Hospitality functions (parties) are a traditional part of fan-run science fiction conventions. Rather than typical “room parties” in the hotels, Westercon 74 is making space available in our main hall for groups to host parties. This is sometimes called the “Fan Village” approach, pioneered at the 2014 Worldcon.
The upper level of the split-level main hall (where the tables and chairs and holiday decorations are in the above photo) will be available for fan groups.
Parties are self-catered, and there is No Corkage and No Forkage. This means you can serve whatever you want. You don’t purchase food and drink through the Convention Center. Bring your own food and drink and serve it to your fellow fans. (Please be aware of food safety precautions!) Tonopah has one grocery store and several smaller outlets. In practice, you’ll need a car to get supplies from the grocery store, but talk with our party coordinator to make arrangements, and possibly share supplies with other groups hosting parties. Our Hospitality team will be serving coffee, tea, cocoa, and soft drinks, so don’t worry about supplying those basics: Consider bringing something special instead.
You can work with our Hospitality team to use the Convention Center’s serving kitchen, which has refrigerators, warming cabinets, a microwave oven, a large ice maker, and washing-up facilities. You will of course be cooperating with other groups hosting functions, and naturally you will need be aware of food handling safety under the direction of our Hospitality team.
Write to our Party Coordinator to make your plans to host a function in a convention center with amazing facilities the like of which we’ve never seen before, with astounding flexibility and functionality.