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 Post subject: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:44 pm 
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I'm looking at attending DragonCon for my first time this year, and I'm totally new...

There's different levels of dragoncon membership? and only the $120 runs through the event?
So I have to buy the $120 membership so I can attend DragonCon 2011 in GA this Sept?

Can I bring a guest? Or does she need to be a member too?

[HOTEL]
Also need to book a hotel? Any recommendations?

[SCHEDULE]
Should I plan to arrive on Sept 1st? Stay in the Hotel that night?
Should I plan to leave Sept 5th? What time? - OR - Is Sept 5th a BIG DAY?
Should I leave around 8pm? Or should I stay that night and leave early AM on Sept 6th?

[WEAPONS]
Are unloaded airsoft guns acceptable? (M41A PR & VP70)
Can I get from the Hotel to the Con with unloaded open carry airsoft guns?
If the state of Georgia treats airsoft guns life firearms, then I might be good to go. Georgia honors my Utah CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons License) so I could actually walk around live and loaded... If I could get into the Con. Don't know...

Any advice or tips, or rules, please and thank you.

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Last edited by AaronHorrocks on Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:39 am 
Lifer
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Okay since you're new, I'll cut you some slack. :wink:

I've been attending D-Con since 2003. In that time I've watched this convention go from huge to freaking gigantic!

So---

Quote:
There's different levels of dragoncon membership? and only the $120 runs through the event?
So I have to buy the $120 membership so I can attend DragonCon2011 in GA this Sept?




If you plan on buying your ticket at the convention it is $120.

Right now there is a pre-registration price of $105 until July 15th (after which it is $120). Pre-registration starts after the last convention finished. The price usually starts at $60 a ticket and goes up in incriments over the course of the year.

Basically this means buying your ticket in advance (such as online) which gets mailed out to you. The earlier in the year you buy your ticket online, the cheaper it is. At the convention you present your ticket (it is actually more like a postcard) to pick up your convention pass which you have to wear to get access to the dealers' room, stars autograph area (sometimes called the "Walk of Fame") and pretty much most of the convention.

If you bring a friend and want to take them everywhere you go- they have to buy a ticket too.

Now... some people might chime in that you don't really need a pass- that you could just hang out in the hotel lobbies and bars and still have fun. Technically you could. However security is becoming more strict every year that even hanging out in a hotel lobby, they want to see your convention pass. This started getting strict maybe in 2008-2009 (which was the last time I went), because of "football fans" who show up drunk and rowdy and generally act like jerkwads. They contribute nothing to the convention other than taking up space and harrassing the female costumers.

So if you truly want to enjoy all aspects of the convention I'd say you definitely need a ticket.


Quote:
Also need to book a hotel? Any recommendations?



Well I hate to be the one to break this to you, but all the host hotels (these are the four hotels the convention takes place in) have been sold out for months now.

Even the smaller overflow hotels are sold out. You would probably have to find a hotel several miles away at this point. Your only chance is to try and get a room off someone who has cancelled for the host hotels, but I'll warn you right now, expect to pay around $900 to $1000 for a 4 night stay at say the Hiton or Marriott (two of the 4 hotels- the other two are the Hyatt and Sheraton).

You're really late in the game as most of us start planning attending Dragon Con back in September shortly after coming home from last year's Dragon Con.

As far as weapons go- concealed carry license or not, the convention does not permit loaded airsoft weapons. Remember this is a private function with their own set of rules. Back in 2004 some idiot decided to shoot some guy dressed as a Stormtrooper from a hotel balcony with an airsoft rifle. This resulted in a TOTAL BAN of airsoft anything for the entire weekend! People who were just carrying guns around as part of their costume were told to put the guns back in their hotel rooms or leave the convention.

This also goes for knives, swords and general sharp objects that could accidentally (or intentionally) poke or cut someone. All weapons must be "peace bonded". This usually involves putting a zip-tie around the trigger of a gun in the fully pulled position. For real steel knives and swords they zip-tie them to the sheath so they cannot be removed from the sheath. No sheath- no knife/sword allowed. The zip-ties have to stay on the entire convention or you risk being banned.

There is supposed to be a security office that you bring all your weapons to for inspection, but they usually have roaming security who will randomly inspect weapons to ensure they have been peace-bonded if need be.

The convention can be a blast, so I hope you're able to secure a hotel room.

I'll let someone else take it from here. :wink:


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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:56 am 
Duke Bronson
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Also, I believe that DragCon is in San Francisco, not Atlanta


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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:17 am 
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Most arrive on the Weds or early on Thursday.

Thursday is the start of Registration (taking your membership postcard to get your Con Pass).

99.99% of people leave on the Monday.

