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Orbital con report
I don't think I'll ever be able to write a full report as it was such a large and amazing weekend, but here's a few of my personal highlights:
Half way down a long line stripping the willow on the Friday night ceilidh, I suddenly realized that I felt happy. Not just any kind of happy, but the kind that comes with feeling completely stress-free and relaxed and knowing that life is really good.
Walking round the convention and feeling the buzz - people were relaxing and enjoying themselves (buying extra comfy chairs and sofas was probably the best decision we ever made as a committee)
Passing![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
waveney dressed as an orangutan and collecting masses of money for 'Match it for Pratchett'.
Seeing all the volunteers standing up in the closing ceremony. There were masses of them and I hope it helped everyone realise how much work goes into a convention and how much the committee appreciate them all.
It was a joy to realise how many of our volunteers were first-timers. First time at a convention and they offer to help - and still want to come to the next one!
Hugging all the guests after the closing ceremony. (I never did get around to getting any autographs)
Having a truly amazing number of people come up to me and tell me they were having a great time.
Realising that the hotel staff were on our side and wanted to help us have a great event (they did their best on the temperature, but were fighting a crappy air conditioning system). It was so much better than working at the Hinkley Island for the last Redemption - there, we felt the hotel staff were really interested in looking after the business meet that was in the rooms we were not using.
Meeting so many friends old and new.
Tommy, the night security man from The Corps who turned up several hours early every night, and managed to be both very professional and very relaxed with the fans at the same time.
Doing my poi routine in the cabaret and getting a massive round of applause and lots of positive feedback afterwards (and no tangled strings or poi flying off - both of which had happened when I was practising only a few minutes earlier!)
Seeing the team cope with many problems and potential disasters and fielding them before they became major problems.
Feeding chocolate to random gophers because they deserved it.
Watching the tech crew letting down their hair and playing manic air guitar in the disco after doing some incredibly long shifts.
Finding time to go round the art show and enjoying some great pictures.
Listening to Neil Gaiman reading a short story.
The expression oncobrabay's face when he realised he'd won the Doc Weir award. (which he richly deserved)
The expression onfrandowdsofa's face when I invited her and John, on behalf of the Odyssey committee, to be our fan guests of honour.
Tying uptanngrisnirin the bondage workshop.
Eating late night bacon baps.
Seeing snow fall behind palm trees in the Newbury room.
Dropping in the childcare room and seeing quiet clusters of children contentedly playing with everything from play doh to a mini ice hockey game. the creche was run by Rainbow and I'd be happy to recommend them to any other event in the London area.
Laughing at Mitch Benn.
Listening to 'Will ye come back home" in the cabaret (It almost had me in tears)
Seeing Gavin's 'Generic elf number 5' in the masquerade. Hysterically funny - he had exactly the right kind of long fair hair to do generic elf poses. It was a chaos costume by a teenager and it won first prize overall - and he didn't win it because of his age, but because his performance (and the costume) were brilliant. (I think he was almost embarrassed to discover he'd won)
Being on the winning team for the crisis management workshop. Our team were organised, efficient and calm as we organised the MOD response to a dalek and cyberman invasion of London. I really cannot praise the team too highly. I could give my radio operator a generic order and know that he would carry it out in detail. The people on the boards were updating information from both myself and my deputy so that we had only to glance at the board to take the situation in rather than needed to take up time discussing it. My deputy evacuated civilians and I organised the military.
Having a con breakfast with both lots of fresh fruit and scrambled eggs made from fresh eggs rather than powder.
Meeting with the committee for an hour every day at lunch time to relax and eat and update one another on the situation. (That's something I intend to do in future cons as it proved very useful in giving everyone a break. The only change I will make is to ensure that everyone, including myself, has their radio switched off. People can find us if there is a real crisis, but radio makes it too easy.)
Having my voice! This was an unexpected bonus. I'd been fully prepared to be voiceless for the entire convention. In fact, it only started to go on Monday evening - I was able to say all the 'Thank You's in the closing ceremony - and that meant a lot to me.
Thank you to the committee - you were amazing. Thanks you to the heads of departments who achieved miracles. Thanks to all those who helped, whether it was just for a few minutes clearing chairs or for many hours a day.
Half way down a long line stripping the willow on the Friday night ceilidh, I suddenly realized that I felt happy. Not just any kind of happy, but the kind that comes with feeling completely stress-free and relaxed and knowing that life is really good.
Walking round the convention and feeling the buzz - people were relaxing and enjoying themselves (buying extra comfy chairs and sofas was probably the best decision we ever made as a committee)
Passing
waveney dressed as an orangutan and collecting masses of money for 'Match it for Pratchett'.Seeing all the volunteers standing up in the closing ceremony. There were masses of them and I hope it helped everyone realise how much work goes into a convention and how much the committee appreciate them all.
It was a joy to realise how many of our volunteers were first-timers. First time at a convention and they offer to help - and still want to come to the next one!
Hugging all the guests after the closing ceremony. (I never did get around to getting any autographs)
Having a truly amazing number of people come up to me and tell me they were having a great time.
Realising that the hotel staff were on our side and wanted to help us have a great event (they did their best on the temperature, but were fighting a crappy air conditioning system). It was so much better than working at the Hinkley Island for the last Redemption - there, we felt the hotel staff were really interested in looking after the business meet that was in the rooms we were not using.
