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Q: When would you hold Convergence if San Diego wins the vote?
A: Friday April 22, 2005 through Sunday April 24, 2005, these dates are firm,
we have already secured a contract with the host hotel for that weekend. Yes, we do know that this conflicts
with Whitby Gothic Weekend. We did not deliberately choose to do this but it was pretty much unavoidable.
Obtaining hotel space in San Diego for a large event is a difficult process and those were the only dates available
to us in a hotel that met our needs and our budget. We apologize if this causes any inconvenience for anyone.
Q: What's with all the pirate stuff? Isn't this a Goth event?
A: Convergence is indeed a Goth event first and foremost. It also has been a themed
event for a good part of its history. We thought that a pirate theme would be a lot of fun for everyone
so we ran with it in a big way. Please see the Theme Page for more information.
Q: Which hotel will be hosting the event?
A: The Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina is the official
hotel. Please see the Hotel Page for more information including room
rates, location and amenities.
Q: How can I reserve a room at the hotel?
A: Whoa! Slow down a little bit! The vote hasn't even happened yet.
Should San Diego be chosen to host Convergence 11, details on how to make a reservation
will be posted within a day or two of the official vote result being posted. We have already
signed a contract with the hotel and will be ready to accept reservations as soon as the vote
results are official.
Q: What if I have special needs? Is the hotel accessible?
A: We are pleased to say that the hotel is very accessible to anyone who may have
any sort of disability, the proposed evening venue is also quite accessible. For accessibility issues throughout
the San Diego area, we recommend that you visit the
Accessible San Diego Web Site.
Photo by Pat Turpen,
© 2001, all rights reserved
Q: What is the weather like in San Diego at that time of year?
A: In a word, perfect. April is a beautiful month in San Diego with daytime
highs generally in the mid-70s (around 20 for you Metric types) and night time lows ranging between
about 50 and 60 (9 to 15 in Celsius). The skies are generally clear with only a few clouds in the sky,
there are usually light onshore breezes and little to no chance of rain.
Seasonal Averages for San Diego
Actual weather for week of April 22, 2004
Current conditions:
Q: Is Convergence going to be too spooky and scary for the hotel?
A: It is doubtful. They have hosted the Gay Rodeo folks in the past.
And after negotiating with Dragon, they've proven they can handle us.
(But who knows? Our decoration coordinator Colleen may end up scaring them after all...)
Q: Since C10 was in the Midwest, Shouldn't C11 be on the East Coast?
A: We recognize the history of the event and understand how some people may feel that
the established pattern is desirable. However, we think that the pattern should be no obstacle to our bid
as we intend to put on the best Convergence we can possibly provide. We hope that you will assess each bid
for what it has to offer and will then vote for the one that appeals most to you regardless of where it is
located. So in that spirit: May the Best C11 Bid Win!
Photo by Martin Fredrickson,
© 2001, all rights reserved
Q: When can I buy a ticket?
A: Again with the impatience? Well, the answer to that is not yet, but we intend to have
our ticketing system live and online as soon as the vote result is officially announced (assuming we win of course).
Q: What sort of payment will you accept for tickets?
A: We will be accepting payments via PayPal, or money order only. PayPal will
be the preferred method.
Q: How much will tickets cost?
A: The exact amount has yet to be determined but it will be somewhere in the range of prices
charged for C6 through C10. The ticket price will still be a bargain for what you get so have no fear in that regard
Q: What do I get for the cost of my ticket?
A: All this and possibly more:
- Admission to all day and night events
- Yummy bands and delicious DJs
- A souvenir T-shirt
- A limited edition CD with tracks from the C11 bands (subject to agreements with the artists to publish the CD)
- The ever-popular goodie bag
- An informative event program
- Quite possibly more... we don't yet really know just what else we might include...
Q: Will I have to pay extra for anything?
A: We are not including the price of the shuttle bus, the Beach Barbecue or the Formal Tea Party
in the base ticket. These items will be available at a reasonable additional charge to those who wish to participate.
Q: Isn't California some sort of fascist state that doesn't allow smoking?
A: We realize that some might see it that way, and we realize that this restriction may take
some getting used to. The restriction only applies to smoking indoors in any place of business, including restaurants
and bars. Considering the fantastic weather that San Diego is blessed with, stepping outside to have a smoke is not much
of a problem year-round. The San Diego Committee would like to assure the Convergence voting community that we
will do our best to ensure that smoking areas are provided that are convenient, safe and comfortable during each of our events.
