This year’s WFC was a pretty good con, but I have to say once again that I really don’t like the idea of having an awards banquet midday on Sunday. This year was perhaps different, because a large proportion of the membership was able to drive home to New York after the meal; but in most years the choice is either going to be leave early so as to get a flight home, or stay Sunday night. In the former case, people miss the banquet entirely. In the latter case they get to hang around in the con hotel for the evening with no con happening.
I understand the argument that people want to end the con on a high note, but if most people who stay for a midday banquet have to stay Sunday night as well then why not have the banquet Sunday night? That would also put an end to the silliness of having the dealers’ room supposedly open when everyone is actually at the banquet. And we’d get a few hours extra programming in.
Maybe it is because the WFC Board is 80% male, and they don’t quite understand what a pain it is to have to get dressed up for a banquet in the middle of the day and then get changed again for the afternoon/evening. Jo, could you explain this to them, please?
I do try not to whinge (because the Aussies will all laugh at me), but I spoke to lots of people about this over the weekend, and only one person supported the idea of a midday banquet. That person was Rodger Turner, who just happens to be a WFC Board member.
Ah well, when I book my hotel room for Calgary I’ll make sure that I include a Sunday night stay.
Well Cheryl, I’m male and I fully appreciate your complaint!!!
In fact, I left before the banquet this year. It seems to me that Saturday night would be the most appropriate time to have it anyway. Then we can really dress to the nines and keep the fashionistas happy. Maybe we could even get WWD to cover it! 🙂
I would prefer Saturday night too, because some people to have to be back at work for Monday. But I’m happy to meet the desire for ending the convention on a high note.
Hmm, opportunity to work as a fashion correspondent…
I must be in the minority, because I much prefer having the banquet on Sunday afternoon, myself. Last year’s convention had it on Saturday night, and it had the effect of mucking up other plans considerably. There are a number of different groups who have long running traditions of getting together for dinner on Saturday, from big well-dressed groups like the Morhaim crowd to my own smaller but no less stylish group of old friends. By moving the banquet to Saturday, there was no other opportunity to have that dinner, with Friday night taken by the mass autographing and Thursday night by the IHG Awards. Wednesday is too early, since only the truly committed drunks among us bother to come that soon, and Sunday night is for those too reluctant to head back to real life. Having the banquet for a few hours on Sunday afternoon, in time for everyone to make late afternoon and early evening flights, if they don’t want to dead dog, frees up Saturday night for leisurely dinners with old friends without the need to rush around and make other commitments. It’s up to each year’s convention committee, as I understand it, to have the banquet when they choose, but I’m on record as agreeing with Rodger that Sunday is best, and that Saturday night is a distant second.
Chris – point taken, and I’m please to see that someone is happy with the arrangements.
OTOH, for me “late afternoon and early evening flights” almost always means “no flights” or “red eye”. If the banquet is on Sunday, I have to stay Sunday night.
Fair point. But then, if you stay Sunday night with the rest of us dead dog drunkards, it’s another night of fun!