I quite agree with Erin! Other websites, such as the Leaky Cauldron, have their own conventions so why can't we have one? I know it would take much planning but don't you think that it would be worth it in the end? I know appeals to admins have been made before but, from what I've heard, no replies have been made.

I realize there is the issue of the internet and bad things happening, but LeakyCon and other conventions are able to bypass those barriers, so why can't we? All underaged folk can have chaperones and permission slips and such.

YES!!!!
Yes yes yes yes! YES.

Hehehhe.
A few of us have been dreaming of the day an SS convention could become more than a hopeful thought, it would be AMAZING!

Like Erin already mentioned, some of us have built really close friendships with some of our fellow SSers, and an SS convention would be a great way for some of us to get together and promote the site in some way.
I hope many of the other members will go along with this idea as well and maybe we can start a sort of petition? Even if it's not something officially from SS itself, if we get many people together the more chances we'll have of making this happen.

WOOT!!

I'd totally be in. Although the logistics of me getting wherever would be interesting. (As my normal ride, aka my mom, seems to think anyone online is out to get me. As per the comment made in here earlier.) I'd wanted to try to get in on the Dissenduim one years ago, but it never worked out.

There would have to be a legit way to come across with it to make everyone see that it is not some scam or whatever My father was the same way, actually. Now he sees that we SSers are just lovely folks.

ooooooooooooooo This is an interesting idea actually.

Like Kristin said there'd be a bit of a logistical issue as to travel, plane tickets, places to stay, aka monetary issues, and such but it'd be interesting none the less

Well as far as places to stay there is always a group rate given at hotels if you go in large numbers. So that would be everyone pitching in a bit of money for their part. That is as far as I can go on THAT note.

The admin discussions regarding this have been ongoing since we first heard of the idea. We just don't have any good answers to give, so that's why nothing definitive has been responded yet

At this time we cannot support an official SnitchSeeker convention/event. Both the costs and liabilities of such an event are more than the admin team can handle. You may plan a meet up (and there's nothing we can do to stop you ) but we cannot support it as an official SnitchSeeker event.

However, it's not a certain impossibility. If circumstances change and we DO plan to have a SnitchSeeker meet up at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will definitely be informed.

Thanks so much, Ali. Now if we DID plan a meet up with other SSers would we be allowed to "promote" it onsite? Or is that too much of a liability for you guys?

I understand that there are certain things that have to be done... we can't just say we want to have an event like this and POOF it happens. But just so you guys know there are many of us that would be willing to help out in any way possible to make this happen.

Unfortunately, because of the litigious world we live in, anything promoted through the site could be turned around to be the fault of the site should things go wrong. Until we're done exploring the concept on our own, I would say that broad promotion of any event sponsored by a member can't be site sanctioned or promoted.

I don't think we're even at a point where we're feeling overwhelmed by planning, although it's nice to know it wouldn't fall on the admin team to do everything. When we received the petition, most of us said 'that DOES sound like fun'. There are a lot of logistical issues to consider in the interim, but be assured that it's still on the burner, even if it is a back one.

Absolutely, totally yes!

I understand. It never hurts to put something out in the open for all eyes to see though. Thanks for talking to us about this you guys.

*gives a round of applause for the admin team*

*agrees with the good work done addressing this with us and claps with Erin*

And all of the admins and most of you in here know I am all for supporting a Convention whenever or if ever it comes into existance!

Hm... I see, I see. I realize the liability factor is one of the biggest hindrances when it comes to this, but a registration system such as LeakyCon has seemed like it could work. Mind you, this is just a suggestion to add to the many ideas that the admins have on the back burner.

Thanks for letting us know, admins!

I know it would be super cool to have our on Con, but what if SS hosted guest/fan pannels at a Con like Infinitus? That may take away some of the liability issues, and take less planning.

Its just a thought (probably one ya'll have already concidered) but I just wanted to make sure it was out there.

If it would be big enough, why not a convention center? Baltimore has a convention center and hotels are literally across te street from it. It's near the Inner Harbor which has shops and places to eat too. They have Otakon (a Japanese Animation Convention), but nothing as cool as a HP related convention. I think it would be great if we could pull this off.

I think where i live will be a great place to have it ships for all over come here.its very nice in the summer maybe we can have outdoor on one of the beachs it would be really cool and the plain tickets for air port i think don't coast that much i'll have to check.

Well I for one am totally on board for a SS convention, and since I own my own car I don't have to beg anyone for a ride! And I can fit 3 other people in my car too!!

and I have planned several conventions for various groups that I belong to and for some of my school clubs so I'm an old hand at that and I would be more than willing to help plan this.

I'm really good at calling around and begging for special hotel rates and promises of promotions in publications and things like that I'm told I have a sweet phone voice

^Totally do have a nice phone voice, Tisha!

Hosting a panel, or simply a small part of a big HP convention, would be a nice place to start. But honestly, I think having it in Orlando, Florida would be everyone's best bet if we were to hold one. I understand that some people want it right where they live, but many more people would want to go if we had it right where the theme park is. Maybe we can try for LeakyCon 2012, just making a small Snitchseeker panel or something of the sort.

I have to say I like the idea of having it at LeakyCon 2012 and so would go there even as a support person! Since SS was pretty much the original HP fan-site forum w/ the rp attached of course.

I agree if we have a convention, we all should go to Orlando and of course Universal Studios which just happens to have Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I am going to Orlando this year and guess where I am going-lol. Could we do it like the comic convention? The idea I have is to invite everyone who likes Harry Potter to a convention and we could have our own little spot for SS'ers. There are other websites on here and if they found out, they could go too. They could have their spot for their site conventioners. I am not sure if this would ease the burden of litigation, but in case it did, great.
I have done travel agent work for myself, my friends and family for a few years. I am also good at getting hotel, air and flight packages. I always work on getting the best deal for your money. Well if it happens, great. If it doe not happen, it is a great thought.

I guess I'm just playing Devil's advocate, but making a convention is really hard. First of all, we need to rent out a hotel. All conventions have a hotel or some kind of building they rent out for their conventioneers. So, who would pay for that? I don't think it would be fair to ask the mods/admins/whoever officially plans this to pay for it. And most of the SS users are young teenagers. I doubt my parents would have let me go to Orlando to meet a bunch of people I've never met before in real life. Just sayin'.

With that in mind, I believe the convention should be at least 18+. That, for starters, is the age for adults in the United States. I mean, if some younger SSer's parents agree to letting them go...by all means, I guess they could...but them not being an adult could be a huge liability.

But don't get me wrong. I'd like an SS Convention. I've been to several anime ones, and although SnitchSeeker isn't anime, the format of a convention works the same. It's entirely possible, just difficult and requires a lot of effort and dedication.

What would probably be more probable is if we all just go to LeakyCon or Infinitus and just have a mass congregation for SS Members. It'd be easier than trying to make our own SnitchSeeker Convention.

I agree with you there - I have to say Infinitus or LeakyCon was probably true - easier...

we could wear nametags for our Username & character names.

Very good ideas. I think going to LeakyCon could work really well.

" I like the idea of nametags for our usernames and charries.