The UKCM stay until the Tuesday, so the airport's not like a zoo and to chill before flying home.

Spat's guide for newbies at Cons;

http://spatcave.com/conadvice.htm

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:37 pm 
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To add what Kevin said above, re: the con passes, during each evening of the convention last year, the Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton (the three primary stalking grounds) started checking people entering each hotel for con badges and/or room keys. We're talking checkpoints at the doors and at the habitrails connecting them. This was done to control the amount of locals who show up from the area (mostly college age kids) who have heard that Dragon-Con at night is party central for Atlanta during Labor Day weekend. They would come in and harass the women, pick on people, and I have seen some damage people's costumes as they walked by.

So you and a guest would very likely need badges to enjoy the biggest part of being there.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:53 am 
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just watch the hotels like a hawk , rooms always open up at the last couple weeks .

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 6:58 pm 
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Thanks for the helpfull posts thus far

Typos:
Please ignore. I hate typing on this laptop.

Schedule:
So, does anything happen on Monday?
If I leave monday morning, will I be missing anything?

Weapons:
Bummer. I'll have to leave my TM M1A1 Thompson converted to M41A P.R. at home. With my Koba VP70.
So what do USCMs do for weapons?
If I see any armed Leos, or armed Private security, while I have to be disarmed despite my CCW, I assure you that I'll make a serious stink about it after the event. I don't agree with the way of thinking that "Some animals are more equal than others".

Hotels:
If I get stuck several miles away, I don't think that'll be too bad. There should be a local taxi, right?
As a 30 year old man with a career and reserve duty, I'm not the kind of guy that stays out all night drinking. I will certainly stay up to 22:00 or 23:00 and have a few ales or stouts though.

The flight accross the country is going to be the most expensive part. Yeah the hotels will be us there too, but if I can't get a flight, I'm out of luck. If I can't get a hotel, I'll just get one a little farther away. If i can get some prompty responses on the scheduling matter, then I can book a flight, get a membership, and start hunting for a hotel.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:04 pm 
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AaronHorrocks wrote:
So, does anything happen on Monday?

Mostly, I tend to stay up all night drinking myself blind with other 30-40 year old career and family-types who left their responsibilities at home ... but we are British. ;)

Seriously though, if you have to miss a day then Monday is the one to miss. Even the panels are usually the more obscure and less popular ones. However, Monday (and Tuesday) is a great wind down; Unless you have a good reason to cut the trip short, I'd recommend you leave Tuesday.


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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:19 pm 
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Panels? What are those?

As far as skipping out on Monday, yes, I have drill that week so I'll have to bail at least some time on Monday to get back in time to gear up and report in.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:37 pm 
Duke Bronson
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Schedule:
So, does anything happen on Monday? People go home. Only the hardest core nerds stick around.

Weapons:
You'll be fine with your VP. Remember that the actual colony sweep was done with these, flame units and a shotgun.

Hotels:
If I get stuck several miles away, I don't think that'll be too bad.
Get on the MARTA and get off at the Peachtree Station, it's a skip away.


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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:13 pm 
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My Koba VP70 is a "Blow Back" airsoft pistol, so what I'm hearing is that it's against the rules.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:10 pm 
Duke Bronson
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I bring mine to conventions... don't worry, the Gestapo isn't running around. Just be sure your mag is clear and empty.


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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:34 pm 
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AaronHorrocks wrote:
My Koba VP70 is a "Blow Back" airsoft pistol, so what I'm hearing is that it's against the rules.

Only loaded.

Get the trigger peace bonded and you should be fine.

Quite a few of the PRs/other weapons are airsoft, but won't have gas/a battery in and will not be loaded.

Edit: What Dom said. :oops: :D

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:49 pm 
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As far as "peace bonded", I'm still a bit confused. This week is the first time that I've heard of this term.

It sounds like I have to put a zip tie to hold the trigger back? :roll:
If it really comes to that, can I put a trigger lock on the M41A and call it a day?

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:58 pm 
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Just don't walk around with a loaded magazine you'll be fine. Between us, the Stargate people and the 501st alone, there will be so much costume weaponry on display we'd scare off Costa Rica. The hotel and con security would spend all day stopping people if just carrying something was cause for alarm. Maintain some trigger discipline (keep the sound effects to a minimum) and don't go off pointing weapons at random people and you'll be fine. I remember many times moving in groups with my fellow Colonial Marines when we passed groups of Atlanta Metro Police officers and they didn't even blink.

The only thing I would be concerned about is carrying something on MARTA any great distance. I stay in the three square block area of the convention and don't stray too far. The cops figure if you are in costume and near the con, you're okay as long as you're not acting aggressively.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:16 pm 
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That's all sound advice, but general weapons safety handing that I already know.

