Flanvention II being cancelled?!?! by embers

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Flanvention II being cancelled?!?!

POSTED BY: EMBERS
UPDATED: Thursday, November 30, 2006 09:49
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Monday, November 27, 2006 8:32 PM

I don't know if this is true, but it is posted at the official site:
http://www.boosterevents.com/Community/Forums/tabid/326/forumid/14/pos
tid/38087/view/topic/Default.aspx
how can a sold out convention be having financial problems?
It doesn't make any sense.

visit: http://weekinwhedon.org/wiw/

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Monday, November 27, 2006 10:41 PM

MRT

bump - BE website isn't responding at the moment, but there is a long discussion about this on Whedonesque... http://whedonesque.com/comments/11927

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Monday, November 27, 2006 10:45 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

The important bits right now from the WHEDONesque thread: To prepare for a potential cancellation, the Hilton is being called tomorrow to inquire about keeping the group rate, so that Browncoats planning to go to Flan can still go to Burbank for that weekend. Also, the SoCal Browncoats will be huddling and putting their heads together, since they are the resident group in that area.

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Monday, November 27, 2006 10:53 PM

EMBERS

if push comes to shove it would also makes sense for the Calif fans to contact the State Attny General about a class action law suit.
If (as some have suggested) BE used the money from FlanventionII to pay for their previous conventions, that it is obvious they will not be able to reimburse those of us who pre-paid. Each of us individually would be Small Claims Court, but as a group this would become felony fraud.

You can tell I don't mean to take this lying down.

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Monday, November 27, 2006 10:58 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

Well, BE's MySpace page indicates it's a company here in Oregon, not based in California. Although, obviously, they're doing business in California.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:05 AM

EMBERS

evidently the incorporated in Oregon but allowed it to lapse:
http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rs
n=1063837&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE
but since they were collecting money for a convention in California I assume that the Attny General of California would be more likely to take on a class action suit.

Of course I would prefer that the convention goes on as advertised, but if it is cancelled then personally I would make it my mission to see that Booster Entertainment (and their associated 'charity') never does any business in the USA again.
Bankruptcy can be a deep hole to dig their way back out of.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:06 AM

JAMIECHAMBERS

Hi all.

Only weeks after being added to the guest list I was told by e-mail last night that Booster Events is having financial difficulties but offered little in the way of details. While I'm a bit disappointed, I'm really concerned about all the Browncoats who had pre-paid for the very expensive convention.

Let's keep our eyes and ears open, hope for the best but prepare for the worst...

Jamie Chambers
Author & Designer, Serenity Role Playing Game

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:46 AM

KELAI

Oh, hi Jamie! I loved the Role Playing game book and hope tojoin a browncoat group so we could play it. I think its awesome. I read the thing, like twice ;)

Yay. I talked to a celebrity.

Anyway, I hope this last Flan does run, you all deserve it, no matter how jealous I am of all of you. Hope this gets all sorted out, and that it won't hinder any future cast appearences because I wanna talk to them andget my picture taken with them!

--

//breathe today So many lies s w i r l i n g
All A R O U N D You
you're S U F F O C A T I N G
the e m p t y shape in Y O U
s t e a l s your b r e a t h

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 5:36 AM

MONKSDAD

so now the website is down? dont look to good

"And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic lowlife community."

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:56 AM

LEIASKY

A lot of us don't have whedonesque accounts to post there. . .

Tammy

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:57 AM

LEIASKY

Double Post. Sorry.

Tammy

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:05 AM

LEIASKY

Quote:
Originally posted by theonetruebix:
The important bits right now from the WHEDONesque thread: To prepare for a potential cancellation, the Hilton is being called tomorrow to inquire about keeping the group rate, so that Browncoats planning to go to Flan can still go to Burbank for that weekend. Also, the SoCal Browncoats will be huddling and putting their heads together, since they are the resident group in that area.

I have a suite for Sat night and was planning, with a friend, to throw a room party that evening. I'm considering keeping the room and throwing the party anyway, especially if a lot of other fans will be in the area anyway.

I have until 24 hrs before the Convention to cancel the hotel reservation.

Tammy

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:13 AM

TAMSIBLING

Ignore my misguided thread ...

This is so amazingly disappointing on a lot of different levels. However, in a way it's encouraging to see Browncoats rallying together to try and find a way to rectify the situation.

I really hope they manage to pull it off, but if not, what's the best way to get our money back? Now that the site is down, I can't read all the fine print and it wasn't included in our emailed receipts!

***
Little soul, big world.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:14 AM

MAL4PREZ

I still plan on flying out there, and from looking at the Wedonesque thread I think there will still be some partying, maybe we'll even entice some cast into coming...

I'll pitch in on the room LeiaSky! Don't give it up!

And there's still a chance it'll go through. Slim, but I hope I hope I hope!

