Comments, compliments, concerns for NDK 2009

[theshadow]

I've been reading about various issues and it seems one prevalent one is crowding.  Now while crowding is expected of a popular con, and while technically (as mentioned in another thread) that NDK is not over the Marriott DTC limit, I would be hard pressed to be convinced that some rooms weren't over the limit.  When every chair is filled, that's generally considered capacity in a room and if you have people start to sit in aisles and stand against walls, that's over capacity.  Just a quick mention, there are two versions of capacity: sitting only and standing only.  From my experience, you cannot use standing only capacity to justify more than sitting only capacity when the room is filled with chairs.

Now putting aside the calls to go to a bigger venue - because that won't happen due to contractual obligations for at least a couple of years - what is the staff's view on attendance caps?  I've seen them justify why they can't move, but I haven't seen any serious replies on the attendance cap front.  I would please like to know if that an attendance cap is an issue being seriously considered.

Oh and btw, I work two much larger cons (Anime North which uses 2 hotels' meeting space and most of a convention center and Otakon which introduced a cap for a couple of years but now is comfortable with the new Hilton space that is attached to the BCC), so I do have the experience of knowing how logistics of people movement and control works.  Plus I have attended SDCC (which is way more crowded and they've literally doubled the price of registration from this year to next year from 75 to 150 to help control it) and Anime Expo (they don't use all the rooms in an entire convention centre).

An attendance cap wasn't tossed out. its still an option but we would like to reserve it as a last option. That is all it comes down to.

[BCullis]

I know they can't really see it (well, most of them can't), but I have to give the hotel staff serious props this year.  We in the DR were asking them for items and help seemingly constantly, and all the folks we dealt with were congenial, quick, and made everything work smoothly.  If someone has the correct channels, please pass along a huge amount of thanks to Min, Nick, Brandon, and Kemp.

[Shisoubetsuni]

I want to give props to the staff/volunteers who kept things running over the weekend. Thank you guys so much!

I had two things to comment on:
1) Parking: Honestly, this was worse than normal this year. I spent two hours circling and looking for a place to park. I'd appreciate it if we could perchance find some alternatives for upcoming years? I have no urge to repeat that experience again. Just a thought, but could we maybe work out a way that those who are registered at the hotel can park there, and maybe rent out another lot for the majority of the other attendees? I don't know if that would work, but it's a thought.
2) Overall Staff Air: Everyone seemed kind of up tight this year on staff. You guys did a great job, but I felt that some of you got a little aggressive. I know my boyfriend ran into some issues with staff at the Chis Patton Tells To Much panel when he was the cut off point. He had also forgotten his badge, and apparently he was teased for that. I understand that my boyfriend should know better than to leave his badge upstairs, but the teasing was not well timed, seeing as he was quite bummed that he didn't get into the panel because it was full.

Other than that, it went fantastically! Thanks for a great time guys!

As for the Chris Patton line goes, it was kinda hard for staff working it because we just went from one huge event to fiding that line and tried to figure it out, we did our best, me and my wife worked that line and i generally was the one staffer doing the cut off points for the pannel and i do not recall any teasing to any one for having left their badge anywhere, but then again there could of been others on staff in a passing by that did this,  But i have to give out mass props to staff this year, you guys so rocked!

[Arcanator]

Yeah, like everyone else said, we need a bigger venue to accomidate the growing numbers of attendees. Now, perhaps the Colorado Convention Center downtown would be a possibility? I know it would be a lot more expensive, but I have seen instances where conventions have been hosted in large places such as this one, and with less attendees then the current NDK year (example: Anthrocon in Pittsburgh was hosted in the David Lawrence Convention Center with attendance being less then 2/3rds of the current NDK size, and they managed to pull off several very sucessful cons. In fact, they even managed to extend part of the convention to a hotel AND the convention center due to the size, and passes were no more expensive then the ones at NDK). Parking doesn't have to be an issue either, as people can either park their cars at the park-and-ride stations and take the light rail downtown, or they can fill up the pay parking spots. And heck, Ive seen instances where attendance grows even bigger if you are hosting it in a populated area where curious non anime people buy passes to see what the convention is all about. Just because it would be hosted downtown does not mean the convention can't be sucessful.

