Questions on badge pickup

[ubiquitous-a.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this question has been asked a bazillion times, but I couldn't find answers on the Dragon*Con website at all.

1.  When does registration open for badge pickup on Thursday?

2.  Since I'm getting in before the rest of my group, I was wondering if I can pick up their badges for them as well?  If so, what do I need to have with me in order to make that happen?

Also, since I'm getting in on Wednesday, didn't know if anyone had suggestions for things to do until the con officially opens on Friday morning?

Thanks!

Comments

[dianne-the-geek.livejournal.com]

Registration officially opens at 4pm on Thursday, but keep your eyes open because they do work their butts off to get it open earlier if possible. I headed over to the Sheraton at 2:30 last year when I started seeing badges appear in the lobbies and it was already open.

[neovenom.livejournal.com]

2. Someone can probably add to this, but in regards to picking up badges for others, you'll need a written note from them giving you permission (and maybe even a copy of their ID?). I brought both things to be sure when I picked up my brother's badge one year. It might get tricky with more than one person, especially with different last names, since the registration booths are done alphabetically.

Ideas for what to do, walk around the con area to become familiar with it, enjoy and chill at your hotel, ask them for things to do in the area (maybe Aquarium, a Braves game, High Museum, world of Coca Cola, etc.). By Thursday afternoon, you'll start seeing people come in and chilling around the bars and dressing up already.

[ladytalker13.livejournal.com]

We came on Tuesday one year and toured the Jimmy Carter Library and the MLK Historical District - both were awesome. It was also a blast to wander the hotels and check out the preparations going on...

Picking up Other Badges

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

Wait... is that even possible???

We're flying in Thursday morning, but the last member of our party doesn't get in until about 11 Thursday night, long past the time registration closes by the time they get to the hotel.

I was resigned to having her wait in line Friday morning, but if it's possible to pick up her badge, we would *so* go for that! So I second this question. We're willing to get a written letter and a copy of her ID. Anything else?

Re: Picking up Other Badges

[neovenom.livejournal.com]

It should be good, it's worked for me before. But you can always contact the D*C office to make sure. My only other suggestion would be to let someone in your party with the same last initial pick up the badge for your friend (or at least something close).

Re: Picking up Other Badges

[wesker22.livejournal.com]

You will definitely need a permission slip and a copy of an ID. They also suggest bringing along the postcards they send out when you preregister, if any of your friends still have those with them.

[abreeskye.livejournal.com]

I agree with the suggestion of walking around all of the hotels and familiarizing yourself with all the areas you think you'll be hanging out throughout the weekend!

Also, Thursday night, 8pm, Hyatt Bar! Girls of the Con is having their Calendar Release Party, Men of Dragon*Con will be "inspecting" this year's beefcakes for their annual Meat 'n Greet, and CON*TOURAGE is having their Meet and Greet as well! It's a triple threat!

First of the season!

[jarissa.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited! This was one of my favorite parts of the leadup to last year's D*C!

A, thank you for turning a somewhat icky evening for me into "WHEEEE!!! It's time for whipping out the geek lines and referencing the registration form (http://www.dragoncon.org/pdfs/dc10_membership_form.pdf) and the permission slip!"

Stupid thing to get all bouncy over, maybe, but last year I did an oracular prophecy and a Paranoia RPG encounter and The Bullwinkle Show and I can't remember what else. I figure if I start earlier, and come up with some good ones, that other folks will get into it too and start answering (and asking?) FAQs in fun ways too.

So anyway, yes: get your friends to fill out the top section of the above-linked Registration Form and give that to you. (Not the money/how many tickets being bought part!) Mail, fax, scan and email and let you print out, whatever. Also (and this is important!) they need to make a photocopy of their State-Issued Picture Included ID, and on that same side of that sheet of paper they need to write something to the effect of, "I, "{that person's name}", hereby give my permission to ubiquitous_a's_real_name to pick up my D*C 2010 Badge for me. Also, Chip is awesome. Thank you!" and then sign it.

Maybe they can leave out the "Chip is awesome" part, I guess, and still have it work. Or alternatively they could put "Registration volunteers RULE!"

And then, of course, the friend should also get THAT paper to you, because without the Permission Slip, you cannot acquire the badge anyway.

Once you've collected all these, notify your buddies as to what form their repayment of this huge favor will take, and then make sure you cannot leave for D*C without said paper stack.

When you get your badge Thursday, I think you can go one of two ways:
1. Stand in line for your badge, and when acquiring your badge, wave all your papers collected from buddies and ask if you can also acquire THEIR badges from this exact spot, or should you go stand in the Solutions line now?
2. When you get to the point that the line breaks up for individual booths, instead of going to your section of the alphabet, go straight to the Solutions line. Get everybody's badges, including your own, there.

I'm a peawit.

[jarissa.livejournal.com]

I should've mentioned that there are a lot of suggestions buried on the Atlanta (http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/tag/atlanta) tag for things to do Wednesday through Thursday afternoon. The con totally doesn't start Thursday night officially, but there're always parties and groups gathering to compare notes after checking in.

This thread (http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/1694592.html) and that thread (http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/1932135.html) should be good starting places. Just don't take a drink before reading!

I hear Stone Mountain is particularly nice from my in-laws, but I've yet to actually visit it myself, so I dunno.

Re: I'm a peawit.

[sidhe-etain.livejournal.com]

If I've already registered and received my postcard in the mail, can I just send that + the photocopied ID and note to have someone pick up my badge?

Because if so, that would be a huge help. :)

Alas (but ask Chip!)

[jarissa.livejournal.com]

Actually, in the past few years the postcard has been reassuring-but-optional. My suspicion would be that your answer is "no", especially since we all end up filling out that little white piece of paper every year while standing around in the Pre-Registration line anyway.

However, not only do I have reason to say "I Am Not A ConCom", in fact I'm not even a responsible party in Registration; your best bet now is to ask Chip {dragonconoffice} directly. You can contact him through LJ, or email him, or call the Dragoncon Office during normal business hours at 770-909-0115 for the next couple of days. (Chip stops answering the phone to start madly printing badges and whatnot sometime fairly soon, I think on the 15th.)

Re: I'm SUCH a peawit.

[jarissa.livejournal.com]

Hey, it turns out I am the wrong! As per Brenda Tackett at the Dragon*Con Office (quoted here (http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/2431268.html?thread=26057508#t26057508)), you CAN and in fact SHOULD use that postcard instead of the Registration Form!

Re: I'm SUCH a peawit.

[sidhe-etain.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the info!!

Re: First of the season!

[wesker22.livejournal.com]

While your idea of using the registration form is a good one, I don't think it's required. Last year, I picked up my sister's with a piece of paper that simply said, "I, ____, hereby give ____ permission to pick up my Dragon*Con badge for me." And I had a photocopy of her ID on another sheet of paper. But honestly, the person who was doing badges for my line barely glanced at either.