WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO: Preview Night
It's been an odd day; one that has prompted me to talk once again about table pirates. Hanna and I got to the DE Stephens Center in good time and set up. Hanna bade me farewell until Saturday, and not long thereafter a fellow with an Exhibitor badge appeared at the edge of the CLP space looking sheepish. He explained that he was a friend of the fellow who had the half table next to us and that for some reason, he had forgotten to request to be next to him but it was ok he said--WizWo said if I agreed to move, it was okay.
Well, no, it isn't okay. Our table is in the guide (3718A), we're in a good area, and no we don't want to move. I tell him we prefer to stay where we are. He says no you can take my table way over there. I say again no we prefer to stay where we are.
No, he reassures me. You don't have to move today. Tomorrow.
I say no again. He shakes his head like I don't understand. I cut him off--"I understand what you're asking; I prefer to stay where I am." He skulks off. Weird.
In the meantime I meet the folks on the other side of the gap, in particular Kelly Howlett. She knows the guy who isn't here yet. When I asked her to watch the table while I went to the front to give Carter his badge so he can get in, the guy returns and asks Kelly if she thinks I might move. She tells him no, she doesn't think we're inclined to move. She tells us this when Carter and I get back.
Well, it bugs me. I worry this guy is going to do something foolish after closing or during setup tomorrow. Carter says "Tell Security." This is a good idea. I explain all this to a Security guy and he lets out a contemptuous puff of breath and says "Poachers." He reassures me that if there's a thing out of place tomorrow, we'll go find this guy.
The Security guy summed it up perfectly. Table poaching is getting to be more of a problem, at least as far as I can tell. There's a reason cons print your table number on your badge--it's a problem. The sense of entitlement that makes people with no table at all set up shop at a no show's table is one thing. But to reassign yourself by trying to con someone out of their space? It amazes me, frankly.
He even claimed he would pay me to move, saying it as if he had a trump card. Carter suggested if he brings it up again, to tell him to pay us the cost of going to this thing and then just go home. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that Security will clear any troubles up.
Carter also reminds me that nothing at all may happen, which is the odds-on favorite result anyways.
Otherwise things are nice. We had a nice feed at Gibson's Steakhouse across from THE DES Center and are calling it a night.
--John
Well, no, it isn't okay. Our table is in the guide (3718A), we're in a good area, and no we don't want to move. I tell him we prefer to stay where we are. He says no you can take my table way over there. I say again no we prefer to stay where we are.
No, he reassures me. You don't have to move today. Tomorrow.
I say no again. He shakes his head like I don't understand. I cut him off--"I understand what you're asking; I prefer to stay where I am." He skulks off. Weird.
In the meantime I meet the folks on the other side of the gap, in particular Kelly Howlett. She knows the guy who isn't here yet. When I asked her to watch the table while I went to the front to give Carter his badge so he can get in, the guy returns and asks Kelly if she thinks I might move. She tells him no, she doesn't think we're inclined to move. She tells us this when Carter and I get back.
Well, it bugs me. I worry this guy is going to do something foolish after closing or during setup tomorrow. Carter says "Tell Security." This is a good idea. I explain all this to a Security guy and he lets out a contemptuous puff of breath and says "Poachers." He reassures me that if there's a thing out of place tomorrow, we'll go find this guy.
The Security guy summed it up perfectly. Table poaching is getting to be more of a problem, at least as far as I can tell. There's a reason cons print your table number on your badge--it's a problem. The sense of entitlement that makes people with no table at all set up shop at a no show's table is one thing. But to reassign yourself by trying to con someone out of their space? It amazes me, frankly.
He even claimed he would pay me to move, saying it as if he had a trump card. Carter suggested if he brings it up again, to tell him to pay us the cost of going to this thing and then just go home. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that Security will clear any troubles up.
Carter also reminds me that nothing at all may happen, which is the odds-on favorite result anyways.
Otherwise things are nice. We had a nice feed at Gibson's Steakhouse across from THE DES Center and are calling it a night.
--John
posted by John Ira Thomas at
9:30 PM
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