[Terra]

I really only have one suggestion. I have been to AX and E3 before and thats about my only con experience outside of NDK. but maybe prereg could let people pick up there badges on Thursday.

Also, I don't think we're justified in a full add on of a full day, but if we could rent like the large room, having a dance Thursday would be sweet. I'm not into J-music much, and the not J-music dance left something lacking if you wanted to do more then just pulse to a beat, but spread to a bit of stuff Thursday? The lady at hotel staff said people were there at 6 am Friday, so I think starting Thursday night would be in demand.

I also think, maybe not changing venues, but Starfest this year had some events in the hotel across the road (to the north, which I believe is the one we booked a block of rooms in as well). Maybe get things like video and gaming rooms going on there, and have a shuttle like someone suggested that did like....Marriott, off location parking hotel, secondary hotel. I'd much rather have us spread a bit and still be able to move in the hall. Other then the freak blizzard at Starfest, I thought the idea was brilliant, and the shuttle would take the blizzard issue out of the way.

I know people can't really control where picture get taken of them, but maybe designated picture spots where people can get around them best?

ALSO the pre-reg lines....were super not split evenly. Two lines were wrapped around the corner, one line had NO ONE in it most of the time I was in line. I don't know if letters were picked arbitrarily instead of counting up the amount of Pre-regged people and splitting it evenly, or if randomly, all the people who's name fall in the third part of the alphabet decided not to show up while I was around, but it was not working well.

I can't think of anything else yet, but I'll post. But Compliments! This was the best NDK I can remember. AMVs were FANTASTIC (After AX had a lack luster showing I was worried about going), I felt things were as organized as possible, I personally didn't run into any rude staff, programming seemed interesting (I was behind my Artist Alley table, but there was tons I WANTED to go to), and the Artist Alley/Dealers room staff whom I deal with the most is, as always, flat out amazing. Thank you guys, a lot.

Also, the New Years Ball is A) an AWESOME idea in and of it's self, and B) It's super great to see NDK doing things outside of the con weekend.

[---]

Response, per request:


I have been attending Nan Desu Kan for the last four years now, and I have to say that this year was terribly disappointing. Several of the problems with the convention have been listed in this thread already, but they bear repeating until the Nan Desu Kan staff understand it completely.

As many have said, the parking at the hotel was absolutely pathetic. There were, what, seven thousand (or more) in attendance? Now, I'm no mathematics major, but damned if there are seven thousand parking spots at the hotel. After going to dinner with friends, I circled the lot for half an hour trying to find a spot; I eventually coughed up the money and took a valet space. Frustrated? You bet, as I paid good money to get a room and a badge. There should be no issue for parking; the hotel's lack of foresight and care on the matter is disgusting.

And, further concerning the hotel: is there a reason that everything is so expensive? Is it the city culture to overprice things, or is the goal to fleece the attendees of any and all money? A can of soda should never cost three dollars. The hotel is not the Ritz by any stretch of the imagination, and it should remember such.

Of course, it is not only the hotel that is to blame; I would like to speak well of the convention staff and guests, but I cannot. Between the overzealous, ego-driven volunteers and the panelists who bailed on us attendees, I cannot find any real words of support.

Attendees: I understand that the scene is a unique one and that those who follow such have their own "quirks," but is it really necessary to bring to a con? I see no merit in screaming like five-year-olds (unless you are one, and in that case, more power to you, you spoiled brat), tackling unwilling people from behind, or whatever actions you so choose to emulate from the latest flavor-of-the-month show (says an Aizen). Last I checked, the convention was based in reality, even if it a celebration of the medium. Is it too much to ask that you show at least a modicum of dignity, respect, and wherewithal? Is it too much to ask you to shower and not run down the halls at four in the morning?

