Entries tagged with security

Entry tags:

linking to my posts with helpful DC tips

http://dragoncon.livejournal.com/3025544.html

These are, as always, a work-in-progress! Please reply with new info/updated/corrections as needed. :)

Entry tags:

Crowd Control

This might be the first time in about 7 years that I will not be attending Dragoncon. Mainly because of the huge crowds (seems worse every year) especially on Saturday. Even the smaller tracks have lines and overcrowded rooms now and the habitrails on Saturday were extremely dangerously crowded to a standstill last year to the point that is just wasn't even worth going out for me.

I was wondering has anything been done to improve the flow and amount of crowding in the hotels. I dont live that far away from Atlanta and might come down for a few days but last year really felt more like work that pleasure and frustration was the main primary emotion of the week. I was really surprised last year because I thought that moving the vendors out of the Marriott would really help. Dragoncon used to be my favorite event of the year and I hope some day it will again. I just cant see spending the money for that much frustration. That being said I hope everyone has and incredible and most importantly a very safe time! :)

Entry tags:

MASTER POST FOR REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

Post Reviews and or Feedback on D*C here.

Entry tags:

MASTER POST FOR REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

Post Reviews and or Feedback on D*C here.

Entry tags:

security

The official Backup Ribbon Project statement regarding Backup Ribbons at Dragon*Con

May be found here.

We strongly urge people who have concerns regarding the statement to respond to the original posting here.

While we will not turn off comments here, we'd much prefer any concerns about the Backup Ribbon project to be addressed in response to the statement on our web site.

Thank you.

Entry tags:

security

Dragon*Con Official Post: Good Intentions, Bad Situations

At times, good intentions can lead to bad situations. Dragon*Con has become aware of a potentially dangerous situation involving a self-started project that provides ribbons for fans identifying themselves as people who are able and willing to help another fan in the event assistance of any sort is needed in a difficult situation. While we absolutely believe that the creation of this movement was done with the best intentions to protect fans, we feel that it presents a possibility for a person coming in as a "wolf in sheep's clothing," perhaps luring someone in distress to an even more dangerous situation. Providing a ribbon for someone to wear to give them any type of "official" sanction when no screening has taken place is quite frankly, scary to us. To that end, we have asked the individual to stop providing ribbons for Dragon*Con attendees. We think a lot of our fans and believe strongly in the message that if you see someone in trouble, you should always be willing to help out or get someone who can. We expect no less and you all have never disappointed.

Dragon*Con takes the safety and security of our fans and volunteers very seriously. We have put many things into effect to provide the best environment at the convention, including the badge/room key check during peak evening hours and increase of Atlanta Police presence. 2011 was a great year with fewer problems than ever before and we plan to continue to maintain these same practices, and incorporate new ones as the show grows to make sure that everyone who attends Dragon*Con is as safe and secure as possible.

Entry tags:

link to general con and D*C tips

Here's the link to the general con and D*C tips that I update and re-post every year:

http://dragoncon.livejournal.com/2430029.html#t32293709

(The second list, of suggestions made, will be updated and posted asap.)

As always, please feel free to reply with more helpful tips. :)

Entry tags:

marriott,
security

Bad Experience with Rude Marriott Marquis Staff

Hello! While staying at the Marriott Marquis this past Dragon*Con, I had a less-than-pleasant experience with one of the Marriott security guards. He yelled at my husband and me because we were bringing a small cooler in the hotel (with TWO bottled of beer!)... At first he wasn't going to allow us into the hotel. After presenting my room key, he growled, "you need to take that up to your room immediately!" and then barked "If I see you in the lobby with that we're going to have a problem!' as we walked away.

It is totally uncalled for to yell at a hotel guest. Especially since we were not told ANY policies about having our baggage inspected!

I talked about this in the elevator on my way out, and several other people reported that they had been treated very rudely by Marriott staffers, or the staff seemed to make up policies about alcohol in the rooms, or room guests.

I think the Marriott needs to be made aware of the problem and insist that their employees be POLITE to guests, and COMMUNICATE any policies they may have in place so we can either follow the policies, or elect to go to a different hotel.

I've looked on the LJ pages, and there doesn't seem to be a thread about reporting problems with rude staff... there are just stories embedded into other threads. Please post your thoughts and stories here, and we can submit them to the Marriott.

Entry tags:

Thank you for the security this year!

I'd like to thank the Dragon*Con and hotel staff for the badge/card-key checking this year. I didn't see any problems like we had last year, and the staff checking the badges was for the most part polite but firm. I really appreciated it and fully enjoyed the vibe of the con this year.

Also props for the bar code scanning system for badge pickup. I waited in line for about an hour which was tons better than the last 7 or so years :)

Please do it again next year!

Entry tags:

MASTER POST FOR REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

Post Reviews and or Feedback on D*C here.

Entry tags:

security

Helpful tips when reporting Lost and Found to Security.

As you all know we keep a list in our system of all the lost and found items that are reported in security ops.

It would help us and yourself if when you have lost an item to be as descriptive as possible of said item.

Cameras - Too many times I get someone coming in and they have lost their camera and we ask "OK what did it look like?" and we get in response "It was silver with black writing digital camera" This is just an example. So please take a moment to look at your camera and really pay attention to the make (Nikon, Canon, Olympus) and model of said camera. If you carry it around in a carrying case, again, take a moment to look at the brand the case is. I may also suggest to make the carrying case different from all the thousands of other black carry case and decorate it. It doesn't have to be anything big.

