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rickpsIn the great pantheon of bear runs, there have always been three - San Francisco's IBR along with the events in Chicago and Orlando. Years past have seen me as a regular at IBR although I have been a slacker over the past half decade or so and have not attended. 'How much have things changed?' I wondered. As I had been planning one of my regular jaunts to Sodom-on-the-Bay anyway, being part of IBR this year seemed to make lots of sense. Or did it?
IBR moved to a new hotel this year and if there was a high point, it was the hotel. A short stagger from public transit, the hotel was modern and minimalist. Staff seemed efficient, courteous, and organized. I'd decided to splurge on the higher priced upper floor room and scored a lovely space on the 31st floor looking north towards the high rises of downtown with glimpses of the Bay in the background. My 'Club Level' room came with obsessive/compulsive service including early evening checks to ensure that my room was perfect and to offer turn down service including wrapped chocolates (dark chocolate, it's good for you, don't burst my bubble) on the pillow. When I called down one evening for a couple of extra towels, I returned to my room to find the bed freshly made and the bathroom spotlessly cleaned. It may not be a luxury property but they did deliver quality. Score - 10/10
As to IBR, I'd expected that the economy would take its toll and it did. Registrations were down to about half of that in past years. Non-registrants, who had in past years shown up in droves, also seemed to be staying away. As a result, events were sparsely attended, seeming all the more so in the hotels large function rooms. Saddest of all, there was no casual gathering spot (the old Ramada's lobby was perfect in this regard). This year's "Barbary Coast" theme captured no one's imagination. Score - 3/10
I'll admit that I didn't rush to attend the various in-hotel organized events. The first night's meet and greet was dismal. Sister's Bingo wasn't as bawdy as in the past. Totally by chance, I found my way into the filmmaker Kevin Smith 'lecture' scheduled, I gather, at the last minute and thought it passable fun. IBR always seems to have drama of some sort. This year's was Smith's ejection from his Southwest return flight (a quick web search will find you all sorts of details on this including Smith's own blog on the subject). I was told by a couple of the Vendor Maul exhibitors that sales were way down, perhaps not even break even for some. The overall vibe felt tired and desperate. Score - 5/10
I didn't attend any of the dance/play outside venue events as I'm not a lover of deafening music nor into casual encounters. I did minimally stop in at the Death Star and the Egret. The former appeared full but not sardine as in past years. The latter (which I gather will be closing at some point in the next few years) didn't appear lively by any means. Score - N/A
As I had to return to work on Monday morning, I missed the contest itself but did have plenty of time on the way back to SFO to ruminate on the weekend. While the economic downturn cast dark shadows over IBR as it has nearly everywhere, I found myself agreeing with those that claim that bear runs are past their prime. 'Bear' is less a subculture and much more mainstream as evidenced by Kevin Smith's upcoming Bear Nation documentary. Is it still necessary to scream "we're special and we're here!"? No, I'd say not. BOSF and other such organizations are not to blame. Time's change. Not much to see here, folks, move on.
Will I attend another IBR? Unlikely. But then I never was much of a joiner. Well, except for square dancing. But that's another sordid tale for another time...
