MediaWest & Sucker for Punishm - I mean, audio

[neadods]

Audio
As of this morning, I am the Unreality SF reviewer for back catalog Big Finish Doctor Who, BF Lost Stories, BF Sapphire and Steel, and 2009 BBC Torchwood audio-only stories.

Obviously, I was lying through my teeth when I said I'd only do two reviews a month.

(OTOH, it's not like I wasn't going to listen to them anyway, or that I have a problem having opinions. And unlike reading, I have near-unlimited time to dedicate to audio, because I can do it so many times and places I *can't* read.)


MediaWest
I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this year's M*W.

I mean, it's not like it used to be in the first place. It's no longer where I get my year's worth of fic; it's not where I get fic at all. Ditto vids - one or two, but I can get a targeted show just surfing YouTube. I get to see people and be on panels, yes, and there are new vids and all, but it's a hell of a drive for something that is no longer the One And Only Source. I get to see people and be on panels closer to home, or in a con that is specific to my fandom.

And then there's the hotel. Very few people have heard back at all, and I'm hearing that we *aren't supposed to call the hotel to ask because the new employees don't know about the con.

Let me repeat that: The new employees do not know about the nigh onto 30-year-old tradition which is going to mean animals everywhere, flyers on every surface that doesn't move, gigantic door decorations, and a running blaster battle in the hallways.

This is gonna be interesting times.

And then there's the money. Sensibly speaking, I shouldn't go, period, because even if I cut expenses down to the bone, arrive late, leave early, stay in a cheaper hotel, buy nothing, and eat mostly out of a crock pot, it's going to be a wad of cash that could more productively go other places.

All of which is probably not going to stop me from going. Which reminds me:

Is there anyone in the Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland area who'd be willing to give me some crash space on my way up and/or back?

Comments

[bentleywg.livejournal.com]

I was starting to wonder if I had just blanked on hotel room arrangements. So, nobody has heard about rooms, is that it?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

A tiny handful of people say they have, but nowhere near the numbers that we should be seeing by now.

[bizarra.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering about the few people who have heard. I thought for sure, since the hotel was half empty last year, that we'd pretty much all get in.

I think we're going to make alternate arrangements with one of the close hotels, as an alternative, then hit the hotel when we get there to see if there are any vacancies.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've *never* been turned away from the hotel when I arrive early on Thursday, if I had a reservation or not. I'm waffling hard though - this is the one convention where it really makes a difference if you're not in the con hotel. OTOH, the Motel 6 down the road has much lower rates for a single.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Obviously, I was lying through my teeth when I said I'd only do two reviews a month.

*grins* I do that myself...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

OTOH, this takes this job into the "semi pro" arena, as I'll be getting the Lost Stories for free. (Having already bought the Who & S&S ones.)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Nice!

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

we *aren't supposed to call the hotel to ask because the new employees don't know about the con.

I... don't even have words for this.

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

See, this is why I do Balticon instead. Not nearly as interesting as MWC, but 15 minutes from my house so no hotel or travel issues and the hotel knows darn well what's coming.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'd still be doing Balticon if they weren't conflicting with each other. But MW is like no other, and I will miss it when it finally passes.

[hildy.livejournal.com]

Eeep, yeah, everything points to fun times at that con, if no one at the hotel knows about the con. It takes over the damn place.

I'm suddenly glad I've been so cash-strapped to dither and ultimately decide to probably not go at all. I love seeing my friends for that one weekend, but the hassle is just not worth it.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm waffling hard - I could really use the money elsewhere - but I figure the years there will be a MW to go to are rapidly dwindling. Besides, I signed up for a bunch of panels. :>

[suzy_queue]

I think the 'don't call' edict is stupid, so, well, I called. Neither Biz nor I are on their current reservation list, and he said that there isn't a wait list this year. He had been told that we should talk to the con chairs to get further details on rooms, because no more information had been passed down to hotel staff. He had me on hold for several minutes talking with different people.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Did he say if there were open rooms? My plan was to simply show up very early on Thursday and see what happened. In previous years that had been enough... although if there are people who don't know if they're on the reservation list or not, this is going to get interesting!

But always, there have been cancellations... and in this economy (and in this mess) I'm expecting more this year.

[suzy_queue]

He wouldn't commit to saying there were open rooms, just that the mwc lottery system completely bypassed their normal reservation system and we had to talk to the con for more info.

When you'd just show up on Thursday, was your name on a wait list? If they don't have one this year like he said, how would they ensure that only mwc goers got a room that day?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

No, I usually just asked if there were open rooms, but I didn't have to do that often because my number came up on the wait list before I went, usually.

This is turning into such a clusterfuck roomwise, I half wonder if my chances would be better if I said I was with the con... or if I said I wasn't. I remember the old hotel, and the year it turned feral.

The old personnel knew how to handle this, so I'm not going to give the new hotel a pass. If they expect convention business, they need to know how to do it.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

"The new employees do not know about the nigh onto 30-year-old tradition which is going to mean animals everywhere, flyers on every surface that doesn't move, gigantic door decorations, and a running blaster battle in the hallways."

O_O I... I .... I can't believe they haven't given them SOME sort of forewarning! (And yet- this sounds like so much FUN!!!)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

It's a great convention. It may not be what it once was, but it's still an awful lot of fun.