Mail Merge Masquerade
Oct. 9th, 2009 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendyzskiI never got any forms, paperwork, or anything from the person who usually runs the masquerade at Windycon. But actually, i think that's turning out to be a blessing. I can start from scratch, use the things I've seen work at other conventions, and use my admin skills to make it happen.
This is why we are having a Mail Merge Masquerade.
I majorly cribbed from the Marcon masquerade packet, since they are pretty much the Gold Standard as far as I'm concerned. People registering will get a 3-page handout. Page 1 is the org stuff - contact info, who is in the entry, badge numbers, etc. Page 2 is the info on the entry - what it is, who made it, what is it from, tell me a little about it, are you entering any of it for prejudging and did you bring a CD. Page 3 is for tech - how do you want the lights at first, and when do they come up, when do they start the sound, what is the cue for the lights out, etc.
Then I can pop all the data into a spreadsheet, and then merge to create the forms I need. These will include separate Lighting and Sound cue sheets, PreJudging notes, an ordered list of entries and names (so the judges know who was who) and even an MC script in nice big type so the poor bastard doesn't have to read penciled handwriting in the dark. We could even print programs if we wanted to!
I'm sure that there are other ways to do it, but this will work and I know the programs in my sleep. It was a slow day at work so I laid out the functionality of it this afternoon. I'm sure I'll tweak things a bit and pretty them up some before the con, but I have a working system now.
This is why we are having a Mail Merge Masquerade.
I majorly cribbed from the Marcon masquerade packet, since they are pretty much the Gold Standard as far as I'm concerned. People registering will get a 3-page handout. Page 1 is the org stuff - contact info, who is in the entry, badge numbers, etc. Page 2 is the info on the entry - what it is, who made it, what is it from, tell me a little about it, are you entering any of it for prejudging and did you bring a CD. Page 3 is for tech - how do you want the lights at first, and when do they come up, when do they start the sound, what is the cue for the lights out, etc.
Then I can pop all the data into a spreadsheet, and then merge to create the forms I need. These will include separate Lighting and Sound cue sheets, PreJudging notes, an ordered list of entries and names (so the judges know who was who) and even an MC script in nice big type so the poor bastard doesn't have to read penciled handwriting in the dark. We could even print programs if we wanted to!
I'm sure that there are other ways to do it, but this will work and I know the programs in my sleep. It was a slow day at work so I laid out the functionality of it this afternoon. I'm sure I'll tweak things a bit and pretty them up some before the con, but I have a working system now.
