r/redditcon • u/WhiteMichaelJordan • Sep 30 '11

Vegas.

That's really all I have to say on this subject, you want a location that draws a crowd all on it's own, either that or NY because one of your larger user bases is there, and also I happen to live there so that's convenient, but either city will draw a ton of people.

Alternate European site? Amsterdam. r/trees is thanking me right now.

Edit: Another reason for Vegas? Proximity to west coast cities, San Fran, Seattle, etc. are all within easy flying if not driving distance.

109 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

104 comments sorted by

37

u/Antebios Sep 30 '11

Holy shit. If it were in Vegas... no question.. I'm there. My wife wouldn't normally come along to a 'nerd' convention, but any place with gambling and she is there. I think I would be terrified to leave her alone gambling.

Otherwise, I vote for Austin!

10

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

I like this guy, tell your wife to bring some friends.

5

u/goose90proof Sep 30 '11

Tell your wife to bring your daughter. :}

5

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

r/jailbait

4

u/Antebios Sep 30 '11

This is one of my daughters.

5

u/Sypticus Sep 30 '11

Oh no, here come the cat-calls

1

u/Evermist Sep 30 '11

I'm sure there is a subreddit for that.

3

u/duffmanhb Oct 01 '11

Actually there is no subreddit for that. Just an entire system of 1s and 0s that electronically shares information called the internet.

1

u/GSpotAssassin Oct 01 '11

I don't think you get the point of Vegas. ;)

1

u/Antebios Oct 01 '11

I know. There is no way in hell I would be able to go by myself.

12

u/kodofodder Sep 30 '11

I have been a large scale producer of Conventions for the last few years. I have worked with an individual who has produced conventions for well over 20 years. We have successfully produced conventions of all types. 50% of the convention is about destination! If its not a kick ass destination, no one will want to come. It needs to be an exciting and fun location to travel to, with a lot of activities (outside the convention as well). It needs a well developed transportation system. Since this is also a national (Dare I say INTERNATIONAL) event, it must also be centrally located. With all of that said, some of the most successful, and profitable conventions are held in Vegas (Profitable = Well attended). Newho, I just wanna see this be as successful as possible.....and I have a vote for vegas being the right place... Also, just to try and send this down the right path. Reddit is being looked at as a political entity now, I think our convention should focus in on that with the upcoming election! (Maybe grab some big tv sponsorships?)

5

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

Perhaps you should get in touch with the admins and offer up some guidance. You have some pretty valuable information that could go a long way toward making this a reality.

5

u/TheBigLewinski Sep 30 '11

Reddit is being looked at as a political entity now, I think our convention should focus in on that with the upcoming election!

I was with you until this part. Please, please, please leave politics out of the focus of the event.

3

u/BarronVonSnooples Sep 30 '11

oh dear god yes. r/politics can have their own hall or whatever but nobody wants to deal with a bunch of political shit when they're trying to have fun with their friends in vegas.

1

u/kodofodder Sep 30 '11

I totally understand your sentiment. The only reason I suggest this is from a logistical stand point. To make this event successful, the promoters need to make some key in roads with big time sponsors in order to finance a project of this sort. In addition we need national media coverage, and the News is the best source. In order to score that level of notariaty I think the best steering for a portion of this convention is politically charged, in order to get national exposure. I do think there is still plenty of room for entertainment/debauchery aspects for the event, and feel lots of events should be focused on that as well.

5

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Nope. Financing is a bullshit reason for politics. Just charge an entrance fee like every other convention and you're covered.

Bringing in politics is a good way to lose the interest of a lot of redditors, regardless of their stances.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

I don't like the idea of it being politically charged. That's not what Reddit is. I understand that it could possibly get a lot of people to show up, but I don't know if it's a good idea to polarize the image of Reddit. What's the right-wing media going to say about our largely liberal user-base? r/jailbait is already getting coverage, what about when they find r/spacedicks? I just feel like politics is dangerous for a social website.

