Feedback for 2011

[MommaMonMon]

Another thing that might be nice is setting a cap on how many times you can win with the raffle. I won two things this year and told Kim to draw again on the second because I wanted someone else to get a chance to win. Winning >10% of the prizes just seems wrong, and it almost seems like there should be a rule against it.

There was a limit set on lots you could win .... it was two XD. I think you giving your 2nd lot away was fantastic but according to the rules you could have kept it.

[Knowltey]

There was a limit set on lots you could win .... it was two XD.

There was also a limit set on grilled cheese you could eat .... it was zero :(

Big things I saw and I know the reasons behind these already, but going throw them into the hat still anyways, but bigger Dealer's Room, Getting the old "Mock Combat/Rave/Bellydancing" room back, the one in the back hall where gaming/tabletop has historically been located.

Some things I think went well though and this is feedback to attendees specifically was in regards to the wedding. I didn't see any griefing or intentional bothering of the wedding that was occuring Satuday night and I was badging Team 4 Star's panel across the way for a good portion of it. In past years I've seen cosplayers just standing around near the wedding hoping to get reactions from people and I'm glad we didn't do that this year from what I've seen (or at least not anywhere near the same level).

Oh and the grilled cheese should definitely be invited as a guest of honor. We don't even have to worry about a return plane ticket for him it's a win-win!

[Drazz]

There was also a limit set on grilled cheese you could eat .... it was zero :(

Big things I saw and I know the reasons behind these already, but going throw them into the hat still anyways, but bigger Dealer's Room, Getting the old "Mock Combat/Rave/Bellydancing" room back, the one in the back hall where gaming/tabletop has historically been located.

Some things I think went well though and this is feedback to attendees specifically was in regards to the wedding. I didn't see any griefing or intentional bothering of the wedding that was occuring Satuday night and I was badging Team 4 Star's panel across the way for a good portion of it. In past years I've seen cosplayers just standing around near the wedding hoping to get reactions from people and I'm glad we didn't do that this year from what I've seen (or at least not anywhere near the same level).

Oh and the grilled cheese should definitely be invited as a guest of honor. We don't even have to worry about a return plane ticket for him it's a win-win!

The room you speak of is across the hall from the table top gaming room.  that was unavailable for this year due to the weddings.

[JoKeR]

If I can count (which is rare, teehee) this was my 5th Sogen con, and many of my friends of years past could not attend because of the registration issue as well as fundraising. Obviously, this problem should be attended to already.

The only thing I could really express concern for was panels. I'm not usually one for panels, but with the lack of dealers in the room; I wanted to try going to a few. I know the con can't do much about panels when members decide what to host, but if it wasn't about ponies, it was 18+ panels (I am 18, my friends? not. Panels are more fun with peopple you know, especially with my personality).

I know people decide if they want to do a panel, but do we really need 4 that are essentially the same thing? I could suggest placing some limitations on this. I recall a con I went to that was increasingly dull because all panels were about a certain fandom, or the others were hosted by members that were disorganized and talked about unrelated things, or didn't show up at all.

That's all I can critisize, but this Sogen was indeed fun and I will return in 2012 for a for-sure larger turn out and much more fun (and artist alley!)

[Hunter Gren]

If I can count (which is rare, teehee) this was my 5th Sogen con, and many of my friends of years past could not attend because of the registration issue as well as fundraising. Obviously, this problem should be attended to already.

The only thing I could really express concern for was panels. I'm not usually one for panels, but with the lack of dealers in the room; I wanted to try going to a few. I know the con can't do much about panels when members decide what to host, but if it wasn't about ponies, it was 18+ panels (I am 18, my friends? not. Panels are more fun with peopple you know, especially with my personality).

I know people decide if they want to do a panel, but do we really need 4 that are essentially the same thing? I could suggest placing some limitations on this. I recall a con I went to that was increasingly dull because all panels were about a certain fandom, or the others were hosted by members that were disorganized and talked about unrelated things, or didn't show up at all.

That's all I can critisize, but this Sogen was indeed fun and I will return in 2012 for a for-sure larger turn out and much more fun (and artist alley!)

We also felt the pinch of the 18+ panels and while there was a large number this year, it still made up only around 11 of the 50 total panels.  My count showed 11 18+ panels and 39 all ages.  This still accounts for around 20% which is quite high however.

That said we fall into a bit of a rock and a hard place, do we offer less 18+ panels and also, less programming or offer a higher number of panels that include more 18+ panels.  It's a balancing act and we would like to keep the number of 18+ panels to a lower percentage of the programming but we are also at the mercy of the submissions. 

Bottom line, outside of guest programming, the only way to get more of the programming we like to hold and you like to attend is for there to be more submissions. So encourage your friends and others you see on the board to make programming submissions when it opens up.

Members of my family held a total of 6 all ages panels, that's 10% of the panels I counted from the grid from 1 car!  It is way easier to organize and run a panel than you would think. If you have a topic you would like to talk about, or a game, game show or other type of activity you would like to run,write up a description of it and make the jump from attendee to panelist, you'll be glad you did! My 9 year old son ran a panel(his 5th for Sogen) and my 4 year old daughter helped him(her first) which just goes to show how easy it can be!

[Magpie]

Speaking as a former and future dealer, I would like to apologize for not being able to attend this year. The decision to attend or not had to be made when it looked as though the Con might not happen at all.

I did make a contribution to the fund, though.

We will probably make it next year so everyone can get their kimono fix.

P.S. - the yen is way down against the dollar and everything from Japan costs more than it used to.

[Drazz]

Very glad to hear that.  We missed you this year!

I will make sure that our new Dealer Head gets a hold of you as soon as we open up Dealer submissions.

[Eiri Yuki [Sexta Espada]]

So that means that the kimonos you sell will be more expensive this time? [just curious, so I can gather up the funds.]

[Magpie]

Some will and some won't. I still have things that I bought several years ago, and I don't raise prices after the fact. But some of the newer stuff might cost a little bit more. I know that my customers are young and not rolling in money, so I try very hard to keep my prices in line.

Glad to hear that you are interested. And remember, the more funds you gather, the more "stuff" you can buy! 

[Dawnius]

I missed you ladies this year, and can't wait to see you again! I need to buy an obi board, and maybe get a few tips on how to keep everything together better. :P

[ThumperMiggles]

Karaoke was sorely missed last year! My friend and I were hoping to sing and were heartbroken to find that there wasn't any karaoke ;u;.