MerCon type of gathering for 201?? what do you think??

[Mermaid Hamant]

I agree with MermaidPandorah. I think it should be open, though not in a place that is TOO crowded with random people.

[Mermaid Momo]

i've been to tons of conventions and they usually are at hotels. so if anyone can find a hotel with a really big pool and a lot of business meeting rooms that might be a place to start because then there's room for a vendors hall, artist alley, and panels to be going on all at once and ppl still can be swimming. but the most problematic thing would be the cost. i have no idea how much it would cost to rent a hotel floor for an event.

[Mermaid Shelly]

Have you guys heard about this event taking place in Florida in February? http://gasparilla2012.eventbrite.com/?ref=elink I wonder if the organizers could help out with a convention too?

I was talking to a manager of a hotel here in San Diego that is on the beach about a possible meeting location and they didn't seem too scared off by the idea... I think if we had a proposal together, I bet a lot of venues would welcome the extra business, especially in this economy!

[Mermaid Marla]

Shelly - did you know Sita is part of the Gasparilla event? Well she was at one point and said whe was going to be here for it... I'm going to try my best to go since it's practically in my backyard :-)

[Odette]

SO GLAD THIS WAS POSTED. im a panelist for conventions in arizona. i can talk to the staff and ask them how its done. next con im attending is in jan6-8 so hopefully by then i can get you guys some answers.

[Mermaid Shelly]

Shelly - did you know Sita is part of the Gasparilla event? Well she was at one point and said whe was going to be here for it... I'm going to try my best to go since it's practically in my backyard :-)

I heard that also, but wasn't sure if she was the official organizer or just helping out. I'm so glad you are going! I am really curious about it and it is cool then I want to go to the next one

[New York Mermaid]

SO GLAD THIS WAS POSTED. im a panelist for conventions in arizona. i can talk to the staff and ask them how its done. next con im attending is in jan6-8 so hopefully by then i can get you guys some answers.

Odette We would really appreciate anything you can find out for us thanks

[Odette]

your very welcome, lanai =)

[Odette]

just got back from the convention. my friends are staff and i went looking for head hauncho, but he wasnt even there! they say if i want this info, i should go on staff. so i will do so to help make this happen! i heard from the staff room that it takes alot of money and hotels dont care for conventions because alot of bad stuf happens. this current con, we had the elevator break because kids were jumping in it, cops had to stop a party on the top floor, and some panels were not run correctly and moms were SOOO mad that there were curse words in a PG-13 panel. the worst actually happens at hiltons for some reason


the other con before this one, the dance floor of the rave actually gave in some!!

and also, con- goers always leave huge messes for the maids to clean up.

so we need to:
be courteous to the hotel
prohibit all bad behaviour
promise a good number of attendees for this(wanna go? go and dont back out please)
sponsorships (will give us a good amount of money(ive done that before. its crazy)



i will get us more info by march. this is gonna happen!

[Mermaid Hamant]

What would the dates be?

[Odette]

I agree with MermaidPandorah. I think it should be open, though not in a place that is TOO crowded with random people.

when attending, you wear a badge. only attendees get to be where the event is( we need security volunteers checking badges. when you volunteer so many hours, you can get in for free)
when we advertise it, it will only be in places like this and other mermaid websites, pages, ect. all up to you guys where we post about this event once its created.

[Odette]

i've been to tons of conventions and they usually are at hotels. so if anyone can find a hotel with a really big pool and a lot of business meeting rooms that might be a place to start because then there's room for a vendors hall, artist alley, and panels to be going on all at once and ppl still can be swimming. but the most problematic thing would be the cost. i have no idea how much it would cost to rent a hotel floor for an event.

just about every hotel has at least 4 conference rooms and at least one ballroom with names so they are easy to find on the little event list thing you get at the front desk.
the back of a good badge has a map of the hotel. and has plastic for putting your hotel key in.

usually panels only run for a max of 2 hours unless there is a dance or karaoke or activities like craft making.

[Odette]

What would the dates be?

plan a year ahead
this gives the hotel,us making this happen, and attendess time for preparations (plane tickets,hotel room discounts,getting events at con together,media releases,all that jazz)
meetings will occur every 2 months at the least.
i hope to get more vital info by march. we should try this event maybe for may but when is the vegas convention? we dont want to have it around the same time and its best for this to happen when everyone is on summer or spring break ( i found that most mer enthusiasts are in their early teens to mid 20's.so to get the most ppl we need it during a break in school)

[mermanjr]

well sorry there guys i already got it covered this summer im hosting the biggest mermaid event ever In Orlando Florida
also this will be the biggest ever me and my east coast mermaid crew took over the world gate hotel over for weekend and its right outside the disney world main gate for all the details checkout
www.Mer-Palooza.com for tickets,merchandise,and all the up to date info on the biggest mermaid talent ever and major specail guests and the list is still growing

[Stephanie Sims]

Vegas is planned for the Spring this year.

[Stephanie Sims]

We have it covered! I am helping with the tradeshow and Pageant, costume contest for the Florida event in August! It's gping to be awesome. The inside conference room stuff is already booked and secured. Check it out! email directly at info@aimdirectmedia.com

[mermanjr]

already done Mer-Palooza will have the Mermaid convention atmosphere and its also located on the east coast

[mermanjr]

nate you got no idea , i can tell from exsperance its very hard , because you have to have the right team to pull it off , because you have to consider all costs and also cutr alot of red tape unless you know high end people
i can tell you the cost of one event i did was about 15,000 just to get it off the ground and thats not including the extras so conventions of any type do cost a pretty penny

[Stephanie Sims]

Hi Shelly, New member just seeing the older post. yes, I am the owner of Gasparilla, the event at gasparilla2012.eventbrite.com

[Stephanie Sims]

Hi Shelly, New member just seeing the older post. yes, I am the owner of Gasparilla, the event at gasparilla2012.eventbrite.. Awesome that you were looking at that and this all clicked... I am helping with the event in August.