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

[rayhne.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere they are tightening up security in the host hotels, letting in only people with badges. Here: http://dragoncon.livejournal.com/2564412.html

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember reading that post. I checked the date on the post, it's from September of last year. I was hoping some updated information would be made available.

[paladyn.livejournal.com]

The Con Staff and the hotels may have every intention of enforcing the policies mentioned in the other thread, however looking at this from the perspective of someone who has worked large complicated operations...

-Policies brief well.
-Expectations need to be managed.
-The actual result is not usually what you expect.

[grimthorn.livejournal.com]

The Hyatt and Marriott will have hotel security outside of every entrance checking room keys and badges (no badge or room key, no getting in.. period)

The other host hotels will be encouraged to adopt a similar policy, but there is no definitive word on how they will do that.

[meinken.livejournal.com]

As the problem generally does not occur until the evening alcohol binges begin, the room key/badge checking will begin in the evening. I presume around 5-6pm, though I don't know for sure.

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

In other words, some things look better on paper then they do when put into action?

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

Hrmm, I hope they adhere to that. The Hyatt and Marriott "security" are more or less directing traffic every time I see them. *here's to hoping*

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

Let's see what's more important to the hotel, making money selling booze, or protecting nerds from getting grabbed.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone's "forgetting" anything. This subject has been in perpetual discussion on this board since last DC (see the periodical updates about ribbons)

Unfortunately, I think there's limits on what D*C can and cannot do, and at that, they have to cooperate with both local law enforcement and the individual hotel security... so, it does beg the question, settle for a less enforced uniform policy for all host hotels that everyone could agree on? So a Con goer will know what to expect be they in the Sheraton or the Westin or the Hyatt? Or... a hodgepodge of policies per hotel, with there being supposedly more "safer" zones than others? Where a Con goer might not know what to expect at the Hilton or the Marriott?

Ultimately, the choice is going to be yours, I suppose (or better still, may be your girl friend's, as she's the one more directly affected?), but I would suggest facing this head on. The threat is serious, but to retreat in fear would be the greater sin, and possibly reinforce the notion that nerds/geeks can be bullied until they run away crying. I won't be that person.

While it's not at all the same, I look at it as akin to the "It Gets Better" project. Only shining the light of day on this, and shaming and calling to account the perpetrators will improve the situation. (okay, actually, now that I think about it, that's not at all the same, but hey, free plug!)Basically, football fan douches, geek fan douches, regular run of the mill douches, etc, just need to know we're not going to stand for this. Period.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

If this policy is really enforced, they can, and will, still make money selling booze. But only to people staying at the hotel or wearing a Con Badge.

[jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com]

One of the huge problems with security is certain aspects are probably out of the control of the staff. The hotels don't just book DragonCon partrons. I recall last year that hordes of LSU fans were in town for the SEC-ACC Classic and contributed to a number of unpleasant incidents. Until D*Con has an exclusivity contract with the hotels to host ONLY con participants, there's no way to easily enforce who can be in the common areas. Posting security at every door and access given the 80 to 90K number of participants and guests, will be guaranteed to create massive botlenecks at every entrance.

There's a known number of sites and areas where roving security teams should be in other to watch out for these folks who shouldn't be there. That's my suggestion.

[trybutez.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I don't ever see the day the hotels sell only to D*C patrons, though wouldn't that be wonderful? I do like the idea of having specific areas patrolled. That's only logical and makes a wonderful amount of sense.

Now, I have heard that there are some schools which are better than others, meaning some fans have a rep for bad behaviour. (admittedly, that's painting with a broad stroke, but anyway...) So I suppose it's possible this concern will wax and wane depending upon the game participants. I would, however, like to see some measures taken by the schools perhaps. Just basic decency like... "These people may be different from you. Dress different, talk different, look different, but that's not excuse to be an Ahole..." But, y'know, more politic.

Unfortunately, it seems a third of the stories I heard last year happened on the escalators and there's not much to be done there. :(

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

Valid points indeed. The biggest problems I had were at the Marriott, which I should have pointed out in the above post. I just wanted to campus the con security in general. As far as the discussions go about security, I was hoping to see something about it on the D*con official web page; just to let us know they acknowledged there will be changes to make it a safer convention for us all. I have seen nothing to that effect. It's one thing to bitch about it on LJ, but another thing to actually see some tangible results.

I have always gotten the feeling from the Marriott staff that we are those "rejects" that come in once a year. They just have to deal with us because we give them money. I have over heard bell hops and front desk staffers making jokes about the "side show" coming Labor Day weekend. I don't think their intentions to protect us with their security are as noble as they would have us think. Might just be me, but I digress.

I don't want the convention to get to this point. It had always been the underdog convention in my mind and it's starting to grow into something that is more of a drunken frat party. When did it become let's go take advantage of the weirdos? I liked it better when it was just us hanging out without the need for douchery.

[sensitivinferno.livejournal.com]

What's funny (though not actually funny at all) is that I got groped the year BEFORE last year. In 2009 there were a lot less complaints than in 2010, which means that it has steadily been getting worse since before the explosion of 2010 complaints...and it's hard to stop a freight train when it's going out of control. The con has gotten so huge that I'm afraid it's a little like a freight train. It's hard to control crowds that large.

My husband and I are sitting out this year for unrelated reasons, but I look forward to seeing the reports after the 2011 show. They may determine if we return in 2012 (along with the guest list, of course.)

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you on this point. It's almost like the hotels are getting a kick out of putting jocks and nerds together in one hotel just to see what happens. The commons areas should be cordoned off for the various other groups at the hotel. Maybe give the larger money making group the larger common areas and rope off other areas for football fans and whoever else might be in town.