Cell Phones - Pretty much the same thing as the camera, too much of a vague description. So again just take a moment to look at make (Samsung, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola) and model. Hundreds of people have touch screen phones at the con. So please remember what your background is on your phone. It will help so much! Also be prepared to give us another phone number so if your phone is turned in, we can get in touch with you. Often times when we ask for contact information, you would be surprise how many people can not give us another number to call.

Other items in generals (bags, books, glasses, sunglasses, purses, backpack) pretty much the same thing, please be as descriptive as possible.

Trust me, we want to return any items that were found back to you!!

Current Mood: curious
Current Music: Cream- White Room

Entry tags:

Question about flying with questionables.

Allo, D*Con peeps! I have a question for y'all. I am going to be flying to D*Con this year, but thanks to my costume, I'll have some questionable objects with me. The items in question are a chainsaw made of foam board, and a plastic rifle (take a wild guess as to who I'm going to be, lol.)

Do I need to call ahead to my respective airlines and let them know that I'm bringing questionable props with me? and would I be allowed to carry the (obviously fake) chainsaw on the plane with me? While it's certainly sturdy enough to withstand the con (I hope!), I don't think it would survive being treated as luggage.

What say y'all?

Entry tags:

badges,
security

Security

So this will be my first year at Dragoncon with an actual membership. I live in ATL so before it was just coming at night and hanging out with friends and meeting new people, but now im hearing that if you dont have a pass or a roomkey then you wont be able to get into the actual hotels. I know that crashers are really annoying but I was hoping some of my friends would be able to come at night and hang out. Has anyone heard anything about not being allowed into the hotel without a pass or key? I also have an extra pass cause my BF wont be able to attend this year and I was gonna let some of my friends borrow it so they can go to certain events with me. Will people be checking IDs at the door?

Current Mood: excited

Entry tags:

fandom,
security

Any other Backup Project things going on at D*Con?

Sorry, after this I PROMISE to shut up until next year...

I just got an e-mail from the editor for the Daily Dragon (that's the daily 'zine for Dragon*Con) and she want to include a story on the Backup Project.

:0 :0 :0

She asked if there was anything else beside the ribbon thing going on Backup-wise for Dragon*Con. My admittedly swiss-cheese memory says that there was talk of having Dragon*Con include Backup Project info in the program book, but...uhhmmm...yeah...swiss-cheese memory.

Anybody else know for sure about this? Please let me know so I can get in touch with her.

Either way, I'm just floored that we are getting this publicity! \0/

Entry tags:

fandom,
security

FINAL CALL FOR RIBBONS

[EDIT: I am now officially OUT of ribbons for Dragon*Con!]

~~OK, I have 50 ribbons left. The next FIVE people who PM me get one batch each (10 ribbons). After that, I am out of ribbons for Dragon*Con.~~

I will be re-ordering at some point for other cons, but this is IT for D*Con.

I finally gave up counting, but I've probably sent out about 1,000 ribbons for this year. I want to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported me in this nutsy project that I had no idea would take off like this.

I look forward to reading that this year's con was safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Again, thanks so much!

BetN

Current Mood: annoyed

Entry tags:

security

Security at Dragon*Con 2011

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?

Entry tags:

fandom,
security

Back Up Ribbon offer for Spring!

(Mods, please delete if not acceptable)

Once again, I'm putting out the offer for the Backup Ribbons. Wear one and signify that you are willing to step in and backup anybody at Dragon*Con (or other cons) being harrassed. We talk about the problem, now it is time to be part of the solution!

Here's how this works:

1. You PM me with your mailing addy and how many batches you want. These go out in batches of 10, so spread them around to your friends also willing to help out.

2. I mail you ribbons.

Baddabing, Baddabang, Baddaboom, it's that easy!

Please note that I have taken this on as my way of helping to fulfill the mission of The Backup Project. I am not asking for payment, however, if you wish to donate for postage, please indicate in your PM and I will give you my paypal addy for that.

Find out more about the Backup Project here

Entry tags:

faq,
security

Peace Bonding Weapons

My boyfriend has a costume that has guns.He plans on using air soft guns with out any ammunition. How does he go about it being peace bonded ? Any information would be helpful.

Entry tags:

costumes,
security

Costuming and security

Hi peeps, newbie question here, but it's something a little different for me this year. Could somebody point me in the right direction for questions relating to security with costuming i.e 'is this acceptable'? Most it is common sense, don't walk around with an unsheathed blade, don't point a gun at anyone. My *thing* just requires a little more confirmation.

Thanks

Entry tags:

security

Reporting Sexual Harassment in the SF community

Germane to several incidents that happened at D*C this year, while hoping that they aren't repeated next year... and before anyone says it, I know that a lot--but not all--of the altercations were perpetrated by non-attendees. It's the fact that at least some of the problems were fans harassing other fans that leads me to share this.

Author

jimhines has made a couple of excellent posts on the topic of sexual harassment at sf conventions; the most recent post is this one:

Reporting Sexual Harassment in SF/F

He's compiling a list of resources, including who to complain to if the assaulter is a pro (contacts at the various sf publishing houses), link to the Con Anti-Harassment Project, the Back-Up Project, and other good stuff. Check it out.