Geek Fair Debrief 2008

Area(s) of Coordination

 * raffle, port-a-potties, tents, general contact day of

What, specifically, did you do?

 * Day of "Coordinator" & worked Front Desk, Raffle organization

In hindsight, what would you have changed to make things better?

 * better band mgmt w/ plan "B" for delays
 * do not give $500 to one band, spread it out
 * make 2nd to last slot headliner, not the last

Anything we should note for next year?
- let us see any print materials BEFORE they go to print
 * better organization & earleri flyering
 * start Events meetings earlier in year

Area(s) of Coordination

 * food! music coordination help

What, specifically, did you do?

 * contacted food vendors (Staccato Gelato, Whole Bowl, Redwing, Red & Black, Taco Cart), coordinated with vendors about permits, arrival time, menu

In hindsight, what would you have changed to make things better?

 * more food! worry less about too much competition, get more options in

Anything we should note for next year?

 * make sure they will stay the WHOLE time! whole bowl left and that was sad

Area(s) of Coordination

 * Music & performers, co-sponsorship

What, specifically, did you do?

 * organized & recorded KBOO co-sponsorship, organized bands (Atole, Hide & Go oHustle, Guidance Counselor, Chervona) and performers (Chain Reaction, Stiltwalkers)

In hindsight, what would you have changed to make things better?

 * If I was to do this again I would get folky bands (I think Chervona worked really well), also high-energy is a qualification. I would not have given Atole $500 - they were not big enough

Anything we should note for next year?

 * If I could coordinate bands for next year it would be less of them - the perfect ones togeher would be Chervona, Sassparilla, Circus Contraption. I'd also ask Chain Reaction back.  High energy performances are a must.  KBOO Co-sponsorship should be done again (worked wonderfully)

Area(s) of Coordination

 * helmets

What, specifically, did you do?

 * set-up

Anything we should note for next year?

 * start way earlier

Area(s) of Coordination

 * overarching keeping stuff on track

What, specifically, did you do?

 * picked up barricades (American Barricades, 173 NE Columbia) & Beer (Maletis Distributors, 7000 N Cutter Circle)
 * ordered tents from Barbur Blvd Rentals & Portable Restrooms from American SaniCan
 * overhauled volunteer task list
 * pointed many of the coordinators to previous GF info (i.e. booth list and correspondence from '07)
 * helped with Set-up (set-up the Bar)
 * helped with tear-down
 * floated around and covered areas as necessary
 * coordinated volunteer work party the day before Geek Fair to clean up and prepare the building

In hindsight, what would you have changed to make things better?

 * more up-beat, audience-rousing music
 * less bands
 * band needs communicated WELL IN ADVANCE
 * place the portable restrooms in sight of the stage AND make sure that everyone (i.e. info booth volunteers, etc.) knew where they were
 * fair-style food (i.e. cheap & deep-fried)
 * the booths were largely boring, we should have interactive & fun booths and think about who we want to invite
 * stuff to do in the bar - last year the bar was packed all day because of the FOSS Panel, Comedians, etc.
 * better beer (Captured by Porches Amber was pretty terrible)
 * advertise that beer is available

Anything we should note for next year?

 * schedule volunteers for Tuesday morning "put everything back together"
 * start way earlier
 * Geek Fair brochures: "welcome to Geek Fair!" with site plan, sponsors, & schedule of events
 * I'd like to find a way to have a beer garden outside
 * Come up with a "mission statement" of sorts for Geek Fair so we know how to target our entertainment, audience, and sponsors
 * more fun, engaging entertainment (non-scuzzy circus-style performers)
 * work out money-handling logistics with Richard earlier
 * the donation station was really convenient for hardware donors, we should repeat this