Memberships & Attendance

21 July 2018

by Nicola Edwards

The Discworld Convention is an exclusive event for Members.  You pay us your monies (in this case £74) and in return you get attendance to all four days of the Convention, the subscription to our newsletters ahead of the Convention and access to our specially negotiated rates for food, drink and accommodation during it.  You also get your membership pack with all the items therein.  However, the key to this is that you first buy your Membership. 

Increasingly over the last few months we have been receiving queries from people asking if they can pop in for just one day, or just for one of the regular items, or just to spend an afternoon or evening in the bar catching up with friends. 

Sadly, the answer in all cases, is no. 

We realise that in previous Conventions day memberships were available.  This was in the days before we sold out in hours and enthusiasm made HEX take the day off with a headache.  Day memberships are no longer available. 

We also realise that in Conventions past people could pop in for a drink at the bar, again, because either the Convention was not sold out so we had space, or the hotel was so large it could accomodate another Convention and an Indian Wedding.  This time we are sold out, and we have filled the hotel to the brim - there is no space left, and so for safety reasons we require exclusivity for both the event and public spaces.

What this means is that anyone without a membership should not be present at any point during the four days of the Convention. Anyone spotted by a member of Watch or ConCom without their membership badge will be asked to produce it, and if they cannot do so may be asked to leave. 

This isn't where we wanted to be.  The Convention has always been and is still a fan event run for fans by fans.  It has a friendly, open atmosphere, and we want to maintain that.  But ConCom has obligations to members and the hotel, and your health and safety is paramount.  In the face of the number of requests ingeniously trying to bend the rules we have had to make our position clear.  To ensure ConCom meets our obligations, the Convention doesn't exceed the safe capacity and we all have a good time, we need you to work with us on this. 

And if you are not able to get a membership, please remember, we will be back in 2020 (all being well!) and our sister conventions would be happy to see you in-between.