Much-delayed Baycon report

[figmo]

Short version: It wasn't the Worst Baycon Ever, and it was far from the best. Sometimes it's the folks attending the con that make it, and this was one of those times.

The bulk of the problems that plagued this year's Baycon seemed attributable to screwups rather than to malice. Several notable people and things were absent (besides the Author GoHs and Fan GoH):

• Other Change of Hobbit - Well-known Bay Area SF bookstore.
• Kristoph Klover, Margaret Davis, and their bands and equipment.
• The "Trailer Park" presentation of lots of upcoming movie trailers.
• "A Shot in the DarK" panel. When so many folks independently say "Where's that panel?" you know it's missing.
• Full-fledged programming tracks for costuming and science.

The "A Shot in the Dark" panel was so missed several folks took it upon themselves to make it happen, despite the objections of the person in charge of Programming. First it was supposed to happen on the mezzanine at 5:30pm Sunday. When we gathered we were told to go to one of the programming rooms. We went there and were told, "You can't use this room. If you wanted this item on programming, you should have talked to [the gal in charge of programming who didn't want the panel to happen]." Brilliant. flamingchords and trogula then offered their hotel room, so around 20 or 30 of us shlepped up to room 718. Just as things were getting started, someone was sent up from Programming. "You can't hold an open party on a non-party floor. You'll have to close the door." We were glad that was all they made us do! Suffice it to say it was the Best Panel Ever and was well worth missing dinner (and I'm hypoglycemic!) and a place for most of us to sit.

The number one line in conversation seemed to be "What are you reading these days?" It's been years since I've heard that as a conversation-starter at a con, even though IMHO it ought to be. I had interesting conversations with lots of folks that way, including some I'd never met before at places like the hotel sushi bar (which appreciated our vigorous business) and random places waiting in line. The best scheduled panel, IMHO, was the one that involved making liquid nitrogen ice cream. If nothing else, I now know where I can get my grubby little hands on a dewar of liquid nitrogen.

It was great seeing lots of folks I haven't seen in months or years, as well as those I see regularly. I could fill a page just listing them and even then I'd probably miss a bunch of folks. It wasn't great having a sinus infection (the same one I've had more on than off since December) during the con, which is why I didn't try to get a concert this year or even filk, for that matter.

Comments

[n5red.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to a con in years. Considering what they were like for years before that, I doubt I'm missing much.

[fierynotes.livejournal.com]

I asked David over at OCOH if he'd be there, about a week before the con. He was pissed. Apparently, the paperwork he'd submitted, just as he always does, got mislaid.

But yeah. This BayCon was almost cursed. Between all the stuff you mentioned, the Guests of Honor not being able to make it, panels being rearranged with little notice (I missed the Doctor Who/Torchwood BoF over this)...

(Blushes.) I'm delighted that T and I helped one of the high points along.

Sent to the Cornfield

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

I doubt if you will ever see me in the dealers' room ever again. I cannot go into it, but there have been several stories as to why I didn't "make the cut". Funny, they're all untrue. Shocking. NOT.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing maybe there's something funny in my head right now, but just reading the paragraph about the shot in the dark panel fills me with so much righteous indignation that I'm nearly incoherent. Fandom is where I go to *avoid* small minded rigid conformity and bureaucrats who tell me what kind of fun I'm allowed to have.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

yeah! made me furious too, and i wasn't even there. wtf was with them anyway?

[berry-k.livejournal.com]

"If you wanted this item on programming, you should have talked to XXX..."

Yeah, but the programming didn't come out until the Monday before the con! I'm sorry I missed A Shot Rang Out; previous ones were awesome.

[sylvan.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

As the head of the Hotel division for this last BayCon I just wanted to set a few things straight about the Shot Rang Out. I spoke to it at the hiss and purr as well.

First off, I won't speak for Programming, just how hotel came into this. There were complaints that came to me both from staff and my contacts at the hotel that people were moving the hotel's table set up for their cash carts and obstructing egress on the mezzanine. I got FLARE and Programming involved and headed up that way as soon as I could.

