ConDFW VIII – The Convention Report – Day 1
I’m going to try to be better about doing convention reports this year. I know I’ve been lax the last couple of years.
So, Friday… we got there about 2 p.m. The registration line was long, but the hotel check in wasn’t. We got checked in, I found out I didn’t have to wait in that line to get my con badge and stuff, we could go to ConOps. We got our badges, stopped by the restaurant to say hello to The Sinors. PN Elrod was at the next table with The Butchers – so we stopped and chatted them as well.
When we finally got to the room, we found out they gave us two double beds instead of a king sized bed that we reserved. Jimmy took care of that, and he apparently got the “good” desk guy, and it was fixed quickly. We found out later, ironically enough, that Kimm and Renee had been given the king-sized room and needed a double. They, however, ended up with the “not good” desk clerk apparently. The cool thing was that we ended up about four doors down from each other on the same floor.
Jimmy got in line early for Jim Butcher’s first signing. I went through the dealer’s room to be social. He also had me buy My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (which is the only one we didn’t have) and I added one of Shannon’s novels. I impulsively bought a $5 Limited Edition Half-Price Books t-shirt – it says: “Books – Read the Movie”. It’s cute (and comfy).
I was at the YDP table with Bill Ledbetter when Selina decided we should do a Murder Mystery since everyone had really seen the Road Show in the past. It was a good decision.
While Jimmy was in Butcher’s reading, I checked on the job (STILL no news). He then got in line for David Weber’s first signing while I talked to Renee and Kimm about dinner plans. We left after the signing. We ended up at a Greek buffet not far from the hotel – it was limited, but I’m not a major Greek eater, so I found it good and filling. And it was fast we were back in time for Opening Ceremonies – especially since they were at 8 p.m. and not 7 p.m. like we thought.
Since we had time to kill, we went through the dealer’s room again. Jimmy bought me new earrings. Glass bead “Cool Joe” rubber duckies. They’re heavy. I’ll only wear them for special occasions – like the Murder Mystery – they and my new 4″ heels ended up being props.
The Murder Mystery went VERY WELL. It was hugely well received. Those of us involved got rid of our coupons early on. There was only one party that night. So after much fun there, we made it an “early” night at Midnight. There was a lot of good conversations with a lot of good people. I could already tell there was a new atmosphere this year. A good one. They’ve come out of their tunnel and are moving forward again.
I will say one thing – SIGNAGE. They need more/better signage next year. Unless you knew where to look, you had no idea where the Art Show was. And the Art Show itself? It was housed in a room called “Bistro”. It was off the restaurant and bar, on multiple levels with no consideration to physically challenged attendees and awful lighting. These are well-known issues and already have plans for fixing it.