[ST] Fwd: GOH ( was Flyers @ ReaderCon?)

Mon Jul 2 21:56:39 EDT 2007

Hi Mary,

I certainly had no intention to hurt or accuse you of anything!  Ghods, no.

I have been, personally, to only two conventions which I believe were
celebrity-based.  They were in small hotels, didn¹t have 10,000 people, but
they were full and there were crowds.  All anyone I ran into there was
talking about (and these are random people in the hallways) were the
celebrities, the lines, and there was SRO at the events.  I didn¹t go back.

The only people selling anything at Arisia (that we know about) are the
dealers in the Dealers¹ Room and Dealers¹ Row, the artists showing in the
Art Show, and ... no one else.

The Guest Artist is generally given a lot of space in our Art Show.  They
also have done artwork, at no charge, for the convention in the form of
badge art, souvenir book cover, t-shirt art, that sort of thing.  We don¹t
pay them for that.

The other Guests simply get some food, adequate transportation, a place to
sleep, and to be on panels and give speeches.

No, we would not provide business or first class airfare for our guests.

We do provide them a sleeping room in the hotel  just like everyone else¹s.
At Worldcon the Guests are given suites.  Sometimes there¹s a per diem of
the amount of money it¹s likely they would need to feed themselves a couple
of times, a small amount.  The convention takes guests out to dinner and/or
allows them to use the Staff Den as well as the Program Green Room.  They
are on the Program, so they would have used the Green Room anyway.

I don¹t think that Arisia has ever had a celebrity headliner Guest.  I¹m too
lazy to check at the moment (really, I just got back from a community
theater BoD meeting and I¹m tired).  I honestly believe that if we wanted to
do that it would need to be discussed with the corporate membership and/or
Exec Board as it would differ so dramatically from history.

Anyway, I answered as soon as I could because I AM VERY SORRY if I offended
you.  I was trying to be thorough and slightly amusing.  It¹s obviously not
been a good day.

Best,

Jill

On 7/2/07 7:40 PM, "SciFiFanBoston at aol.com" <SciFiFanBoston at aol.com> wrote:

>     OK, I know you don't mean to sound mean with any of your comments.  I
> also, am not trying to push anything onto Arisia that isn't Arisia-ish...
> frankly I come to Arisia for the fans and friends... couldn't care LESS about
> the authors and artist GoHs...  But I was asking a simple question for
> clarification, and feel a bit...  well.... "accused" if you will.  So, just to
> get back on track, and to take words back into my mouth::
>  
>     I did NOT say we should invite George or Bill to be guests at Arisia.  I
> was just giving an example of how this is perceived, by me, and perhaps
> others, when a guest spreads herself too thinly.
>  
>     I specifically named FarPoint and Shore Leave because they are both
> not-for-profit fan run conventions where the celebrities get paid only in
> room, board, transportation, and sales.  If I'm not mistaken that's the same
> thing as Arisia.  Though here I'm assuming that our authors and artists are
> selling their books or art, while the actors are selling their autographs and
> photographs.  
>  
>     FarPoint, United Fan Con, and Shore Leave have many opportunities for fans
> to just hang with the actors, around sales tables, at dances, dinners,
> coffee-klatches, panels, etc.  Many have a misconception of how fan-run actor
> cons work, i.e. that the only time you see the celeb is when you're herded
> through an autograph line and on the stage at a talk or Q&A session.  Sure,
> that's one of the things that's done at a couple of conventions, but it's not
> all of them.  If you've only ever attended a for-profit Creation Convention or
> a Slanted Fedora Con...  well, that's what they do, but it's NOT the way
> fan-run conventions do it.
>  
>     I haven't seen a crowd of more than 500 to 2000 at any celeb-ish
> convention in about 7 years now, so I don't see the "crowds" thing being an
> issue for any group at this time.  10,000 screaming fans... hmm... only one
> who'd attract that many in this day and age is Orlando Bloom... well, and
> Johnny Depp, and they don't have time to do conventions.  I can only imagine
> one or two authors within that realm too, and we don't invite them either!
> AnimeBoston attracted about 10,000 fans this year... but I don't think any of
> them screamed at anything except other fans for doing great work at the
> costume competition.
>  
>     The only time I've seen additional charges for seeing a "headliner" is the
> way that UFC funds their flights for big celebs.  Then there is an additional
> charge to be seated... but usually it's offered with a benefit like autograph
> or photo session or dinner, or all of those things together.  And frankly,
> they don''t even have to even do that if the celeb can fly business class.
> But there are some, too recognizable, celebs who have to fly first class.
> Isn't that what Arisia would do for a recognizable author or artist too?
>  
> -Mary
>  
>  
>  
>  
> In a message dated 7/2/2007 12:13:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> jill at pothole.com writes:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Again, I think that the difference here is  both in expectations of the
>> convention and of the people we are generally  having join our convention.
>> 
>> I might go to a convention with Mr. Takai  and/or Mr. Shatner at it, but I
>> would tend to avoid them completely.  Too  many crowds!  I might go to
>> something they were doing, a speech, but  would never go to get their
>> autograph.  And, I wouldn¹t stay at said  speech unless there were sufficient
>> seating, no additional charge, and they  were saying something interesting.
>> 
>> I have close friends who go to  conventions to see celebrities, get their
>> picture taken with those  celebrities, and bring a stack of books, posters,
>> etc for  autographs.
>> 
>> Arisia has been a convention where any fan can expect to be  in a room with
>> the Guests and have a fair shot at talking to them.  They  are unlikely to
>> want a picture with them  some do.  They may bring a few  books for
>> autographs, but generally have the expectation that the author will  sign
>> their entire library.
>> 
>> I see nothing at all wrong with Arisia¹s GoH  being at any other convention,
>> even one a week before or a week after ours,  within driving distance.  That
>> actually adds to their attraction for me  as it means they are closer to the
>> fans.  I don¹t feel that we are  competing for the fannish dollar and that
>> people will only come to our  convention to see someone famous.
>> 
>> I believe that Arisia is trying its  best to give the fannish community a
>> full weekend of interesting and fun  experiences from which to pick and
>> choose.  We are there to provide a  venue for people to see each other, learn
>> new things, and have a good  time.
>> 
>> I would never invite George Takai or William Shatner to be a  Guest at
>> Arisia.  I might invite one of the writers from Star Trek, one  of the
>> artists, a director or producer.  But, I would expect that if by  chance one
>> of the celebrities came to Arisia on their own that they would be  there as a
>> fan of SF and F, and not to be more adored by their  public.
>> 
>> That doesn¹t, by the way, guarantee that I will only invite  writers and
>> cover artists to be my Guests in 2009.  I¹m open to  suggestions  but not
>> celebrities who I would expect to attract 10,000  screaming fans.
>> 
>> Hope this helps.
>> 
>> Jill
>> 
>> 
>> On 7/2/07 11:56  AM, "SciFiFanBoston at aol.com" <SciFiFanBoston at aol.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>  
>>> Well, even so.   For example, say that George Takai is a GOH for Shore
>>> Leave, and then  he goes and signs on to be on the same guest list as
>>> William Shatner at  FarPoint.  (*Both just north of Baltimore Maryland,
>>> about 6 months  apart.)  He may not be the GOH at FarPoint but he will
>>> attract certain  membership at a very similar convention within months of
>>> the convention he's  also expected to attract membership to.  (* yeah, I
>>> know that's bad  grammar... it's Monday... phhtth.)
>>>  
>>> It just makes me kind  of feel like Ms. Gilman thinks less of Arisia than
>>> she should.  Or that  Arisia didn't make it clear that she's our main
>>> "headliner".   -Mary
> 
> 
> 
> 
> See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> .
> 

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