To the Colorado Cutthroat Connection: you may be professional gamers (a stretch), but your mannerisms and sportsmanship are anything but. Pseudo-elitism at its finest.

That said, I feel that the greatest problem with the convention now is that it is far too crowded. It should not take five minutes to get from the elevators to the front desk (embellishment, yes, but the complaint is valid), nor should there be a hundred people crowding the doors and hallways. Annoying? Yes. Unsafe? Probably. Granted, this is not just for the venue, but for the convention as a whole; I have always enjoyed the small, more intimate atmosphere of the convention. The fact that there were fewer people attending made it that much more endearing. Perhaps I am seeing it through a haze of nostalgia and that it has always been large, but I still feel this to be an issue. If the convention continues to grow, then that is fine. If that is what is happening, then the venue must change. Again, the hotel is simply too small to accommodate the convention, and it makes for an unpleasant experience.


This year's convention made even WasabiCon look professional by comparison-- and that is saying a lot. Perhaps I am being harsh, but I feel that my money could have been better spent towards another convention. I do not think I will attend the next one.

[Terra]

Response, per request:

And, further concerning the hotel: is there a reason that everything is so expensive? Is it the city culture to overprice things, or is the goal to fleece the attendees of any and all money? A can of soda should never cost three dollars. The hotel is not the Ritz by any stretch of the imagination, and it should remember such.

...

Attendees: I understand that the scene is a unique one and that those who follow such have their own "quirks," but is it really necessary to bring to a con? I see no merit in screaming like five-year-olds (unless you are one, and in that case, more power to you, you spoiled brat), tackling unwilling people from behind, or whatever actions you so choose to emulate from the latest flavor-of-the-month show (says an Aizen). Last I checked, the convention was based in reality, even if it a celebration of the medium. Is it too much to ask that you show at least a modicum of dignity, respect, and wherewithal? Is it too much to ask you to shower and not run down the halls at four in the morning?

I actually find, for a "Special event" the food to be pretty much what you should expect to pay,

At AX, to feed four girls hamburgers, soda, and french fries, we had to shell out nearly $80, and there were NO restaurant within quick walking range. (In fact there was NOTHING within quick walking range, pretty much, food or other wise. It was the Convention center's food, which makes NDK's look like the Dollar Menu at McDonals, or spending about an hour to go on a simple food run) Soda's are $1.85 in the little gifts shop, and I really don't think that's outrageous.

As for the second point, the con maybe the rules about as abundantly clear as they could that unwanted affection was not ok and would get you kicked out, and I saw people enforcing it (And was never touched intentionally without permission) The con can't control every person, but they did make it clear that it wasn't ok, and gave you a way to report it.

[allpowerfulbob]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions, please keep them coming.

One note about moving some events over to another hotel. There is the distinct possibility of seeing the same issues that were seen at Starfest happening at NDK. The first being inclement weather, now notably we don't expect 3.5 feet of snow in the middle of September, but let's be honest, it's Colorado. It could happen, or more like what did happen this weekend, it rained a fair amount. No one wants to walk 2 blocks to another hotel in the rain. While there were shuttles, they were very crowded and only ran once an hour. This could possibly be improved, but I couldn't speak to that as they were run by the hotels.

To recap many of the things that have been stated and will be discussed.

1. A registration cap, as has been stated NDK would like to see this as a last resort, we don't want to exclude anyone.

2. Line control, I've heard some really good ideas about using gaffers tape, I know that I've seen this used before. We have also discussed more rope barriers, though these are much less cost effective than gaffers tape, but certainly more durable.

3. Crowded panels, I know that we have a very limited panel space, and a lot of wonderful events that everyone wishes to attend. Unfortunately, each person must weigh one event against the next and prioritize their own schedule. Especially if one or both events are very popular.
3a. While it has been suggested to run certain panels multiple times throughout the weekend this can be difficult. As each panel that is run multiple times, we have to decrease the amount of programming by that same number. This comes down to a quality vs. quantity issue. Please know this has been discussed in the past and will be discussed further.

