The Eurofurence Forum

Eurofurence Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ralesk on 29.08.2011, 21:43:34

Title: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Ralesk on 29.08.2011, 21:43:34
This isn't the first time this has happened, not to me, not to others — you go to EF, potentially to a different country where you don't necessarily have internet access (EF public WiFi helps a lot!), don't necessarily bring a laptop with you, and you face roaming charges if your mobile phone even works.

But you want to meet up with someone you'd known for a good while online, you know you both will be at EF, and you both spend most of the con's free time looking for each other.  And if you don't know each other's looks enough or haven't agreed on something like what clothes you'll be wearing, chances are you won't find each other in the 1000+ people that go to Eurofurence.


So I thought, let's have a topic about this.  Let's share ideas about how to make things work out better; how do/would you make sure you find your friend at a con, without sitting at the entrance all day or waving a huge sign with someone's (or your) name on it?  (The one is not really fun, the other is mildly awkward, I'm sure you agree.)  And, on the other hand, how could the con itself help, if at all?
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: MartinRJ on 29.08.2011, 22:22:56
I had that problem. I was looking for a friend of mine I wanted to meet at the EF. I knew his real-life name, I know where he lives, I know how he looks in real-life and I even have his number.

I called him several times, but he told me afterwards that I called his landline-number.

I even saw him (I checked almost every fox's badge) but did not recognize him because I only remembered an older nickname of him, not the name he chose for the EF. I even found his suit in a video and some pictures I took - afterwards.

Is there anything you can do to help us in such situation?
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Rua Whitepaw on 29.08.2011, 22:24:19
It might help if we could tell each other our room numbers before we go to EF, then we would know where everyone is.
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Zefiro on 29.08.2011, 22:26:17
It might help if we could tell each other our room numbers before we go to EF, then we would know where everyone is.
Room numbers are assigned by the hotel once you arrive. So those would need to be communicated onsite.

*purrr*
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Bostitch on 29.08.2011, 22:29:38
If you know the person's real name, Hotel reception will know what room he is staying in. They might not give it to you, but you can ask them to leave the person a message.
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: MartinRJ on 29.08.2011, 22:33:35
If you know the person's real name, Hotel reception will know what room he is staying in. They might not give it to you, but you can ask them to leave the person a message.

good point, thanks

I didn't think of that option.  :/
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Cheetah on 29.08.2011, 23:15:15
Use twitter to tell your friends your room number.
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Ralesk on 29.08.2011, 23:18:43
Use twitter to tell your friends your room number.

Except that for foreigners it's not necessarily a given that they can tweet and read tweets (nor is everyone on Twitter).

If you know the person's real name, Hotel reception will know what room he is staying in. They might not give it to you, but you can ask them to leave the person a message.

That's great, I didn't think of that one either!
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Tsanawo on 29.08.2011, 23:27:02
Use twitter to tell your friends your room number.

Except that for foreigners it's not necessarily a given that they can tweet and read tweets (nor is everyone on Twitter).

EuroFurence supplies a wireless network in the lobby; of which the password is in the conbook. Plan with your friend, make the agreement both will @tweet the roomnumber they get at the other person and set a time and meeting point. E.G. Your room, or the other persons room, the first day at 21.00, that way you're sure to meet the person. Else, exchange mobile phone numbers and text a room and time to meet up :)
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Wawik on 29.08.2011, 23:30:53
The hotel also has telephones. You can call (and even drunk dial! ::)) rooms with that invention.
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Ralesk on 29.08.2011, 23:32:52
The hotel also has telephones. You can call (and even drunk dial! ::)) rooms with that invention.

Oh, don't you give such ideas to people ;D
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Drachetto on 30.08.2011, 11:14:09
A blackboard (or something similar) near the entrance where you write appointments to other furries?
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Henrieke on 30.08.2011, 12:42:54
A blackboard (or something similar) near the entrance where you write appointments to other furries?

This!
I should write that in the feedback forum (though I think this will get read by staff as well)... a message board would be very nice. In the previous hotel there were some corkboards, which were very nice in my opinion. Con info can be hung up there, as well as announcements, promotions for SIGs, roomparties and such and ofcourse silly little messages. Is there a practical reason why there is no such thing in the current hotel?
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: BigBlueFox on 31.08.2011, 07:43:49
I was missing those, too. Most large US cons have them, and I think they are quite handy. I'll agrees that question. :)
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Pinky on 31.08.2011, 09:47:47
I've raised the matter with the EF staff.  :) Hope we can have one for next year.
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Drachetto on 31.08.2011, 15:16:46
I've raised the matter with the EF staff.  :) Hope we can have one for next year.

Yay! :D

(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/bartsimpsongeneratorphpsl.gif)
Title: Re: (Not!) Missing people you want to find
Post by: Pinky on 31.08.2011, 15:20:44
Hehehe you're welcome. Cute picture! :-)