Security at Dragon*Con 2011

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

EDIT: With the great response this post is getting, let's try and make something happen here. Send Dragon*con security any ideas you may have in ways to improve security for the 2011 show. Go to the contact security form through the D*Con web page. Get as many people as you can to do the same. Pass the word along. Select "security" from the drop down menu. The hotels and Dragon*con MUST agree to start checking badges or room keys at the hotel entrances  to keep the non-con goers out.  Why should we pay and others not?!

dragoncon.org/dc_contact.php

Since it doesn't seem like anyone has addressed this issue for D*Con 2011 recently, I will go ahead and put it on the table.

As I'm sure many others noticed, last year there were several security concerns during the convention. I remember reading all the different posts of women being accosted and "felt up" by individuals who had no badge and nothing to do with the convention itself. Letters were mailed to the hotel and complaints filed. Since then, it has all gone quiet.... Has anything been done by the hotel or Dragon*Con to alleviate this problem? Or, are the powers that be just hoping we would all forget about it and just deal for next year?

I have noticed every year the convention getting more and more filled with people who have come to the hotels thinking they would be getting a free "freaks on parade" show. Individuals include: Football fans, nearby college students, and random people off the street hoping to get a free good time at the expense of those who paid to be there. It's not the same convention it was 5 years ago, the con is changing and not for the good.

Before I go dumping more hard earned money on a convention that is already getting ridiculously priced, are any of these issues going to be addressed? What is to keep random grabby pervs away from my girlfriend or friends? With everything getting expensive these days, I need some re-assurances that this will be a safe convention and the money will be well spent. I wonder what the ratio is of people who just wander in off the streets is, to those who actually paid for a badge?

Comments

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

D*C would get more volunteers for security if they would lower their expectations of how much a person MUST volunteer. A lot of the blame I've seen here is getting thrown at Atlanta and the hotels. Let's not forget our own responsibilities. D*C's policies and their pure stubbornness to adhere to them is why all of the new ideas that got thought up never came to be.

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

It will have to be a group effort on all 3 parties. Dragon*con, the hotels, and whatever law enforcement they pay for from the city of Atlanta.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Agreed, entirely! But nobody seems to be saying to the D*C PTB that they're expectations for volunteering for security are unrealistic. All that's being said is what they should do with the little amount of volunteers they already have. If they lower their expected amount of time that they REQUIRE of volunteers (24 hrs total, I believe) they would have many more people helping out.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

I also stated that maybe they should take the "booze line" money and transfer it to getting a few more Cobb County cops to stand guard, or create a organized group with set times, that takes con goers back and forth to the further hotels late at night.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

What booze line money? You want con goers to take the money they would put towards buying that $2 beer while they wait in reg line towards paying for security that would be normally free if only D*C would alter their policy?

I have agreed with some things that have been said, not had enough knowledge to agree with others, and flat out disagree with still others. I understand that not everyone drinks. I even understand that some people SHOULDN'T drink. But trying for a prohibition stance in relation to the con is really missing the mark, IMO.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

They're offering a booze cart at Reg-line. Why??

I'm not trying to start a prohibition stance, I don't care if people drink, if it's not hurting anyone else. It's when they DO hurt someone else, or cause a fuss that it gets ridiculous.

I'm saying that some things in the budget, shouldn't go to things that could worsen the situation. How 'bout moving it to something that will better the safety. But whatever. This conversation isn't going any farther, I don't think Dragon*con will take any heed or turn back to the olden days; that's too much to hope for.

They made the decision to serve more alcohol. They made the decision to advertise to a market that didn't belong at the con in the first place. They've made alot of decisions despite what some con-goers might think or feel. It's out of our hands, we know this.

This is seen more as a vent and a slight hope for some sort of resolution and hope for change. Why should those of us who want safety, an arena to showcase the costumes we've worked so hard on, and a haven for nerdom, have to deal with OTHER nerds bashing us for not drinking and wanting an older sense of con-feeling back?

m_cubicle wasn't trying to start a fight, he's going through what alot of us are going though: fearing for our safety at a place that used to be alot different. Once in a while you have to bitch and be heard.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Then bitch to D*C. The PTB have nothing to do with this community. I'm not even sure they read it.

And I don't believe that it was D*C's decision to serve beer, soda and water at the reg line. The hotel made it available as a courtesy to alleviate the wait. If a con goer made the decision to buy a beer instead of water or soda then that's their adult decision. Take it up with them.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

Understood. I didn't know who's idea it was, I just didn't think it was an appropriate idea. How about just water and soda? Yeah it's an adult decision, but unfortunately, there's too many adults that don't have their heads screwed on right.

But eh. Alot of people have bitched, not just me. Like you said, you tried to get a suggestion presented to the board, and it fell on deaf ears. Others have tried contacting the hotel because of the groping/near rapes problem, and calls went un-answered, messages unchecked.

