I was at the Excel A convention in London this weekend, but I stayed outside the main area on the concourse seating so I could still listen but grab a coffee and move around when I felt like it, rather than get stuck inside, only able to leave easily at lunch and end of day.
As a result, I can't really comment about how many empty seats there were inside the main seating areas or whether there was much excitement among the delegates in there. However, it did mean I was able to observe how busy the concourse was, with lots of delegates outside the seating area even during sessions, chatting or getting coffee and snacks from the various convention centre vendors. Mostly groups of young people or families with very young children, but there were some married couples too, including older ones who would take time out to stretch the legs, and sit down with a tea or coffee and a biscuit.
It seemed that although they were present, many people were dipping in and out of the programme, taking extended time to chill in the outside seating and chat or have a drink or snack. I was surprised to see that even 'highlights' like the main public talk and the 2-part drama did not have everyone rushing back to their seats. Not something you used to see years ago. Delegates moving about on the concourses mid-session used to be very much frowned on by elders and convention bigwigs!
The peak Sunday count was 9,688 in the English section and 2,581 in the Portuguese, and the previous day there had been 61 baptisms in English, 27 in Portuguese. I make that around 0.63% (English) and 1.05% (Portuguese).
Overall, the mood was not excited, but it wasn't particular flat either, just so-so. Ironically, just what I would expect at a business conference. It did appear that overall the Portuguese were more engaged by the convention. Their programme overran slightly so as I left they were still singing, belting out the closing song more enthusiastically than the English section had, it seemed. I had also seen fewer of them around on the concourse during the programme, although of course they were smaller in number than attendees for the English.
Two other observations:
1) The speakers seemed to be poorer quality than in the past. I noticed a lot more stumbles and little corrections in their words whilst speaking, and also use of redundant phrasing. I can't remember specific examples now except one, when a brother said of God "he is the universal sovereign of the universe". That sort of thing. For all their faults, the brothers at conventions past were at least confident and capable speakers. I suspect it's because a lot of younger men are being 'promoted' with relatively little experience and training, even in the things JWs used to be good at. Convention speakers are supposed to be the 'cream of the crop', so the crop must be rather feeble now!
2) The exJW presence also seemed down on previous years, with just a small number occasionally appearing in a fenced off section to one side of the entrance. (I think a brief video by Goatlike Personality was posted from there yesterday). To be fair, you can understand why there were few exJWs in attendance. If you don't believe what's being said in there and you've left it behind, why would you want to be outside an ugly, bland concrete conference centre on a lovely sunny weekend if you don't have to be? Whereas the active JWs who were milling about outside are supposed to believe and be keen to "listen and obey"!
