Sunday, January 29, 2012
Arisia Wrapup
Oh yeah...I should write up about my Arisia experience here.
I had a fantastic time at Arisia. I'd heard about the convention for years -- it has an origin story is almost identical to CONvergence's, and some friends and acquaintances have attended for years and so when I was able to combine it with a work trip, it was a great opportunity.
One of the things that was especially nice was since I knew people already, I was able to get in and volunteer right away. It's the reason why the fan-run volunteer conventions are the best -- it's a co-operative activity that everyone does together, and even if you want to make it a "show", it's community based.
Every convention experience is unique for the individual then -- and so perhaps since I was there right away as a volunteer, it wasn't that much different from a CONvergence experience for me -- by the end, when I had five minutes I'd visit my new friends in the Programming Nexus/Operations area, because that's where I ALWAYS go when I have a few extra minutes at a convention.
I took reams of notes -- it was nice to be at a convention that had the same sort of audience as CONvergence, and roughly the same size, and I looked at everything as a student of how you can make good convention experiences. How can you make it good for all of the various constituents and communities, since we know that the best conventions can have a huge impact on their members lives.
And that's awesome.
I had a fantastic time at Arisia. I'd heard about the convention for years -- it has an origin story is almost identical to CONvergence's, and some friends and acquaintances have attended for years and so when I was able to combine it with a work trip, it was a great opportunity.
One of the things that was especially nice was since I knew people already, I was able to get in and volunteer right away. It's the reason why the fan-run volunteer conventions are the best -- it's a co-operative activity that everyone does together, and even if you want to make it a "show", it's community based.
Every convention experience is unique for the individual then -- and so perhaps since I was there right away as a volunteer, it wasn't that much different from a CONvergence experience for me -- by the end, when I had five minutes I'd visit my new friends in the Programming Nexus/Operations area, because that's where I ALWAYS go when I have a few extra minutes at a convention.
I took reams of notes -- it was nice to be at a convention that had the same sort of audience as CONvergence, and roughly the same size, and I looked at everything as a student of how you can make good convention experiences. How can you make it good for all of the various constituents and communities, since we know that the best conventions can have a huge impact on their members lives.
And that's awesome.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Capricon Plans
Since you can still pre-register at the last minute, good time to mention that I'm planning a trip to Chicago for the science fiction convention Capricon in a few weeks.
I'll be hosting a party for CONvergence over the weekend, and will be partnering with some of the other local MN conventions as well with the party, as we're also planning ahead for Chicon later in the year.
I'm going to be on a bunch of panels as well.
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming) Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe. Javier Grillo-Marxuach Michael Lee (M) Les McClaine Frank Salvatini
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz. Kim Kofmel Michael Lee Terrence Miltner (M) Marah Searle-Kovacevic
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming) Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who. Javier Grillo-Marxuach Michael Lee (M) Kristine Smith Dr. Michael Unge Joy Ward
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions? Kerri-Ellen Kelly Michael Lee Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.) Michael Lee (M) Dave McCarty Joseph Stockman Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event. Michael Lee Dave McCarty Helen Montgomery (M) Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites. Michael Lee Lynne M. Thomas Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming) Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom. Alex Bledsoe Dermot Dobson Michael Lee Lynne M. Thomas Michael D. Thomas (M)
Should be fun!
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming) Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe. Javier Grillo-Marxuach Michael Lee (M) Les McClaine Frank Salvatini
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz. Kim Kofmel Michael Lee Terrence Miltner (M) Marah Searle-Kovacevic
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming) Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who. Javier Grillo-Marxuach Michael Lee (M) Kristine Smith Dr. Michael Unge Joy Ward
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions? Kerri-Ellen Kelly Michael Lee Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.) Michael Lee (M) Dave McCarty Joseph Stockman Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event. Michael Lee Dave McCarty Helen Montgomery (M) Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites. Michael Lee Lynne M. Thomas Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming) Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom. Alex Bledsoe Dermot Dobson Michael Lee Lynne M. Thomas Michael D. Thomas (M)
Should be fun!
Labels: capricon, fandom, scifi
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