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From: mjn@panda.UUCP (Mark J. Norton)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Boskone 22
Message-ID: <331@panda.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 10:51:37 EST
Article-I.D.: panda.331
Posted: Thu Feb 28 10:51:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Mar-85 04:20:30 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 124

In reply to both Elizabeth and Dan Davidson:

You are no doubt aware that there are several members of NESFA on
USENET, myself included.  Stating from the outset that it is quite
clear that NESFA is not perfect, I will address some of the things
stated previously.

Running a Con Year after Year:
-----------------------------
    Based on several things both of you said it is fairly clear
that you have not helped to run or organize a convention.  See that
little 22 after the Boskone in the subject line above?  It means that
NESFA has been trying to put out a good convention for 22 years.  Don't
you thing that it might be a little tough to be original and different
year after year?

    You also mentioned being jaded with program material.  That happens,
but I think difference lies in your change attitudes and perceptions, 
rather than quality of programming slipping.  I've become very tired of
listening to the same old panels every year.  As a result, I don't
attend them anymore.  On the other hand, I appreciate the Boskone Art
Show more with each passing year.  A con is what you make of it.  Work
at it some.


Resistration Fee (How can they be so greedy?):
---------------------------------------------
    Both you and Dan mention $22 being steep for registration.  How many
other conventions do you attend.  I'm not talking about Star Trek cons in
Portland, Maine, but big regionals:  Disclave, Westercon, Maplecon, etc.
I think you'd find that they run about the same or more for the weekend.
(This doesn't even come close to $50 for a worldcon!)

    Were does all the money go?  You might be surprised at some of the
costs involved in running a big con.  Rentals, printing, flying in GOH, 
postal rates (hmm, 22c), rooms to get, etc, etc.  NESFA is a non-profit
organization.  The budget for Boskone every year is designed to break
even.  Each year an estimate is made of how many people will attend the
convention.  This times the con rate is how much money can be budgeted.

    Now when we come down to it, if this year's con attracts a lot of 
people, the convention makes a profit.  On the other hand, if fewer than
predicted show up, it looses money.  NESFA has been concerned about the
later for years.  Part of the profits (if any) from previous cons goes
towards an insurance fund to help bail out the eventual Big Money Loser.


Weekend vs Daily Rates:
----------------------
    This has been a topic of discussion for years in NESFA.  It usually
comes down to this:  its too much work to try and organize and check for
one day badges.  Consider:  four different kinds of badges are needed.
One for each day of the con, and one for the whole weekend.  Stamps
stickers, etc are too small and have been shown to not work well.  Thus,
as unfortunate as it is for some people, one rate is charged.

    In the past, this has been moderated somewhat.  If by Sunday, 
membership in the con is a little below predicted numbers, a discount
might be offered for just Sunday.  By then, no special badges are needed.
In recent years, however, not enough people isn't the problem, its too
many people.


Keeping out the Riff Raff:
-------------------------
    Boskone as a convention is set up and organized by about 30 people.
These same people are responsible for there being anything at all, much
less living up the quality we see year after year.  At the con, however,
these people are only managers.  The people who REALLY run the con are
fans.  Volunteers, hundreds of them.  If it weren't for these people
who given up a little piece of the con (which they paid for), it would
fail miserably.

    Thus we come to it.  NESFA cannot handle well a convention were
too many people attend.  Volunteers do not seem to increase linearly
with the number of attendees.  More people means more disorganization.
The facilites are arranged for optimal numbers.  More people cause
breakdowns in flow, control, and timing.

    For the past several years NESFA has been trying various ways to
keep the number of people attending a Boskone to a reasonable number.
They truly want to keep the quality high and that means keep the numbers
small.  One way to cut numbers is to not have daily rates.  Its some
what unfortunately that this cuts out people who cannot afford full
weekend rates, but it helps.  Another method tried is altering content
of the film program.  Since Star Trek and other big media productions
have their own specialty cons, they have been removed from Boskones.

    In a sense, as soon as you try to exclude people to keep numbers
from getting too large, discrimination enters.  NESFA has been trying
very hard to handle this in the most reasonable way possible.  One
other thing to remember here.  The members of NESFA who put on a 
Boskone are volunteers too.  They are doing their best to organize
something for your enjoyment.  If you have a criticism or suggestion,
tell them.  They will listen.  There was even two items on the program
for fan feedback.  Did you attend?

NESFA's Clubhouse Search:
------------------------
    In closing, I'd like to say a few things about NESFA search for a 
clubhouse.  It is true that we are looking for one.  Priced a house
lately?  Commerical space of the size NESFA needs runs even more.  Its
a lot harder to find a building which suits the requirements too.  The
search has been going on actively for almost 2 years.  We came very
close recently (money was put down), but the deal fell through from the
seller's side.  It was quite disappointing.

    Where does the money for such an acquisition come from?  Money for
the NESFA clubhouse is being gathered from donations to a building
fund and a realty trust fund.  Donations (and proceeds from auctions,
etc) have come to about 12K.  Add in sale of bonds (mostly to members)
and the total comes to about 60K.

    Wait a minute!  What about all those profits from Boskone?!?  As
far as I know, none of the money generated by previous Boskones is
put into the building fund.  NONE!  Profits (what there is) does go
towards operating expenses of NESFA.  Some of it goes towards purchase
of equipment to run future Boskones and some of it is donated to SF
related causes (TAFF, club membership in worldcon, Reading for the Blind, 
etc.)  Where is all of this NESFA greed of which you speak?


     Mark J. Norton
     decvax!genrad!{panda | teddy}!mjn