Is it too early to talk about San Diego Comicon 2006?

[tth2]

How goes the hunt for a forum dinner spot at the Hyatt?

 

Good news and bad news. We can not get the same room we had last year as the Con is using it for some gaming industry reception. I am negotiating a different room at the hotel. More news to follow next week. I am looking at a price point around $75 which would include appys+ dinner + desert and 2 hr complimentary bar service (cash after that) I hope that works for most everyone.

I guess guys in the "gaming industry" are not people you`d want to mess with. At least not after watching "Casino".

 

The price point you`re talking about would be fine with me. Thanks for doing the legwork, Bob!

[delekkerste]

More news to follow next week. I am looking at a price point around $75 which would include appys+ dinner + desert and 2 hr complimentary bar service (cash after that) I hope that works for most everyone.

 

Frankly, I think you will have people doing some major griping beyond $50 or $60 a head, since we've seen that empirically during the planning of past Forum dinners. Just something to consider.

[tth2]

More news to follow next week. I am looking at a price point around $75 which would include appys+ dinner + desert and 2 hr complimentary bar service (cash after that) I hope that works for most everyone.

 

Frankly, I think you will have people doing some major griping beyond $50 or $60 a head, since we've seen that empirically during the planning of past Forum dinners. Just something to consider.

When the $75 includes free booze for 2 hours?

[Bullet123]

More news to follow next week. I am looking at a price point around $75 which would include appys+ dinner + desert and 2 hr complimentary bar service (cash after that) I hope that works for most everyone.

 

Frankly, I think you will have people doing some major griping beyond $50 or $60 a head, since we've seen that empirically during the planning of past Forum dinners. Just something to consider.

 

This is San Diego You have the ComicCom that week the Padres are in town and there is another big convention going on at the Marriot. There is no way to have the private space and good food and drink we had last year anywhere else in San Diego for less than $100+ a head. If there are truly collectors on this board who can not afford $75 a head for Forum Dinner ( I am not talking about the person who will spend several hundred dollars at the Con and then complain they have less to spend at the Con because of the price of the dinner) They can PM me and I will offer them a way to get a free or discounted admission to the dinner. Where I come from (NY metro area) I can't even take my family to the movies for less than $75.00

[Rob]

I changed my mind, $75 is high.

[delekkerste]

When the $75 includes free booze for 2 hours?

 

Not everyone is a lawyer for a major multinational corporation. Nor a total lush.

[delekkerste]

This is San Diego You have the ComicCom that week the Padres are in town and there is another big convention going on at the Marriot. There is no way to have the private space and good food and drink we had last year anywhere else in San Diego for less than $100+ a head. If there are truly collectors on this board who can not afford $75 a head for Forum Dinner ( I am not talking about the person who will spend several hundred dollars at the Con and then complain they have less to spend at the Con because of the price of the dinner) They can PM me and I will offer them a way to get a free or discounted admission to the dinner. Where I come from (NY metro area) I can't even take my family to the movies for less than $75.00

 

Considering that my family lives in San Diego and I live in New York City, I'm well aware of what both of them cost. All I'm saying is that a lower price point = more participation. Maybe you can't get a private room for less than $75-100/head, but there are plenty of places where a smaller group can eat and drink well for a fraction of that amount. And, based on what I've seen, people will opt to do so once the price point gets beyond the range I stated.

 

Like I said, it's just something to consider for whoever is planning this dinner.

[ArnoldTBlumberg]

I've missed attending the forum dinners and I'll be in San Diego this year, but my God $75 is steep. And as someone who doesn't drink, the bar means nothing to me.

[Bullet123]

This is San Diego You have the ComicCom that week the Padres are in town and there is another big convention going on at the Marriot. There is no way to have the private space and good food and drink we had last year anywhere else in San Diego for less than $100+ a head. If there are truly collectors on this board who can not afford $75 a head for Forum Dinner ( I am not talking about the person who will spend several hundred dollars at the Con and then complain they have less to spend at the Con because of the price of the dinner) They can PM me and I will offer them a way to get a free or discounted admission to the dinner. Where I come from (NY metro area) I can't even take my family to the movies for less than $75.00

 

Considering that my family lives in San Diego and I live in New York City, I'm well aware of what both of them cost. All I'm saying is that a lower price point = more participation. Maybe you can't get a private room for less than $75-100/head, but there are plenty of places where a smaller group can eat and drink well for a fraction of that amount. And, based on what I've seen, people will opt to do so once the price point gets beyond the range I stated.

