the negative...
however, instead of bitching and moaning about the bad, I will also add a possible soultion for the problem (you should too) 1) The Parachute drop By now, everyone knows what happened. Usually, the club tries to get publicity for the con by getting news coverage for the parachute drop. this backfired in the worst way. First, it attracted way too much of the negative element of collecting, Scalpers and the ignorant. There were many people that didnt know a thing about G.I.Joe, and just thought of a good way to score free toys. What was worse, random children also arrived (someone brought a whole kindergarden class). Sadly, they wouldnt let voilenteers throw off the roof this year (due to hotel reasons) so most of the club staff were on the roof throwing. the end result was a Lot of adult douchbags snatching toys from kids, kids getting knocked down, and a lot of injured kids & pissed off parents, and the club getting a Lot of negative publicity. It pissed off not just the attendees, but the club staff as well (the cops prevented Lanny from "dealing" with one guy who had 4 figures in his hands,.. snatched from children) Suggestion: A lot of us Attendees have Security, Law enforcement, and Military experience. I personally was asking a way to help volunteer this year, and was told I wasn't needed.... and... YES I WAS! we could easily help with security for the con, especially with public situations. It isn't about getting free stuff, but I would gladly help for free to prevent children getting hurt by complete @$$holes. Solution: Staff or Volunteers throw the figures, Staff and volunteers cordon off the drop zone, NO CHILDREN IN THE DROP ZONE, staff and volunteers positioned throughout the crowd for "Quality Control" and if police are present, MAKE THEM DO THEIR JOBS!! I was appalled that the police were more concerned at us assaulting the scalpers, than all the Assaults on a Minor, Theft, and Child Endangerment that went on! 2) the Hotel not that it wasn't nice (Frisco's Hotel will always be the pinnacle of a perfect hotel) but the hotel and the surrounding area was a total tourist trap, completely overcharging for the slightest thing (3 bucks for a 20 oz. soda,.. are you serious!!!???) a tuna sandwich at 3 am cost me a whopping 11 bucks!!! add to that that there was nothing within walking distance that would feed you on the cheap (except Fritz), the nearest Mcdonalds was in a hospital lobby, and was 1.5 miles away! nearest Walgreens: 17 blocks!!!! nearest wal mart/ Target/toys r us? 2 towns over!!!!! I spent 26 bucks in the mall for a bowl of freaken soup for Petessake!!!! one thing we Joe fans are.. especially when spending hundreds of dollars on toys,.. is cheap with food. one of the reasons why I reconned the area when I got there early was to inform folks about the cheap food in the area (I hate choosing between a 2 dollar loose figure, and a 2 dollar hamburger. And it wasn't just food. My camera batteries died mid trip and I outright refused to pay NINE FREAKEN DOLLARS for 2 AA batteries! another issue is, A lot of us are night owls, there wasn't much to eat after 9pm in the area except for the hotel bar (which WASN'T kid friendly. and what wasn't known was 4 blocks in the wrong direction put you into a very unscrupulous neighborhood that wasn't too safe for tourists. Solution: Reconnoitering the surrounding area as well as the Joe location would be nice. this is where locals who live in the con area would be helpful to both attendees and the club. I am currently reconnoitering the Rhode Island spot, factoring in fast food, delivery spots, and department stores within reach. 3) Here a Click, there a Click as much camaraderie was at Joecon, some people are still bringing Board angst and haterade to Joecon. some people sneered when I said I was going to a party with Hisstank people, or made snide remarks about me being a Joecustoms member, several boards kept to themselves and didn't really mingle with others,.. and Johio people didn't show up at all... Believe me, the newbies noticed... One of the reasons I was so tired at the con was because I hung out with EVERYBODY!, I chit chatted with The Defenders of Bullet man, Cracked Jokes with the Joebattlelines crew, enjoyed Fritz and the Lanard warehouse with mixed groups of people, and drank with pretty much everyone! I even met a new fan who was primarily a Botcon attendee, and emailed me later when he gfot home saying hanging with me, and making Joecon welcome for him was one of the highlights of the con. It was sad to think that people wouldn't mingle because of a few douchbags online who really don't get what it means to be a Joe fan. Or worse, carry that Angst with them to Joecon and not even speak to people there (a simple "Hi" would have done it.) Quite franklly: ...I love my Joe family! I may dislike what some have done, do, and continue to do,.. but... I can forgive.... and that wont stop me from sitting at a table grabbing a beer with you... solution: ....I think this is one issue the hearts of the individual have to struggle with... 4) THE CON SET Contrary to popular belief, the set didn't suck. it was actually pretty good... I personally, however didn't like it for two reasons: a) O-RIng Hasbro themselves in the last Q & A stated that the club was the last source of O-ring figures, and we didn't get one this year. Even worse the news that we may be looking at the death of the o-ring within a few years... has some O-ring fans in a panic. Another