Elevator lines, a Dealer's view

If I might hitch onto this topic - could not dealers, who are hauling quantities of stuff, be allowed EITHER the direct use of the freight elevator, or delivery of their "Freight" to the bell staff, and have it brought up by them?

I suspect direct use is a no-go, but the second option, while not eliminating the need to stand in line, DOES eliminate the encumberment with all this heavy equipment!

For that matter - I know folks are not particularly happy with the idea that any wheeled cart for hauling stuff makes it work covered by Teamsters - but if there were, say, a baggage cart at the end of the dealer's working area, where properly labelled equipment or boxes could be collected, that 4, 5, or more dealers' essential-to-take-back-to-room stuff could be transported with the charge divided among them? The Teamster could haul it to the dock, or an arrangement with the union could be made to get it to the freight elevator, and then Dealers could pay or tip hotel staff appropriately for delivery to their rooms?

I know, on first reading, that this sounds both risky and expensive, and dealers already feel that their costs associated with this Con are too High - of course, they feel that way about all the conventions - but believe me, once you get used to someone else taking your stuff, and then delivering it to your room for you, it stops seeming to be an extravagant luxury, and becomes a necessity worth the price.

Elevators are something that we are wrestling with on a constant basis. Just about every group demands at some point to get preferential access to the elevators: supersponsors, performers, dealers, panelists, "handicapped" people -- by the time we're done, more than half of the convention is on the "go to the front of the line" list and it does not help.

We are already working to monitor the 2nd and 3rd floors better to prevent people from trying to get on there, and to make the access door to the stairs more obvious.

For my own clarification - are we talking the 'glass elevator' in the DLCC from 2 to 3, the down elevators in the DLCC from 3 to the walkway, or the Westin elevators?

I noted this in your LJ post, but I'll reiterate it here.

Was this material you could not safely or reasonably leave in Hall C for the night? The room is well-monitored and secured throughout the entire night, even after the Dorsai leave and the convention centre security staff take over for the night.

As Kage pointed out, as much as many do have grounded reasons for getting expedited elevator service, that number grows rapidly and it becomes unwieldy very quickly, even if kept to only reasonable cases.

Another alternative might be, ask one of the bellmen to take heavy objects or containers to your room for you. For a tip, they will most gladly do so, and it would prevent you from having to hold or carry heavy objects while standing in a line.

It's also probably worth noting that the elevators will be in heavy use at ceratin times of the day. Such times would include: when the dealer room closes, just before and after large events, and so forth. These are times when large percentages of hotel guests (and their guests if visitors are coming in from other hotels) will be trying to move around in the building. Exepctations should be that there will be longer than normal elevator lines during those times.

KP

Personally, I use a backpack to haul stuff around like that. Backpacks are easier at the airport too, where you have to schlep an action-packer tub and carry a suitcase. I just use the backpack instead of the suitcase.

Everyone in line has a story... one guy has a lot of stuff, the next guy has a gimpy leg, the next one is a fursuiter or an ultra-mega-sponser...

Kage is right when he says everyone wants special treatment, and contrary to what you might think, he cannot use his magical fire breath to create more elevators.

Hmmmm or can he.....?

Jeef

Let me take a quick stab at this one....
The fur suiters complained about the elevator wait, so they were given their own floor near the bottem so they had the option of doing the stairs if they were able and if they did take the elevator they didn't have to go up that high any ways.

So give the next floor up to dealers. Problem more or less solved.

I had typed out a long rant but in the interest of good taste, I deleted it.

And if its not be said already, dont you dare try to push the elevators limits, least you find out the hard way like these poor girls