GoH Department

Guest of Honor (GoH) Department and Guest Liaison Responsibilities

Pre-con Responsibilities

Soon after Guest is announced

• GoH (Department Head) sends intro email to collect basic information Sample GoH Letter

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
• Notify Programming, Art of any extra scheduling from Guest (signings, etc.)
• 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 it is time for the GoH to depart for home

• 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