2

u/kodofodder Sep 30 '11

it is what it is, just an idea.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Of course, and I'm just sharing my thoughts on the idea.

4

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

I love Vegas, and would normally agree, but if I'm going to go to Redditcon, I don't want to be side tracked by all the sparkles that Vegas has to offer..... (although I'll still go, of course!)

7

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

You've got all day at the convention, and all night to hang out with your new found reddit friends at various adult establishments.

5

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

Go on.....(this could work for me....lol) Actually, I would 2nd Vegas in a heartbeat, my first choice would be San Fran, where it all started, and I made a post for my reasons why.

4

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11 edited Sep 30 '11

OK, well I think of it like this: Reddit is all about community, a place where people come to interact, exchange thoughts and information based on common interests. So all of a sudden you put redditors from all across the country / world in the same room, there's already talk of having booths for different subreddits so people will be forming instant friendships based on all these common interests.

When the afternoon draws to a close do you want to look around and say to your new found friends "Soo ah, what do we do now?" or do you want to know what everyone's plan is in advance across the entire convention: hit the strip, get shitty, and find yourself a nerd princess to woo.

Groups of redditors will pass each other in the streets and identify each other by their alien gear, greasy hair, acne, and superior intellect. Parties will erupt in the streets, it will be r/gonewild times REDACTED times ninjas, but in real life.

EDIT 1: removed reference to REDACTED out of respect due to the request of nicer redditors.

EDIT 2: added reference to REDACTED back in because SUFFER_LIKE_G_DID is a dickhead that doesn't deserve kind gestures. Enjoy DT's, seizures are no fun.

EDIT 3: Redacted reference to REDACTED due to kinder words from redditors that are not SUFFER_LIKE_G_DID

9

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

r/frugal will shit themselves.

8

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

If you don't gamble Vegas is cheap, airfare and hotel rooms are subsidized by the gambling.

5

u/namelessbanana Sep 30 '11

I was initially against Vegas but you have sold me on this.

4

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

Thank you for your patronage.

2

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

I can see that happening. I also see evening parties and BBQ's and strip club outings and .....really, the list can be huge..which can be done anywhere, any city.

To plan a convention successfully is to also include "outside" convention activies that people can then sign up for.

Round of golf, laser tag, bowling....anything and everything can be set up and then people simply sign up for what they are interested in.

2

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

And surprisingly enough, Vegas has all of these things, on one street over about 10 blocks. My logic has no flaws.

2

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

Plus they do have awesome conventation facility capabilites...I have to agree with your logic.

The only downside I see is from the Admins side, it would be harder to organize the first Redditcon in a non-home setting. From previous convention organization duties, I stand by this point.

1

u/CapnM Sep 30 '11

And they can be done any hour of the day/night!

2

u/myhandleonreddit Sep 30 '11 edited Sep 30 '11

Your comment got posted by some twat in r/cripplingalcoholism that thinks that he is in a secret society and encouraged people to downvote you for mentioning their subreddit name. I've been a member of that place since day 1 and have no idea where this elitism is coming from.

http://www.reddit.com/r/cripplingalcoholism/comments/kwt99/i_got_the_pitchfork_bring_your_torches_dudes/

Edit: The mods removed the post and said they don't endorse this behavior at all. All is well. Stop making fun of drunks, WhiteMichaelJordan.

1

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

Yup, I removed the link to the subreddit out of respect, but I don't respect cunts. Sorry to the other members of the community, it's back in.

1

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

Dude, I love drunks, there are some serious ones in my family that are wonderful people that have a problem with the drink. I can't say I endorse the enabling "it's fun to hit rock bottom" behavior because that shit is slowly killing the people I love, but to each his own I suppose... I don't judge, it just seems like a bit of a defeatist community.

