Is this still going on at conventions?

[erdnasephile]

While looking up the Max Maven Parallax column on racism in magic, I began reading through that particular issue of MAGIC (December, 1991).

In it, the late (great) Mike Rogers wrote in the Letters column:

"At every magic convention there are always some who attend just for the social aspects while never actually registering for the convention...To attend without registering, even if only to visit, is a subtle and tacit way of freeloading."


I haven't been to a magic convention in ages, but will be at the combined convention next week.

Just wondering: is this sort of behavior still going on over 20 years later?

[Dustin Stinett]

The short answer is "yes."
The long answer is "you bet."

[Richard Kaufman]

People always come and just hangout in the common areas.
Other folks forge badges (they have laptops, portable scanners, and printers in their hotel room).

[Dustin Stinett]

Richard knows all too well. At the Genii Bash he had plenty of seating in the big room for all of the registrants. Incredibly, during the Tamariz show, it was standing room only.

[Richard Kaufman]

We had 800 seats, and we had 800 registrants including artists. There should have been no one standing, and almost every seat in the room appeared filled. Yet there were about 60 people standing at the back, on the sides (about 30 on each side).

[Michel Andenmatten]

I was at a big professional conference recently where every badge carried a unique bar code. Whenever you entered or left a lecture hall, security would scan your badge with a handheld device. This did not really slow down things and probably also acted as an effective deterrent against fraud.

[Rick Ruhl]

Assigned seats and roll call?

[Richard Kaufman]

Assigned seats cause problems. But barcode scanning is something we're considering.

[erdnasephile]

We had 800 seats, and we had 800 registrants including artists. There should have been no one standing, and almost every seat in the room appeared filled. Yet there were about 60 people standing at the back, on the sides (about 30 on each side).

This is evidence that "banditing" conventions is not victimless nor without negative consequences for everyone else.

In terms of assigned seats, apparently IBM/SAM is going to do this for the Fat Brothers Close-Up show this week (according to the on-line program). I'll be interested to see how it goes.

[Richard Kaufman]

Me, too!

[Dustin Stinett]

The Fat Brothers are performing in the Ferrara Theatre and not the ballroom, so it will have seat numbers and the tickets will be in your registration packet.

[mimimimi]

Assigned seats cause problems. But barcode scanning is something we're considering.

i agree, barcode scanning makes everything more organized, quick and easy.
last year, i tried with Zxing barocde library and working great. and also you can use other barcode applications.Customers can select their own seats, print-at home ticketing, barcode check-in