"Historicon GM Registration Schedule" Topic

This always sneeks up on me, so I thought I'd post this. Someone may have posted the information and link within another thread, but I thought this deserved its own.

link

Event registration opens March 13
PEL deadline is April 15
Program deadline is May 13
Event Registration closes on June 10

Regarding admission prices for GMs, this is what it says on the site:

Gamemaster Policy: The primary GM (not assistants) will automatically receive free admission if he or she is a HMGS Member (any Chapter) and the event is submitted for inclusion in the Preliminary Events List. HC 2012 PEL deadline is April 15. To qualify, a game must include at least 16 ‘gamer-hours'. A Gamer Hour = one gamer for one hour---example: 4 players for 4 hours = 16 Gamer Hours. Convention Management reserves the right to refuse any game or admission. Game Masters who are not HMGS Members register as normal attendees and pay the normal attendee admission fee. GM badges will be available at the Pre-Reg Desk at the convention.

Thanks, I never saw an announcement that it was open until now.

Normally I run games, but maybe I'll just give it a pass this year. It's their right to charge non-member GMs with attendance, but doesn't mean I have to like it. I know everyone has a opinion on this. My 2 cents, change probably needed. :)

Joey

Same here. Gas, hotel, food, then to schlep my stuff, run games, and have to pay to do it. Nah. Not worth it this time 'round.

Eric

Have to agree with Deathwing. It's actually cheaper to pay non-member admission to the cons than to pay membership and get nothing for it but a discount to the shows.

Eric, with all due respect I believe you are wrong. You are not paying to put on your game. What you are paying for is to have a roof over your head to play your game. The venues cost money.

Having said that, being fair doesn't necessarily make it a smart move. Does the BoD think that by antagonizing past, present and future potential GM's, it is doing a service to the membership? The GM's are the life blood of the Conventions.

I think there are good reasons to be a member of one of the HMGS affiliates. Penalizing GM's who are not currently members, will not encourage an increase in membership. It will simply encourage empty tables.

Did you guys see/hear about empty games at CWs? Just curious. If there were, maybe they don't need all those GMs. I dunno, thus why I asked about CW.

In regards to both the onerous location and the draconian change in policy, I'm gonna have to bow out of running a game, which is a shame.

Honestly, I think that it's the combination of the two that kills me. I am a member, so it's not a huge deal, but I feel like this, along with the move, shows a lack of concern for the "peasants" who make up 90% of the attendance and instead serve an elite group.

What I would like to know. Is if you are GMing will they tell you before hand that you have to pay. That you did not get free admission. How many will say I am not running my game now.

At the cons there are always games with out people playing. Coldwars i think a swa a few. Of course i was running around shoping, playing and putting on games. So did not see everything.

Adam

Bowman;
I'm not adverse to paying half an admit, so long as I run multiple games. I've said this before.

What bothers me is when someone tells me I should be "grateful" or some such folderol to be able to put on my game for someone else. Bill Gray actually said GM's should pay MORE money to be able to do so.

Really? I dont think so.

Maybe, in addition to the admit, they should do like Origins and have gamers pay an additional charge per game.

How about that? Maybe you want to pay MORE to play? After all, it's not YOUR stuff you're playing with.

Eric

Eric, I don't want to start an argument with you. I think the BoD simply wants to maximize membership in the HMGS. I agree with you that taking away the admission compensation for non members is not the way to go. I think your response, and the response of others on this thread, indicates that this is a poor decision.

It is no different with the "Weekend" convention in June, is it? The games room is being "funded" by hotel room sales at the Continental. I'm planning on running 2 games at the Weekend, if tables are available. I'll be charged to do so unless I stay at the Continental. I think that is fair because a 5,000 sq. ft room, at a hotel, is not free.

Bowman;
The Weekend is different because of it's size and how things are organized, or not organized would be a better way.

I don't stay at the hotel for The Weekend. I'm either at Indiantown Gap or at the house, Lancaster is between them.

I, therefore, chuck in for the room rental. Add in beer and snacks I might bring and there you go.

