(no subject)

[rodneyscat]

It's still a year until Ringcon 2006, but there are already a lot of questions, some of which no one has an answer to (What exactly do I get for a Gold ticket? Is Elijah coming or not?), but some questions can be answered (How do I fill in that bloody form? Someone wants to share a room? Will you promise not to laugh if I come dressed as a hobbit?).

I want to start a community for that, as a place to ask questions and post info. For the time being it'll probably be focused on deciding whether or not to go, which ticket to get and maybe find a roommate. Then I suspect not a lot will be happening for a long time, until next summer, when people will want to freak out flail, arrange travel-mates and make sure people really won't laugh if they come dressed as a hobbit.

Before I start it, a couple of questions:

1) Shall I just call it Ringcon_2006?
2) Should it be friendslocked to members by default?
3) Personally I think everyone who is interested can be a member; people who already know they are going, and people who haven't decided yet but hope others can help them make up their mind and even people who fear their chances are slim to none that they'll come, but haven't given up hope entirely.
4) Anything else I should take into account, like, are there already 87 communities for that particular Con?

[edit] I didn't want to wait until the community is up (which I'll do tomorrow) to link to this entry by frodosweetstuff! There's some good info in there about tickets and booking a hotel. Also have a look in the comments, like this one by cologne_chick, from which it's clear not everything is clear yet...

Comments

[cologne-chick.livejournal.com]

As far as I know there is only a German ringcon community. I'd love a new international community because it would be a nice place to meet people from outside Germany. As a Ring*Con fan I would join your community :-) and maybe I can answer some questions!

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Now that would be great! A veteran Ring*Con participant!! Do you know the name of the German community? If they like, I could mention them in the user info.

[cologne-chick.livejournal.com]

I think it is ringcon but I'm not sure. I don't read there because all the things you can find there was written in the Ring*Con forum before.

[samena.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea! As you know, there was a comm like that for C4 as well, and it was really enormously useful. If it hadn't been for that comm, I would not have had tickets for the Q&A, or a roommate.

The name sounds fine, but I think it's probably best if it's not an open community, and all posts are locked, or you'll get all sorts of people we don't even know. Unless you're OK with that, of course.

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the C4-groupies community was what I had in mind, because that had been so very convenient. And first I thought maybe it would be too early for a Ringcon 2006 community, but there are already so many questions all over the place.

I think I'll go for a community where people will have to be confirmed before they're actually a member, but to be easy with the confirming so to speak. I think locking by default is best, and then let members decide for themselves if they want and entry (with some general info for example) to be public, and then ask people to start an entry like that with saying it's public, so people can take that into account when commenting.

[samena.livejournal.com]

Sounds good! And I'm sure you will explain in the community info that this is a community for people who are going to Ring Con, or who are seriously considering going. And that it's for questions and info about the CON, and not for squeeing about Elijah. That way you won't get all kinds of 'stray' Elijah fans, who are drawn in by his name alone. Not that I can blame them, of course... ;P

In other news: I paid for my ticket, so hopefully I'll get a registration number soon!! YAY! :D

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

I just talked to somebody from RingCon for quite a bit on the phone. I'll make a post in my LJ about some of it - mainly the tickets and the photo ops because that is what most people are worried about.

And great, a community would be wonderful. :)

[samena.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to post a link to your post here, but I see I don't have to. :)

That's a GREAT tip, not booking through Ring Con! Some people seem to think you can't book unless it's through them, but of course that's not true. The Holiday Inn people don't care why you stay there, as long as you pay. But it's probably a good idea not to wait too long.

BTW, I got a mail from Ring Con! The received my application, and gave me their bank account number. As soon as they receive the money, they'll give me a number. So, I'll be going to the bank today. :D

[hobbitlove83.livejournal.com]

You got mail from Ring Con? Great, so did I.

As soon as I get a reply from Frodosweetstuff
I'm going to make a reservation for a room.

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Yes. What is confusing though is that on their website there is a page which says that the double room is 135 per person - I was quite shocked to see that when Elfellon pointed that out to me. I rang them again and that is just the price of a weekend special that includes meals. Very confusing!

Yeah, booking asap is a good idea. :)

OMG, it will be so good to see you all there. *excited*

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

What an excellent post you made there! I'll link to it in this entry (and once I have the community up & running, I'll also link to it from there.)

Thanks!

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of help. Let's hope it's going to be a great con and we'll all be joined in communal squee over the blue eyed one. :)

[ourdramaqueen.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for that post, that clears up a lot! I have sent them an e-mail with similar questions but haven't got a reply yet.