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend and in the same boat with you and your husband. Dragon*Con is losing touch with their guests and getting greedy with money. I seriously think they could care less about the people and more about the cha-ching of the cash register.

[tacnukesoul.livejournal.com]

A big problem is D*C is pretty well known (dates and location) outside of the con circuit. There are a lot of people who know they will see "cute women in skimpy outfits" and there's very little to change that other than move the con in either time or space, neither of which is very likely.

All you can do is keep your head on a swivel ("be here now" for the Trekkies) and pay attention when something doesn't feel right. You don't have to become a vigilante, Just find someone and tell them. Not perfect, but sometimes it's all you can do.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Considering they can be sued for not looking after the safety of their guests? I think protecting the nerds (geeks, thanks) will have to rank higher.

[veracity]

I don't think it's the con, really. I mean, it's not the billion dollar industry that the hotels are. While the hotels proclaim to enjoy the con - the revenue, at least - they don't necessarily agree with what goes on. The hotels will have to be open-minded enough to take serious consideration into the unsafe environment created. Because I don't know about anyone else, but when I go on vacation I look at former stays in the same company. If I remember something unfavorably, I'll stop spending money there and go to the next place.

Right now, the country is becoming somewhat...unsafe to be a woman in case something does happen. It's harder to protect oneself afterwards in the legal sense. I'm giving 2011 a chance for the hotels to show me they're paying close enough attention to the serious repercussions. (And that includes any sort of violence, not simply female assaults.) If they don't...well, I might DCTV but I can live without it. And the convenience for the sake of feeling secure in the fact my money's as good as the next person's when it comes to my safety. I can hope a MARTA like I did in 2006 and bring my own food/drinks.

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

I asked why D*C doesn't just buy out all rooms in the host hotels. Turns out it is either an Atlanta city law or a Georgia state law (it was unclear which one it was) that says either 15% or 20% of the rooms MUST be reserved for non-convention guests when a hotel hosts a convention. So it is impossible for D*C to take over hotels exclusively. Which I feel is a shame.

[orcapotter.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone voicing that there is only so much the con and the hotels can do. The hotels also don't choose who stays at their establishment; if you're willing to pay, you can stay. As long as they have a set # of rooms set aside for non-con attendees, anyone can stay there. LSU fans are infamously known for their outrageous and obscene behavior. Throw that in with drunk attendees and drunk party-seekers and you've got the recipe for unwanted behavior. I've noticed that the whole drinking and partying scene has gotten bigger as the years have gone by. I avoid the bars and am in my room by 11 PM most nights, so I've rarely been bothered by it--especially since I've been staying with my friends in the Marriot on higher floors.

Even under the best security, you still want to be watchful. Don't go around by yourself in the evenings and keep to areas with a lot of people. I can agree with the idea that no one should have to do this while enjoying your vacation, but it's reality and applies everywhere. Hopefully security will take things more seriously this year in the meantime.

Expectations need to be managed.

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

Best line I have read so far, and unless the hotel is 100% booked w/ DC attendees I don't see how they are keeping non=DC people out.

Ridiculously priced ? Have you looked at the star power you get compared to smaller cons (which I attend) for the $$ ? 'Does not approach' comes to mind.

Whiners. Seriously. Get over it. You can't throw on a Spiderman outfit and not expect the occasional ribbing. Seeing as how no one is getting slapped with a towel in the high school gym I fail to understand why it is bothering some of you so much. Laugh at them and tell them to fuck off.

Let's see where this goes...

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

I am quite certain the hotel has much more important things to do than laugh at jocks vs. geeks.

Honestly, it sounds like you've already decided not to attend. When others here have mentioned things that have been done or are going t be, you dismiss it out of hand.

Dragon*Con will NEVER be a safe space. No con is a safe space. The sooner fans wrap their brains around that notion, the better off fandom as a whole will be for it.

What we *can* do is work to make it safer. Which is happening.

But if anything less than 100% safety is not good enough for you, then maybe you should just stay at home.

Re: Expectations need to be managed.

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

To be honest, it IS getting crazily priced. And "star power"...??? Really. Last time I checked, this wasn't Comic Con. You want "star power", go out to San Diego.

I don't make costumes for a convention to get a "ribbing". No one does. You're supposed to be safe at a convention...THAT'S WHY IT'S A CONVENTION. If a costumer can't walk around a convention THEY'RE MEANT TO BE AT, without getting harassed, shit needs to change.

Nobody's whining; more like wanting assurance. And people actually did have issues that were FAR worse than what you call "getting slapped with a towel in a HS gym." Girls were nearly raped for no apparent reason. Gang fights broke out. People were puking all over the damn place. It was mass hysteria last year. Hence why the Marriott shut down all entrances on Saturday night, and there was an insane bottleneck in the walkways from other hotels/Peach Tree Center.

Having attended Dragon*con for nearly 10 years now, it was never as bad as what I've seen in the past 2 years. I believe Dragon*con needs to go back to its roots and be slightly more humble, or it's going to get even more ridiculous.

Public advertisement was a HORRIBLE idea for a place that should be treated more as a haven than a publicity stunt.

Re: Expectations need to be managed.

[rap541.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as I recall, the incidents causing the demand for more security were physical assaults, drunken dumbasses throwing shit from the upper levels of the Marriot down on congoers... not people making fun of the fat Spidermen.

Personally - and I know this will NEVER happen, I'd like to see the Shereton stop selling *beer* in the badge lines. Its not like you can escape the drunken assholes by going back to your room there.