But The Weekend isn't even 1% of the size of Cold Wars, for instance. And the admit price is a quarter of Cold Wars. And no dealers. If you rent a room at the hotel, you don't pay the admit fee.

So there are differences.

And unfortunately, it looks like I'm not making it this year. I'll be enroute back from FT Leavenworth from an exercise.

Eric

Have Bells will travel. I can't wait for another fun Historicon.

Moe

Is Jimmy going to walk to H-Con now?

I think I'll have to alternate Historicon attendance every other year if I keep working for The Man.

Eric

But The Weekend isn't even 1% of the size of Cold Wars, for instance. And the admit price is a quarter of Cold Wars. And no dealers. If you rent a room at the hotel, you don't pay the admit fee.

So there are differences.

Yes there are difference, except for the point I was making. Both facilities charge for the space that the gaming is done at. Whether you pay by room reservation, or by admission fee, it doesn't matter.

And unfortunately, it looks like I'm not making it this year.

Sorry to hear that. I was hoping you'd run one of the War of 1812 games that I missed. If you decide to run one at next years Hot Lead, let me know. I have Indians, Brits, Militia, New York troops, Kentucky Riflemen and Voltigeurs, if needed. And I live 30 minutes away.

Bowman

Bowman;
Thank you, I will. HOTLEAD sound like such a good time. And with the War of 1812 Bi-Centenial, why not?

I was hoping to make The Weekend, but wound up being a Second Round Draft Pick to fill a staff spot for this WARFIGHTER exercise. Which has most folks coming back on the 22nd.

And Historicon is smack dab between two waves of high tempo work periods.

Well, War of 1812 is my flavour of the day for the next couple of years, so I'm sure we'll cross paths.

All the best;
Eric

Eric,

I don't know if Jimmy is walking but he did say something about being able to crawl home if he drinks too much.

For the record, since I was misquoted, what I posted was (quote):

"Heck, given the number of GMs (like me) who also write and sell rules or produce figures, I could see the logic of GMs paying more than regular attendees considering the free advertising we get. At the very least, shouldn't HMGS give us a 1099 at the end of the year to reflect the $ 40 payment (comped admission) we get three times a year so we can figure out self employment tax to the IRS?

Now that last para was pretty much over the top, but I hope you get my drift. Now add to that the administrative burden in a resource short environment of policing games to find the scammers or disqualify games not meeting minimal standards . . ."

Regards, Bill Gray
ageofeagles.com

Moe;
Well, I've done that before, when it was in Valley Forge. more power to him.

I suppose we'll have to get him all Hollywood Virginia-fied if we go to HOTLEAD next year.

Big old planter's hat. Mint Julep in a glass. He can say "y'all" a lot. Put peanuts in his pockets or something.

Eric

I've always found it a bad idea for any convention to do anything that discourages people who want to make the not inconsiderable effort to host a game.

Counting set-up and take down time, schlepping stuff around, etc., I'll easily take myself out of two possible games as a player in order to put on a game as a GM. My payoff is saving a little money that inevitably ends up in the coffers of the dealers.

Timing, economy, and kids means that I likely see only one HMGS convention in a year. As I can't tell you any other benefit of being a member (other than altruistic notions like supporting the hobby), the math of making the effort to put on a game gets instead of playing in two gets fuzzier for me.

I guess we'll see in mid may what the effect is when the PEL rolls out. But if the PEL rolls out thin how many people will decide not to bother, which will make discouraging a few scammers a definite false economy…

Bumping this as a reminder – you have just 6 days remaining to get your game in the PEL!

I sort of dropped out of all the drama about Historicons this year. Too much drama of the health variety around the house the last eight months or so.

So GMs don't get in free unless they are an HMGS member? That helps me decide if I want to haul a bunch of minis from Houston to Virginia.

I don't.

So that's one less GM, one or two fewer games for the PEL. This sort of thing might make the game selection mighty thin this year. I guess I'll wait and see the PEL before I make a final decision to register/attend or not.

Just a reminder that the PEL deadline for Historicon is Sunday, April 15th.