i fully support this idea!!! (despite it being a logistical and legal nightmare)

the idea is so thoes who can go in can wind down and have some fun with any / all the guess with out the stress of the con

There'd be a need to hire bouncers to check for ID. The lines would be almost unbearable! But I'm loving this idea.

some of the smash staff are bound to have said jobs, out side of smash

I wont be too sure since alot of the organisors dont look like the type to be bouncers, rather I think alot of them still go uni, or are on the verge of graduating? and have more or less corporate jobs/other types, but all the more, I would think that even normal 18+ volunteers would beable to do that job, unless there are actual laws and restrictions for who can and cannot be a 'bouncer', and the venue (for UNSW as well as Town Hall) always has their own security guards that look after the venue, so more likely than not they will have their own guards in place at the bar. It can be a non-alchoholic bar as well I think but it should probably placed with whereever the food vendors will be just to group everything together.

wendaii, have a dry bar, may not be such a bad idea. what im saying about having staff @ the front door of said bar, is that if there was some staff who would fit the job, then they should be able to put there hand up. but as with any major event, you do need outside help when it comes to this idea.

what's the point of bothering to have a bar if it's dry? tehn it's jsut an 18+ chill out?! O_o give me alcohol god damn it!!!

as for staffing, I know a couple of members have their RSA. But as for security. I pretty confident in saying that I am the only staff member to carry a valid venue class security license. And you've got buckley's chance of getting me to bounce a venue if i can't drink there...

I think alcoholic drinking may pose some problems at the convention itself especially if some people may go a bit overboard and excited or cannot handle their alcohol so maybe a restriction may need to be placed as to how many drinks one person can have or the type of alcohol served if this is allowed to happen at the convention next year as we don't want one person's drinking affecting someone else's time at the convention. But I highly doubt this would ever happen at SMASH! or other cons for that matter as attendees are generally alot more civilised and just want a good chill out. Speaking of which, wouldn't the bar only happen if it were to be an extension of the SCEC only though? Since I think more than not they would like their own bartender and bar to be run by them and not us, bouncers included and everything. But UNSW had a bar and everything in the corner, but I dont think this idea ever popped up for that.

guys, you have some might fine points, i noiced that a cap on what is seved @ this bar. im thinking low range beer, weak pre-mix's, and for those who dont want to drink or are driving, have soft drink on hand. also dont have stuff like red bull, v ect.

If I were organising a convention I'd put a bar in the "too hard" basket because of all the extra issues it raises - but an event connected to the con might be more manageable. A pre- or post-con party, maybe?

In fact, by the time SMASH! 2011 rolls along, the Sydney Mana Bar will probably be open - reckon it's worth talking to those guys to see if you can do something together?

that may be a better pick, then have a full working bar inside the con. but it wouldnt be such a bad idea if we had an 18+ dry chill out spot inside he con, and call it a bar. as far as when we could have it, i say have a pre-con party that can only accssed by having a Premium tix then have a open after party when the con is over, and have the guest come around to the partys. but i would say that this idea will never get up becaus it is one of the most hated ideas (bsed on votes).

@ConMan So there are plans to open a Mana Bar in Sydney? I wasn't aware (although wasn't really looking either).

@Mike yeparooni! A week or two ago they announced plans to have Sydney and Melbourne Mana Bars open, possibly by the end of the year, and also looking internationally.

guys, i think we as a group are wondering way from the main point. would the idea of a dry "bar" (in realty, its just a 18+ dry chill out zone) ever get up in the 1st place, and if we did have any partys to tie in for the con. witch bar/pub that is already there do we go to???

Hard to say at this point. I think it's an issue for consideration when looking at the layout of the venue and what facilities are available.

but what im wondering is, based on the remarks that have been posted and its only the starting stages of planing. what would be the early voices from the board on this idea are so far, is this idea ever going to be off the ground???

As Mike said, it depends on the layout of the venue and what facilities are available. All these ideas will probably be discussed during a SMASH! staff meeting to come, but they are just ideas for the moment.