 

Like I said, it's just something to consider for whoever is planning this dinner.

 

One of the nicest features IMO last year was that we had the place to ourselves and did not have to compete with the noise or fighting for a waiter/waitress's attention and people really got the opportunity to talk to several different groups of people over the course of the evening and get up and move freely throughout the room. Also we had the room for 4 hours something no restaurant is going to allow us to do. I have not posted the official details yet because I am still waiting for certain particulars but I have not heard from anyone via PM to take me up on my offer. Based on the success of last years dinner I am anticipating at least 60 people (We had 52 last year) I would like to know where we can go and make the place ours for four hours for $50-$60 and not have Happy meals on the menu

[Rob]

I would like to know where we can go and make the place ours for four hours for $50-$60 and not have Happy meals on the menu

 

OK, I get it, meals are expensive where you live. But here's a little insider. $50-$60 meals outside of NYC are pretty nice.

 

And I agree with Arnold, I'm not a drinker, so I don't want to contribute for everyone else's alcohol.

 

Anyone for a second, inferior board dinner? Maybe a steak or pizza place in the Gaslamp District, without our own private room?

[CW]

Here's an idea. Lets go ahead with the dinner like last year. There were 50+ people, the bar serves soda's too for the non drinkers. Last year it was $60 a head and I don't think anybody was left out because of price. It didn't effect attendance in the least ( I think there was help for those that couldn't afford the price). People complain about everything, who cares. I find that paying $30 a plate at a resturant and not having enough room or time to talk to anyone other than the person on your left and right by yelling is worthless. For those who don't like the way the dinner is coming why don't you put your own together just the way you want it and see how it turns out, maybe it will be great and we will have a new more affordable tradition. From what I have seen in SD everything is very expensive. The dinner last year was well worth the price. everyone could talk to each other the atmosphere was relaxing and fun to the wee hours ( I was there for 5hrs and I am sure there were 30 people who were there longer) and Lamont Larson showed up. If the price seems sharp try saving $4 a day from now until the con and you will have your dinner. Don't think of it as just a meal think of it as a chance to meet all of your board friends, and talk comics with some of the community greats, artists and experts. It is a great time. Like no other dinner I have been to.

[BassGMan]

I have to agree that $75 is steep. I can do it, but I realize that some forumites will pass on that price for dinner. The friend of mine who I make the trip to SD with every year has participated here a little bit and he joined us for the SD con dinner two years ago at TGIF where the cost was $25 each plus drinks. He stated that there is no way he'd attend any dinner over $50 a pop. Sure, the TGIF room wasn't great, but the price was right. There has gotta be a few restaurants in the area that have a large room (or at least section of the restaurant) where we could do $25-$50 dinners. Yeah, with the $75 and up dinners we still have a nice crowd, but it is mostly the above 30 types who probably make a fairly decent living to begin with. The expensive Forum dinners almost seem to have that exclusive tone to me, where the riff raff is weeded out due to the cost. I dunno, maybe that's the way some people want it. I'll go wherever, but I prefer the casual TGIF option over the nice Hotel or Steak house banquet room.

[Rob]

Uh-oh, separation of the classes. Maybe we can have a High Grader dinner, and a Mid Grader dinner.

[ArnoldTBlumberg]

I really don't see why it's so important to go for the fancy exclusive room/steak house option when the point is to all get together and just chat. I was at several of the earlier dinners, and we didn't exactly go to Denny's, but it wasn't all that focused on spending a fortune on a lavish separate set-up. I always felt the important thing was the social angle. I'm just as happy, even more so, including more people of varying means and going to a nice but not overly fancy place, even if it means not having a separate room. Push some tables together, table hop, just socialize. It's all good.

[BassGMan]

Uh-oh, separation of the classes. Maybe we can have a High Grader dinner, and a Mid Grader dinner.

 

I heard that they will be serving pressed meats at the High Grade dinner, so we're all probably better off at the Mid Grade dinner anyway. Besides, the HG dinner cost is way over the value of the food that is being served.

[BassGMan]

Push some tables together, table hop, just socialize. It's all good.

 

Exactly! But so many put a huge priority on a place where they can buy from an open bar and get a nice glass of wine. That is why I say the dinners (while being alot of fun) have that "exclusive" feel to them. I'm just a casual guy and I really don't care for that aspect of it.

