FruCon 11/22 Meeting Minutes

Attendees: A.J. LoCicero, Zard Snodgrass, Angie Armstrong, Doug Levy, Gordon Elgart, Mary Krause, Chrissy Kwiecinski, Fiona Gardiner, Michelle Wallis

Venue Search Update

The Colony

Info

• While this would be the perfect site, the Colony discovered they were already double-booked for the weekend of 2/19
• The Person Michelle spoke with had been talked down to $1200 for a ballroom that divides into two sections that hold 500 – 900 people and a third section which would hold another 200
• If there is interest and plans for a FruCon IV, the Colony will definitely be a first choice for planning (esp. since the contact person was very interested in attending the convention herself)

The Design Exchange

The former Toronto Stock exchange trading floor

• $1500 for a large meeting room, an extra $500 for another small room
• If we do not utilize their catering services, we will need to pay a 17% charge for our own food/refreshments (ex: we pay $1000 for food, we must pay $170 to the DX)
• The nearest place to get food (esp on a Sat.) is the Eaton Centre, about 4 blocks away
• There are hotels nearby, but the walk will not be entirely underground (via a maze of tunnels). We would have a need for coat-racks, which are also not provided by the DX
• They would be able to provide phones and TV's for Video

Other Potential Con Sites/Official Hotels

There are still feelers out for both Official Convention Hotels and "Residence" Hotels if the Con isn't held in a Hotel.

• The Sheridan, the Hilton, the Harbourcastle Westin and Royal York may still have ballrooms available
• The Colony is willing to provide residence rooms for Con attendees, if we find another site for the Con itself

Pre-Registration Concerns

If the DX can only hold up to 800 people, and more than that show, we might have problems.

• If we have a pre-paid Pre-Registration, only those who have pre-paid can be guaranteed entry
• To ensure that everyone gets to see the members of the band (in whatever capacity they have decided on), the Entry Desk should close sometime between 3pm – 4pm (right now leaning towards 4:00pm) with doors locked and entry cut off.

Satellite Events

A brief discussion of events happening during, before, and after the Convention

• The Infamous Pub Crawl on either Friday or Sunday Night
• The Mike Ford Walking Tour (Fruvous Footfalls)
• Shopping Excursion downtown, CN Tower
• Guided tour of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Tory Cassis at the Reservoir Lounge on Saturday Night (if he still has Residency/regular gig there)