I personally do not like the idea. This kind of thing can be done after the con. I'd rather see any available space put to better use - more events, vendors, etc. A chill out spot isn't a bad idea (if space and furniture is available), but alcohol, no.

this idea has been spilt up as 3 diffent things. a pre con party that you need to buy a Premium tix to get into, a chill out place that is going to be dry (a place where alcohol is banned and cant be sold to anyone) and call it a "bar" and a open free for all post con party. only the pre and post con partys will have alcohol served, becaus its most likely be in a pub/club/bar, that has no ties to smash other then the party its self is to be put on becaus of smash being on.

Cheers, @matt. Thanks for making that clear. The Board will change between now and 2011 so it's not really for us to say. We'll be using the different suggestions posted here in further discussion so it's hard to tell at this point what will and won't happen.

i thourgh the exc borad has the same faces, with minor shake up's from year to year as far as jobs and task's goes???

The board is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting of members of SMASH Inc so even if same people are elected the board itself will be a 'new board'. At this point, at least three board members (out of the seven) are not continuing so there will definitely be different people at that level.

ok, well you learn a new fact everyday. i wouldnt mind voting..... if i could lol. its amazing on how conplex the inner workings of runing a cool con. but on the topic @ hand, this idea would come up AFTER the agm, in a new board meeting???

The SMASH! committee vote on the board, it isn't a public thing.

This topic along with all the others will be discussed at a later meeting as I said.

lol, i was only joking around, but i would be very very surprised if any of the 3 ideas will ever go beyond here in the cyber-land

A general chill-out area would be a better idea than a bar. I believe Animania has a chill out area too.

The screening of Eva 2.0 with Tiffany Grant and Yuko Miyamura pre-Smash was a great idea, so pre-Smash events would definitely work as long as they add to the worth to the convention itself. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of Manifest's Amaranth Ball.

Also, does anyone remember the 'Animania dance party' or 2004? lol

nooooo........... i have no idea what you mean (as far other partys???)

the idea of calling it a bar in name only is becaus its a 18+ zone. bigger things are planed for the pre and post con partys (if they get the green light from the "new" borad. watch is spot

Why would it need to be 18+, I'd rather see a general chill out zone where anyone can go to. I think calling it a bar is a bad idea also as it has nothing to do with it being a chill zone and gives the idea that there'd be alcohol.

It would be nice to choose a bar in the local area and have a post con meet and drinks there, rather than in the actual convention centre. plus, then you guys wont really have to organise anything.

a bar "after" the con would be something i'd definitely go to, especially to chill after a long day

If it's going to be after a con, it'll be a hell of a lot easier just to hire a bar or pub out.

plus you can always go to the bar after the con :P

SMASH is a PG rated con.

ANY form of alcohol is for persons 18+

Go figure.

Or get a lawyer.

guys, i think your missing the point, there is not going to be 1 party, and maybe a chill out spot @ the con. the plan is, in its full scalle is going to be: a pre con party that you need to buy a premuim tix for smash to get in. a chill out spot @ the con and then a open 18+ free for all party @ a pub/club/bar.

@WillDoesNotApprove, if you bothed to read this, i have said this more then once, this whole idea is for people over 18

dude. I think YOU are missing the idea of what SMASH represents.

A chill out spot already exists in SMASH where there aren't events going on and people just happen to sit down. There whould be no need for a premium pass to chill out at SMASH anyway.

Not to mention, to even have a section of SMASH limited to 18+ makes the whole venue 18+

Go to uni. Study law. No don't.

You need a brain for that.

Dear matt, YOU have missed the point.

SMASH is a family friendly convention.

The sheer fact that your idea is for people over 18 means that your idea is of no relevence or appropriation to SMASH's interests.

kkthnx

guys stop trolling each other... especially over an idea that is more than likely not going to happen

kahahaha~ Roger~

I concur with WillDoesNotApprove. By adding an area specifically for those over the age of eighteen, you're effectively turning the whole event into an 18+ schtick. I don't thing the SMASH! team wants to turntheir younger fanbase away with this idea.
Don't get me wrong, if there was a way around it, then awesome. But there isn't. End of story.

ok guys, ive heared what you have said and i would say that i was wrong on one part of the idea. the only thing i can say in my own defence is that there should be a part where adults can hang out in. i had seen this same thing @ avcon this year, where you had to be over 18 to go into 2 panals (1 was for a yuri panal, and the other was for the yaoi panal).