[Rob]

I'm with you both. Maybe we're the "whiners" they're talking about who need to organize our own dinner.

[BassGMan]

I'm with you both. Maybe we're the "whiners" they're talking about who need to organize our own dinner.

 

If anybody was to call us "whiners" for wanting a more affordable dinner, I would have to call them snooty. So let's hope we don't see either.

 

And on a different topic...... let's get back to the

 

One month from today we will be LEAVING the San Diego con. Always a bittersweet time for me. I participate in all 4 1/2 days of the con, but I could go on longer. It is nice to go home, but I feel as if I could do the big show for a full week. Yeah... Preview night on Monday and then 10-7 Tuesday through Sunday. Now THAT would be a week. These 4-day + cons just 'aint long enough for me.

[Bullet123]

I have to agree that $75 is steep. I can do it, but I realize that some forumites will pass on that price for dinner. The friend of mine who I make the trip to SD with every year has participated here a little bit and he joined us for the SD con dinner two years ago at TGIF where the cost was $25 each plus drinks. He stated that there is no way he'd attend any dinner over $50 a pop. Sure, the TGIF room wasn't great, but the price was right. There has gotta be a few restaurants in the area that have a large room (or at least section of the restaurant) where we could do $25-$50 dinners. Yeah, with the $75 and up dinners we still have a nice crowd, but it is mostly the above 30 types who probably make a fairly decent living to begin with. The expensive Forum dinners almost seem to have that exclusive tone to me, where the riff raff is weeded out due to the cost. I dunno, maybe that's the way some people want it. I'll go wherever, but I prefer the casual TGIF option over the nice Hotel or Steak house banquet room.

 

As I said in my previous post, anyone who truly can not afford $75.00 for a dinner, whatever the reason, but would like to attend, can simply PM me and we will work out a means for them to attend. I do not see anywhere in my post where I am excluding anyone from the dinner, just simply trying to make it a nice affair where we can get together and mutually discuss the love of comics in a quiet, respectful setting where everyone has a chance to meet everyone else, not just the person sitting directly across from them. Just for the record, nobody is paying for anyone elses drinks. (during the first two hours that is, then everyone pays for their own) Courtesy of Steve Borock, CGC and myself that part of the forum dinner is gratis. For the uninformed in the thread it costs substantially more than $75 for a four hour get-together with a two hour free bar at a five star hotel in one of the fastest growing cities on the West Coast.

 

It is one thing to be on a budget and be cost concious, it is another to be CHEAP. I tried to attend the Forum Dinner at the TGIF and because it was so loud and so spread out (and there were only 25 or so at that dinner) and because I had not yet met anyone in person from the boards, I simply opted to sit in a booth with my sons across the room from you guys and put my money where my mouth is and plan a better dinner where everybody feels like a part of the night, not just the few in the middle of the 14 foot long table. I would like to hear from anyone who was at last years dinner who paid $65 (that included taxes, tips for the servers) and did not think they got their moneys worth and more.

[BassGMan]

I would like to hear from anyone who was at last years dinner who paid $65 (that included taxes, tips for the servers) and did not think they got their moneys worth and more.

 

 

Bullet, please don't think that I am complaining as you did a great job last year. Nice room, good food, the whole thing went great. And I appreciate the work you put into it as I, along with most others, just showed up to a nice dinner without having contributed anything but the cost of dinner. However, I paid $65 and that was ALOT more than what I received. I do not drink alcohol at all, so forget that. I drank the water that was on my table during dinner. I made one modest trip through the buffet, then all the food was gone soon after, making seconds not possible (at least not for anything good). I later enjoyed a small desert. BUT, I didn't mind paying what I did as I realize that most of the money went for the room and for the hotel employees that were hanging around making sure everyone received water, ran the bar, laid out the food and etc. That's just the cost of dining in a nice place. Cool.

 

And yes, the room the year before at TGIF wasn't great. But the food was. Surely a better layout with more room would have been nice. I imagine that there are restaurants that could accomodate us. The ol' Spaghetti Factory may not be around anymore (or did it reopen yet?) but that place had many rooms that would have been perfect. Either way, since I admit that all I'll be doing is showing up, I'll go wherever. And I admit that those willing to put in the work to make arrangement should have more "say" in the matter. I just wanted to speak up for the "budget" minded, as they have been shutout in the past several times.