4. Impolite staff members, please know that the directors do in fact take this very seriously. However it is very VERY difficult (read impossible) to help correct things without a few things:
   a. Timing, if you tell us about it days after the incident occurred there is very little that can be done. Please feel free to
       speak up to any other staff member about an incident.
   b. Details, simply saying that a staff member was rude to you again doesn't help to resolve the issue. We are all issued
       badges that have our names on them. If you feel you have to, treat us like a police officer, ask to see our badge and
       take down a name. More on details, please do not simply say they were mean to you, please elaborate further.
       What did they say? Did they use language that made you uncomfortable, so on and so forth. The more info we have
       the better we can help.

5. Crowds in general, this is something that is very difficult to control. As has been stated we are growing every year by leaps and bounds, so this issue continues to get worse. While the staff does their best to keep folks moving we do need to ask for your help as well. We all love to meet new people, talk, take pictures, and get to know one and other better. Please be aware of your surroundings, if you stop to talk and notice that people are having to scrunch past you to keep moving, do everyone a favor and move over to the nearest wall and continue your conversation. If you're taking a picture, maybe move to one of the beautiful sculptures around the atrium or even the fountain, they'll make a much more interesting back drop than 1500 attendees .

[kagemusha23]

Never occured to me to get badge names... Thanks for the tip! ^_^

[Terra]

Yeah, I think it'd have to be an NDK specific shuttle, and have no idea how affordable that is. (I personally wouldn't have minded the walk in the rain though, and saw plenty of people walking to Wendy's when I had to make a Kinko's run....but the 3 feet of snow sorta killed any urge, and it would be the first year it was tried that snow came early XD)

Most panel are different each time, I think you'd just ends up with the same people hitting up the same panel multiple times with the popular ones. (Or trying to)

I know this is more done for events, but what about some sort of ticketing thing? That way people know not to waste their time?

[allpowerfulbob]

I wanted to address a few things specifically in your post, so please bear with me.

As many have said, the parking at the hotel was absolutely pathetic. There were, what, seven thousand (or more) in attendance? Now, I'm no mathematics major, but damned if there are seven thousand parking spots at the hotel. After going to dinner with friends, I circled the lot for half an hour trying to find a spot; I eventually coughed up the money and took a valet space. Frustrated? You bet, as I paid good money to get a room and a badge. There should be no issue for parking; the hotel's lack of foresight and care on the matter is disgusting.

To be fair to the hotel, they have 634 rooms available to be occupied. While they may not have the largest lot around, I would wager to guess that they have close to 1,000 parking spots, and probably more. Much of their business comes from shuttled folks, and they have provided ample parking in a cramped part of town. I'm sure that if they could afford it they would prefer a parking garage, but that's not very feasible in this market.

And, further concerning the hotel: is there a reason that everything is so expensive? Is it the city culture to overprice things, or is the goal to fleece the attendees of any and all money? A can of soda should never cost three dollars. The hotel is not the Ritz by any stretch of the imagination, and it should remember such.

I find that while the hotel is expensive, it is far cheaper than many I have visited. Where did you see a can of soda for $3? Everywhere I have gone, they sell plastic bottles. On the floors the vending machines charge $2.00 for a bottle.

Of course, it is not only the hotel that is to blame; I would like to speak well of the convention staff and guests, but I cannot. Between the overzealous, ego-driven volunteers and the panelists who bailed on us attendees, I cannot find any real words of support.

Attendees: I understand that the scene is a unique one and that those who follow such have their own "quirks," but is it really necessary to bring to a con? I see no merit in screaming like five-year-olds (unless you are one, and in that case, more power to you, you spoiled brat), tackling unwilling people from behind, or whatever actions you so choose to emulate from the latest flavor-of-the-month show (says an Aizen). Last I checked, the convention was based in reality, even if it a celebration of the medium. Is it too much to ask that you show at least a modicum of dignity, respect, and wherewithal? Is it too much to ask you to shower and not run down the halls at four in the morning?

