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Topic:
Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Happy Ninja
Title: •Former FF-UK:M CR
Registered:
Mar '00
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 11:40am
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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The lessons I learned from C4 are kind of difficult given that this is my first celebration.
Anyway.
- Knowing the city: This was my first time to the west coast of the USA, and in particular, my first time in Los Angeles. Since I had no prior knowledge of the city, I didn't know the layout, and the best methods of getting from points A to B. One of the decisions my friends and I did was instead of going into a hotel room in the middle of the city, we rented a house about 6 miles out from the con. While it was a fantastic house, in hindsight, it might not have been the best idea. The cost of getting cabs in the last couple of days (after we returned our hire car) to and from the con/party areas weren't as cheap as I was led to believe, and may have averaged out with the cost of a hotel room. That said, we were in town for longer than the majority of people staying in LA - 9 days as opposed to the 4 like most people...We're Brits; LA isn't "around the corner" as it is for you guys...we gotsta do the tourist thing! 
- Queing: I didn't find the queues bad; not one bit! Let's face it. I'm British. Queing is what I do best! I heard about the comparisons between the lines to some of the shows at C4 to the ones at C3, and that the lines at C4 were a lot better. I took that as a blessing.
- The store: I think I did the right thing here...go on the fan club only day! When I went, it was quiet, so I had plenty of time to browse around and look at everything I wanted without feeling rushed. Luckily, I'm not a collector. There were only a few items that I wanted, and thankfully those were in stock. I couldn't believe some of the items going out of stock only 4 hours after the store opened! Thankfully, I wasn't after any of those items.
- Getting there EARLY: As I said, I found the queues to be quite good, except there was one problem - and to be fair, this is the fault of the organisers, and not the crowds...If the doors open at 10am, and there is something you want to see at 10am, you have to get into the complex as quickly as possible, and into your room. Otherwise you will miss the beginning of what you want to see. As I found out in the Fan Film presentation.
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I wish my wife was as dirty as this signature! http://www.myspace.com/the_original_guru I am Jacks wasted signature... My other ride is YOUR MOM! Skeet, skeet, skeet!
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LukeSkiewalker
Title: Founder Heart of the Alliance KC, MO FF
Registered:
Apr '03
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 12:21pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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I'd say the best thing I did was spend the $10 to use the GPS service on my phone. I never got lost.
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resnictem
Registered:
Jan '99
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 1:14pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
- Date Edited:
6/6/07 1:17pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
resnictem
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Get my body over to the Visitor's Desk downstairs from the Celebration Store, so I may pick up a decent map of the area and have some help with bus schedules. I really wanted to go get something to eat after the con that didn't require me walking 5 huge rectangler blocks to get to.
Find out where the inprompt to after parties were going on. I kept checking this board for what was being planned and going on, but I guess I missed what was going on (or didn't look in the right place.)
Making a point of seeing the Stormtropper Olympics, any and all fan film panels, and any potential sneak previews.
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AboutaSith
Title: IEFF Webi-Master
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 1:27pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Check In with the Force.net or Fan Force Booths for the parties. 
If your flying in go for the last seats at the back of the plane where they go from 3 to 2. If you get the one by the window you get loads of leg room as they couldn't fit the 3rd seat in there. I did this when i flew from London to Tokyo a few yrs ago, was well worth it, i've done it on every flight since.
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Former President of IEFF - Please Build Me A Library http://www.inlandempirefanforce.com
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Lufta Shif
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 7:28pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Great ideas, everyone! I am taking notes and adding them to my C5 folder!
Kasey_Atol: You are so right about an extra suitcase! I am planning on having one next time.
Lowbacca_1977: About the pollen count, I didn’t believe it either, but I had all my classic allergy symptoms. Pollution could also account for my sorry state. One day I had to wear sunglasses inside because my eyes were so sore from itching them so much!
SSDExecutor: The business center inside the LACC carried super glue. I would not have known this if another fellow costumer had not told me.
Keep the great ideas coming!
 Lufta Shif
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"Is it weird in here, or is it just me?"
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Amidala081499
Registered:
Sep '03
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 8:09pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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LOL...I had an extra suitcase packed full of food. So, when we got to the hotel we emptied it out and started filling it up again with C4 things.