issue is that there is usually a side project that will satisfy our O-ring fix, and we only got the club figure this year. b) Crimson Again? from most of us who do have faith and support the club...... we know you can do better. I personally look forward to the ingenious way you mix o-ring parts to remake an old fogure, and create brand new ones. the Nightstalkers was great!, The Joe S.W.A.T. team was Great! Coil figures was cool! New Iron Grenadiers was super! what we got were modified figures of stuff we JUST bought last year at retail. Plus, many of my friends who bought the set said there were several problems with the individual figures (Baroness was much more Bow-Legged than usual, Viper elbows were brittle) Solution: Although I understand we're looking at the death of o-ring, throw us a bone once in awhile! one example would be to market the DTC figures individually. 5) Customizing classes This isn't a crack on the customizing class.. but the LACK of classes during the con. Solution: You guys sometimes forget the Joe community is a talented lot, there are sculptors, teachers, professional graphic designers, and animators among us. Ask us would we like to teach a drawing class, or a sculpting class, or a quick class on painting, or writing fanfics... a lot of us would be willing to cdo it for cheap, hell , I'd teach a drawing class for free!!! 6) The Lines People spent HOURS in lines for registration, The Club Store, and for autographs (granted the autograph line wasn't the club's fault) just because we are used to it by now, doesn't make it any less tedious. What was worse there were a few disabled people in line this year, Im assuming it wasn't any more fun for them. Solution: Again, pool volunteers for the club. an incentive could be Registration volunteers could be first in line for signings or the club store. also, most of us volunteers are more savy about joe product than some of the staff, and can help speed up the Store process.
__________________
"I Couldn't help but notice your pain. It runs deep. SHARE IT WITH ME!" "Frack It!" |
08-20-2009, 07:29 PM | #2 |
Cobra Undertaker
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pottsville, PA
Posts: 1,700
|
I've been reading your tips and reviews...and studying them. Thank you for doing this...next years con may be my only chance of hitting one...and I've been taking notes from what you post.
Thanks again!!
__________________
COBRAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! My feedback thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...ght=apacolypse |
08-20-2009, 07:47 PM | #3 |
Joecon Guru
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 2,431
|
well, next year's COn is in Rhode Island (my neck of the woods)
I definetly recommend you go. DOn't let the negative prohibit you from going, there were definetly more good than bad.
__________________
"I Couldn't help but notice your pain. It runs deep. SHARE IT WITH ME!" "Frack It!" |
08-20-2009, 08:13 PM | #4 |
Mad Scientist at Large
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 14,793
|
RI is just barely in my reach. I hope this year I can scrounge enough scratch to go.
|
08-20-2009, 08:20 PM | #5 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 532
|
I will be at JoeCon2010
|
08-20-2009, 08:33 PM | #6 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 64
|
I concure, everything you said was SPOT ON!!! ... except the haterz, but that is only 'cause I'm relatively new to the cons (my 3rd) and don't know that many people. I've met cool people every year so far, lot of first timers this year and the people I have met have been awesome to me every year. I haven't seen the board angst but then again, i just don't care that much (or i just don't pay that much attention).
I'd love more customizing/painting/etc classes. See yas in April in RI. ~D |
08-20-2009, 08:41 PM | #7 |
yeah......
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,292
|
the only thing I'd argue w/ was the staff. it's always hit or miss w/ me. there are some great ones there (Brian is a very cool guy and always willing to talk) and there are some who don't have the best pr skills....but seeing as thats my only gripe, I'd say it was a good show...
|
08-20-2009, 08:44 PM | #8 |
Diabolik-Viper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: I'm a rocka! I'm a rolla! I'm the outta controlla!!!
Posts: 4,077
|
Kingofpain: Your number one complaint sounds pretty awful. Hopefully FunPub learned something.
|
08-20-2009, 08:49 PM | #9 |
yeah......
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,292
|
while there were a good amount of tools (God, I hoped the cop pepper sprayed the dudes in that tree), I wouldn't say it was as bad as KOP puts it.
|
08-20-2009, 08:50 PM | #10 |
Diabolik-Viper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: I'm a rocka! I'm a rolla! I'm the outta controlla!!!
Posts: 4,077
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Kingofpain's annual "What was great about Joecon" 09 | kingofpain26 | G.I. Joe Conventions and Get Togethers | 14 | 08-21-2009 12:03 AM |
What do you "EXPECT" from JOECON? | Golobulous | G.I. Joe Conventions and Get Togethers | 22 | 05-29-2008 01:17 AM |
Things that SUCKED about the 07 Joecon | kingofpain26 | G.I. Joe Conventions and Get Togethers | 49 | 10-08-2007 05:08 PM |
|
|
Recent Off Topic Threads |
4" Fortnite from Jazwares |
Hisstank Late Night thread... |
1:18 Airwolf kickstarter |
Last Movie You Watched? |
DarkLordMordred... |