as ready as we'll ever be

[wendyzski]

As of about 5PM yesterday, Chicon 7 has a logistics schedule.  Took me about 4-5 hours plus an hour or two writing out instructions and making signout sheets.

Lisa keeps saying that "I need you because you can herd cats".  I replied "I have not actually herded any cats, but I have prepared a fairly detailed Feline Distribution Policy and Schedule"

She has handled the load in arrangements - scheduling the trucks and people going to the various places to get things and bring them to the hotel, where the expensive Union people will unload the trucks into our staging area.

At this point, I have a fairly detailed excel spreadsheet, with one tab per day inclusive of load-in and load-out days, detailing pretty much everything that needs to be moved from the staging area to somewhere else in the hotel, and when it needs to be moved and moved by.  Some of it is a bit vague - like "computers and printers for Art Show", since I don't know how many boxes there are.  But I've been informed that everything in the ISFIC storage locker is labeled by department.  Therefore, in theory, the Teamsters will pile the boxes as labeld into the areas by the sign on the wall, and I can say "OK - see that pile over there?  Take everything in that pile that is labeled 'ConSuite' and take it to Hollywood B.  Make several trips.  Here's a map

I think I have a pretty good handle on the in-con movement of stuff, though I have a few questions about what may or not have been typos on the work orders.  "We're bringing a sign kiosk to  Masquerade registration on Thursday, and taking it back on Saturday lunchtime, when the Masquerade itself doesn't take place until that night.  Did they mean *Sunday*lunchtime?"

We're pretty complete up through Monday, as that is strike day and we don't know what our staging area location or dock time slots are.  But we do have the complete list of "grid" (standing metal grid panels used to make displays and sign kiosks) that is coming back downstairs from the party floors and most of the upper level con spaces.  What we don't have is where exactly it is going or when it has to be there, as well as all of the misc boxes (like the above "computers and printers for Art Show") that need to come back to staging,  But hopefully we'll be able to beat that out of people at some point over the weekened.

Several departments (Registration, ChiKidz, and the Dance techs) have stepped up to take responsibility for getting their own piles of boxes to an from staging, as long as we can supply them with carts to do so. This is going to be a huge help.

Favorite exchange from this weekend:

L: (exasperated at finding yet another thing we didn't have a work order for) That was probably in Ken's head and we don't have Ken's head!

Me: Do we know anyone with a Ouija Board?

Comments

[katexxxxxx.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the pair of you have done three weeks' work in two days. Congratulations.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. We had very little actual documentation and were never able to get the files from his computer. Lisa has worked logistics before, but in a "drive a truck and supervise loading" kind of way. I've got no specific experience at all. It's been a learning experience for both of us.

[katexxxxxx.livejournal.com]

I wish I could email you seraphinawitch (AKA Big Sis) for a 48 hour loan. She does this sort of thing for a living!

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

As an office manager, I turn large piles of paper into smaller piles of paper and eventually raw data which can then be formatted in a variety of ways. So I was able to take that skillset and apply it.

Lisa turned 6 months of e-mails and a few actual work order forms into a pile of work orders, and I turned that pile of work orders into a logistics schedule.

[katexxxxxx.livejournal.com]

seraphinawitch turns "There are 43 people working here full time. We need to be out of this office block in three weeks, when it gets demolished. These people need to be moved and working in their new office without any interruption for the clients!' into the done deed! Out-of-date but 'secure' data gets disposed of, paper (sometimes 30 years worth of 'we might need it some day' cellars full!) gets shredded and recycled, furniture gets wrangled (either into the new offices, or via various office furniture recycling companies), and people arrive at their new desks to find their computers working and their coffee awaiting them! (Or the machine is up and running, at least!) On one such move, she discovered that no-one had signed the lease for the new offices. She works for a very large housing association that deals with sheltered housing, geriatric facilities, and social security clients (some of whom are lovely, but some would make Cromagnon look civilized!)

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

*nods* I managed a move once where the Korean immigrant owner had tried to arrange the phone move himself, and ended up with 10 phone lines - none of which were ringing at the correct location. I also discovered that they had been paying the bill for their old Telex line for at least 5 years with no one noticing.

[billroper]

Thank you!

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

Wendy?
Yes Lisa?
Is the water warm enough?
Yes Lisa
Shall we begin?
Yes Lisa

(this has been running through my head every time I see a post from either you or Lisa)

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

*is confused^

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

http://www.lyricstime.com/prince-computer-blue-lyrics.html

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

It's from a Prince song, Computer Blue. Wendy and Lisa were in his band at the time.

[markellynch.livejournal.com]

I've asked a couple of members of my concom who are going to be there to stop by and offer help if they have time. They're names are Ben Elgin and Conni Covington and they'll be coming out from NC. Both are super organized and are great at following instructions as well as thinking on their feet.
Hugs!
Kell

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Thank you - we are still in need of people to sign up to sit in the Logistics office so that we actually can get out and see the con. An hour or two and you can read or play online - just be there if someone needs to sign out a cart or to relay info if a phone or radio call comes in

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Way to go!

[controuble.livejournal.com]

Lisa asked for either a Ouija board or a crystal ball - I brought my crystal ball and will attempt to find one of you in the morning.

P.S. There are 5 ISFIC computers and monitors and one other computer and its monitor and two ginormous printers and a soft case with the hub and all the CAT5.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Heh - I'm not there until 4 and Lisa's on the truck much of the day, so hang on to it for now.
I'll make up a "Got a problem? Ask Ken!" sign to post over the crystal ball.

Realized late last night that there is security in Riverside all day and night tomorrow, so we can keep everything there overnight and you are scheduled for a delivery Wednesday morning between 8-10.