they know we empty out the local cash machines
That is a point I have to add, that hadn't been covered by now. This year the ATM was broken nearly the whole convention (I checked it from time to time from late Thursday on). I know that this machine is not handled by the hotel itself, but in one of the previous years someone organised these mobile ATM trucks standing outside on the driveway, as the ATM was constantly empty. It would have been very nice to have these again this year. So maybe whoever is organising them, can have a look at the ATM situation and act accordingly next year? On the other hand, the walk to the Sparkasse near the McDonnald is not that far.
All my other points have already been discussed in these threads, So I just list them:
- elevator drama. (Block 4, 12th (highest) floor). Usually one of three elevators broken, often also the second, sometimes long lines for the remaining one, esp. if fursuiters are let in first. Was mostly lucky and didn't had to wait very long. I see no immediate remedy to this. I never heard of any individual jumping (I'd hand them over to sec if I saw one immed.). So I assume the high strain we place on them constanly going up&down with the hot weather is the root cause (additional cooling fans inside the motor room and more vent openings may be a fire problem?).
additional info: the first elevator one the right was a little sensitive, you could break it by simply walking in to fast while already half loaded (not jumping in!), as the impulse of placing the foot inside and the wobbling bcs of the shifted load might trigger its position sensor. Easily fixed, everyone out, let it reset within seconds, and walking in again more softly (saw this happen once).
-had expected more variety from the food trucks, either have more different ones at the same time, or change them on a daily/twoday base (maybe keep a favourite one like eg. burgers, or have some overlap).
-pps long but ok. Would habe been better if there were narration during all scene changes to keep people interested, maybe wasn't considered necessary or coulnd't have been created in time.
To all who complain about the writing: external scripts also have to accomodate the existing puppets and probs, and the limited capability to build new ones, as well as the available pupeteers. This is probably best done from the inside, from someone who already knows what works fine with the actors and knows what is available and can be done in the limit time during the year. (No, doesn't need to always be Che/Eis, might also be a new pps staff in its 2nd/3rd year, just apply for the position). Also it's just not possible to have each puppet several times with different clothes e.g. one with a space suit and one without, to remove dressingtime, or have complete scenes stored in the back like in professional theatres. Same also applies, as probably the script is changed during the first rehearsals, as they fix plot holes, rewrite details to portray characters and actions more precisely, and remove unneccessary scenes (or transfer them to narration). This all converges to a running show over the year just in time for the actual show, so having an external script that mostly works directly will not be that easy as in "write it and just play".
I also noticed the one puppeteer repeatably visible. As I recognised the person I can say, that this is due to this persons size. As one could see after the show, the puppeteers all have a different body size, so some may need to wear highheels to even get the puppet high enough, while others have to play crouched for hours. So if one of them is visble sometimes, well, I know where it comes from and can live with that. Again, this is not a professional play. And just for the jokes, no, imposing a rule for puppeteers to have a certain size does not solve this! (they don't just grow on trees to be plugged when having the right size and playing ability). Be happy to have the ones that are there at all!
The space scene with the bomb was gorgeous, with the space-earth on front of the play rail. It actually looked as if it is moving sometimes. Very simple but ingineous and nice idea.
-Pro: Most things starting actually on time or only with the usual max 30min delay, except when elevators play a relevant role with required staff...
- visited the artists in the rotunda and noticed some change over the days (so not only the same 10 artist blocking everything). On the other hand, some left their displays over night to have a spot the next day, which can be considered blocking the place
- I think all other things went well this time.
