"How far out do you plan for a convention?" Topic

HMGS Midwest Little Wars is a little over 7 1/2 mos away and my friends and I are already planning on making it another weekend like we did this year, (Games, bourbon, food, cigars, and all sorts of madness)….
So far 2-3 of us are planning on running games.
So I got to thinking, if you are planning on attending a convention;

A: If you are just there to attend and/or play some, how far out do you prepare for the con?

B: If you are going to be running one or more games there, how far out do you prepare for the con?

Interested in seeing people's answers.

Generally, as we pack up the end of the Show, we start talking about the next one.

It's an addiction.

Ochoin+1

+1 Perris lol.

I am planning on my scenario for Little Wars now. Though I hear that he rules I was going to use my be updated at the beginning of next year. But I still think the scenario is locked in. Just have to playtest.

For our local convention, I prep up about 5 games that I could run. When the game scheduler finally issues the first call for games, I will send in my games, but tell them that since I am local, give preference to everyone else. My games, up to 3 of the 5, are to help fill in the schedule. This year I offered 3 Vietnam games (2 patrols and a firebase assault), The Battle of Borodino and Target for Tonight. Since the schedule already had two Vietnam games, I ended up running Borodino and Target for Tonight. Thinking of doing Iwo Jima next year, but I have to build the island. As with Ochion, I start thinking after the convention ends.

Yes at least a year and for some two years.
However some conventions fail to understand, is that pre-paying a year in advance is a hardship. It's also a burden when the tax folks want the convention costs to be in the same calendar year as the event.

Last year was my first time at Little Wars (I meet you Murphy in the parking lot!)

Enjoyed it very much and will be going back next year and will likely put on at least one game.

I normally go to all the HMGS East conventions and put on games there also and we plan those out as soon as we finish the previous ones.

Kim

A. For just attending and usually a flea market table, the previous year, and I tend to get huffy with organizations who can't figure out where and when the next convention is.

Yes, I know. But medical appointments are usually six months to a year out. Visits to family have to be scheduled and reservations made for them. I will plan around a convention date, but I don't see any reason to cancel reservations and appointments to accommodate indecision.

Oh, crap … is that this weekend?

I see a lot of postings in this thread about Little Wars. Does anyone know the nice guy putting on a Check Your 6 Jet Age game on Saturday afternoon this year? I was really under the weather and missed his game but would like to play in 2025.
Thanks
Kev

11–12 months out.

Mullings begin during load-out of Huzzah, plan is usually locked in within a month.

For the local February convention, I usually don't make reservations until late January of early February, if I am just attending. If I am running a game, I need to start in December, or maybe earlier if I have to buy and paint some new figures or scenery.

I'm thinking about attending one of the Back East conventions next year, and have already started plotting the trip, which will include visits to interesting places along the way.

Grelber

B). I always run at Little Wars and I generally know what I'm running by the end of December and will start painting and/or building terrain by the end of January.

I run games at shows and conventions, and I usually plan those a year out, maybe several months, depending. Actually gong to shows can be quite last minute, but it is much easier in the UK as there are so many shows and they are relatively easy to get to.

Since I no longer "B," I'm usually "thinking" 3 cons in advance. At present, for me at least, that's Barrage, Fall In and the Williamsburg Muster.

+1 HMS Exeter

A minimum of six months prior, but usually a year.

Of course, I use points for both hotel/flights so pre-planning is necessary.

+1 Robert

A side question please. Related due pre time to get a passport.
My mother asked me a question about going to conventions in Canada or Mexico.
I seem to remember back in the 1990s, pre- 9/11, that you could go to Canada just by showing a drivers license or ID. Was I wrong? Do you need a passport when you want to attend Historicon or Cold Wars.
Thanks for the info.

You're right, TimePortal. No passports necessary between the US and Canada prior to 9-11. Afterward, US and Canadian officials couldn't agree on who should be permitted into the countries. People the US saw as suspected or potential terrorists had access to Canada, so passports became necessary.

Usually once I figure out I'm actually going to go. So anywhere from 12 months to 30 days prior, usually painting the night before

My 90 year old mother thanks you Robert.
Me too.

Year+, and I usually plan for which conventions I will attend the upcoming year in coordination with friends.

pjm

As a dealer, pretty much when I get the notice for the hotel rooms being available for the next one.