IBR moved to a new hotel this year and if there was a high point, it was the hotel. A short stagger from public transit, the hotel was modern and minimalist. Staff seemed efficient, courteous, and organized. I'd decided to splurge on the higher priced upper floor room and scored a lovely space on the 31st floor looking north towards the high rises of downtown with glimpses of the Bay in the background. My 'Club Level' room came with obsessive/compulsive service including early evening checks to ensure that my room was perfect and to offer turn down service including wrapped chocolates (dark chocolate, it's good for you, don't burst my bubble) on the pillow. When I called down one evening for a couple of extra towels, I returned to my room to find the bed freshly made and the bathroom spotlessly cleaned. It may not be a luxury property but they did deliver quality. Score - 10/10
As to IBR, I'd expected that the economy would take its toll and it did. Registrations were down to about half of that in past years. Non-registrants, who had in past years shown up in droves, also seemed to be staying away. As a result, events were sparsely attended, seeming all the more so in the hotels large function rooms. Saddest of all, there was no casual gathering spot (the old Ramada's lobby was perfect in this regard). This year's "Barbary Coast" theme captured no one's imagination. Score - 3/10
I'll admit that I didn't rush to attend the various in-hotel organized events. The first night's meet and greet was dismal. Sister's Bingo wasn't as bawdy as in the past. Totally by chance, I found my way into the filmmaker Kevin Smith 'lecture' scheduled, I gather, at the last minute and thought it passable fun. IBR always seems to have drama of some sort. This year's was Smith's ejection from his Southwest return flight (a quick web search will find you all sorts of details on this including Smith's own blog on the subject). I was told by a couple of the Vendor Maul exhibitors that sales were way down, perhaps not even break even for some. The overall vibe felt tired and desperate. Score - 5/10
I didn't attend any of the dance/play outside venue events as I'm not a lover of deafening music nor into casual encounters. I did minimally stop in at the Death Star and the Egret. The former appeared full but not sardine as in past years. The latter (which I gather will be closing at some point in the next few years) didn't appear lively by any means. Score - N/A
As I had to return to work on Monday morning, I missed the contest itself but did have plenty of time on the way back to SFO to ruminate on the weekend. While the economic downturn cast dark shadows over IBR as it has nearly everywhere, I found myself agreeing with those that claim that bear runs are past their prime. 'Bear' is less a subculture and much more mainstream as evidenced by Kevin Smith's upcoming Bear Nation documentary. Is it still necessary to scream "we're special and we're here!"? No, I'd say not. BOSF and other such organizations are not to blame. Time's change. Not much to see here, folks, move on.
Will I attend another IBR? Unlikely. But then I never was much of a joiner. Well, except for square dancing. But that's another sordid tale for another time...
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no subject
Date: 2010-02-17 07:37 pm (UTC)But, bar-centric activities centered around the consumption of alcohol, sex events, Kevin Smith (he hasn't been exactly honest in describing the situation with SW Air), Dim Sum ... all of those would have been as interesting to me as watching paint dry on a wall:)
I guess when it comes down to it. I don't see the point of IBR, Bear Pride, Spring Thaw, Texas Bear Round Up ... If I want to see my friends, I drive or fly to see them.
Having read what I just wrote, I came to the same conclusion as you ... I'm not much of a joiner ...
Big HUGS!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 12:35 am (UTC)I do like the events like IBR, Bear Pride, etc. etc. because its a good opportunity to see all my friends in a weekend, etc. etc. But lately, more and more of my friends are starting to do Bear Cruises, etc... and its just not my cup of tea.
Maybe its because I'm Gayasian? I dunno. As social as I am, I am feeling more and more the bear-culture is very cliquish and homogeneous; and I find myself having more and more mixed feeling a culture based on a 'look' (I don't care what anything says about 'self-identifying' as a bear, its about a look).
One of the partners I work with is going to get married over Memorial Day weekend, but in Memphis. I'm thinking I'm just going to go down there, even though I will only know a couple of co-workers attending. Partially because I want to, and partially because I think I'm getting burnt out on 'bear' stuff.
Just my rambling thoughts. I should really finish this analysis. heheh.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 04:15 am (UTC)This is why I am not interested. When the bear events started, the "look" was about facial hair/body hair, not size. The movement is about to implode because it's become exclusionary. It's always hard to identify what turns any of us on sexually, but when I've attended the bear events, 75-80% of the men were not my cup of tea. I just really don't like group events.
I have a circle of friends and acquaintances that I adore. To be in town with them for some quality time would be wonderful. But, I don't need an event to do that.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-17 10:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 02:36 am (UTC)I don't go to IBR to see old friends. (They eventually show up at Starbears.) I go to IBR to meet new ones. Without a Saturday non-bar get-together or a congenial lobby area in the hotel, it just made it a bit tougher.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 02:32 am (UTC)