Superclue and sewing kits are a must. I brought ours simply because at C3 we had wardrobe malfunctions...lol.
Also, a few trash bags for laundry. I forgot these and had to put all my dirty clothes in with my clean clothes, what a wonderful smell I discovered...lol.
Lufta...I too have allergies and they were running amuk on me as well. I took some meds but they only got a bit better, so I can sympathesize with you.
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"Don't let your past dictate who you are, but who you will become." -- Gandalf -- LOTR : FOTR
"We are not humans having a spiritual experience, but rather spirits having a human experience."
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Cara_Undercover_Jedi
Registered:
Nov '06
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 9:20pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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I learned not to take yogurt without a reliable way to keep it cold. No fridge in the room and the bag of ice was melted on arrival; and no more ice availible!  The yogurt was still a BIT cold, but I didn't want to take any chances. Now that would be a nasty surprise. Food poisoning, anyone? 
I also learned DO NOT FORGET MOLESKIN; or else don't wear stiff cowgirl boots for walking a lot. The skin on my ankle got totally rubbed off. I may sell my old boots.
On the positive, I learned that:
-the Greyhound system is very reliable, friendly, and comfortable. (albeit slow  )
-Conventions are addicting!
-my fellow fans are really nice!
-I need to get out more, LOL 
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Dew or Dew Not; There is no Sprite. Order 66...11-1-08' *For updates, go here: http://www.noon66.bravehost.com/ * Founder of Flying Arrow Studios
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GreyJedi
Title: SDFF MajorDomo
Registered:
May '02
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Date Posted:
6/6/07 10:37pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Plagious posted:
4. Join more organizations like 501st to get more benifits at the celebration.
Why just the 501st? Why not the Rebel Legion or Jedi Assembly?
There were several gatherings among the costuming clubs and members of the Rebel Legion Pilot Squadron made good use of the Holiday Inn bar area.
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Proud Leader of the Rebel Legion
Fighting Against Imperial Tyranny
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Qui-Dawn
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 4:58am
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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For me, CIV was essentially all for the good, my first such massive conventioneering experience and without a doubt absolutely *the* best time I have ever enjoyed in all my life, and the very best by far that I'm perhaps ever likely to, period....at least until CV and ones thereafter, natch. I was, however, confronted with one very unfortunate and wholly unexpected, extremely dismaying and rather disheartening lesson learned at one point: that even in a fan convention where we're all there for the same unifying purpose, where we're all there "as one", I should think, and thus it's like one big happy family, a true sense of community and no mistake....still, though, for all the good therein - it was still possible to end up feeling....violated, really, there's no other way to describe it, just violated and taken callous advantage of - when some heartless and remorseless wastrel *stole* my belongings on the Saturday night, making off at the time with my purse which had *everything* in it....
....and I do mean pretty much everything, by the way, admittedly not any of my SW swag, thank the Force (that was safe and sound back in the hotel room) - but still, yes, at the time....the fact that my purse was snatched meant that my parents' digital camera was gone, and all the pics I'd thus far taken, and of course my credit card, my passport, all my ID, my money (ye-es, now, I'd spent the bulk of it already....*still*, though-!) - even, would you believe, two used lipsticks....so apparently the fool who violated my personal space like that was not only callous and cruel, but was also completely witless about *hygeine*, for Force's sake.... *rolls eyes* ....and my nice half-sweater, as well, that was snatched, and suffice it to say I was left in a dreadful state afterwards....thanks be for having understanding, supportive and wonderful roomies to help comfort, reassure and steady me during a trauma like that, methinks that's another timely lesson well-learned and one I'll always keep in mind and heart.
Of course, as it turned out and *very* much to my surprise to say the least, my purse was actually recovered and returned to the hotel - though of course, the paper money I had left at the time, gone, and those few other things - the sweater (by the way, if you see anyone with a nice purple half-sweater, it's *not* from that area, it's only available up here in Canada, so if you see it....'tis mine, and 'twas stolen, I'm just saying) and, confoundingly, the lipsticks....my sunglasses, and that *beautiful* little CIV Anakin-Vader playing card which was, as you know, included in the packet we got when we first signed in, got all our stuff.... *growls in heated irritation* ....and that even that, as well, was taken, actually ticks me off to an even greater and still more personal extent, and it was already goin' some, believe you me. Ahem.... But, ye-es, in any case, would you believe, other than that - I got everything else back that was in there, including the digital camera and *all* my pics....
