TOPIC: GenCon VIG

what is "Gorilla-Con" ing it?

Jeff321 wrote: VIGs have until the 20th to renew so there would be more invites after that.

Ugh. Another week to wait for an email that probably won't be coming.

Wade Schwendemann wrote:

Jeff321 wrote: VIGs have until the 20th to renew so there would be more invites after that.

Ugh. Another week to wait for an email that probably won't be coming.

Don't give up hope. You wouldn't believe the amount of grumbling on the GenCon VIG forum about taking away Thursday Early Entry. A lot of people have already said 'goodbye' and many others are stating that they're still debating whether or not they will renew. There's definitely a real chance for everyone still waiting.

Helen wrote:

Wade Schwendemann wrote:

Jeff321 wrote: VIGs have until the 20th to renew so there would be more invites after that.

Ugh. Another week to wait for an email that probably won't be coming.

Don't give up hope. You wouldn't believe the amount of grumbling on the GenCon VIG forum about taking away Thursday Early Entry. A lot of people have already said 'goodbye' and many others are stating that they're still debating whether or not they will renew. There's definitely a real chance for everyone still waiting.

I absolutely do believe it. That was where a lot of the VIG crowd found the value or justification in paying for the badge.

For me it comes from the downtown hotel guaranteed, as well as a relaxation zone.

Ever know of a person that goes to a con knowing they don't have a room or a place to stay? They end up sleeping in a gaming hall and cleaning up / showering in a Deny's bathroom sink between games? Someone that has no money or very little money for food. Basically, someone that doesn't have the money to go to said con but goes anyway and mooches off the kindness of friend or strangers.
It's the same as a person that follows a band they like from city to city selling just enough of their belonging to make the next gig with no cover charge.
It can also just happen to anyone at any time. Someone gets to a Con (SDCC) thinking they have a room booked for a long weekend, only to get to the hotel and finding the hotel doesn't have a Registration for you. With no rooms in the area other than a motel 8, 10 miles away with a rate that is now $800 a night. The person makes camp like a gorilla. Sleeping where they can and selling Magic cards they draft to cover their games and meals.
If you have ever piled 6-10 people into a room with two queen beds but only booked the room for 2 people to save the extra $20 a night and have to climb over 5 people to get to your spot on the floor so you can get 4 hours sleep before your next game. These are all forms of Gorilla-Con-ing.
You might not have done this, but I'm sure we all know someone that has done this in order to get their game on.
FYI: Stay away from Furries and Cosplayers that Gorilla-con. Trust me.

Wade Schwendemann wrote: I absolutely do believe it. That was where a lot of the VIG crowd found the value or justification in paying for the badge.

For me it comes from the downtown hotel guaranteed, as well as a relaxation zone.

I am the same. I was extremely lucky to get VIG the year they cut the number of companions down to 1. This allowed for a bunch of new VIGs and with the increased chances, I finally got in, after years of trying. The perks are nice, but for me and my family, it is definitely the guaranteed hotel room of our choice that is the real winner. We used to book downtown out of block, and the difference in cost pays for my VIG badge, my husband's companion badge, and there's still leftover. Everything else is icing on the cake. As long as the hotel perk is there, I'll still be in.

Powers209 wrote: Ever know of a person that goes to a con knowing they don't have a room or a place to stay? They end up sleeping in a gaming hall and cleaning up / showering in a Deny's bathroom sink between games? Someone that has no money or very little money for food. Basically, someone that doesn't have the money to go to said con but goes anyway and mooches off the kindness of friend or strangers.
It's the same as a person that follows a band they like from city to city selling just enough of their belonging to make the next gig with no cover charge.
It can also just happen to anyone at any time. Someone gets to a Con (SDCC) thinking they have a room booked for a long weekend, only to get to the hotel and finding the hotel doesn't have a Registration for you. With no rooms in the area other than a motel 8, 10 miles away with a rate that is now $800 a night. The person makes camp like a gorilla. Sleeping where they can and selling Magic cards they draft to cover their games and meals.
If you have ever piled 6-10 people into a room with two queen beds but only booked the room for 2 people to save the extra $20 a night and have to climb over 5 people to get to your spot on the floor so you can get 4 hours sleep before your next game. These are all forms of Gorilla-Con-ing.
You might not have done this, but I'm sure we all know someone that has done this in order to get their game on.
FYI: Stay away from Furries and Cosplayers that Gorilla-con. Trust me.

Awesome description. Long ago in my younger days Gorilla-conning would happen from time to time. Sometimes we'd have 6-7 people in a room, with at least two of which I had no idea who they were or why they were even in our room. Good old days...

We fit 9 into the embassy suites one year, and again the next year in a JW Marriott small suite. The JW actually had the suite room and the queen double across the hall, as we had friends in that room also, so we just locked off the hall, it was a party.

I’ve not yet had the opportunity to need to ask for floor space and a shower, but if it ever happens I might just try it.

Flip side, I have rooms and a shower, if someone needs to shower speak up, we might be able to work something out. Stay clean fellow con-ers.

We had 8 in a room
At the ES one year,
But it was a corner suite,
So it was not too bad.
But the buddy system for
Keys sucked.
Two buddy’s one key.
As they only gave out 4 keys.

Whoo hoo!

I got back to the hotel after tearing down the dungeon and getting some dinner and saw that I had gotten an email from GenCon. Now to wait for them to reply to my "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I definitely want it!" email.

Someone from my group (not me, BOOO!) got the happy happy e-mail as well. I'm picking up the companion badge, just because I can though. Horray (mostly)!

Grrr....

Congrats to you both!

Fiddy, if you need a companion.....