To the Colorado Cutthroat Connection: you may be professional gamers (a stretch), but your mannerisms and sportsmanship are anything but. Pseudo-elitism at its finest.

That said, I feel that the greatest problem with the convention now is that it is far too crowded. It should not take five minutes to get from the elevators to the front desk (embellishment, yes, but the complaint is valid), nor should there be a hundred people crowding the doors and hallways. Annoying? Yes. Unsafe? Probably. Granted, this is not just for the venue, but for the convention as a whole; I have always enjoyed the small, more intimate atmosphere of the convention. The fact that there were fewer people attending made it that much more endearing. Perhaps I am seeing it through a haze of nostalgia and that it has always been large, but I still feel this to be an issue. If the convention continues to grow, then that is fine. If that is what is happening, then the venue must change. Again, the hotel is simply too small to accommodate the convention, and it makes for an unpleasant experience.

I appreciate your opinions and the frustrations you are feeling here, however, I must ask you to please be a bit more polite when posting about other people in the future. Please see my earlier post about some suggestions and know that there will be discussions on these issues.

[Terra]

Oh, also, another compliment: The fact that pre-reg is already online for next year is pretty seamless!

[vendbuy]

my biggest disappointment is that the con ended before I was ready. I think I could have lived on pocky and ramune for at least four more days. and where was Jan at the closing ceremony? last I knew she lived only a few miles from where I do... (stalker alert?) anyway, I read most of this and stopped, couldn't go on, too many trolls. a few good ideas, but mostly a handfull of people that think that this event is only for them and that we should all act accordingly. so you had to wait in line, lots of us want to go too, and we cant all go, no matter how big the hotel is. people that don't like others acting immature? I'm a 34 year old man that spends his free time watching cartoons and playing video games, if you are coming to this event than you are at least somewhat like minded. I feel that these people should be a lot more tolerant. but whatever. thanks to the staff for putting up with us and giving us another great year!

[ss]

The only complaint I had about the staff was that some of them preferred throwing fuel on the fire rather than putting out the fire. I'm basically doing the same thing now, but I'm not a staff member.

The most obvious was the "don't park here, you'll get towed" signs everywhere. It's great that whoever made those doesn't want anyone's car towed, but dropping a hint about people should park would make a world of difference.

Another thing was with the dance/viewing rooms. My eyesight is bad normally, and even worse in the dark. The only thing I can clearly see in a dark room is a bright screens. I can't read the signs posted inside, and if the room is crowded it will take me a few seconds to see if that chair over there is empty or not. Instead of growling "DON'T CROWD THE DOOR" at me why don't you point me towards an empty chair.

Also in the viewing rooms, for whatever reason people also like to leave one or two empty chairs between them and the next person. If the room is crowded and someone huddling in the door wants a seat they're usually forced do to an awkward side shuffle across people's feet in order to reach a chair. I don't think it's a lot of work for a staff member to urge people already sitting to conserve space better if a room starts getting crowded.

I won't mention how overcrowded the con was again, but when I couldn't get into a panel I went to the video game room. Please put a stack of paper towels or something next to the consoles or anywhere. Most of the time when I picked a controller for the more popular games it was completely covered in sweat. And speaking of popular games, someone was probably lacking foresight when they put the stations for the older games right behind the SSBB line. The back half of the room was usually blocked off by people waiting in the brawl line. It's understandable that it happened on the first day, but I don't see why someone couldn't move the brawl station to the left or right a bit on Saturday and Sunday. And since SSBB is obviously the most popular game, I don't think it's unreasonable to have two stations playing it.

Something I'd like to see next time in the video game room, although it's probably impossible to enforce, is some sort of "leave your ego at the door" policy. There were a large amount of people in the vgr, and on these forums, whose every sentence reeks of "I spend all day playing video games, I'm a much better human being compared to these things around me." Nobody besides you is interested in how good you think you are.