As for the person that was sent up to the room, he wasn't from programming. That was my Party Maven. It is part of our contract with the hotel where our open door and advertised parties can be, which is the third floor. That has also been a long standing rule since long before this facility. You're not new to BayCon, you've probably heard the no open door parties rule before. It applies even more at the new facility.

I like A Shot Rang Out. I'm sorry there wasn't a programming guest who could run it this year. I happen to know we have two who have offered for next year. I'm all for impromptu things, but we have to make sure it doesn't ding us on our contract or risk future ones- we like our new home. I hope you do, too.

I've been working various conventions for awhile- a veteran by some people's standards and a newbie by other’s (just shy of 15 years), and the most important thing I’ve learned is to try and stop and remember that by in large people who volunteer to help run conventions are not doing so to be mean spirited or live out some revenge fantasy. We all volunteer because we love the convention in question and want to make it better, not tear down fun for others.

I promise there was no secret conspiracy to ruin A Shot Ran Out. We like the panel, too. For various reasons it just couldn’t come together this year and how the process appeared from the staff side, there was no real attempt made to try and get done officially at con- just an announcement that was sent to newsletter that resulted in attendees blocking egress and moving around hotel property that was not part of a BayCon banquet/event order.

I only truly know you by reputation, though we’ve met a handful of times over the years. By that reputation I trust your review was not to attack programming over the matter (because I know we all know nothing productive comes from that kind of thing), but simply to remind us that the panel is well and truly loved. Since this did come up in the hiss and purr (I don’t recall seeing you there), I thought I would come clear up some of the confusion when I heard about your post.

I’m glad you managed to have some fun at BayCon and I hope to see you there next year.

Jim “Sylvan” Sullivan

PS And you might not believe it, but we’ve actually had many comments that there was too much costuming programming. It’s as if people to come to BayCon for all sorts of different reasons. :)

A Shot was muffled

[hvideo.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... if a panel is loved and yet "there wasn't a programming guest who could run it this year", I have to wonder just how much of a search there actually was to FIND someone to run it. As the impromptu panel apparently showed, there were people available. Had a general announcement gone out a while back "We need people for this panel, including someone to run it", it appears that there would have been a significant response.

All this is a Programming item, not a Hotel item, so I'm not holding you responsible. About all I can say on the Hotel items is that I do not recall seeing any announcements in the Pre-con Newsletters or on the website about restrictions such as "You can't leave your room door open on any floor but the party floor." (Granted, since I commuted I would not have been looking for such an item, so if it was published I might easily have missed/ignored it.) But Tradition notwithstanding, there are always newcomers so such information should always be readily available. Besides, an impromptu "Panel" might not have people thinking that "Party Regulations" should be consulted. People may think "If they aren't serving food it isn't really a Party", for example. But it sounds like the Hotel part of it was resolved fairly smoothly.

[fierynotes.livejournal.com]

"I have to wonder just how much of a search there actually was to FIND someone to run it. As the impromptu panel apparently showed, there were people available." -- hvideo, above

Of the four-and-a-half people on the impromptu panel (one had to leave early), two were on "A Shot Rang Out" last year, and a few years before that -- I'd be inclined to consider them regulars at it. A third has been on "A Shot Rang Out" at least once that I know of, and no doubt more times that I don't.

We had a panel. There was a room that wasn't in use, and wasn't scheduled to be in use (Lafayette, if I recall correctly). What we didn't have was the approval. To the best of my knowledge (I wasn't there during this part of the process), we tried to do it all official first.

For what it's worth, my room-mate and I didn't know about the rule against advertised open parties off the party floor. Now we do. Again, for what it's worth, our intent wasn't to create problems between the con and the hotel -- just to keep a panel we both love alive.

[sylvan.livejournal.com]

To be clear, I don't hold any ill will towards the people who rented 718.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry there wasn't a programming guest who could run it this year."

Gee, maybe when you don't invite half the usual guests - including all the "Shot" regulars -- and don't tell them till the last minute that they're not on the programming...then you DON'T have a guest who could run it. FUnny how self-fulfilling some prophecies can be, isn't it?

