Are there any plans for a Colony Drop at this year's July con?

Though I'm getting some stuff picked up again for the charity auction there I haven't been making plans to go, but that might change if there's a drop this year and I can wiggle my work schedule around for it.

So, anyone going?

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

Nope. Did that twice already but do have fun and take lots of pix.

Mike

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There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

If I make it I'll be sure to rig up the video camera/motion tracker setup for more FPS POV ... ahem, shots

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

There will be a Colony Drop for Polaris this year... Cpl Sigouin and I will be there to...ahem...police the Marines present. I doubt there will be a Colony Sweep however, I'm not comfortable in the notion of organizing one in a convention center I haven't even seen yet. If there is popular demand, I may however make a different decision.

Who else will be there?

I'm up to helping out in the planning and I'm in regular contact with friends who run the show, including hotel liaisons and security and I KNOW they'd love to see a return of it. Would you like me to make some connections/get more info Sarge?

EDIT

Here's the floor plan of the hotel events area, looks like we could even make a better go of it than last year... what's a little unfamiliar territory for Marines, eh?

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

A bunch of guys running around a hotel in downtown Toronto dressed like Rambo, carrying big very real looking guns, and not on Halloween.

Yeah it's a sci-fi/costume convention... but people are going to be expecting a bunch of harmless looking Star Trek geeks dressed as Spock.

I think we should tread very lightly and not dive in thinking "what could possibly go wrong?"

Sid you of all people having run security before should know how jumpy Canadians get around guns. T.O. in particular as of late is becommimg very anti-gun.

Not trying to be a party pooper; I just don't want a bunch of very real ETF guys telling us to,"GET ON THE GROUND FACE DOWN!"

Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Kev, why do you think the mood would be any different than at the Doubletree? We haven't had any issues in the past... the only real incident I've heard of in Mississauga is when some fruitcake went outside in the parking lot with his guns... Police were called in, etc...

My main concern is the hotel staff may never have hosted an event like this and wouldn't know what to expect.

I'm also concerned that there is more civillian traffic in and out of a busy downtown hotel rather than one on the outskirts of the city. Higher possibility of someone not understanding it's just a costume and phoning 911 on their cell.

If were just standing around getting our pictures taken that's one thing. But the sweep is a completely different animal where we really do act like we're on a mission. If we were carrying a bunch of Nerf guns that were bright yellow and orange I wouldn't be concerned at all.

It's just that it is new surroundings and I want to be cautious.

I'd like to hear what the hotel staff (not employees but upper management) and con security thinks first.

Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I must concur with Sgt. Beaudoin, it's the same con we did the same thing at last year (you remember doing it, right?), inside the hotel but this time not near the airport but in Markham.

I'm happy to connect with security again like I did to help make it happen in 2006 when Dom asked me the Friday night outside karaoke about the possibility and the committee people (especially security) loving the idea and it taking place Saturday afternoon.

The problem is of course going outside in costume with our gear (I recall a few people wearing their DI type uniforms then ).

The security of the con, the con itself as well as the great folks I've met here especially are very reasonable (heck even a friend from 14 division comes and watched us last year) when it comes to the balance of safety and entertainment at the convention and I think there would be some disappointment if we didn't upkeep to the tradition started at TT20, now Polaris. Hell the president of TCON that runs Polaris publicly stated that when he was working with one of the VIPs (I think it was Karen David) she loved it last year and took photos.

I know I'm going long however please note that doing a colony sweep might be the deciding factor whether I take the time off to come up for a Saturday. Not that y'all aren't great people but I'd rather be pragmatic with my cash and get more bang for the buck with it... may as well save money for DragonCon instead, right?

EDIT,

D'oh yes I saw your additions Kevin and I understand but again, we're nowhere downtown, the hotel is aware that they're going to see things that will be interesting at least, and like last two prior times will have a highly visible red shirt security escort - and in return the con gets some additional free entertainment that the performers provide at their own expense, again.