We want to be sure that those who wish to indulge do not feel as if they are being relegated to second-class status.
Most restaurants and bars provide comfortable smoking areas and the hotel has smoking rooms for those who would choose
that option. Those of us who have lived with this restriction for years now can tell you it is something that
is easy to deal with once you get into the proper frame of mind.
Q: What if I worked on the committee for an earlier Convergence?
A: We can't speak for what other committees will do, but should we win the vote,
the San Diego committee will contact as many prior committee chairpersons as possible to gather the names of
those involved. We will do something special for those prior committee persons who wish to attend, what exactly
that will be has yet to be determined.
Q: Why should I vote for San Diego?
A: Funny you should ask... We have a whole page of reasons
for you to do so. Not to mention all the things to do and see in and around the city.
Photo by Martin Fredrickson,
© 2001, all rights reserved
Photo by Martin Fredrickson,
© 2001, all rights reserved
Q: I'm a DJ, can I play Convergence 11?
A: Maybe. The San Diego committee has adopted what we consider to be an
impartial selection process. In order for a DJ to be selected, he or she must provide a CD with a live performance
and some example set lists. A resume listing club appearances is optional but highly desirable as well.
The CDs will be screened by the entire committee with all members except the chairman
having no prior knowledge of who submitted the CDs. The committee will then vote on which DJs they would like
to have play based upon the recorded sets. We believe this process will allow us to select the best talent for
the event in a manner that is devoid of any allegations of politics or favoritism.
Q: So which bands are playing?
A: We wish we could say right now but there are reasons why we cannot. First, we have
not signed any contracts with any bands. Until contracts are signed, the names of the artists
we are negotiating with must remain confidential. Second, announcing bands in the proposal is highly
discouraged by the folks who run the vote for Convergence. Third, many people attend Convergence to see
their on-line friends, not as a music festival. While bands are an important part of the event atmosphere,
they are not the focus of the event. Having said all of that, it is our intention to bring a great set of
bands with a diversity of musical styles to the event and we hope that you will be pleased with our selections.
It is also our intention to present a band line-up that is completely new to Convergence, we decided early on
that we would not repeat any bands that had performed at another Convergence.
Q: When will band and DJ submissions be accepted?
A: You are more than welcome to contact us now. Please use the form on the
Contact Page to send us a message, we will then get back to you
with details on where to send the materials required for consideration. Be sure to select the correct
category for your message. DJs will be required to submit two copies of a CD containing a live mix of
at least 45 minutes duration along with a resume indicating their experience and sample set lists.
Bands will be required to submit a press kit containing a biography of the band and photos that we
can use for purposes of promoting the event. Bands will also be required to submit two copies of
a released or demo CD representative of their work. Bands may elect to provide more than one title
if they wish, if they do so, two copies of each title will be required.
Q: How do I find out more about what is going
on in the Goth Scene in San Diego?
A: There are several local online resources to help:
Q: How do I find out more about what is going
on in the Goth scene in California in General?
A: These resources can be of help:
Photo by Martin Fredrickson,
© 2003, all rights reserved
Q: But San Diego is SUNNY.
A: That should be no reason to avoid San Diego as a site for Convergence.
We can assure you that you won't melt and we have the technology to prevent sun damage to your pale
skin and sensitive eyes. (There are many Goths in Southern California, all you have to do is learn a
few simple survival skills, boot camp is held every year at
Bats Day in August...)
Q: What if I want to extend my vacation in San Diego?
A: The official hotel has agreed to make the Convergence group rate available on
a space-available basis for up to three days prior to the event and three days after it.
Of course, since San Diego is a very tourist oriented town there are myriad options for places to
stay that meet almost any budget.
Q: What if I want to stay some place other than the official hotel?
A: Well, you can if you want to, but we highly recommend against this course of action.
There are many benefits to staying at the host hotel and most Convergence veterans will tell you that it is the
way to go. Here are a few of the many reasons:
- All of the daytime events will be held on the host hotel property
- The time and money spent getting to and from the host hotel from one with a cheaper room rate
may end up costing as much or more than if you had stayed at the official hotel
- Staying at the host hotel lets you spend more time with the people you are there to see
- Transportation to and from the evening venue will only be provided from the host hotel,
you will either have to get there to board the bus or get to the venue on your own
- Staying at the host hotel and using the provided transportation will avoid issues with drunk driving,
(believe us when we say that a DUI is the last souvenir you might want from Convergence)
- Staying at the host hotel makes it possible for us to offer you a better program. The more rooms we rent,
the better the deal we get from the hotel and we may be able to offer some extra perks because of it
Photo by Martin Fredrickson,
© 2003, all rights reserved
Q: What about food?