Etotheipi +1

You're welcome, Time Portal. Yeah, I regret the loss of the open border myself. But the problem with this sort of thing is that there is no way to prove someone's precautions are excessive--and only one way to demonstrate that the precautions were inadequate.

"my friends and I are already planning on making it another weekend like we did this year, (Games, bourbon, food, cigars, and all sorts of madness)"

Can I be your friend?

Re Canada.

I thought that there was a program to "upgrade" US Drivers Licenses to be acceptable stand ins for passports. I think it was called "Real ID." I never got a replacement license, tho had to go to the DMV in person and jump thru their hoops.

I think the Real ID Licenses have a Star on them.

Exeter, the "real ID" is necessary for air travel in the US, since a lot of states will issue driver's licenses to non-citizens, and/or without asking a lot of questions. As I understand it--and by all means check with real authorities--the US/Canada problem is that, since you can get into Canada while being on a US terrorism watch list, the US started checking for Canadian passports to keep people visiting Canada from entering the US and so evading our controls, so Canadian border control demanding US passports is largely retaliatory--and of course the US citizen would need that passport to return to the US anyway, to get back into the US.

Theoretically, the whole problem could be solved by a joint US/Canadian terrorism watch list, but if we haven't achieved that in 20+ years, the differences must be profound.

So in the meantime--dragging the thread back to the topic--you have to start planning for the convention early enough to be sure of having your passport.

they should check us, we Yanks have invaded them before…I may have a firelock in my greatcoat :)

I didn't prepare at all for Pacificon last weekend -- I actually forgot to pre-register and had to register at the door.

I try to look at the game offerings as soon as they become available.

It really depends on which convention I am planning for.

Grimm

CamelCase, please don't start. We invaded Canada once in the Revolution, twice in the War of 1812, and I think the Fenians tried three times after the ACW. It's never gone well for us. On the other hand, when we go to war with someone else, usually there are Canadian volunteers in US units and sometimes the regular Canadian armed forces join in. I think there's a lesson to be learned from this.

But if I wanted to attend a Canadian convention, I'd apply for my passport well in advance.

CamelCase said:

"Can I be your friend?"

Well, you're right down the road from me here in Indiana, and for the "friend thing", you'll have to fill out some forms.
Make sure the duplicates are done in triplicate, and the triplicates are done in duplicate. Use black in only please. Don't write outside the box, and make sure you answer all questions fully, (especially the ones pertaining to money…)

robert, as a 22-year veteran of TMP Napoleonic boards, I wasn't even about to go there.

And Murphy… I will deliver them to your door, but I couldn't decipher the property landmine/pit-trap codex you sent me :)

A US invasion of Canada would be an Ill advised gamble. We might disturb the subtle alchemy of Canadian society that has gifted us so many of our favorite actors and comedians.

"54-40 or Fight!"

Kim

I thought that there was a program to "upgrade" US Drivers Licenses to be acceptable stand ins for passports.

Never let easily accessible facts get in the way of what you think. link

Theoretically, the whole problem could be solved by a joint US/Canadian terrorism watch list, but if we haven't achieved that in 20+ years, the differences must be profound.

They are. Canada is extremely concerned about illegals crossing their southern border.

link

link

link

I remember a comedy show did a routine on the "vigilance" of US Border Guards along the Canadian border. This was quite a long time ago.

They had a car come south without stopping and the guard did nothing. This was followed by 20 people on bicycles. No response. At the ludicrous end a family of 4 in Sombrero and serapes walked south. Nothing.

The final challenge was a guy in a moose suit on rollerskates holding a hockey stick.

We might disturb the subtle alchemy of Canadian society that has gifted us so many of our favorite actors and comedians.

And musicians… don't forget the musicians.

Like most here, my concept of the next convention game starts as I am pulling out of the parking lot from the previous one. Then begins the acquisition/inventory phase for the next few months. What else I will need to buy, construct, paint, custom dice, etc. Ideally 6 months out I start the hard research, painting and building. (I try to run games where I already have 75% of what I will need) In a perfect world at 30 days out I print what ever charts, posters, certificates I need. 72 hours out I print out my packing inventory.

Sigh, in reality I am often still painting the day before, and have on more than one occasion driven back home to pick up a crucial item that I forgot.