The Convention Center's rooftop promenade
For those who may have missed it, an Anthrocon attendee was clowning around on the rooftop late at night and did something as monumentally dangerous as it was foolish. As a result, the entire rooftop was closed off to Anthrocon attendees due to safety concerns for the duration of the 2010 convention. We have been in touch with the individual involved and are satisfied that there is not likely to be a repeat of the incident.
We have come to an agreement with the DLCC that Anthrocon attendees will be permitted to visit the rooftop promenade during the 2011 convention. There will be a cost to us for additional paid security to keep an eye on things up there. That is a concession we had to make, but we understand the position of DLCC management and are willing to carry that cost for the sake of our attendees.
I had a feeling Kage would be able to sweet talk the DLCC management ^.~
And as an 09 and 10 con-goer I'd be very willing to pay a couple extra bucks for that added cost. $5 to get access to the roof? Hell yes!
In five years I've seen the roof only ONCE. Bright blue lights, but that's about it. (edit) Oh yes, the Anthrocon flag this year. May it wave indefinitely! *salute*
I preferred the Cheetah party on the 25th floor a few nights ago. 
thank goodness the antics of mr. H did not ruin it rooftop access indefinitly. i was lucky enough to see the rooftop before the con started, but it was during the day so i did not get to see the blue lights very well. i agree with arthemys, a few extra bucks for added security will be no trouble at all
I'm glad we're getting the roof back, it's a rather nice place to relax.
What about the sections to the side with the fake grass? (Pretty sure it's fake grass) Will we be allowed out there? Great place for picnics.
Additional paid security? Would this be like, more Dorsai irregulars? Regardless I am perfectly fine if i have to pay a bit more to help cover said security?
Admit it Kage, you found "Mr. H" and threw him off the roof for us, right, right? 
What a dick move by the DLCC. Once Mr. H had been banned from AC, there was no need to lock everyone else out of the roof. They just did it to punish the con for the actions of one person.
No, not a 'dick move' by the DLCC. When someone (apparently, I don't know the details) performs an action so stupid as to put him/herself in the running for the Darwin Awards, the DLCC has a right to protect itself from subsequent lawsuits resulting from such stupidity. Bluntly, we'd shown that we weren't adult enough to be trusted and the DLCC acted accordingly... and correctly.
I knew Uncle Kage would be able to talk the DLCC into letting us use the rooftops again! I don't speak for anyone else, but I wouldn't mind having the cost drop into our registration, I mean... 4k attendees that bill could easily be spread throughout all of us without a major dent in the wallets I would think.
I for one will be scouring around to get some good...erm... Mineral Water to have a toast with Uncle Kage with next con! 
Thanks for talking to the DLCC for us, Kage!
Next year I'll be able to romance my gal on the rooftop with 
cuddles and kisses while we look at the night skyline of Pittsburgh. ♥ Couldn't do my romantic thing I wanted to do because of Mr. H.
Yes. I, too, would be willing to help pay any additional costs with my admission fee. Please let us know as soon as possible if that will be necessary.
I'm just cute that way
AWESOME! Thanks a lot for this! It is unfortunate that some people need to ruin it for everyone else. At least it worked out in the end.
Thank you for your patience and vigilance in resolving this matter, Kage.
I heard about the rooftop incident from a number of sources as the story of what happened seemed to spread like wildfire. The consensus among those I heard talking about the foolish act was that others were being punished for the stupidity of one individual. But I understood the liability issues involved if a subsequent incident of this nature occurred at the con and DLCC management's liability for not taking action, like closing the rooftop. People can complain closing the rooftop was unfair, but DLCC has a realistic view of the real world and the cost of not taking action.
Though its a big hassle and expense for AC, I think security for the balconies is a good idea.
After "Tumbles the Stairdragon" happened at FWA a few years ago, I'm fearful that some emo fur who gets depressed, drunk, or high on drugs at the con could easily take their life by diving off the balcony.
Thanks Kage for your hard work and persistence!
The DLCC absolutely has a heart and a soul. Not long after the word came into ops that roof access was severely restricted, an attendee came up and asked if he could get onto the roof. "Not a chance in hell" I thought, but then he added "I want to propose to my girlfriend at sunset."
OK, we had to try. Made a phone call off to DLCC management and explained the situation. After a short pause she said "Who are we to stand in the way of romance?" An arrangement was made for a DLCC guard and one of the Dorsai (me) to go up with them. We met at the door just before sunset, it was unlocked for them, the guard and I went a discreet 40 or 50 yards away, and they sat on one of the rooftop benches. He got down on one knee, and not too long after we could could actually hear a kiss. It was just one of many, I'm sure.
Why yes, there are photos. But they're in the hands of the bride- and groom-to-be.
Will it be capped to only 35 attendees like the Drum Circle was? Or will it be like... full access?
That depends on how many folks the DLCC are willing to allow up there. They have their insurance to think about, and we've demonstrated that we are not consistently sensible about rooftop danger. We'll need to earn back their trust over time.
You are correct, Dester'edra. It will be a calculation based on how many 'roof security' guards the DLCC is paid to supply and their estimate of how many people each guard can protect from their own stupidity. In other words, if the Con pays for two guards and the DLCC estimates that each guard can control 10 people, the limit will be 20.
I wonder if this is the speed record for having a badge pulled...
It's really too early to say. There will no doubt be discussions of how many of their security staff will need to be there, how many of the con security staff will need to be there, and how much of each we can afford.