It only happened on Saturday, but when I was trying to sleep at 4 A.M. there was a group simply standing around in the middle of the rows of bedrooms talking, laughing, etc as loud as they could. I was on the verge of leaving my room and giving them a piece of my current feelings, but I managed to hold back and they moved further down the hallway after a few minutes. I don't know how many insomniacs are apart of the NDK staff, but people treating the part of the hotel where others are trying to sleep at 4 A.M. like its the AMV contest is really not forgivable.

On a positive note, I pre-registered and picked up my badge on Friday in under a minute.

[TerraGamerX]

I want to say great work with using the new monitor displays in front of the panels! That was a really smart move, I'd have to say the best improvement I've seen. Certainly most useful for the video rooms.

I also want to compliment you on the water supply. Never did I see them run out of water or cups, and most of them stayed pretty cold. I visit them plenty often, so I'm quite satisfied with their management.
Hmm, and on that though, I wonder if it is comprehensible to put any bit of the budget towards free snacks? Though I dislike them, even peanuts would help. I'm not willing to buy the hotel's food. While I get plenty of water thanks to you guys, food I'm passing on the bare minimum...

Also, a compliment towards the hotel itself, the maintenance crew seemed very good. The air conditioner in our room broke, so we called customer service. Very quickly a member of the maintenance team showed up. He observed a blown fuse in a timely manner, left to get a new one, and finished up the job without any particular slowdowns. It wasn't exactly super speedy, but it was fast enough to not particularly interfere.


I don't have much to complain about since I'm sure most things you'd already be aware of / hear from many others.

But what does concern me most is the "incident" that led up to closing the rave early. It's not the incident itself that worries me, but the fact that everyone was being so secretive about it. With no information provided, it sparks rumors, and that can be almost as dangerous as giving info. So please, give enough info to evade speculations. I'd like to post some details of what rumors reached me, but I'd expect it to require moderation on behalf of NDK's reputation.


Another issue that can be tolerated more but is still a problem is noise in the video rooms. Of course this is quite a culture fest, fun time with friends, and a rare opportunity loaded with excitement. Now, noise outside of the room is okay. The mind can generally just ignore that as common ambiance. I had no problem with the fact that Battle Karaoke was held right next to a video room. But you need to establish some sort of policy within the rooms that people should treat it as though it were a theater. All the same logic applies. On a basic level there is the silencing of cell phones, but chatting is the big issue.

I was watching the premiere of Ichi (which was quite a fortunate event) and there was an obvious loud group of friends there. They were laughing unusually often, even in dead serous scenes, and even provided commentary on some scenes. Every time the comic relief guy showed up on screen, they'd laugh, and he didn't even have to do anything. And it's hard to get into the serious scenes with death and major plot development when there's laughing then too. I don't know what is a fair solution to this, but those rooms should really be treated as a theater, not some living room movie party.

[Joel Berger]

I'm going to pick and choose a little on this one:

The most obvious was the "don't park here, you'll get towed" signs everywhere. It's great that whoever made those doesn't want anyone's car towed, but dropping a hint about people should park would make a world of difference.

The problem with that is that, simply put, we don't know either.  There are literally dozens of parking lots in the general vicinity of the hotel, and locating and contacting the owner of each one for their specific policy is really too big a job to be practical.  Add to that the fact that they might change their minds when their lot is jam-packed all weekend (more wear and tear, more litter, increased exposure to vandalism, etc.) and it becomes a disservice at best and an uncontrollable liability issue at worst to suggest parking lots other than the Marriott itself and the hotel where you're staying.

Another thing was with the dance/viewing rooms. My eyesight is bad normally, and even worse in the dark. The only thing I can clearly see in a dark room is a bright screens. I can't read the signs posted inside, and if the room is crowded it will take me a few seconds to see if that chair over there is empty or not. Instead of growling "DON'T CROWD THE DOOR" at me why don't you point me towards an empty chair.