And, well, to be fair, I had admittedly been fearing just how I was going to explain *that* one to my parents....now, of course, they don't have to know about that part of it....ignorance being bliss, and all that. *rueful chuckle* Still, though, to say it turned out to be quite the inconvenience would be vastly understating the point, because not only did I obviously have to cancel my credit card once I realized the theft (because who ever expects to get the stuff back, right?) but I also had to cancel my *passport*....which was also still there in the bag, safe and sound. And it had darn well better be that I don't have to run through the whole rigamarole of paying nearly $100 and waiting weeks and weeks for a replacement passport (got home safe, no prob, but it still has to be dealt with) - because, oh....trust me, my wrath then, my vengeful wrath....there shall be no words for it, methinks. *fumes at the mere notion*
And that it was, moreover, also the actions of - I can only presume - one callous, heartless, remorseless and insensitive, utterly unsympathetic you-know-what (who does *not* deserve to be dignified by the term "person", either!) who did this tome, violated my personal space, my rights, my sense of comfort....and that it was clearly someone at least masquerading as a fellow fan who did this....that, to be sure, is a hard and distasteful lesson to learn, and I don't think I'll ever be at ease with it either. I just can't bear the thought that surrounded by fellow like-minded fans, in our little community, our "one big happy family" thing, something like *this* would happen....definitely not the sort of lesson I ever would have dreamed of, and it rattled me, that I'll grant you. I haven't lost my faith in fan-kind, thanks be to the Force....and another lesson learned, too, there *are* good people in this world, and the Gen Con folks - *wonderful* at helping me, so generous, I'll be forever grateful to them!
So-o, then, yes, I suppose all 'round then that really would make for....definitely some lessons learned, albeit at least one I could have done without, for sure. *shudders vehemently* Ah well....to he or she who did that to me, then, violated my personal space and sense of comfort and trust like that, perhaps the most apt word in response is: karma. Trust me, the universe balances itself out, and soon enough it *will* happen. I've seen karma in action enough times to know that. Just one more lesson to learn, that's all.... *phew*
Dawn.
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Anakin Skywalker is shagadelic!  "...I'm far too beautiful!" - Lorenzo de Lamberti The Rambling Court Bard of the A&P Defenders Royal Court Hayden is MY Love Muffin
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 6:47am
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Dawn, sorry that happened to you. What can I say? There are sides of human nature that are less than stellar. I'm just glad that you got so much back.
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JediJustin
Registered:
Aug '06
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 6:51am
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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Sorry to hear that, Dawn.
Unfortunately, the Dark Side does reside in some Star Wars fans. Here's to wishing you better luck next time around at C5.
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Justin LaSalata - Microsoft MCSE
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Qui-Dawn
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 1:05pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
- Date Edited:
6/7/07 1:38pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Qui-Dawn
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ValedaKor posted:
Dawn, sorry that happened to you. What can I say? There are sides of human nature that are less than stellar. I'm just glad that you got so much back.
Ohhhh, yes indeedy, me too and in a *big* way at that, for sure and certain....I'll tell you, after all, one of the things I dreaded and was basically panicking and inconsolably hysterical over, in the immediate aftermath of it, *was* simply that the digital camera wasn't even mine, it had been borrowed and I'd been entrusted with it, and oh....it was *not* at all a happy time, really not a healthy frame of mind to be in, that's for sure and certain - I seem to recall that more than once I said my parents would just kill me for the loss, and okay, maybe that *exact* thing wouldn't have happened, but oh, just think of the guilt, for one thing....and they'd have probably never trusted me again....and I'd just hate to, myself, be the cause of stress or frustration or bad vibes like that. If you know what I mean.... *rueful look* So-o, then, yes, indeed I *am* glad and relieved beyond words that I got that back, and all the pictures I'd thus taken, and all my ID, and even my credit card and passport....
