Arisia

[juldea]

So, there's this Arisia thing this weekend.

I will be babysitting during it for 9 hours. Friday 3pm-7pm and Saturday 7pm-12pm.
I'll be LARPing in Cold Storage on Saturday at 3pm.

There's also apparently a dance at some point in time, although I don't know when.

Other than that, I have no clue what happens. I also have no clue what I'll be able to do, being cane-bound as I am. Ideas? Suggestions? 43duckies, I'm looking at you here for ideas of how to do this with a leg injury. :P

Comments

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

http://www.arisia.org/2005/arisia05pp2.pdf is the full schedule. I note especially that just after you get out of babysitting on Friday is:
Fandom in Fifty Minutes (White Hill)
It’s your first convention, you don’t know anyone, and
you’re overwhelmed by all the programming. This quick
guide to Arisia spotlights the art show, masquerade, programming
tracks, and other features of the con. And you’ll
find out how easy it is to help out with the show!

Some traditional low-mobility ways to enjoy the con are:
*) Plant oneself in one of the media rooms, and watch Cool Stuff.
*) Plant oneself in the Con Suite and talk with Cool People.
*) Plant oneself in a comfy chair near a high-traffic area (by the elevators on the 4th floor is good) and watch the con walk by (some folks will doubtless stop to chat).

Sorry I won't see you at dance. Hope to see you at the con!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the schedule. I couldn't find it anywhere on the arisia webpage. (Y'all should find someone else to take care of that.)

Any way I could get a decoder ring for the icons? I mean, some of them are obvious... but not all.

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

My sympathies!

Tips for Arisia:
-Plan to sleep at the con if at all possible, and the closer your room is to the place you'll be spending the most time the better (the year that my room was on the same floor as the consuite was awesome, given that I was working in the consuite).
-Don't try to do too much. There's always next year.
-Conserve the energy you have (or, the amount of activity you can do before the pain sets in) for stuff you really want to do.
-Don't forget to sleep.
-Rest, elevate, ice whenever possible.
-Consider using crutches instead of a cane...you'll be more noticable and will increase your chances of people offering you a seat. A cane is better than nothing, though, and a lot easier to manage. Some kind of obvious brace or wrap on your knee will also help with visibility.
-That said, you will still be invisible to a remarkably large number of people who will cheerfully stand in your way, chatting too much to hear your "excuse me", and making you go the long way around to get by them.
-Bring a small backback or bag that can be slung across your body so that you can carry whatever you need without using your hands.
-Carry at least the pocket program with you at all times, so you can figure out where things are.
-Ask for help when you need it...most people are very nice and will help, especially if you are clearly in need.
-Be sure to keep yourself fed and watered enough that you don't crash physically (and/or emotionally) at inopportune times. Carrying a bottle of water and a granola bar is probably a good idea.
-Usually, the Masquerade is shown on the Arisia channel within the hotel. I'd recommend gathering some friends to watch it together in a hotel room instead of waiting a long time in line. Plus, you can watch it with your leg elevated.
-I second Alexx's recommendation to plant yourself in one place for an extended period of time. Pull over a second chair to elevate your leg, and watch the Con swirl around you. If you are working at the con (for the con), the staff lounge is also a hangout option, and on average probably has a better cool geek/clueless fanboy ratio than the consuite.
-Have fun!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Response to your tips! :)

- I do have a room at the hotel!
- I don't know how I can try to do too much when I don't see very much to do... But I realize this could turn on my head. ;)
- Sleeping will be, I think, unforgettable. More like imperative.
- Bah, my doctor offered me crutches and I said, "No, it's hard enough getting around with a cane!" Silly me. :P I don't have a brace or anything, but perhaps just an ace bandage? Or ice pack?
- People who find me invisible will NOT be able to find my cane invisible. ^_^
- Backpack with program, water, and food - check.
- What's the Masquerade? The pdf schedule that alexx_kay gave me doesn't have a description of it.. just that it exists.
- Yeah, I assume I'll be parking in the con/staff suites for significant amounts of time. Especially since that's where the free food is... ;)
- I will certainly try on the having fun :D

THANK YOU for the suggestions :)

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

Some kind of ace bandage would probably be good, as long as your knee will be visible. And you'll manage ok without crutches...they're more visible, but they're also harder to manage (require both hands). Though they also give more support when you're tired. ( I have crutches I could lend you, but not sure how I'd get them to you in time; probably not worth it. If, however, you want to try, and someone could come to Allston to get them tomorrow either before eight AM or after 6 PM, call me at 617-787-9888 to coordinate. I'll be up tonight until midnight and up tomorrow by 6:30 AM.)

The food in the staff den is usually more substantial than the consuite. Consuite (when I worked there, anyways) is usually various types of munchies. Staff den is hot meals available several times a day and sandwich fixings at all times (ie, real meal food). Both, wisely, have coffee.

The masquerade is a big costume contest, and it's worth watching. Many costumes are humorous, and many are just amazing. And there are also little kids competing in their own division, and they're cute. :-) Usually there's also some kind of music or theater performance during the interlude when the judges are deciding who won. It is lots and lots of fun to see live, except for the waiting in line thing. But if you do want to go to the actual show, enlist tpau for help...getting a good place in line is one of her superpowers.

Yes, sleep will be imperative. The key, though, is sleeping regularily enough that you don't crash in an inopportune time and place.

Oh, earplugs!!!! Some hotel rooms are noisier than others, and if you're a light sleeper, earplugs can save your con.

[tpau]

plant yourself in the consuite and hang out. volunteer at the consuite to sit in back and chop stuff, and earn that free membership for next year (or T shirt or whatever)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I am apparently already earning free membership for next year andor the t-shirt by babysitting. And I can't find the consuite on the map...

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

If you manage to wander by the Stanbro room on the mezzanine you can some of us at our table.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

*looks at map* gaming room?

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

Why, as a matter of fact, I believe the Stanbro is used for gaming. What a coincidence. (Not.) The gaming room is also a good place to sit and possibly do stuff.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

It does sound like it would be so. And... I'm sure there are people there I could request head-scritches from... *looks pathetically at you*

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

Mrrrow! :-)