*sigh* It's futile in the end.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Nothing is ever futile. Never give up until you are dead. Change CAN happen, but there must be more of an effort than just complaining and arguing with each other here. Ok! We're all on the same page now let's DO something with our outrage! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! *ahem* Sorry...got carried away there. ;)

We cannot begin to try to control people's decisions. Certainly the hotel could only offer soda and water to the reg lines, but they make more money off of the beer. At the end of the day, right/wrong/immoral, the hotels are out to make money. D*C, Atlanta and the hotels are functioning businesses, and I think we need to remember that. That isn't to say I'm excusing anything, but it is something to bear in mind on where to put blame.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

*Thumbs all the way up to this*

Random

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

KITTEH!! XD

[ringwraith10.livejournal.com]

Do you think it might be possible to write up a template of sorts for people who would like to follow your advise and contact DragonCon staff? I'm sure there are a lot of people who would be willing to write an email expressing an interest in an updated security system, but are unsure of what to say in their email.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

It's possible, I suppose. I could see if my friend still has the email she sent to the PTB. PM me for contact info.

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

Copy and paste this LJ original post and contact security through the D*Con web page. Get as many people as you can to do the same. Pass the word along.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

It's worth remembering the reason D*C left the convention center was because they didn't want to hire the convention center's security but instead use their own volunteer force.

I do agree, the entire volunteering policy needs reworking. It's pretty much geared to discourage people from wanting to help, in my opinion.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

That's kind of my point. Hiring people takes away from the budget. Lowering the required amount of hours they want volunteers to work would alleviate a lot of this.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

This is why I am in TOTAL agreement with the "3-Hour Volunteer" thing. I would hope bigger, well mannered guys would fill this slot, as they would be looking out for girls and smaller con goers, and can give anyone looking for a "rough and tumble", a run for their money.

I sincerely hope the staff considers your idea. It was a pretty damn good one.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

I do too! I'm not holding my breath since no one in charge of that department seems to want to communicate with anyone.

I still say we all take a moment out of our con going time to find the security head and speak out peace in person this year.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

It's also probably worth noting that it's too late for any changes to take effect for 2011, but there's no reason not to start lobbying for change in 2012.

I'll confess, the reason I don't volunteer is because my time is too valuable for what they ask and what they give. I'd rather pay half the ticket price (bought on site the previous year) and enjoy myself. (Seriously, if memory serves, first time volunteers *still* have to buy a badge, just at a reduced rate. For reals???)

But a revamped system that either didn't ask for as much of a commitment, and/or offered some sort of compensation would be something I would seriously consider.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

My husband just said to me (after denying that he's intimidating PFFT!) that he'd be happy to do two four hour shifts, one Friday and one Saturday nights. But this wouldn't even be considered with how the requirements are in place. He doesn't even want compensation!

They turn away these suggestions then cry their excuse of "Don't think it's enough?! Then volunteer!" And yeah, why volunteer away 24 hours of your con if you aren't going to be compensated for missing that much of it?

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean compensation in the monetary sense or anything. Just some sort of reward to offset giving up so much of a person's time. I mean, I do try and get at least an hour or two of sleep a night at D*C!

Someone once suggested reserving a section in each ballroom toward the front for "off duty" volunteers. So basically, if you want to see a star, and you did the right thing by volunteering, there's an added benefit to you by having a reserved section (maybe just a couple of rows, first come, first serve) available. Just something small like that might be enough (coupled with a smaller commitment) to get people to sign up who might not choose to, otherwise.

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to suggest monetary, other than taking a substantial amount off of the mem badge for the weekend.

Food vouchers at the hotel restaurants. Bar vouchers. A free D*C tshirt. What you suggested, or how about the meet and greet party that costs so much?

Anything!

[southernstyle.livejournal.com]

You would be surprised who reads this...

As for talking to the director of Security /at/ the Show, no offense, but that's not a wise idea, unless there is a current problem going on. That individual is insanely busy.

[paladyn.livejournal.com]

The biggest problem with the volunteer security force is finding people capable of managing it. You have five hotels and need x number of personnel to man critical infrastructure. Even if you had enough volunteers to cover the con on three hour shifts, keeping track of the people involved is a nightmare of cosmic proportions (and its a pain when you know everyone, imagine when you're wrangling complete strangers) and then what if someone isn't at their post at the designated time? If noticed, most of the security doesn't have comms, they have to depend on roving supervisors. And frankly, I doubt the security volunteers are gonna stand at their post until properly relieved. The majority will bail if the relief doesn't show within ten minutes. And if there is an issue with a rowdy patron? How many of the volunteers are actually authorized to take action? Or are cpable of tking action? Am I condoning this? Absolutely not, however I understand the scope of the problem and while the solution is simple, the execution is not.

Valid Points

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

Those are most certainly valid points. You're right, smaller shifts among more people would be a logistical nightmare. I hadn't immediately thought of that, which is one of the reasons, I at least, like to air ideas out here, so others can point out the things I miss.

So, you've pointed out a problem. Is there a work around?