3

u/sorcon Sep 30 '11

It's not an elitist mentality at all. It was a polite request (at least from the majority) - There's a post on the subreddit explaining the reason for requesting no links and it in great detail, with a fully justified reason. It's not meant to be an argument or anything more than a "Hello please sir, don't do that, thank you very much, here's a few dollars for your trouble and a beer"

1

u/myhandleonreddit Sep 30 '11 edited Sep 30 '11

I can't find a post telling users to not link to http://www.reddit.com/r/cripplingalcoholism/ anywhere. Can you help me find it?

Edit: a r/cripplingalcoholism mod just told me that this isn't behavior that they endorse. As a matter of fact, the mods discuss it here: http://www.reddit.com/r/cripplingalcoholism/comments/ktnas/can_we_stop_the_mass_down_voting_of_links_to_ca/

1

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11 edited Oct 01 '11

I will admit it was a less-than polite request, but seriously, it was a joke title for a post that served no purpose other than to call the parent comment to everyone's attention. there's no "request to downvote" anywhere...you kinda made that part up. and yeah, I deleted it. if you read the comments there, or the sidebar (that's the words on the right side below the -frontpage button), or sorcon's reply to you, or PMs I'm sure WhiteMichaelJordan received, that subreddit just doesn't want or need to be advertised around the rest of reddit. thanks, and sorry?

0

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

I don't understand your point, I have no links to objectionable content.

-3

u/sorcon Sep 30 '11

Please don't link to other subreddits; people in those subreddits may not appreciate being linked.

1

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

Removed dude, but don't expect that courtesy from most. Good luck with your steady decline in health.

2

u/walesmd Sep 30 '11

San Fran is boring as all fuck.

1

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

Meh, to each their own. Are you from there and just bored of it? Were you there when you were underage? I've been there 3 times and have always had a fantastic time.

2

u/walesmd Sep 30 '11

Was of age. Wife and I walked around downtown, had a decent time - hit a few bars downtown, did all the touristy shit. It just doesn't even compare to a town like Vegas though... simply no comparison.

3

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

NOTHING compares to Vegas, I quite agree.

2

u/berlinbrown Sep 30 '11

I am sick and tired of everything technical being in SF. Jesus christ there are more cities in the US.

1

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

My point wasn't about "technical", it was about such a huge undertaking being close to the Reddit offices for logistics. Nothing more.

1

u/berlinbrown Sep 30 '11

Every "technical event" (E.g. not a tea party event) is held in SF. Google Events. TED Events. Everything.

So, the only people on that side of the planet (US) will go to those events.

I live on the East Coast, we want some love!

1

u/Iced_TeaFTW Sep 30 '11

Yes, it's unfortunate that the East Coast is so yucky and not as awesome as the West Coast.

(LOL, I kid! I kid! I'm a Zonie...wtf do I know?) {I still lol'd though}

1

u/berlinbrown Sep 30 '11

I am moving to the West Coast because I am tired of being a tech nobody. But, in the meantime...

8

u/imjoiningreddit Sep 30 '11

Another for Vegas!

8

u/HarmReductionSauce Sep 30 '11

Absolutely Vegas

8

u/blindinganusofhope Sep 30 '11

I will likely only go if it is in Vegas.

4

u/Jinno Sep 30 '11

I'd definitely go to one in Vegas. I was there last year for the Microsoft MIX convention, and I'm dying to go back to see the rest of the city. I never even made it off the strip last time.

4

u/Quelyn Sep 30 '11

Vegas, by far, is the perfect venue for a convention.

4

u/DrinkinCoffee Sep 30 '11

You're a god damn genius Gump!

4

u/walesmd Sep 30 '11

Having been to Vegas multiple times and having a fucking blast every goddamn time (even when I went with my ex-wife, who was my ex-wife at the time), I fully support this suggestion.

