Years and years ago I remember sitting in on a panel where the staff from several furry cons discussed running cons in a very general sense. One big problem with telling someone else how it's done is that there are a lot of factors that vary according to location. What sort of business, charity or organization do you set yourself up as for tax purposes? Does this limit the services you can provide? What kinds of federal, state and municipal laws come into play?
Does your hotel insist on a particular kind of insurance? How well can you accurately predict attendance in advance, so you won't have to pay gigantic hotel fines if you fail to fill up your agreed-upon room block? Are there unions? Do your dealers need to apply for their own tax or business licenses? Can electricity be provided to individual dealer's tables? Can food be served at con events, or does the hotel arrange that? Can credit or debit cards be used at registration?
Then a lot of factors within the hotel are affected by the size of the convention you're running, your staffing needs, what equipment is available to you, and how well you're socially networked. Some areas have more con activity than others (SF, anime, etc.) and there might be a local network of people that share resources and volunteer staff. Panels and lighting for hanging artwork. Stage lighting, speakers, video projectors, microphones (cordless or corded), control boards, dance lighting, computer facilities. How many people do you need for con security and ops, and what are their communication needs (walkie-talkies, etc.)? Con staff need shirts or uniforms, and body shapes can vary a lot. Who's in charge of signage, programming needs, scheduling, the con book? What guests of honor can you afford, and what perks can you offer?
It's... complicated. Furry cons come and go, for all sorts of reasons, and usually several reasons at once. "Why didn't they... If they'd only run things differently..." statements can be thrown around forever. On the one hand it can be an educational warning about con organization, but more often turns into drama and a blame game. I don't know Belic well, but I do know he's a very compassionate human being who really feels his emotions quite strongly. To stop running Furfright, either something very personally difficult must have happened, or a final straw may have broken the camel's back. In any case, he's also got a right to privacy about things going on in his life. On the down side of this, if someone else wants to pick up the Furfright ball, they can't sit around twiddling their fingers. Or Furfright may simply have to be no more. Furry cons are a privilege, not a right.
Belic, I hope you're ok. Take the time you need. If there's anyone who can help take the weight off your shoulders, let them know. You didn't run Furfright alone. You're not alone now.
Years and years ago I remember sitting in on a panel where the staff from several furry cons discussed running cons in a very general sense. One big problem with telling someone else how it's done is that there are a lot of factors that vary according to location. What sort of business, charity or organization do you set yourself up as for tax purposes? Does this limit the services you can provide? What kinds of federal, state and municipal laws come into play?
Does your hotel insist on a particular kind of insurance? How well can you accurately predict attendance in advance, so you won't have to pay gigantic hotel fines if you fail to fill up your agreed-upon room block? Are there unions? Do your dealers need to apply for their own tax or business licenses? Can electricity be provided to individual dealer's tables? Can food be served at con events, or does the hotel arrange that? Can credit or debit cards be used at registration?
Then a lot of factors within the hotel are affected by the size of the convention you're running, your staffing needs, what equipment is available to you, and how well you're socially networked. Some areas have more con activity than others (SF, anime, etc.) and there might be a local network of people that share resources and volunteer staff. Panels and lighting for hanging artwork. Stage lighting, speakers, video projectors, microphones (cordless or corded), control boards, dance lighting, computer facilities. How many people do you need for con security and ops, and what are their communication needs (walkie-talkies, etc.)? Con staff need shirts or uniforms, and body shapes can vary a lot. Who's in charge of signage, programming needs, scheduling, the con book? What guests of honor can you afford, and what perks can you offer?
It's... complicated. Furry cons come and go, for all sorts of reasons, and usually several reasons at once. "Why didn't they... If they'd only run things differently..." statements can be thrown around forever. On the one hand it can be an educational warning about con organization, but more often turns into drama and a blame game. I don't know Belic well, but I do know he's a very compassionate human being who really feels his emotions quite strongly. To stop running Furfright, either something very personally difficult must have happened, or a final straw may have broken the camel's back. In any case, he's also got a right to privacy about things going on in his life. On the down side of this, if someone else wants to pick up the Furfright ball, they can't sit around twiddling their fingers. Or Furfright may simply have to be no more. Furry cons are a privilege, not a right.
Belic, I hope you're ok. Take the time you need. If there's anyone who can help take the weight off your shoulders, let them know. You didn't run Furfright alone. You're not alone now.