And it was a real treat being confronted by Programming -- accompanied by 3-4 big guys with headsets just in case we made trouble? -- talking to me like I was a stupid kid or a naughty wittle girl. Always good to treat your regulars (and a former Toastmistress) that way. Very memorable.

[sylvan.livejournal.com]

Again, it was I, as Hotel, who sent FLARE up to deal with the disturbance. They and programming just got there before I did. Also again, I'm not going to address the programming side of the issues of what did or didn't happen. However, if any guest or attendee attempts to block egress and starts moving around hotel property, I am going to react. I am going to call for FLARE in case it becomes a situation. I am sorry you feel victimized in all of this. It was never my intent.

In all the years I have been working BayCon we have invited people to participate as guests, not informed everyone who has been a guest in the past as to whether or not they will be returning.

I don't want this to turn into a big he said/she said back and forth in Live Journal, especially since it isn't even my journal. I'm happy to volunteer my time and effort to help make sure everyone can be heard on these issues and make sure BayCon 2010 does have the panel. You can find email contact for me on my LJ homepage.

I know people don't generally know who I am- I’m very much a behind the scenes kind of guy (You can always ask Mama Colleen about me, if you know her). I ran the Hotel Division for years before I moved away and only stepped in this year to help out my friend Tycho, who couldn't run Hotel because he was honored with the position of chair. I’m not the kind of guy who asks people “don’t you know who I am?”; I just like putting on the best con I can. That’s all any of us wanted this year, just like every year.

At every convention there will always be hiccups, but those are always more easily resolved when we function as a community. If you really felt you were not being heard by Programming, there are others you could have escalated to, but that's not what happened and that's why I as hotel I had to step in.

I hope you will either work with Programming (programming10 at baycon dot org) or with myself to make sure there is an official Shot Rang Out panel next year. However, just as an observation as a person, I think trying to move forward and work it out for next year would be an easier and more comfortable process for everyone if we can all work positively together. Being bitter or nasty isn't going to accomplish anything and I know we all want a great BayCon in 2010.

Thanks,

Jim “Sylvan” Sullivan

[figmo.livejournal.com]

You're right; I wasn't trying to attack programming. If I thought there was malice I'd have said so.

As for the contract and stuff, we were just glad you didn't shut the panel down!

They shot after all?!?

[hvideo.livejournal.com]

I, too, was quite disappointed that "A Shot Rang Out" was not on the schedule. I'm very sorry to have missed the impromptu replacement - I was busy with 2 nephews who were visiting, so it didn't even occur to me to look for a replacement. I just saw it wasn't scheduled and moved on. Sigh. Glad you all had a fun time.

And hope you feel better soon!

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Madame Ziggurat or whoever she was, that kept shooing away all those pesky "Shot Rang Out" people. What fun. And despite having NO official programming slot, NO mention in the newsletter, and being kicked out of 2 venues ... it was one of the best-attended panels I was at all weekend.

Jerks. Serve THEM right for not-inviting me to the ball this year! (Gee, what happened to your A-list GOHs? Hmmm?)

In response

[tychobrahe.livejournal.com]

I take personal issue with the lack of detail in your "report". Granted, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but your inference that our Guests of Honor were not present at BayCon because of a "screwup" is offensive. You neglect to mention that our very ill Author Guests of Honor were available much of the weekend by webcam in the hotel lobby - by their own desire to be available to the attendees (like you). And in spite of all of the work that entailed, you make it seem like we forgot to buy their plane ticket.

You didn't mention that Fred Patten is located in hospice care in southern California (something that is public knowledge), or that BayCon staffers drove down to interview him. You also didn't care to elucidate the reason behind Kristoph Klover's absence (he was attending a wedding).

Trailer Park was dropped because last year it didn't come together. Rather than risk disappointing the attendees, we opted to bring a live band for you to enjoy - Tempest.

Instead, you gave a quick rundown of only the things that were important to you individually, and you even suggested that the staff of BayCon may occasionally do their jobs with malice. Overall, I am disappointed by your post. I think you could have included a lot more information that I *know* you were aware of, and I think you could have written it in a way that didn't seem derogatory to your friends on staff.

