GoH Department
Guest of Honor (GoH) Department and Guest Liaison Responsibilities
Pre-con Responsibilities
September - December Timeframe
- Contact GoH (Department Head has initial responsibility and will provide 'virtual' introduction once liaisons are assigned)
- Get GoH interests and communicate those to Programming and Music
- Provide link (as appropriate) to Programming Wiki
- Get +1 information (who is attending with GoH)
- Preferred Badge Name
- Get +1 interests (are they interested in being on certain panels, etc.) or is this a pro handler?
- Arrange travel - Either book travel and get reimbursed or send travel requests to Chair for purchase
- We attempt to keep the cost under $550 per flight.
- Need name on state ID and Birthdate for airlines
- Ask for rewards program information for booking
- Communicate travel to Chair, Programming, Hotel
- Communicate GoH and +1 info to Registration
- Assign Guest Liaison's to GoH - Inform Programming of assignments
- Get short Bio (1-2 paragraphs) for early PR's - send to Publications
December - February Timeframe
- Stay copied on all communication from Art, Music, and Programming to GoH
- Send Former GoH letter (at discretion of Chair)
- Request picture of GoH from the GoH for Program Book
- Get longer Bio (~1 page) for Program Book - send to Publications
- Review schedule as it is built for GoH perspective
- Review Kaffeeklatch (or variant) and location
- Get pens for signings
- Communicate mobile number so GoH can call/text liaison
- Provide Department head mobile number as backup for liaison
- Provide shipping information for Art GoHs
Work Party
- Get GoH badges, schedules (full registration envelope)
- Get GoH stipend ($50/day for GoH)
- Get a copy of schedules for liaison
- Make a sign to take to the airport
- Verify with Hotel that GoH rooms are set for late check-out on final day
At-con Responsibilities
For the purposes of this section, consider everything from the end of the work party until the GoH flies home to be At-con.
Pre-arival
- GoH Department Head to work with Hotel to get keys for GoH rooms
- Verify Keys, Stipend, Badges, Schedule, Program Book, Pocket Guide ready for GoH
Arrival
- Park in MSP Short Term parking
- Review flight / baggage claim information
- Bring GoH and +1 to Hotel
- Deliver to room
- Deliver Keys, Stipend, Badges, Schedule, Program Book, Pocket Guide
- Arrange to meet the GoH after they have settled in
- Provide tour of rooms to acquaint them with layout - Consuite, Bar, Green Room, Art Show, Music, Programming Rooms
- Arrange time to accompany GoH to Reception - Verify GoH has time to eat or provide food prior to Reception
- Remember to remind the GoH that GoH can call us with any questions or needs
- Provide the time for late check-out on final day, arrange logistics (is there a good time to move luggage to liaison vehicle, store it with Concierge, etc.)
Each Day of Con
- Arrange escort to/from Green Room and Programming, as desired
- Make sure they get to their panels (be their external scheduling brain)
- Bring pens to panels and signings
- Review published limit and ask members to cycle through line if they exceed signing limit
- Make sure GoH has time to eat and has breaks between activities
- For panels / events that require tech (A/V) - arrive early, work with Programming to test
- For music events, arrange with Programming and Music for sound-check, etc.
- You also need to be available whenever they are for the same as above - no getting drunk while they are still doing panels/music, etc. You also need to be up when they need to be up, so you either skip some sleep or live on their schedule for a couple of days. You might also need to take them places, like MOA or MIA or whatever they want/need to do outside of the convention.
When they leave
- Get luggage to vehicle
- Drop GoH off at airport
- Come back for the Dead Dog Party!
General Notes
- Keep receipts for reimbursement
- Liaison may need to occasionally ask a Member to move on or otherwise fend off an overly zealous fan
Administrivia
This page supersedes Interaction between GoH and Registration