Article:
What Every Convention Organizer Needs to Know About Registration

Ah, the registration line. The singular most frustrating element of a convention. Despite the fact that fandom cons have been going on for decades, so many of them continue to screw up the whole registration sales and pick up process. The fact that conventions that have been going on for years still struggle with this element of the con organizational process astounds me.

For example, last year my friends and I stood in line at Dragon*con for three hours to pick up the badges we pre-registered for. Three. Hours. It is out of that frustration that this little article was born. So take some notes, con organizers (and I'm looking at you Dragon*con).

1. Know Your Venue Capacity

You don't want to make more tickets available than the venue can hold. Not only is this bad for attendees and staff, but it can also get you in trouble with the fire marshal and the venue owners. Additionally, consider if it would be comfortable if filled to capacity, and then consider an attendance cap that's actually under the legal limit.

2. Make Enough Room for Registration

I recently attended a convention that had registration down a set of stairs, and in a tiny little alcove. The line had to wrap through a narrow hallway, back up the stairs, and around the hotel. There simply wasn't any space. Make sure you have a big enough area for registration. And if you're doing it outside, be sure to have a "rain" plan.

3. Offer Clear Directions and Information

Scenario: You have 10 booths open for registration. You put the letters for pre-registration pick up by last name on little pieces of paper in thin black pen. Do you really expect people to be able to see that information from 50 feet back at the end of the lines? I didn't think so. Keep signs large, and keep them visible ABOVE people's heads. Your banner across the bottom of the registration table is great...until there are people standing in front of it and it can't be seen anymore.