You do see how the two instances are different, correct?
Running an 18+ panel, and running a licensed area at two completely different issues.
Even then, why should JUST the over eighteens have their own little place? They'd have to bring in an under eighteens place, too, to balance it out. It's highly illogical. There should just be a general chill-out area that doesn't discriminate over age.
As for an over eighteen's yaoi and/or yuri panel, again, different issue altogether. But at least that's self-explanatory. Alternatively, they could start using the proper terminology... so if it's going to be about boy love, call it the Shonen Ai panel- Yaoi generally refers to sexual encounters between two males, so the terminology is wrong. Again with Yuri (sexual encounters between two females)- if it's about romantic relationships between girls, call it the Shojo Ai panel.
...Unless SMASH! was going to hold panels discussing what is essentially porn. In which case Yaoi and Yuri are the correct terms.

for the record - the yoai and yuri panels @ avcon are only 15+

i have never said that it was going to be a licensed area, but i did say it would be a dry area (where the sale of alcohol is banned), its ment be be where we can chill out with other adults. the idea of having a under 18 chill spot is not such bad idea, it would take care of being balnced and keep everyone happy...

as for the panel's point, i was @ avcon this year, and went to one of the panel's and no porn was ever shown, becaus the person who made the slide show had to show it to people very high up the food chain of avcon a few weeks before the con. the whole point of the 2 panel's were to set up an into for the people who were jus starting to get in to it, therefor they used westen names for the 2 panle's, and they explan in detail a very basic meaning to some of the words they are used when you are talking about that topic. they could not show any porn of any kind (mind you the art was just..... well.. great, thats all i can say). also the reason it was 18+ was becaus @ last years avcon, they got into a bit of leagal mess and the the boys and girls in blue had shut down 1 part of the con. so this year they didnt want to have a repeat of last year and anything that even looked like it was going to get them into a a legel mess, they made sure that it was a resticted area.

also MachV, it was 18+ becaus i remebed the sign out the front saying that it was for 18+ only (that and it was in the booklet that was with the show bag as well) and i know you were @ that con as well.

once again matt - the police didn;t shut down anything at avcon last year...

...okay, I'm biting.

It's unfair to split areas into over/under 18. Everyone is there for the same purpose- to enjoy the con, regardless of age.

If the older people want to get away for whatever 18+ reasons they may have, they can always temporarily leave the con and come back when it suits them. It's really as simple as that. I cannot for the life of me understand why you want to see everything become so unecessarily complicated at SMASH! next year, matt.

And I'm just going to point this one little fact out: SMASH! IS NOT AVCON. SMASH! WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE AVCON, OR ANY OTHER CON FOR THAT MATTER. SMASH! is unique, like AVCon is unique, or Supanova, or Manifest, et cetera. Trying to make them all work the same will only serve to bore people. Just because AVCon is doing such-and-such doesn't mean SMASH! has to take it on board. That's just plain silly.

so it was just something that was said on the vine and blew out of hand over time??

i have never said that, but it is a known fact that con's pinch idea's from other con's. if you cant see that, then your in lala land

Oh, no, I can DEFINITELY see it. No need to insult my intelligence, mate.

But actually SUGGESTING that one con rip off an idea from another con is a completely different kettle of fish.

Also, please forgive me, but this is driving me insane-

*I
*cons
*ideas
*cons
*If
*can't
*you're
*la-la
*land.

Ah, that feels so much better.

i never ment to mock you, i just so happen to see things in a diffent light, and there is nothing wrong with that.

i also never said that 1 con rip's off another con's idea, but if that idea is a good idea, more offen then not, it would be copyed eles where.

Matt. If you're going to insult someone's intelligence, learn how to spell.

Go to school. Not online.