TOPIC: GenCon VIG

After trying for many years I was picked for the VIG program! Hoody hoo!

I was wondering if any TD people are or were in the VIG program and what were your opinions/ thoughts about it.

I've been a VIG for the last three years. The best part is the early access to housing. Highly likely you'll be able to get a connected hotel in your top 2-3 choices for a "reasonable" (compared to what it would cost outside of GenCon housing) price. Of course, the cost savings is breakeven when you consider the cost of the VIG badge (and companion badge if you get one).

I recommend signing up for the "VIG Mixer." This event has been held at the Oceannaire restaurant the last few years. It's free drinks and heavy appetizers for you (and a companion if you've bought the companion badge). It's a nice way to mingle with other GenCon attendees. Be on the lookout for sign up info for this event as it doesn't go live when the rest of the events go live. Mike Boozer (who runs the VIG program) usually sends out an email about it but once the tickets go live they go pretty quickly and there is a limited amount.

There is also a behind the scenes tour usually offered. It's worth going at least once to see how things run at GenCon behind the scenes (but probably not worth the time more than once). The sign up is in the VIG lounge,

Speaking of the VIG lounge, it is a nice place to crash and rest. There are free drinks available (soda and water). There are some VIG exclusive games run in the lounge by other VIGs. Kind of a random selection but if there is a game you like (or have wanted to try) it's a nice way to do so. There are also VIGs just doing PUGs in the lounge as well.

You can pick up your badges and event tickets in the VIG lounge and avoid the regular lines. If there are people in your group that are not VIG or Companion, you can request that their badges/tickets be delivered to the VIG lounge and they will accommodate you if they can. You can also add events/return events in the VIG lounge as there are a couple of people/computers dedicated to that.

Then there is the VIG swag. The t-shirt is nice, and there is usually one or two other items of interest. Otherwise, it's a mixed bag of random items donated by exhibitors. There hasn't been anything in those items with "wow" factor in the last three years.

There is no early entry into the exhibit hall (that went away many years ago). However, there is a VIG entrance that helps avoid the crush when the hall first opens. However, it is not well marked, and sometimes the security manning the door is not aware that VIGs can enter (especially on Thursday). Look for communication about the entrance in the VIG section of the forum on the GenCon webpage. That section is also a good place to ask any VIG-related questions.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Overall, it's worth it for the housing early access. The rest of it is nice but wouldn't be worth the price absent the early housing access.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have. Congratulations on being picked.

Thanks for the great information! I appreciate it.

bpsymington wrote: After trying for many years I was picked for the VIG program! Hoody hoo!

I was wondering if any TD people are or were in the VIG program and what were your opinions/ thoughts about it.

Congrats! I've had mine for 4 years now - definitely worth it.

My wife and I have been in the VIG program for about 10 years now. Clearly we like it

Manimal hit the biggest points. Not much to add. I will say that a fringe benefit, for us, is just getting a good night's sleep when the housing portal opens.

For those of us who can get a bit anxious, having the whole hotel thing on lock is just a huge cognitive load off our shoulders. Worth it almost just for that!

Also happy to answer to any other questions.

I've been a VIG for 4 years now, and concur that just the guaranteed access to hotel rooms makes it worth it. It was so worth it I was willing to pay for both 2020 and 2021 without actually going to Gen Con.

Key benefits:
1. Early hotel block. It's worth it just for a guaranteed downtown room at the block rates. Out of block is easily 2x more. Like earlier comments, the peace of mind of just having it taken care of is great.
2. The VIG lounge is nice as a place to stop and catch a breather and free soda/coffee (or use it as bag check.)
2a. Concierge service for will call in the lounge- your tickets will be waiting for you. No lines. They will also do ticket returns for you.
3. The loot bag is ok but I wouldn't do VIG just for that. I donate about 1/2 of the games, etc included to Indy charities (I'm glad that VIG started a program to let us just give them the stuff we don't want so they can take it to appropriate local charities.)
4. The side entry for VIGs to the dealer hall is ok. They used to let VIGs into the dealer hall an hour early but it created problems for the dealers to staff that early (ie sales didn't justify the extra time.) I'd love a compromise there where we could get in early 1 day just to avoid the crowds.
5. The mixer is nice - good event to do Thursday night.
6. VIG companion badge - gets a second person the room block access and entry to the lounge and mixer.

That's pretty much everything. Correct me if I missed anything.

Fred

The early hall access was nice but caused soooooo much ill will. It wasn't just the dealer staffing. They had to be ready to roll an hour early. There were issues with theft. And issues where people waiting for the hall to open would literally watch items show up on eBay at inflated prices.

I understand why they discontinued it. It was a really nice benefit but definitely not sustainable.

Marc D wrote: The early hall access was nice but caused soooooo much ill will. It wasn't just the dealer staffing. They had to be ready to roll an hour early. There were issues with theft. And issues where people waiting for the hall to open would literally watch items show up on eBay at inflated prices.

I understand why they discontinued it. It was a really nice benefit but definitely not sustainable.

I get it. The logistics just didn't work long term between vendor staffing and GenCon support staff having to be ready. I had never heard about theft being an issue but did see the Ebay stuff causing ill will.