What seems odd to me is that the hotel would be more expensive when booking through RingCon - usually for big events it's the other way around, the hotels make special prices for the participants!

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Oh, it would be great if you could keep that email when you get it. It is always good if you have something in writing - I only spoke to them on the phone and of course they can always claim they never said something that they did say, if it suits them. *sigh*

The RingCon girl explained it to me like that: the hotel will raise the room prices the nearer it gets to RingCon and if you book really late you will pay much more than they do now. So while you make a bargain booking now, it will be daylight robbery in a few months. So book now. :)

[ourdramaqueen.livejournal.com]

Aaaaah yes, that sounds logical. And I hope they'll reply soon!

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Would you mind posting a link to your entry in the ringcon_2006 community? It's not that I'd mind doing it, but it now looks a bit like it's my community, and I'd love it to be our community, you know what I mean?

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

I did. :) Just didn't know how to hide the link behind a fake cut... *sigh*

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Great! Thank you, and it looks fine to me :D

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

posts locked to members seems astute, but contrary to samena i'd say it's better if it's an open-joining community, so you ensure you get the people who're interested in going, whether you personally know them or not... widening circles of acquaintances is one fo the thigns a Con's all about, innit?

great idea. :)

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on the open-joining community, although I think I'd like the opportunity to confirm before someone really is a member.

I'll wait until this entry has been up for about a full day. Maybe someone come up with a good suggestion. And then I'll start the comm.

[samena.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, that's what I meant: some way to make sure not just anybody can join, but only people who are serious about going to Ring Con. Of course it's a great way to meet new people, but you don't want the community to turn into another Elijah squee-fest either. Not that there's anything wrong with squeeing about Elijah! But not on this community. Well... not too much, anyway. ;D

[ourdramaqueen.livejournal.com]

Great idea! The community I made for the film festival in Edinburgh helped a lot. And I left it open, all posts public by default, in one or two cases when personal information was involved, answers were screened.

[justinetre.livejournal.com]

1) Shall I just call it Ringcon_2006?
2) Should it be friendslocked to members by default?
3) Personally I think everyone who is interested can be a member; people who already know they are going, and people who haven't decided yet but hope others can help them make up their mind and even people who fear their chances are slim to none that they'll come, but haven't given up hope entirely.
4) Anything else I should take into account, like, are there already 87 communities for that particular Con?

1) yea, that'd do the trick
2) no, because if someone was just browsing the comm, i think they'd feel better having an idea of what kind of info the comm offered
3) heck yea! best way to be
4)..ehm, having a translation for german posts into english, and vice versa. like, when a member makes a post, a biligual person could translate it and put the translation into a comment on that post, so that no one feels confused or left out?

[loreley-se.livejournal.com]

I was wondering about this yesterday but of course did nothing. But you already know I'm useless when it comes to real work ;-) So yes, good idea, name is fine, would make it members only.

Now what I'd really like to know is if it is really cheaper to book the Holiday Inn directly. If it is then I will have to shoot the RingCon people.

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

ahh. thanks dutche. i'll definitely join the com and am really glad you're starting it up. i see no reason for it to be flocked. but that's just me. i imgine some people would prefer it to be...travel plans and all.

[elfellon111.livejournal.com]

A great idea, Dutche, as I am already having a headache figuring out what the possibilities are. The site isn't too clear, and the comm we had for ELF was convenient as well. Thanks so much for putting it together. If you ever need any help, don't be a stranger!

~elfie

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

If you're still looking for another roomie, I might be your woman (so to speak)

[elfellon111.livejournal.com]

I am!

This sounds great - when will you know a little more about your plans? Sal is my other roomie, fyi.

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

I'm saying I won't know until summer, but really, once I get through February or so, I should have a pretty good idea how it will all play out

[elfellon111.livejournal.com]

It's cool. I'm going to book that triple anyway, I'm sure we'll fill it up. And let's just say - for convenience sake that it will be you, Sal and me sharing it. We'll see how it goes in this year. It's ludicrously far off to begin with - but I guess we should make *some* planse, if there's the smallest chance Elijah will be there. Welcome on board, so to speak. :))

[hobbitlove83.livejournal.com]

That is a brilliant idea, DutchE!

Ringcon 2006 sounds just fine to me-
wether or not it should be friendslocked is
entirely up to you; there are pros and cons for
each option.

One thing is certain: I'm definitely going to
join!

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan to me. I THINK I've decided to go ahead and buy a ticket, although really I might not know until next summer if I can take time off work so soon before I leave for NZ