"pointing weapons at random people" would be brandishing, and is usually illegal. Always ill-advised. Even if it's a toy/fake/prop gun.

Reguarding the CCW thing, I risk loosing it if I do something stupid or aggressive or illegal. The state of Utah is so strict that if you pop on any piss-test that's unrelated, you'll loose it. It may however, save my ass if I'm detained by local law enforcement. So I'll bring my CCW, and my Military ID.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:14 am 
Lifer
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Like Jay said- carrying an airsoft gun is perfectly fine. Convention security (not hotel security) does walk around and inspect guns and zip tie the triggers. If your M41A has a battery they will ask you to remove it. Once the trigger is zip-tied you are free to carry your VP or M41A anywhere in the convention.

In simplest terms they want all weapon like devices to be completely inert, so that no fellow convention goer can be injured either deliberately or accidentally.

For airsoft guns they usually want the magazine empty of BBs, the battery removed (for AEGs) and the trigger zip tied. For gas guns like the VP I'm sure the zip tied trigger and empty magazine would be enough (far as I know they don't make you expend any gas left in there).

Now outside the convention (walking between the hotels) you basically want to point any weapons straight up or down and appear non-threatening to the civilians.

Atlanta is fairly forgiving when it comes to brandishing weapons in public. The police (and pretty much most people who live there) understand that there is a huge freaking costume convention going on and expect to see replica weapons (the Parade takes place outside on the streets of downtown Atlanta and there are PLENTY of weapons to be seen during the Parade).

As long as you don't point your weapons and scare the crap out of someone who doesn't know any better you'll be fine. :delta:


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Last edited by SSgt Burton on Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:27 am 
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AaronHorrocks wrote:
Panels? What are those?

Those are where the stars are in a conference room and give a talk and answer questions from the audience about their careers.

Depending on how big the star(s)/rooms are, it's best to get there well before they start to guarantee you get in.

Have a look at the bottom of my D*Con 2008 Flickr page here for a short vid of Lance Henriksen talking about being set on fire in the film Hard Target:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15456611@N ... 096878574/

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:03 am 
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also some guys drop out and leave the bunk mates , holding the bag . keep your eyes peeled for members asking for roomates ,

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:10 am 
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Panel as in panel discussion. Ah, gotcha.

Ah yes, parades. Since I'm a reenactor, and I collect military vehicles, I've been in a number of parades. Driving, and walking in uniform & armed. Done about 2 a year for the last 5 years... I've even been given a ride in a restored army UH1-H to a parade about an hour away. 8)
There was a kid that asked to hold my rifle, I told him it wasn't real, but he insisted. After about 5 seconds I had enough of that - and panic'ed that I'd get in trouble for *something* in this crazy state. I'll never do that again. Veterans and Police escorts were great, all another story however.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:08 pm 
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Cpl Potter wrote:
also some guys drop out and leave the bunk mates , holding the bag . keep your eyes peeled for members asking for roomates ,

Guilty. Luckily my roommate is the forgiving sort.

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:07 pm 
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AaronHorrocks wrote:
That's all sound advice, but general weapons safety handing that I already know.

Exactly! Sadly plenty of people leave their common sense at home that weekend, and that's why we now have the rules...a few ruin it for the rest.

The guys and gals here are a smart bunch, this is why we're so popular at the convention and have no trouble getting a table.

Looking forward to meeting you, you WILL have a blast if you just bring your common sense along (which from the sounds of it won't be an issue).

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:28 pm 
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I should know better. I'm an amatuer firearms manufacture, too!

Here's me shooting the first weapon I've ever built:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AaronHorroc ... S8zjrkD_C0

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:10 am 
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Cool vid. Looks like tons o' fun. :D The good ol' M2 in the hands of a Marine... for some reason it reminded me of Carlos Hathcock's M2 semi-auto sniper rifle conversion, picking off targets with relative ease at 2000+ yds.

Straying off topic momentarily, what sort of military vehicles have you collected? I'd be interested in seeing some pics if you have any to share.

About 20 yrs. ago a Japanese guy I knew revealed a little gem he had stashed away in a barn out in the boonies not too far from where I live... if I remember correctly, it was a Dodge WC4 open cab weapons carrier in damn near pristine condition, winch and all. I figured it must have been left behind or auctioned off when the US occupation forces pulled out after WW2. He told me he knew another guy who had a WMC M3 half-track tucked away somewhere. Anyway, the guy was nuts for vintage American military vehicles, but who could blame him? :mrgreen:

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 Post subject: Re: New to DragonCon
PostPosted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:59 pm 
Duke Bronson
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trouble wrote:
Guilty. Luckily my roommate is the forgiving sort.
Oh, you'll pay.


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