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:33 AM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by Leiasky:

I have a suite for Sat night and was planning, with a friend, to throw a room party that evening. I'm considering keeping the room and throwing the party anyway, especially if a lot of other fans will be in the area anyway.

I have until 24 hrs before the Convention to cancel the hotel reservation.

Yeah Leiasky, and Mal4Prez: I think a lot of us felt we would go to the Hilton and hang out with fellow browncoats even if the worst happens.
There are people flying in from around the world...
Maybe we could go to Disneyland, or at the very least have our own funky little tour of Buffy's High school in Torrance (her Craft style home is down the block from the school)

There is always fun to be had where there are Browncoats!

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:00 AM

THEONETRUEBIX

lexigeek on WHEDONesque:

I'm actually working to negotiate something with the hotel for meeting space. I was about to post the same info about the group rates. :) What I need is an idea of how many people would still be willing to show up (and stay in one of their hotel rooms) if we were to throw a replacement con. (There's no guarantee the guests will be there, but we're working on it)

Please e-mail me at adam.levermorerich[at]gmail[dot]com ASAP if you are planning to stay at the Hilton, and let me know how many nights you're going to stay. Please put FLAN/HILTON in the subject line so I can keep track of all the e-mails on this.

Please re-post this message in other forums so BE attendees with reservations at the Hilton know.

Also, the SoCal/NoCal Browncoats are working on having a fallback con/shindig/whatever.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:39 AM

THEONETRUEBIX

Gossi has set up a news blog and a forum area for all of this.

http://flanventionhelpline.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:53 AM

KAREL

Flying on duct tape and a damaged registry.

Bump-issimo!!!

--Karel.

"Wondrous is our great blue ship that sails around the mighty sun and joy to everyone that rides along." -- Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:03 AM

FIREFLYGAL

I am still planning to fly in from St. Pete, Florida so long as there are at least some Browncoats going that I can hang with. I will also be bringing some pretties from Out To The Black Outfitters to sell, since Christmas is just around the corner and I was to be in the Flan dealer's room anyway.

I aim to misbehave!

Firefly items:
For lapel pins and badge holder lanyards
e-mail FireflyGal1@hotmail.com
www.outtotheblack.com
www.cafepress.com/fillies
www.cafepress.com/mssquarepeg.com
www.cafepress.com/mrsquarepeg.com

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:08 AM

CHINDI

THIS REALLY SUCKS!

For the Vendors, the ppl traveling at Christmas time(as if they need to lose the extra money) the ppl who bought the special lunch tickets etc.etc.

This is just So unclassy!!

Chindi...

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 11:11 AM

EMBERS

OMG, the special lunch tickets!
I never even thought about those.

I was figuring that Booster Events took in around $250,000. for this sold out event, but it is true that that figure could have been much higher.

I am very grateful to all the southern Calif Browncoats who are trying to salvage what they can of this weekend, I plan to go ahead and go, enjoy the Hilton, and enjoy the company of such wonderful fans.

Of course I still hope that the organizers can find some way to put on the convention as advertised, but if not then I plan to pursue BE to the fullest extent of the law.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 11:19 AM

JUSTSHINY

*is having a Big Damn panic attack.

Edit: I just looked at the Terms of Agreement that I copied from the site when I bought my tickets. It states:

"Refunds will be issued if the event is cancelled, but not in the event of guest cancellations..."

The rest of that sentence is just like you can't get your money back if you end up not being able to come etc.

I guess it's a flicker of hope that provided they do cancel it, refunds will be issued...but it won't quell my anger.

AIM:LuckieDragon7
www.myspace.com/Noodlicious
Always up for talkin' to my fellow Browncoats!

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:00 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

FYI, if they don't have the $ to pay for the event the $ was meant for, they won't have the $ to issue refunds either.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:13 PM

JUSTSHINY

Ug, forgot about that part until a few minutes ago...shoulda popped back in to edit...again.

AIM:LuckieDragon7
www.myspace.com/Noodlicious
Always up for talkin' to my fellow Browncoats!

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:32 PM

SHINYTRINKET

Well, this is a fine cosmic clusterf

k to come home to after a week away for the holiday!

*************************************************
The 3 rules of aging:
1. Never bypass a bathroom
2. Never waste an erection
3. Never trust a fart
http://www.myspace.com/claudiathecatlady

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:29 PM

DONCOAT

My nightmare scenario:

1) BE announces "financial problems"
2) Guests (Nathan et al) panic and cancel their appearances
3) BE says, Flan 2 is NOT canceled, so you can't get refunds
4) BE can't be touched legally because they had a public policy of "no refunds when guests cancel"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:36 PM

KELAI

Quote:
Originally posted by theonetruebix:
FYI, if they don't have the $ to pay for the event the $ was meant for, they won't have the $ to issue refunds either.

Ok, then where did the money go?