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well its good to hear Kage got the situation taken care of for AC 2011 your awsome man 
As I've said before I'm very willing to pay a premium for roof access. Perhaps bundle it into one of the sponsor tiers? Seeing as I paid an extra $5 to round up my registration to $100, I see that as a good way to offset the cost to keep this con an amazing one...
No, I don't think that will be necessary to sell 'roof passes'.
We will look at our budgets, revenue, and projected attendance closely for 2011 and see if prices for any registration levels need to increase. We can't answer the question of 2011 prices now.
--Chi
No matter what, I am just glad that the roof will be open again, and I hope that no one else does something stupid to ruin it again. When I told one of my friends I was going to Anthrocon, he told me to meet up with one of his dealer friends and tell her to take me up to "Level Blue." Well when I talked to her, it turned out Level Blue was the roof. I hope next year I can be on Level Blue.
Well, it's nice that DLCC's staff will be our loco-parentis, as many attendees seem too busy having their sixth childhood and forgetting things like "gravity sucks." In this age of litigation, entities must protect themselves from liability, and if an attendee decides to forgo their grown-up responsibilities, then the DLCC has to protect their financial bottom line, as well as other attendees.
Or, if attendees could remember a little self-responsibility in their fun-having, it would be easier for most and better for all.
IMHO
If that would happen, we would not need a security crew at all. Sadly, I do not envision that becoming a reality in the foreseeable future.
Hai, Blattodea-san, but please allow a bull to dream. I realize that most con-goers enjoy being in a space where they are allowed to be childish. But it's best to remember that one is an adult acting childish, and consider safety and respect for each other.
I also found that many attendees were busy biting or sniping at others. While there were examples of great kindness, there seemed more that were nasty or bitter. If only we could be better to each other. Somewhere in our Furry Code we need to learn how to be better to each other. We are to fear and love each other, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.
But it's hard to get that into a con-book.
Most of the time, the roof is a pretty uncomfortable place to be. It gets damn hot up there during the day (ask the hams), so I don't think large numbers will gather there much of the time. There are so many fun places to hang out at Anthrocon, I don't think we stand that risk of too many people on the roof to control them just yet.
Jeef
Not sure how this will sound but, do we really need access to the roof and the extra cost which will come with it? I've honestly never been up to the roof (not a fan of heights) and can't say I'd ever have a interest in doing so. I'm sure many like to smell the air (joy, city air...) and see the lights at night but we do have balconies you can step out onto to do the same and if you want to see the city, you could get a better view of it from inside the Westin from one of the top floors out a window which is far higher up then the DLCC roof. Its cool you talked then into letting folks up there but were there enough attendees going up there to start with to justify the cost? I'm imagining it'll be in the 4 digit area with either a 2 or up to a 4 on the front. I'm splitting hair on this one now that I think about it. Say they ask us for $4000 to do it. That's less then a buck extra per attendee right?
YOU may not spend time up there but it's an EXTREMELY popular hangout among congoers.
No need to worry about me; even though i did enjoy the view it also scares the living crap out of me since i am deathly afraid of heights. especially that far up. i also can't wait for next years ac; hopefully everyone will keep there stupidity at home.
Is it only a nasty rumour that "Mr H" s now permanently ensconced under those piles that the barge mounted piledriver was driving into the riverbed beside the convention center ?? 
Yes, that is only a nasty rumor. He's not among any of the others entombed there.
Definitely not there. It was getting too full and Uncle Kage had to find a new location. Of course he's not telling anybody where that is.
Steve, Steve! Kage just said that Mr. H wasn't entombed in the pilings being driven into the Allegheny River. That's not ambiguous at all.
The only ambiguity is as to where Mr. H is entombed...
...The only ambiguity is as to where Mr. H is entombed...
Well - if one takes pride in one's work, and does a thorough job of it, there may not be the necessity of dealing with entombing anything.
If I judge the matter right, then there are probably two children somewhere who have had their lives transfomed by new kidneys, relieving them of the necessity of 12-15 dialysis sessions a month; someone has had their sight restored, thanks to the gift of corneal transplants; victims of pancreatic cancer and cirrosis of the liver are now expecting near-normal lives; The US Army Burn Center in San Antonio, TX, has had its supply of skin-graft material increased, and scientists doing biomedical research in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are able to conduct their studies on some of the best tissue available, because it was delivered "Fresh - never Frozen!"
*********
Yes, we can make humor over this - but I wonder...if Dr. Conway is familiar with, or had one of his previous jobs impacted by, the activities of one Michael Mastromarino...
im glad i was able to get on the roof before they closed it, i got video footage and pics of pittsburgh and the anthrocon flag, now only if i can give uncle kage his gift, this will never again happen, he will beable to enforce the safty rules to the letter
yes, a cattle prod:laugh: . plus it will cement uncle kages roll as leader of anthrocon(just kidding)
A cattle prod and one of those stand up scooters from Paul Blart mall cop.
And maybe practice this line a few times.
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/hqgwzmmbjd--Respect-my-authority-South-Park-Eric-Cartman-Cartman
Thank you so much for helping us, the convention, and coming to an agreement with DLCC in this situation. I know many (if not all) of the con attendees were disappointed by the fact that one person had to go and ruin it for everybody, and miss out for the awesome lights and sights that are up there (I know it would have been a disaster had this been a 4th of July weekend like last year). I was actually able to convince a non-furry to join us this year, and was raving about the awesomeness that was the roof, only to find that it was already closed.
I may just return the favor by volunteering my time to be a part of that security detail.