Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 04:59:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Nelson <nelson_mr at yahoo.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: A DC hotels question
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

--- Eva Whitley <eva.whitley at gmail.com> wrote:

> > Worldcons are like gypsy caravans -- camping someplace
> > for a few days and then moving on.  I like the "central
> > campfire" gathering spot idea that Noreascon 3 formalized
> > back in 1989 as their ConCourse and wonder if the DC in
> > '92 was thinking about that or hoping a "heart" for the
> > 1992 DC Worldcon would form naturally.
>
> With all due respect, I don't remember any Worldcon using the
> ConCourse
> idea before Boston, but I do wonder if that concept owes anything at
> all
> to the DisCave. It's not like people from NESFA don't come down to DC
>
> for cons.

That certainly was the era of big Disclaves.  I have
always thought that the DisCave had been an influence
on con suite planning at other conventions.  I think
Noreascon 3's contribution was to give a name to the
concept of a planned Worldcon meeting spot.

Earlier Worldcons also had spots that turned out to
be convenient places for people to hang out, but they
either formed as a natural result of the facilities
layout and traffic patterns or the Worldcon committee
didn't give the area an actual name.  At Noreascon 3,
they pushed the idea of a "ConCourse" as the "cross
roads" of the convention and planned their layout
around it.

> > And where would the con suite be placed if all the
> > evening activities were going to move to the Hilton?
> > Perhaps separate day and evening consuites?
>
> The first 10 or so Worldcons I went to did not have Con Suites. I'm
> still not convinced they serve a useful purpose at the Worldcon
> level,
> but I am in a distinct minority in that matter. (OTOH, a con suite is
>
> vital at the regional level, particularly on Friday night.) --Eva

And, of course, the two Glasgow Worldcons managed okay
without a con suite (although the real ale bar at
Interaction was pretty close to being one).  Some
Worldcon con suites have been great centers of social
activities and others weren't worth the money spent
on them.  The location and management really matter.

Michael

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