A: Yes, we like food.
Do you like cake? It's a pretty cake.
Do you want some cake? Too bad. We are all out of cake, all we have left is death for you...
Uh, wait... where were we? Yes, food.
We are planning at least two events at the hotel
where you can choose to purchase food if you like. The first is a Formal Tea Party and the second
is a Beach Barbecue. In addition, there is a restaurant on the hotel property and a number of
others within a reasonable walking distance or short taxi ride from the hotel.
Please see our restaurant page for more information.
Q: I'm a vegetarian, will I be able to find something to eat?
A: Hey, this is California. Vegetarians are very common here and many
restaurants provide options that are more than suitable for everyone from those who choose to exclude
meat all the way to strict Vegans. We can safely say that you won't be stuck with just a nasty old salad.
Please see our restaurant page for more information.
Q: Will there be anything for kids to do?
A: We are considering including some daytime activities for the children of attendees
if enough interest is shown to warrant doing so.
Q: Will there be daycare/babysitting services available?
A: The hotel does not have any services on site but the concierge can recommend somebody to help.
Q: Is this an all ages event?
A: Daytime events will be open to all paid attendees and their children. Nighttime
events cannot be all ages, the liquor license laws in California and San Diego preclude this from happening.
We wish it could be otherwise but there is nothing we can do about it.
Q: How will I get to and from the airport?
A: The official hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the airport. Cabs and shuttle
vans are also available for hire and since the hotel is a short distance from the airport, they are very affordable.
Please see our transportation page for more information.
Q: What about public transportation?
A: We don't recommend public transportation. In terms of area, San Diego is a very large
city and getting anywhere on public transportation can be a lengthy process. For those who still wish to try using
public transportation, please see the San Diego Transit web site
Q: So how should we get around?
A: That all depends on where it is you want to go. For transportation to the nighttime venue,
the committee will be arranging a shuttle bus service that attendees can use for a small additional fee. A cab ride
is probably the best bet for getting to and from restaurants that are nearby but outside of reasonable walking distance.
If you wish to do any sightseeing, we recommend renting a car and sharing the cost among several people. We can't promise
anything just yet, but the committee will be attempting to arrange a group discount from one or two of the major car
rental companies. Please see our transportation page for more information.
Photo by
Martin Fredrickson,
© 2000,
all rights reserved
Q: What about liquor?
A: Each of the daytime events at the hotel will have a cash bar available for your drinking pleasure.
There are about three or four liquor stores in the immediate vicinity of the hotel and we will be sure to post information
on their locations prior to the event. We may also run a "booze shuttle" to and from the Mission Valley store of
Beverages & More on Friday afternoon and early evening
if there is enough interest.
Q: What about going to Mexico? Is it safe?
A: Like anything else you might do, it is all up to how you go about it. Visiting Mexico
can be a fun side trip or it can turn into a nightmare. If you remember to act responsibly and respect the people
and laws of the country, you will have a safe and enjoyable visit. If you choose to ignore the laws and act
in an irresponsible manner, it is quite possible that you could end up in jail. And take our word for it,
a Tijuana jail is the last place you would want to spend your Convergence weekend.
Q: Is there anything I should not take into Mexico?
A: Under no circumstances should you take firearms or ammunition into Mexico, this
is a Federal crime with very harsh penalties. You also do not want to take a rental car into the country
because all of the rental car companies prohibit doing so.
Q: I've heard that liquor and cigarettes are cheap in Mexico...
Is this true?
A: Yes, it is. However, it may not be worth your time to go there just for these items
because it can take a long time to cross the border back into the United States and you are limited to 1 liter of
alcohol and one carton of cigarettes per adult per trip.
Q: What kind of documentation do I need to enter Mexico?
A: The United States Consulate General in Mexico City has an informative
Web Page that details the current
requirements. In general, U.S. citizens may cross into Mexico with nothing more than a government issued photo ID
for trips of less than 72 hour duration. Citizens of other nations will need to consult with the nearest Mexican
Consulate or Embassy to determine requirements.
Q: What kind of documentation do I need to return to the United States?
A: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Web Site has
all the information on what you need to cross the border back into the United States.
Q: Is it really true that they have Donkey Shows in Tijuana?
A: How would we know? Do we look like some sort of perverts to you?
Page Last modified: May 13 2007 22:46:35.
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