--

//breathe today So many lies s w i r l i n g
All A R O U N D You
you're S U F F O C A T I N G
the e m p t y shape in Y O U
s t e a l s your b r e a t h

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:50 PM

SASSALICIOUS

This sucks.

Granted my flight was free because of freqent flyer miles, but hello I still paid for the ticket. If it's cancelled, I'll talk to the girl I'm supposed to room with and see what she's up to.

I mostly just need to get away from WI right now before I freak out even though leaving is going to compound the stress . . ..

I have family to visit, so no matter what I'm still going to california I just might be out a bunch of money I didn't want to be.

F***ers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wisconsin sucks. I don't want to be here.

~Forsaken Forever

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:49 PM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by Kelai:

Ok, then where did the money go?

there is some evidence to indicate that they used the money from Flan2 to put on the two previous conventions (the Neptune Noir and Halloween BE Scary events) which did not sell enough tickets....

so rather than cancel those conventions, and risk disappointing 100 fans (or so)
they instead siphoned off the money from THIS convention and will disappoint 500 fans!

Of course I don't know that for sure, but it seems to be the working theory....

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:20 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

Well, Denise of BE herself said, in a Livejournal discussion about one of those other cons: "Yep, despite poor ticket sales, Booster Entertainment continues with it's history of never cancelling a guest."

That can only happen if the money came from somewhere else, since it obviously didn't come from the ticket sales. So, either they used the Flan money or they got a loan (which of course itself would need to be paid back from somewhere, and it isn't hrd to see that somewhere being the Flan money).

It's speculation. But it's speculation based on observation.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:11 PM

PINKISHBROWNCOAT

There's been the daily update on the BE Forums from Vicki...

Quote:
We don't really have much we can update you with this evening other than to say we are pursuing every avenue available to make this work. We know you all are anxious and upset, but we are unable to answer individual emails and calls at this time. We are using all our energy to try to obtain funding. We will update again tomorrow.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of explanation still. I just wanted to let you all know.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:13 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

Honestly I am unsurprised there's no explanation. I'm at least a little bit surprised that, as with their original announcement, there's no hint of humility or apology.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:30 PM

MADMAN007

The Alliance is behind this. I just know it. Damn purple-bellies!

"No.....THIS is what going mad feels like.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 7:13 AM

MAL4PREZ

I just overheard a fellow Browncoat doing her prayers:

Dear Buddha, please bring me a little plastic rocket and BE enough money to throw the convention.

Otherwise, please bring me a nice, handsome, single lawyer willing to draw lots of blood. . .

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 7:25 AM

TAMSIBLING

Thank you Mal4Prez and the browncoat author of this little prayer! It's absolutely perfect!

***
Little soul, big world.

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Thursday, November 30, 2006 7:30 AM

LATTELADY6

I'm suprised that they(Booster) would admit financial problems of any kind, especially three days before they decided what to do. It has created panic and unrest that might not be necessary. I would thinnk it would also have a negitive effect on ticket sales to their other Cons. I for one will never do business with them again.

On the flip side, their heads-up has allowed us to make other plans, thanks to the SoCal Browncoats.

The entire Booster business seems to be poorly run. One would think that they would have known they had cash flow problems long before this. I certainly know more about my personal finances then they seem to do about their business.

I was looking forward to Flan and am going no matter what. But with the general air of anger toward and unprofessional behavior of the Booster Gals, I would almost rather the gathering be the huge Browncoat Party that SoCal is planning.

Phyllis
the Lattelady

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
"Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it." - The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

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Thursday, November 30, 2006 7:38 AM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by Lattelady6:

I was looking forward to Flan and am going no matter what. But with the general air of anger toward and unprofessional behavior of the Booster Gals, I would almost rather the gathering be the huge Browncoat Party that SoCal is planning.

I have no idea what Booster Events was thinking...
but I do hope that they manage to pull their fat out of the fire and get the convention to take place as planned....

if they don't then we know we'll have a great weekend with wonderful Browncoats who have been working hard for the last couple of days to plan activities which will be fun for all of us (I will definitely go no matter what!)

and if they do then we can still show our gratitude to lexigeek and all the vendors who would not consider the possibility of defeat!
Special thanks to Cedric and the Bedlam Bards who are coming to entertain regardless!
I need to again share Cedric's refrain:

Quote:
Take my cash, take my Flan,
Make me sleep out in my van.
I don't care, I'll still play;
Hitch-hike to Burbank all the way!

Thanks and love to all the people who are insuring that no Browncoats are left out in the cold, wandering alone out on the edge (ie in Burbank)

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Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:49 AM

FIREFLYGAL

Bump

I aim to misbehave!

Firefly items:
For lapel pins and badge holder lanyards
e-mail FireflyGal1@hotmail.com
www.outtotheblack.com
www.cafepress.com/fillies
www.cafepress.com/mssquarepeg.com
www.cafepress.com/mrsquarepeg.com

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