Meeting so many friends old and new.
Tommy, the night security man from The Corps who turned up several hours early every night, and managed to be both very professional and very relaxed with the fans at the same time.
Doing my poi routine in the cabaret and getting a massive round of applause and lots of positive feedback afterwards (and no tangled strings or poi flying off - both of which had happened when I was practising only a few minutes earlier!)
Seeing the team cope with many problems and potential disasters and fielding them before they became major problems.
Feeding chocolate to random gophers because they deserved it.
Watching the tech crew letting down their hair and playing manic air guitar in the disco after doing some incredibly long shifts.
Finding time to go round the art show and enjoying some great pictures.
Listening to Neil Gaiman reading a short story.
The expression on
cobrabay's face when he realised he'd won the Doc Weir award. (which he richly deserved)The expression on
frandowdsofa's face when I invited her and John, on behalf of the Odyssey committee, to be our fan guests of honour.Tying up
tanngrisnirin the bondage workshop.Eating late night bacon baps.
Seeing snow fall behind palm trees in the Newbury room.
Dropping in the childcare room and seeing quiet clusters of children contentedly playing with everything from play doh to a mini ice hockey game. the creche was run by Rainbow and I'd be happy to recommend them to any other event in the London area.
Laughing at Mitch Benn.
Listening to 'Will ye come back home" in the cabaret (It almost had me in tears)
Seeing Gavin's 'Generic elf number 5' in the masquerade. Hysterically funny - he had exactly the right kind of long fair hair to do generic elf poses. It was a chaos costume by a teenager and it won first prize overall - and he didn't win it because of his age, but because his performance (and the costume) were brilliant. (I think he was almost embarrassed to discover he'd won)
Being on the winning team for the crisis management workshop. Our team were organised, efficient and calm as we organised the MOD response to a dalek and cyberman invasion of London. I really cannot praise the team too highly. I could give my radio operator a generic order and know that he would carry it out in detail. The people on the boards were updating information from both myself and my deputy so that we had only to glance at the board to take the situation in rather than needed to take up time discussing it. My deputy evacuated civilians and I organised the military.
Having a con breakfast with both lots of fresh fruit and scrambled eggs made from fresh eggs rather than powder.
Meeting with the committee for an hour every day at lunch time to relax and eat and update one another on the situation. (That's something I intend to do in future cons as it proved very useful in giving everyone a break. The only change I will make is to ensure that everyone, including myself, has their radio switched off. People can find us if there is a real crisis, but radio makes it too easy.)
Having my voice! This was an unexpected bonus. I'd been fully prepared to be voiceless for the entire convention. In fact, it only started to go on Monday evening - I was able to say all the 'Thank You's in the closing ceremony - and that meant a lot to me.
Thank you to the committee - you were amazing. Thanks you to the heads of departments who achieved miracles. Thanks to all those who helped, whether it was just for a few minutes clearing chairs or for many hours a day.
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Which organ, specifically?
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My only regret is that I never once got to sing. All my own stupid fault as there were plenty of planned and unplanned opportunities.
You did good.
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And I'm sure I've said this elsewhere, but it can't be repeated enough - thanks to you and the committee and the volunteers for making it such a pleasant experience - my first EasterCon but definitely not my last.
David.
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We're going to have fun at Redemption.
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Why not put a link to the photos in the Orbital LJ?
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Danny listened to our feedback. Next day, our vegans were being offered food with protein in it. (I think one of my vegan friends actually had a nicer meal than I did - his ratatouille with kidney beans looked delicious)
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We had so much fun in the corridor waiting to go on stage thinking up different poses for him. I'm glad he won, as it was a great costume.
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Spoilsport.
<< waveney dressed as an orangutan >>
Bless! All he needs to do is just take his specs off :D
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Watching you do the poi in the cabaret was definitely one of the high points for me. You picked an excellent song, the poi flew beautifully and you made the audience gasp at several points, the ribbons looked wonderful, and furthermore, as a performer, you looked like you were having fun too, which definitely adds to the audience's enjoyment too. I know it added to mine.
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Thank you for a wonderful convention.
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I'm gutted to have missed your poi, but I did get a laugh out of the moment when one went flying while you were practising - it was hilarious to see every head in the atrium snap round at once.
Now: relax!
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Drat, I missed that (had to set off at 3pm). I'm new to this business, but there was a great spirit amongst all the staff and gophers I met and I'm really happy to have played a part. Thanks once again for making my first con an absolute blast :-)
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As others have said, it was a pleasure to see you enjoying yourself. It seems a little unnatural for the chair to be enjoying the convention, but it was good to see, nevertheless ;)
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That is a marvellous feeling, isn't it? Pretty much how I felt this weekend, too. :)
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Thank-you to everyone who helped make it happen.
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Thank you to you and everyone involved!
(PS I've only been going to Eastercons since 1982, and in that time I have missed two... :D)
(I'm sorry, small hi-jack)
(Anonymous) 2008-03-29 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)Hope to see you again sometime!
xxx Pia aka Nukapai
http://nukapai.typepad.com
So long and thank you for the con!
(Anonymous) 2008-03-29 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)On the strength of this, you have now also completely sold the concept of Eastercons to my newly minted husband (who had never been to a con before, but is a huge fan of related genres).
xxx Pia aka Nukapai
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