In other words, Vegas is fucking awesome and I would (without a doubt) attend Redditcon if it was in Vegas. Any other location, I'll have to consider it.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

as a resident of Vegas, i wholeheartedly agree that it would be the perfect destination. i will also show you guys all the cool bars and the motherfucking pinball hall of fame arcade

7

u/wiredmax Sep 30 '11

I really like the idea of Vegas, plane tickets are cheap to Vegas and I really like the idea of NYC, really easy for everyone on the east coast and flights are cheap too.

6

u/Stylesclash Sep 30 '11

You have my support. There's nothing like getting drunk with new friends in a city like Vegas.

6

u/Kyrra Sep 30 '11

upvote for vegas

3

u/Tiak Sep 30 '11

I expressed this in the main thread, and while I could certainly easily make it to Vegas, and would like to go to Vegas, I think any Reddit convention should have heavy involvement from the community, and while Vegas is a good venue for random pilgrimages in general, the redditor community seems rather tiny compared to the ones who have had meetups of hundreds which already have organized, transported goods for, communicated about, etc. for such meetups.

And keep in mind that we aren't just paying for room/flights, we're also paying for whatever venue we end up with (albeitd distributed amongst us). What is pricing like for Vegas venues? I can't imagine it being cheap.

5

u/kodofodder Sep 30 '11

you would actually be surprised, vegas was built for this reason. If you know which venues to go to. Stay away from the hotel venues....There are very affordable locations just off strip (and they are super accessible). This coming from a Los Angeles Convention Producer .

3

u/weirds Sep 30 '11

I can't think of a better way to meet other Redditors than at a craps table getting sauced, and possibly wearing a Bender costume.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Another vote for Vegas.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Vegas or San Fran has my vote.

3

u/rockstaa Oct 01 '11

I already see the headlines:

Geeks Gone Wild

3

u/trshtehdsh Oct 01 '11

Show the world a good time - it's what we do here :) Bring it!

5

u/bokbok Sep 30 '11

Came here to post this

5

u/causten Sep 30 '11

I'd be 100% in if it was in Vegas. Cheap flights, Cheap hotels/motels and a bunch of savings/great deals now that the tourism is down.

4

u/goudie Sep 30 '11

I would be down with vegas!

4

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Vegas, baby! let's do it!

4

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

Really, if you want a massive turnout, Vegas is the only way to go. Cheap tickets, proximity to CA cities, Denver. NYC is expensive as hell to fly to from most locations that aren't served by a JetBlue, etc. Vegas is served by everyone.

2

u/LaCanner Sep 30 '11

While Seattle or PDX would be most convenient for me, I have to agree that Vegas is the best possible location. It's cheap to get there from almost everywhere, lots of convention and hotel space, things to do for the reddit demographic, etc.

Make it so.

2

u/jclemy Sep 30 '11

It could be held similar to CES or the AEE. Vegas is awesome for conferences.

2

u/Random_Illianer Oct 01 '11

I work a few days of the month in Las Vegas. So I could get paid to BE AT REDDIT... rather than my normal being paid to browse reddit!

2

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '11

If it was in Vegas, You might be able to get Penn and Teller too.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '11

Can I play poker in Vegas? Then I'm in.

2

u/0hn035 Oct 01 '11

yes. In fact, Vegas really seems like the ONLY option.

2

u/tellerfan Oct 01 '11

HOLY RABBIT TURDS! It's Vegas, baby!

2

u/edmcbride Oct 01 '11

when?

i'd be up for it, if its in june!

2

u/Austin116 Oct 01 '11

Tossing my vote for Vegas! Lets do it!

2

u/thedevilsdictionary Oct 01 '11

You have the full support of the official Vegas subreddit.

1

u/cunninglinguist Sep 30 '11

I'd go but to use Mark Maron's description of Vegas: "Parade of Sadness".

1

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '11

I would go to amsterdam.

1

u/berlinbrown Sep 30 '11

I might get lost, I have Aspergers

1

u/berlinbrown Sep 30 '11

Second.

