Ebony's Pearls

I have the best minions anywhere. They worked their little tushies off for the last three days keeping the Green Room at SoonerCon stocked and tidy. They ran errands. They made sure the guests were cared for during their panels and presentations. They were entertaining, even though one was sickly, recovering from a respiratory infection.

They were awesome.

And they want to do it again next year.

I learned a few lessons in the Green Room, too.

1. No animal crackers. Nobody liked them, nobody ate them, they all went in the trash. They were cheap animal crackers, but still, they won't be on the menu next year.

2. Mountain Dew needs to be in screw top bottles.

3. Less fruit, more variety. 2-3 oranges, a half dozen apples, bananas, berries, maybe a melon or two and some kiwis.

4. More cheese-inna-can.

5. Moon pies and RC Cola.

6. Add beef to the list of deli meats, and buy a couple of extra pounds.

7. More cheese.

8. Add a greater variety of vegetables.

9. Only 1 pound of coffee is needed, not three.

10. Put a posterboard up for one-liners and overheard comments in the Green Room. There were some memorable zingers being tossed around. I hope I can remember them all.

11. Get extra maps and clearly mark where everything is - make sure they are posted prominently. Ignore the maps in the programming guide, they are pretty but useless for navigation.

12. Be pushier about getting key arrangements for the BNGs so the BNGs aren't worried about them.

13. Less diet sodas, more chocolate.

14. The omelettes for breakfast were well appreciated, much better than the breakfast bread, so do omelettes for Saturday and Sunday.

15. Put out a tip jar. I totally didn't even think of this, but several people requested one. I went into this because we needed a Green Room at SoonerCon, and SoonerCon couldn't afford it. I checked my finances and my larder and decided I could swing it - barely, but I could do it. I didn't expect any re-imbursement from anyone, or any tips. It was something that needed doing, so I did it.

16. Bring my computer and printer and print out an "end of con report" for the guests which includes memorable events, snapshot moments, excellent quotes, and assorted other bits of information. I'm open to suggestions to make this a document the guests will treasure - at least until the next Con they attend.

The guests at SoonerCon were utterly awesome people. I was pleased to be able to provide anything they asked for except one little thing, and I will have it available next year even if no one needs it. Claudia Christian asked for a corkscrew, and I didn't have one. I felt so bad. It won't happen again.

I'm not sure I will have beer in the Green Room because I hate having to flash ID to buy it. I am over 60 years old. I shouldn't have to prove I'm over 21 anymore. I may get one of my minions to buy the beer.

Because I have minions, and I can do that.

The guests were utterly awesome, and the best people to work with ever. They were delightfully easy to please, and they used the Green Room exactly as it was meant to be used - as a brief refuge to replenish themselves, keep themselves hydrated and fed (but y'all didn't eat near enough - I had to haul stuff home!), and to prepare for their next panel or presentation. They used it as a place to get information and assistance, and to share information. It was a place to meet up before they went somewhere together.

I loved being able to produce what they needed and a few things they wanted.

I want to do it again.

With more minions.