I usually try to be as nice as possible about this ("Hey, you're welcome to have a seat..."), but I admit that by the 20th or 30th time I say it in an hour (not an exaggeration for some events) it can be hard to know if I'm starting to sound a little gruff.  I'll give the pointing-out-a-chair suggestion a try, it's a good one.

Also in the viewing rooms, for whatever reason people also like to leave one or two empty chairs between them and the next person. If the room is crowded and someone huddling in the door wants a seat they're usually forced do to an awkward side shuffle across people's feet in order to reach a chair. I don't think it's a lot of work for a staff member to urge people already sitting to conserve space better if a room starts getting crowded.

And we do, but again, it's a little like walking a tightrope sometimes.  I did notice this year that people seemed to be pretty okay with filling in all the seats in the big events, at least in my room (Primrose).

[Joel Berger]

Apologies for the double post, it's a separate set of replies.

I want to say great work with using the new monitor displays in front of the panels! That was a really smart move, I'd have to say the best improvement I've seen. Certainly most useful for the video rooms.

We were quite pleased with those too.  It definitely beats trying to remember to update a whiteboard every hour.

I also want to compliment you on the water supply. Never did I see them run out of water or cups, and most of them stayed pretty cold. I visit them plenty often, so I'm quite satisfied with their management.

The hotel has learned how to make this one easy on themselves: those are basically just standard office water coolers with a black plastic cover that goes over the bottle.  Change a bottle once in a while, keep them plugged in, and you've got a good supply of really cold water.

Hmm, and on that though, I wonder if it is comprehensible to put any bit of the budget towards free snacks? Though I dislike them, even peanuts would help. I'm not willing to buy the hotel's food. While I get plenty of water thanks to you guys, food I'm passing on the bare minimum...

Unfortunately we have to draw a line somewhere.  Feeding even peanuts and pretzels to 7,000 people costs a lot, not to mention the fact that we have to ensure that the food's dispensed in a safe and sanitary manner.  And then there's the deal killer: Contractually, we cannot compete with the hotel's food services.  There are special considerations in place for dealers that I believe have a lot to do with the novelty appeal of the snacks, but you'll notice that no one there is selling American sodas or candy bars.

To mitigate this issue a bit, we have some options: There is a variety of restaurants within walking distance or a short drive (Wendy's, Qdoba and Panera are all walkable, as are several sit-down restaurants, and McDonalds and Taco Bell are just across the freeway).  There are also refrigerators in all the Marriott guest rooms and there's a King Soopers about five minutes' drive away.  Even if you're driving in every day, neither we nor the hotel prohibit bringing in your own food.  As a seasoned con-goer I can say from experience that packing meals from home is always the most economical option, and having refrigeration available makes it really easy.

Another issue that can be tolerated more but is still a problem is noise in the video rooms. Of course this is quite a culture fest, fun time with friends, and a rare opportunity loaded with excitement. Now, noise outside of the room is okay. The mind can generally just ignore that as common ambiance. I had no problem with the fact that Battle Karaoke was held right next to a video room. But you need to establish some sort of policy within the rooms that people should treat it as though it were a theater. All the same logic applies. On a basic level there is the silencing of cell phones, but chatting is the big issue.

I was watching the premiere of Ichi (which was quite a fortunate event) and there was an obvious loud group of friends there. They were laughing unusually often, even in dead serous scenes, and even provided commentary on some scenes. Every time the comic relief guy showed up on screen, they'd laugh, and he didn't even have to do anything. And it's hard to get into the serious scenes with death and major plot development when there's laughing then too. I don't know what is a fair solution to this, but those rooms should really be treated as a theater, not some living room movie party.

Yours was not the first complaint I heard on this issue, but it really doesn't seem to have been a problem 'til this year, and it's definitely something I'm going to be discussing with my fellow video heads in the future.  While there's not necessarily a lot we can say about laughing or some of the almost-involuntary reactions (in fact, I'd be worried if some of the comedy shows didn't get some pretty loud laughter), I definitely agree that lots of talking is just inappropriate.  I don't have a magic bullet either, but I think we can find a way to address it tactfully.

