Official Bid
As submitted March 14, 2005
The Gathering 2006: City of Angels staff is pleased to present this statement of our interest in organizing and hosting The Gathering 2006 in the city of Los Angeles, California. The following bid proposal details the members of our staff, provides an overview of the events and activities we plan for the convention, and summarizes our projected budget and fundraising plans.

Convention Date:
We anticipate holding the Tenth Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles in July 2006. An exact date will be determined when a hotel contract is negotiated. A three-day convention schedule is planned, beginning at noon on a Friday with two full days of events on Saturday and Sunday.

Convention Location:
The Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California has expressed interest in having the Gathering return to their hotel every year since The Gathering 2001. Feedback on the hotel from the guests, convention staff, and attendees of the 2001 convention was overwhelmingly positive. Therefore, we have designated the Sheraton Universal Hotel our first choice.

We will make all efforts to finalize a hotel contract (and convention dates) as soon as possible after receiving notice that our bid has been accepted.

Convention Staff:
Our proposed Convention Chair and Vice Chair have been on convention staff for three previous Gatherings (1999, 2001, 2004). Our proposed Art Show Coordinator has served in that position for two previous Gatherings (2001, 2004). The remaining members of our proposed Convention Staff have each been a part of at least one previous Gathering convention staff. They include:

We will recruit additional people to fill other convention staff positions after receiving notice that our bid has been accepted.

Anticipated Convention Events:
The Gathering 2006: Los Angeles will provide many of the same events and activities that have traditionally been a part of The Gathering. These include:

  • Art Show, Dealer's Room, and Video Room
  • Celebrity and Fan Panels (topics to be determined)
  • Gathering Auction
  • Gathering Radio Play
  • Banquet with Guest Q&A Session
  • Masquerade and Dance
Anticipated Contests:
The Gathering 2006: Los Angeles will hold contests before and during the convention. Contests held prior to the convention will be open to all fans. Contests held at the convention will be open to convention attendees only. These include:
  • T-shirt Design Contest (prior to con)
  • Art Contest (at the Art Show, entry fee required)
  • Writing Contest (prior to con, short story, theme to be determined)
  • Costume Contest (at the Masquerade)
  • Karaoke Contest (after the Masquerade)
Potential Guests:
The Los Angeles area is home to many of the members of the "Gargoyles" voice cast, writing staff, and production crew. In 2001, over twenty different guests who worked on the show were able to make an appearance at some point during the convention. By returning to Los Angeles for the convention's tenth anniversary, we anticipate being able to provide a similar turnout of special guests. Our potential guest list includes:
  • Greg Weisman, creator of "Gargoyles"
  • Thom Adcox, voice of Lexington
  • Keith David, voice of Goliath
  • Brigitte Bako, voice of Angela

We will begin extending official offers to guests upon finalization of the convention date and hotel contract.
Projected Attendance:
Approximately 375 people attended The Gathering 2001, including convention staff and guests. We are setting a goal for The Gathering 2006 of a paid attendance of at least 200 people, which we feel is reasonable based on the changing attendance patterns from 2002 through 2005.
Budget:
Pre-registration will be the primary source of pre-convention income for The Gathering 2006. Attending memberships, supporting memberships, t-shirts, and the banquet will be offered for advance purchase beginning at the Gathering 2005. Additional sources of income will include the sale of exhibit space in the Dealer's Room, registration fees for the Art Show, and the sale of advertising space in the program book.

Meeting space rental, catering, and related hotel service fees and taxes are projected to be the largest portion of all expenses. At this time, we do not anticipate providing any air travel for guests, because so many guests can be found locally. Per diem and hotel accommodations are included in our projections for up to three guests to be in attendance for the entire convention. Other significant expenses included in our projections include advertising costs, t-shirt printing, and Art Show supplies.

Our total projected receipts are $19,000, and our total projected expenses are $17,800, for a net profit of $1200. A detailed breakdown of our projections is available upon request.
Los Angeles area attractions:
Many Gathering attendees like to make the convention part of a larger vacation, and Southern California provides no shortage of places to see and things to do. Theme parks, museums, shopping, and entertainment – Los Angeles has it all. Popular local attractions include:
Travel to Los Angeles:
The Gathering 2006: Los Angeles staff is committed to making sure our attendees have all the information they need to assist them in their travel planning. Upon finalization of our date, we will look into obtaining an "official" airline and investigate other affiliations that might provide savings to convention attendees. We will also make available on our web site links to sites such as these, which provide general information about travel and tourism in the Los Angeles area.
Conclusion:
We thank you for taking the time to review our bid to organize the Tenth Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles, Gathering 2006 in the city of Los Angeles, California.

If any questions arise concerning any element of our bid, please contact us and we will gladly make any clarifications that are necessary.

Sincerely,

Jennifer L. Anderson
Patrick A. Toman

(on behalf of the Gathering 2006: Los Angeles staff)