Albeit, of course, being forced into the position of having to cancel them "thanks" to someone who thought they were somehow entitled (!!!) to riffle through my belongs and take what wasn't theirs, violating me as they'd *no* right to ever dare....we-ell, then, yes, suffice it to say that, too, the whole frustration and ordeal of having to reactivate all this stuff and get it properly goin' and taken care of again, *that* I'm really not overly fond of, and so if it proves at all stressful or vexing or a general pain in the you-know-what, then yes, clearly that's just one thing more to hate and blame and revile and hold in utter contempt and disdain for, the one who did this, if you follow me. Just one more reason, I'm thinking, to basically be wishing all sorts of misfortune and misery right square on their head.... *distinctly irritated expression*
And mmmmmmmm, yes, maybe it'll sound a bit naive to say so, but honestly - I guess for whatever reason I'd just never thought that a fellow SW fan especially - devoted, loyal, of like mind and interest and passionate inclination - would ever do something like this to, well, to another human being in general obviously, but *especially* to another, fellow SW fan....when we're all in the same place, at the same time, for the same reasons. I'd just never have dreamed it, I suspect, that one of our number, or at least someone who may *claim* to be a "fan", more like, because one who would violate and take advantage and be heartless like this really *doesn't* deserve to be called a fan, they're *not* worthy of it if this, *this* is what they'll do to another innocent and trusting person, and....and I just.... *shakies head a trifle dolefully* Oh, honestly, I just - never would hav thought it, then, is the thing - not *there*, not at that time, not when we were all supposed to be there for the same purpose....
Not there, after all, when it simply seemed to me that 'twas like we were all this great community gathered together in one spot, you know, really everyone of like mind and heart and inclination, we were *all* there for one purpose, one sole thing which brought us all together....and I thought that counted for something, I thought that meant a great deal....bountiful oodles upon oodles, in fact. I thought it stood for something....and I still do, by and large, but I'll tell you - something like this happening, it seriously rattled me, and who knows but what it also strips the proverbial veil from my eyes to a certain extent....even has me seeing just how it is that a person could get mighty cynical, especially about human nature and even in some SW fans to boot....and that, I never would have imagined, and *that* is not a way I'd *ever* care to think, or to be. *sighs deeply* How anyone could do that to someone else, I don't know....how a fellow *fan* could do it to another, that truly boggles the mind.
Dawn.
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Anakin Skywalker is shagadelic! "...I'm far too beautiful!" - Lorenzo de Lamberti The Rambling Court Bard of the A&P Defenders Royal Court Hayden is MY Love Muffin
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ScootyPuffJr
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 1:33pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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[quote=Mokitty- If they fail again to provide concise information about the surrounding area; services, shops etc, make a mission of finding out on the first day. Where can you go to eat, where are the sights and how do you get to them, how long will it take on public transit to get to better restaurants... ask everyone -- bellhops, concierge, front desk... you'll get conflicting information but eventually someone will tell you definitively what you need to do. This trip would have been so much better for me in so many ways had I known at the start I could get to Universal City Walk for $5 and a half hour on the Metro.
quote]
Hi Mo-- ALL of that general information (or links to how to get to it) had been posted for months on the stickied "General" thread that I believe Valedakor did. Info on Metro, DASH buses, cheap Union Station flyaway bus service to LAX, etc. -- there was a lot of discussion on many different threads. I guess the best thing is, check all the C(whatever) threads for final updated info on threads, before leaving! That hotel thing sucked though...
SPJ
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"In America, the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience." ~ Oscar Wilde
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AaylaSecurOWNED
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 1:57pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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1)Volunteer/be important/sell my soul for some kind of badge other than a common peasant badge.
-If not 1, and even if 1, bring deck of cards for playing in line
2)Bring camera (mine broke a month ago and I haven't had time to replace it) and laptop
3) Skip the Rebel Legion mixer.
-If not 3, remember to take $28 mug with me
4)Stay for Pod Party/Don't leave before the end of the Con
-Go to store during blowout sale
5)Find some kind of transportation that won't cost me $50 from the airport to my hotel.
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Women. Jedi. No.
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Dingo
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
6/7/07 3:43pm
Subject:
RE: Now that C4 is over...lessons learned
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AaylaSecurOWNED posted:
bring deck of cards for playing in line
Should have said something, there was a deck in my bag I could have dropped off on my way in.
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You want someone to hurt like you,
You want to share what you've been through.
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