Help. I'm new to this.

[potter_fan7]

Ok, so I have been a HP fan for many many years and I just recently discovered the Azkatraz convention. I have many questions to ask about it. So bare with me.

1. Do you have to register to attend Azkatraz?
1.5 If yes, how do I go about doing this?
2. Is it too late to stay at the Parc 55?
3. Does Azkatraz cost anything?
4. How many people usually attend?
5. What usually occurs at these things?

Any answers at all would be helpful. =) Thanks

[potterfreak0515]

I'm not an organizer or anything, but I can answer some of your questions!

1. Do you have to register to attend Azkatraz?
Yes.
1.5 If yes, how do I go about doing this?
There should be an online registration, but I don't believe it's open yet.
2. Is it too late to stay at the Parc 55?
Nope!
3. Does Azkatraz cost anything?
Yes,
4. How many people usually attend?
I'm not sure about most conferences, but there about 1500 or 1600 people at Terminus.
5. What usually occurs at these things?
I'm not an expert since I've only been to one conference (and it wasn't even by the HPEF), but there's tons of programming about Harry Potter canon and fanon (some of the ones at Terminus included things from roundtables about illegal potions or Luna Lovegood to panels about wizard rock or by authors of Harry Potter-related books). Of course, there will be the midnight release of the HBP movie at Azkatraz. At Terminus, there was tons of informal wizard rock shows. And there are usually a few podcasts as well!

(And I heard from an inside source that there are plans for a wizard rock concert on Alcatraz!)

I hope I was able to help!

[irielle]

1. Yes you need to register and
2. They'll have that available via the website. They'll probably need time to work on the programming more before they set a price.
3. I think I paid about $200 last year. This included the welcoming feast (Tex Mex), two continental breakfasts and a brunch the last morning. Plus most of the programming. The exceptions were some special events with Jim Dale (in addition to his reading for everyone who wished to come), the keynote speakers luncheons (those were $40 each, but the speakers also spoke at a different time without the lunch so if you didn't want to pay you still had your chance to see them), and $5 to chip in for the Masquerade ball. This helped pay for the snacks at the ball and the ice sculpture. The ball was more than worth $5.
4. How many people usually attend? I've only been to Portus so it's hard to say. I think we had 700-800 people there, but in the past events had been larger, and I bet Azkatraz is larger than that. Personally, I really liked the size of Portus because you got to know people better, but I'm sure that more people means more programming options too.
5. Events at Portus included:
*panels and roundtables on HP topics
*workshops
*casual Wrock music in the Common Room
*an art gallery and auction at the end
*showings of the HP films, fan films, and the Wizard Rockumentary
*Jim Dale reading from the books as a special guest
*a wizard rock concert
*a Masquerade ball
*live podcasts (Mugglenet, Snapecast, etc)
*Quidditch games
*a vendor room
*a fan swapmeet
*various games in the Common Room; most were HP games, but someone also brought Guitar Hero. It was fun to see people in Hogwarts robes playing that
*tons of people in costume, and some fun roleplaying

I'm sure I'm missing something, but all in all, this was a blast and there was generally plenty to do. If there was a lull at all it was needed, because with events lasting late each night it was difficult to get enough sleep! =)

[potter_gurl]

so i was reading the above and that answer a lot of my questions except for when and where can i sign up?
also should i make reservations at the hotel befor i register?
is there a limit to who can go to the confrence?

[Blue]

Registration hasn't opened yet for Azkatraz, but if you've signed up for the newsletter (which you can do on the main Azkatraz website) a lot of the information that you're going to need from now up to the day of the symposium, will be included in that. You can also just check back to the site to find out when registration opens.

As for the hotel, you might want to wait until you've registered, but you can reserve your room at the Parc55 at any time you want to. However, there is a discount code that you can use which will save you a little bit of money. I don't remember the code, but if you do a little searching on the website, you'll find that and when you reserve your room (by calling) just give them the code and the discount will be applied.

We do have a cap number on the number of regsitrants we allow (more for fire code safety reasons, not because we don't want everyone there) but as of right now, there is no worry about Azkatraz selling out. There is always the possibility that it will, so the earlier the register, the better.

Hope that helped out!
:D

[Rashmi]

so i was reading the above and that answer a lot of my questions except for when and where can i sign up?
also should i make reservations at the hotel befor i register?
is there a limit to who can go to the confrence?

1. Registration isn't open yet - when it is, there will be a link on the main page (www.hp2009.org), and you'll be able to register from there.

2. I don't think it matters if you make a reservation at the hotel before or after you register, but I do recommend reserving one as soon as you can, because they tend to full up quite quickly.

3. You must be 14 or older to attend the conference. If you're over 18, you don't need a chaperone, but if you're between 14 to 17 you need to be accompanied by a parent or any other chaperone (in which case you'd need a signed and notarized permission slip).

[theotherblacksister]

Hey guys! I've never been to a HP conference before, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much things like this usually cost. Thanks!

[potter_fan7]

yeah i was wondering about the limit too?

[nqdonne]

Hi! I can give you a few more specifics.

Yes, you have to register to attend official Azkatraz events. Registration will be done online, via the website, and should be opening up *very* soon. Costs vary, but the starting price should be circa $150 (don't quote me on that -- I'm not sure what base price was decided upon). We have an arrangement with the Parc55 that there is a block of rooms just for Azkatraz attendees, and the price is $165 a night for up to four people. So factor in the price of 3-5 nights at the hotel, plus food. Booking JUST opened at the Parc55, so there should be plenty of rooms left. (that said, booking early is best, as our blocks tend to go pretty quickly, and if you want the special price, you need to book before that happens)

Attendance at these cons can go up to 1,500, and Azkatraz is estimating 700-1000 (with room to expand). Typically, fans attend a number of academic and fannish programing, including lectures, roundtable discussions, panels and workshops. Topics range from character discussion, to analysis of the books/fan culture, etc. Our theme for Azkatraz is justice, so we anticipate programing that follows the topic (plus much, much more!). Beyond that, there are rock concerts, podcasts, meet-ups, cos-playing/role playing, a ball, feasts, fanfiction/fanart sessions, Quidditch, and much more! We're working on a lot of fun "Azkaban/Alcatraz" themed activities that are TBA.

To answer potter_gurl, there are some limits -- there are age restrictions, and then size limits, in terms of the max number who can register. Another member of staff can fill you in about age restrictions, if that's what you meant.

[Hermione D]

All Harry Potter fans and scholars over 14 are welcome. For those 14-17, you must have a chaperone over 21 at the event with them and a minors waiver signed by a parent or guardian. (See registration for details.)

As for the hotel, here's some info that I hope will help:
AZKATRAZ will take place at the Parc55 Hotel, located at 55 Cyril Magnin Street in downtown San Francisco, only blocks from the Moscone Center, ZEUM, Union Square and Mint Park. We have obtained a rate of $165 plus tax per night, for up to four people in a room. In other words, there's no extra-person charge for the third and fourth person in the room. A limited number of suites are also available, and the special AZKATRAZ rate is available between July 15 and 22nd. To make your reservation any time after August 15, 2008, call 800.595.0507 and say you're making your reservation for AZKATRAZ, the 2009 HPEF event. A website will be up later this month if you'd rather make your reservation online.