[NeoPhoenixTE]

I'm seeing alot of things brought up in this thread that came up in the "NDK for 25+ guests" panel on Sunday, and Greg addressed them pretty well in that panel...

• Overcrowding - Nature of the beast. NDK is popular, and it's getting bigger every year. Staffers struggled to keep hallways clear, yet you can only keep herd people so much before someone pulls a Rick James and does what they want. The attendees need to help work on keeping the halls clear. Staff only has to get loud and irritable as soon as someone wont listen to rules. There was talk of using tape throughout the con to help keep lines organized, and it sounds like a couple improvements are in the works (signs for all lines, designated cosplay photo areas, etc) to help keep things moving.
• Parking - I'm torn on this one. I ended up having to pay $45 for valet the entire weekend, and to be perfectly honest, I'm pretty pissed off about that! I could've bought a decent box-set for that! People kept suggesting talking to the people across the street about allowing additional parking, but it sounds like the Mariott doesn't have the most cooperative neighbors. Seeing how the Mariott can't exactly fold space and add more parking, maybe talk to them about a discounted valet option or something. When you have to show up Friday morning before 10am to get a parking spot for free (and most people have class/work to slip out of that afternoon) something needs to be done before it becomes a game of attrition between con-goers and the local towing company across the street. Only suggestions I can offer right now to con-goers is:
  
  • Car-pool, for the love of God. Two people is nice for abusing the HOV lanes, but cramming 5 people in a car is better. Bend the laws of physics if you must!
  • If you live nearby, use the public transit system. I'm sure you can find a way to make your entire cosplay arsenal portable. Although this doesn't help those of us coming from places like Fort Collins....
  • If you're staying for some time and don't need a car, look into getting a ride to/from the con instead of parking at the hotel. (Do YOU park at the airport when you travel? I think not!) This is a good option for people who live moderately close, yet cannot feasibly use the public transit system for some reason or another (remember the story about that cosplayer that scared an entire RTD bus? ouch...)
  On a side note, many of the above options run into trouble with people who have a truck loaded with cosplay stuff. I only do 1-2 costumes every year, and I keep it pretty portable (and I love dedicating myself to fewer characters). Those of you who insist on being every Sailor Senshi (have yet to see it, I'd be impressed) or every Organization XIII member (seen it, know her by name) over the weekend may want to sit down and really think if it's worth hauling around all that gear. I'll get off my soapbox now...

NDK staff thrives off of feedback, so I suggest filling this thread with every gripe, groan, and gleaming idea you may have. I'll probably add more as it comes to me..

[nemisis47]

I also liked the way the autograph lines were done this year (minus the obvious long waiting). Last year, that line intercepted the amv and cosplay competition lines and went clear outside the front of the marriott. This years didn't have that problem; the line went behind the hallway behind the ops room was, right across where the art show was. That was a smart idea in my opinion. It didn't lead to intercepting with other lines nor it didn't go clear outside. Kudos for that. And I also liked the new screens in front of the panel rooms too. They were always updated, showed what events were showing and times they were running said event. And they were more convenient than asking what panel this was at the panel that was going on and saved paper for making signs. 

[Mahou Shoujo Michi]

• Car-pool, for the love of God. Two people is nice for abusing the HOV lanes, but cramming 5 people in a car is better. Bend the laws of physics if you must!

^_^; I realize that you're being partially sarcastic.. but NO.

Cramming as many people as you can into a car is NOT safe.  I'd like to see more car-pooling.. but we can do without people who cram 8+people, plus all of their luggage into a car meant to seat only 5 people.  :/ Only seat as many people as your car has seatbelts for, and never block your rear window.

XD Course if you or a friend has access to a van...~ Turn it into the Otaku-Bus! [/list]