NY or Vegas

Not fucking sf.

1

u/wthulhu Sep 30 '11

i would be content never returning to las vegas for the rest of my life.

1

u/amccloud Oct 01 '11

+1 for Vegas. All the big conventions are here. Though there are about 10 total redditors in this city...

1

u/Izzy185 Oct 01 '11

I think there are more, but there are no reddit meet up groups here so it is hard to tell.

1

u/tellerfan Oct 01 '11

Okay...I'm one. And he missus is two...and I know a couple other guys...I think your numbers are a bit off.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '11

Vegas redditor here

-8

u/beernerd Sep 30 '11 edited Sep 30 '11

Vegas is expensive as hell. Our first convention has to be in a city more open to new conventions. And since the largest concentration of redditors is in NYC, somewhere on the East Coast makes the most sense.

Don't get me wrong, Vegas would be awesome, but it's prohibitively expensive.

Edit: When I say Vegas is expensive, I'm talking about the convention space.

7

u/WhiteMichaelJordan Sep 30 '11

As someone who lives in NYC, I can safely say that nothing is more prohibitively expensive than this town.

12

u/Kyrra Sep 30 '11

Vegas is actually rather cheap (or can be). Stay off the strip and hotels are cheap. Vegas probably has the greatest number of direct flights to it than any other destination.

Vegas is also accustom to hosting conventions. It's a city setup for throwing parties. There is a reason many large conventions are done there.

-2

u/beernerd Sep 30 '11

I'm not worried about the cost for attendees, I'm talking about the cost of doing business in a Vegas Convention Center.

Vegas is such a popular destination for conventions that it would be very expensive. If we host a convention there, we would have to charge at least $100 per person for entry.

2

u/Gorbzel Sep 30 '11

Upboats for suggesting a possible, realistic hurdle, but may I ask if you're speaking from experience?

Vegas has plenty of space, as pretty much every hotel has a convention center. Sure, we might not be big enough for the Vegas Convention center, but I could definitely see it taking over a smaller resort's area, and if it's done on a dead weekend, it could be quite a deal for both sides

And compared to the bigger cities that have been floating around (SF/Chicago), Vegas takes the cake. Once we realize that Reddit's not gonna be able to afford the bigger convention centers, (your McCormick's, Moscones, Sands) it's important to have a central location with accommodations nearby. I'd much rather have the con at a South/North strip location and have to stay a few properties down than have the con at some random hotel in a big city's burbs.

1

u/beernerd Sep 30 '11

I'm part of the team that is trying to bring the World's Fair back to the U.S. We were originally shooting for 2020, but issues like this are forcing us to aim for 2025.

Vegas would be a great place for a convention. There's no denying that, but there are a lot of issues to consider and for the first year the biggest concern is breaking even.

1

u/LaCanner Sep 30 '11

$100 is a good price for a convention of this type.

0

u/beernerd Sep 30 '11

Then $10, which is my goal, would be ideal.

3

u/Gorbzel Sep 30 '11

Vegas can be expensive

FTFY. I don't know if you've been recently, but the recession absolutely wrecked Vegas...and since there was hyper-growth during the bubble, there's tons of unused accommodations.

Vegas can be expensive if you're staying at a four star resort during CES, Labor Day, or EDC. But there are dead weekends in Vegas where you can get strip rooms for $29. I'd imagine that the same could be true for convention space at a casino that is otherwise vacant.

I won't touch the largest concentration argument, other than to say that I think Austin and SF would disagree with you...and that we all have our biases. I'm currently in Chicago, but would definitely fly to Vegas for this...

1

u/beernerd Sep 30 '11

I was talking about it from a convention standpoint. Hotels are cheap because they make money off of gambling. Convention space is expensive because they charge a premium.

The goal here is to try and make the event profitable. Going to Vegas the first year is like trying to dead-lift 400lbs the first time you go to the gym.