You do have a great point about it being a new hotel and those actually doing the legwork may be a bit wary, I'll be in touch with a friend of mine who is a regular hotel liaison sometime in the next week or so and see what he has to say. I'll have a chat with one of the co-bosses of security again to confirm their opinion on the matter but as far as I recall from a previous conversation they were expecting a return of it.

Updates as they're available.

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

I'll be there for Polaris ... in full gear !!!

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A07/TQ2.0.72153E1 Cpl. Philippe "Locke" Turcotte

I agree on caution, so I would leave it up to Con Sec to iron ou details with the hotel staff to ensure that we can safely do this.

Don't get me wrong; I like doing the sweep just as much as the next guy. I want to have fun too.

Being escorted by security and especially having someone filming certainly helps to diminish any misinterpretation.

The thing is there is no middle ground with something like the sweep; either everyone "gets it" and thinks it's great, or could possibly think the wrong thing which could land us in deep trouble.

The real problem is that all it takes is one person to get freaked out. And the way the law is spelled out is that it makes no difference what our intentions are (or the fact the weapons were immitations), all that matters is whether or not we created a sense of "panic" in general public no matter how small. This is not a private performance at a theater where the audience goers are expecting to watch a live re-enactment of a military looking manouver. We're not actors.

I just don't want to hear "everything will be fine" with a new hotel when we really don't know how everyone is going to react. We've only done the sweep two times at Polaris- for all we know we could have been "getting away with it" or "been lucky" that no one called the cops, especially when some of us were pointing our guns directly at simple hotel guests. The second sweep seemed to be much more organized and "in tune" with the con staff. The chestburster part reinforced that it was "all an act".

Like I said- I'm not out to shut this down, just want to be sure everything is cool. Just keeping it real is all.

EDIT- Dom posted while I was typing:




That all I wanted to hear really.


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Yes, awesome, cool... I get ya, better safe than sorry.

Anywho, I will be in touch with the TPTB and forward what they have to say

Updates as I get them...

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

In regards to Polaris,
If anyone wants to crash at my house instead of staying at the hotel, it could be a possibility.
Let me know

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Scott
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A10/TQ2.0.42142E1

Updates:

I got the following this morning from my friend Jaws, co-head of Polaris 23 security during a brief chat before he took off for long weekend. I had previously given him a link to this thread to see what we're talking about, here's the reply he wanted me to share...

Morning, can't chat, but I just wanted to let you know that I have read the forum, and sent an email to the Programming and Hotel team regarding the sweep. [ other co-head of security ] is on side, so no problem there. I tried to post to your list, but I had to be registered, and can't see where I can do that. So, please let the team know that we are on it.

Essentially after talking to him and a few other people running the convention in regular chats, including one of the chairs... they're pretty much all for it again

Dom, if need be I could do a little recon for you and get some video from inside the hotel while I'm in the general area later this month if you're interested in getting to know the surroundings/setup a bit more.

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

Although this would be helpful, I don't know if we'll have bugs or preds to fight off this year.

Ahhh, well that in itself might be something to work around much like the no contact 1st sweep at Dcon on the Saturday.

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

Yes, we all recall how anti-climactic this was...

I will be at Polaris this year and I can probably bring my BDU. Unless there is schedule conflict, as I mentionned.

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http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v736/ ... /Costumes/

I will probably bring my BDU too, so you can count me in.

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2nd Lt. Luc "Skywalker" Massey
A07/TQ3.0.02151E1
UACM

OK, so confirmed sweepers:

- Sid S
- Dom B
- Phil T
- Marie-Claude D
- Luc M

I'm gonna guess that Scott S is in and Kevin B will be, health permitting. Frank and Jennifer aren't coming, which means we still have no confirmed bugs yet. If you wish to sign up, please add yourself.

Is there also going to be a GIJOE gathering again this year?

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

I'll certainly bring my Cobra... always a hoot. Again, Recondo's appearance will depend on Kevin's health.

I might bring along a new costume I've been working on, or maybe two - one of them is Beach Head



The other one is something I have not tried before but will be instantly recognizable on sight by anyone who has seen the cartoon a few times

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Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

You can count me in

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Scott
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