1
F E ATU RE S
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WTHCON
February 17, 2012
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Continued from Page I
Unfortunately for the vendors and
artists at WTHCon, this year's turnout
was not as large as it has been in
previous years, with only 300 attendees.
Last year, attendance was at an all-
time nigh with over 500 people coming
from across the nation to go to the MC
Frontalot concert.
"I've made less this year than I have
in the past few years," said Keith Barch,
owner of Gorgeous Chain, a company
mai
that creates main mail clothing and
accessories. "The con just isn't drawing
as many people as it used to."
One issue this year that may have
affected attend ance is that advertisement
about the event started late.
"We were unable to advertise as much
as we would have liked," said con staff
member Alan Rhodes '08. "There were
a lot of things that we just couldn't get
done or didn't have time to do."
Despite these -problems during the
planning of the convention, there were
no major issues during the con besides
a cut-off microphone during the Geek
Auction.
"It's rather shocking," said junior
Adam Bertling, head of the Gophers,
all-purpose staff for the con. "Usually
something will go wrong, but we have
managed to avert anything serious this
year."
A few of those in attendance expressed
distaste with the convention's programs.
Some stated that the convention was
growing boring due to the repetition of
the same activiti
activities and events.
'We would like to see some different
artists, different guests, or different
events rather than the same stuff each
year," commented one con-goer who
asked not to be named. "Last year they
got MC Frontalot; why ; could they not
get another big name guest this year?"
Unlike last year's MC Frontalot
concert, which packed Dana
Auditorium, this year's wizard rock
concerts drew very small crowds. This
may be due more to MC Frontalot's
popularity than to lack of effort on the
part of the Yachting Club.
"We did try to find someone big for
the con," said senior Kalyn Howard,
Yachting Club librarian and clerk. "The
problem is we didn't have the funding
for another big concert like last year."
Other attendees claimed that the con
was not well organized. Concerns such
as these are natural, as Jennie Breeden,
the creator of the webcomic "Devil's
Panties," noted.
"I have been attending the con for six
to seven years now," said Breeden. "The
best and worst thing about these college
conventions is that you have a new
group of people running it every four
years. Next year's con will be much
better. I'm sure."
The general feeling of attendees was
that this year's organizers were not as
experienced as last year's. Events on
Friday had to be pushed to Saturday
with little to no notice, causing confusion
for those interested in the events.
"It was just too disorganized," stated
senior and con-goer Brian Jones. "There
was no way for me to attend as many
of the events as I was interested in. This
wear's (WTHCon) ... was more of a
y« - .
learning experience for those in charge,
1 r 11 .1 .11 1 .
and hopefully they will learn from
mistakes this year."
The success of the con relies on those
attending to comment on what they
would like to see changed and what
they would like to see improved.
"People need to come into the
planning meetings and suggest what
they want to see at the con, otherwise
we have no idea," Howard said.
WTHCon is one of Guilford's oddest
traditions, where anyone can come out
and talk about what they are passionate
about. Despite its challenges, this year's
con shows that the Yachting Club sails
on. Until next year's WTHCon; may the
Force be with you.
(Far left) Wizard swag on display at
the wizard rock concert featuring the
Blibbering Humdingers and Hawthorn &
Holly. (Imme'diateJgft) Con-goers dressed
in homage to Xslaissin's"Creed efijpy ■' -
the music of thelBlibbering Hurridingers.
(Above) T. Hawk of\he EMAA Knights
wields his sword in front of Duke.