AA2009 Q&A Thread

[Deleted]

Just noticed that there isn't one on here so I thought I'd start it up... if anyone has any questions about AA2009, feel free to post them and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

I promise I'll try to answer every question as honestly as possible!

[Gav]

Can you please let me in for free and pay for my hotel and travel?

Thanks in advance!
Gavin

[Deleted]

Will sausages be available?

[Deleted]

I'm sure the hotel will have some form of sausage-based meal on offer on the convention menu!

[Deleted]

I'm planning on booking my hotel sometime within the next month and Simon's email to me says that in order to qualify for the discount I have to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Is this how many people are limited to going to the convention or something else?

*** edit ***

Sorry, had to modify your post to remove information about how to qualify for the discount. I'm keeping that information for pre-registrants only. That's why it's not on the website!

Simon

[Deleted]

To answer your question, the hotel has reserved a number of rooms at the reduced rate specifically for Auto Assembly. However, that reserved block is dynamic so as we need more rooms for attendees they will automatically increase that allocation to the extent that - if we need it - we could theoretically occupy every bedroom in the hotel!

As far as the attendance figure is concerned, the hotel has about 240 bedrooms - a mix of singles, twins and doubles - but the convention itself has a cut-off point of 550 attendees per day which can be made up of weekend, Saturday and Sunday attendees.

What this could mean is that we have a potential maximum attendee figure of 1,100 attendees for the convention if we had a completely different turnout on each day, although at the moment about 85%-90% of people who have booked are for the weekend. Right now my guess is that the maximum we could be looking at assuming we were a complete sell out (and increased our one-day allocations) is 600-650.

Simon

[blueshift]

Exclusive-wise, if Hasbro aren't playing ball (and from their interview at TFcon it seems they only want to support Botcon in any official capacity, boo) have you thought about approaching Fansproject for next year? Their Powered Convoy armour set seems to have gone down very well as the TFCon exclusive, and they didn't get in trouble from Hasbro for that (who were also there)

[Deleted]

To be honest, I'd rather not go down the unofficial route for any exclusive and to produce something to make it a worthwhile addition to the convention it would need to be relatively low cost so the costs that Fansprihect were talking about for the Powered Convoy armour would have been pretty expensive for a single item.

I'd rather hold out and aim to be able to offer fans a deluxe sized toy and keep the price to no more than £15-£20 and give every attendee the opportunity to get one and make sure that it's done properly. I know it makes it harder for us to get something done, but at least it keeps us safe with Hasbro! lol

We are still trying everything we can with Hasbro and will do for as long as we possibly can, and we're open to looking into whatever it takes to make an exclusive happen - on our own or working with someone else.

[The Doctor]

I would like an AA mug. Is there a way to reserve/pay for one in case they sell out? I see from the website there are only 108 made!

-Ralph

[Deleted]

The Registration Desk is the ONLY table that will be open on the Friday selling anything so if you arrive then you will be able to buy one.

To be honest, I didn't really know how many to produce and never really expected there to be as much interest as there is but I have a feeling that they will be sold out by part-way through Saturday!

Simon

[The Doctor]

I lack a Transformer mug you see, so I must have one! I shall grab one on the Friday!

-Ralph

[Deleted]

I'm also lacking a TF mug and I definitely want one.

[Deleted]

are we able to pick up our goodie bags on the friday?

[primenova]

I've got the Ultra Magnus & Galvatron mugs release back in 1987? or 86. Are there any out for the Movie? apart from those water bottles.

[Deleted]

As long as you have a weekend pass, goodie bags and convention packs can be collected on Friday when you come along for the Friday night programme! Makes things easier for us too!

[The Doctor]

Excellent!

-Ralph

[Deleted]

Is the Holiday Inn within walking distance of Digbeth Coach Station or would it be wise to get a taxi to the hotel?

[primenova]

The coach station is just near the markets.

www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=birmingham&countryCode=GB#map=52.47634,-1.89232|17|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:52.483:-1.89356:14|birmingham|Birmingham,%20West%20Midlands,%20England,%20B4%206

You've got the hotel on Hill St - then east to New st station & bull ring floor 2. walk along floor 2 & out at exit & head down to markets & your at end of Digbeth high st b4100 where coach station is on [oxford st relocation or main one]

[Deleted]

I know that the coach station is right near the market and the Bullring - I got lost around that area last year shortly after getting off the bus - but I didn't quite know how far it is away from the hotel.

[primenova]

Once you can see the bull ring - it just ensuring you find floor 2 & head to the other end. No body should get lost with those directions. The first time i drove to Birmingham i did slightly get lost around the area of the hotel. Was heading to New st car park but ended up parking in markets.

But with the bull ring being in on location & accessable from the markets floor 1,2 - new st floor 2,3 - new station floor 2. moor st floor 2 other end [or is that floor 1?]

[Deleted]

It's about a 10 minute walk from the coach station to the hotel and reasonably easy to find. I'll see if I can find a map.

[Nigel]

Is Friday night's cinema screening included in the AA ticket price or is it an extra? If an extra, what's the cinema price?

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2009 11:44:18 GMT Nigel said:

Is Friday night's cinema screening included in the AA ticket price or is it an extra? If an extra, what's the cinema price?

adding to this one, do we have to like 'sign up' before friday or can we just tag along to pay at the cinema etc?

[Deleted]

I'm trying to finalising details on the cinema screening at the moment, but it will be an optional add-on as it is something being held externally to the convention. What we will do is gather in the convention hall at the end of the Friday evening bonus programme and then basically head off to the cinema en-masse!

As we have said before though, it will be restricted to weekend attendees only and right now I don't know what screen in the cinema will be allocated to us so I don't know if there will be a limit to the numbers!

[primenova]

Is there any chance of something like a short 3 minute video recording [could be brought on a usb stick by Andrew Wildman rather then doing a live web broadcast link up] Of Simon Furman just running down projects.

somehting like -

Titan - doing first arc showing Skids & Mud flap turning up on earth - then into a second arc to take us to the end of year one. [nothing on line about that but would expect the same format as the original comic]

IDW - doing movie comics already been announced.

Also - depends on if you get file sent across - coudl have quick 2 min video from Neil too?

[Bogatan]

I finally sorted out my money to be able to register today, but I was reading the site and got a bit confused. I'll be traveling on Thursday so the last day the post can bring my printed forms is Wednesday. I read that I dont need them as long as I bring along a print out of the email confirmation, did I read that right?

It also said that I can pick up the registration package on Friday rather than have it posted, is there an advantage doing that over just bringing the email confirmation?

And finally I tried emailing using the link to ask about picking up passes but it just brought up my computers email system which I dont use so I don't know who/how to arrange that option and as its says to contact before booking if I want to do that, I'm left somewhat in limbo.

Andy

[blueshift]

The e-mail is [e-mail]

[Bogatan]

Aha, cheers.

Andy

[Deleted]

Are some of the episodes being shown throughout the days be some of the Japanese series? like Headmasters, Masterforce or Victory? or even the Japanese Beast Wars things

[primenova]

I'd like to watch Japan BW stuff - not following whats happening just looking at the pictures.