And to Gardnerhill: What happened to all our A list GOHs? They were polite enough to stay home and not bring a flu for you to catch. And you certainly shouldn't be hurling insults around in a public forum. It just isn't polite.

Re: In response

[figmo.livejournal.com]

My report lacked detail because I've got too many other things going on in my life to write a detailed report:

• I have had a continuous sinus infection since December. Every other week it seems I'm running a fever -- again. I had a fever and was woozy when I wrote the original post.
• I am in desperate need of surgery for my sinuses and have been fighting with my health plans since December.
• I started a new day job in March with a really great company and am trying to do well with it so I can hold onto it.
• I have two other jobs, both in broadcasting, and I'm trying to hold onto them through all the layoffs going on.
• I broke my jaw last August and I'm still recovering from it.
• I am trying to keep from losing my house due to foreclosure. That's another saga in itself.
• I am co-chair of next year's Consonance (http://www.consonance.org). That takes time.
• My boyfriend's brother was killed in a plane crash a few months ago. I've been holding my sweetie together and doing what I can to help his parents deal with the situation.
• I've had a bunch of other deaths to deal with in the last few months.

As for the GoHs not being there, note that I kept them out of the bulleted list; that was my way of keeping folks from bringing it up. Note that nobody in their replies mentioned that; obviously, it worked.

As for the "malice" aspect, fannish politics happen. There have been times where I've been at a con (and this goes way beyond BayCon's scope) and experienced the ugly side of fannish politics, often without even having been on staff. There were folks who thought malice was involved with this year's slipups. I was trying to say there wasn't malice as far as I was concerned.

Regarding what I do and don't know, I didn't know Fred Patten was in hospice care, or that BayCon staffers drove down to interview him. I also didn't know Kristoph was at a wedding. I didn't equate Tempest with Trailer Park; to me that's like expecting me to associate coconut meat and sour cream just because they're both white. I was impressed that you got Tempest, btw.

I was also pleased with your hotel liaison for getting the hotel to have concession stands and have the sushi bar open. Your fanzine lounge got an A+ in my book. Your Internet Lounge also got high marks from me. Registration went fast. The con suite always had pleasant staffers serving up drinks, and the adjoining room even had healthy munchies. gardnerhill was joking about how we are all getting older because we were going for the meat, cheese, and veggies and not the chips.

I'm sorry I only mentioned the things of importance to me and was ultra-brief. Everyone goes to cons for something different. There have been years when I've been more attracted to the panels, but I chalked that up to "You can't please everyone all the time." I'm not really likely to notice things that are of less importance to me. If there's no rock dance I probably won't notice because I don't go to cons looking for them. I have a friend who doesn't believe music-making and cons go together. I don't usually get involved in gaming at cons, and I'm highly unlikely to engage in boffer wars. That doesn't mean they don't have a place. I could see folks had made an honest effort to run a good con (and yes, I know how hard it is), and in some cases it seemed to fall apart a bit.

In the end, I voted with my wallet and bought memberships for next year's BayCon. I apologize for not writing a longer list of praise, but replies have character limits, and I've already lost this reply once.

One last thing: Please don't take my criticism personally. I didn't mean it as a personal attack on anyone.

Re: In response

[filkferengi]

I admire your restraint. I would've been vociferous in reminders that this *isn't* a "public forum"; it's your personal journal. Where better for you to write about what's important to you? What else would you be writing about? I'm in awe at the lengths you have gone to, to be beyond fair. I would've been much less polite at having my personal space invaded, & you have no need to justify yourself to such people. Save your energy & effort towards healing, feeling better, & coming back to hang out with us at GaFilk.

Re: In response

[(Anonymous)]

Not wanting to go any deeper into any of this than the following...

Livejournal will pretty much stand to tell you that, if you post it publicly, it's public and that if you don't want people commenting, you should modify your journal's set-up for comments. (From removing anonymous posting to restricting it to friend's only commentary... to even making it a friend's only post.)

Which pretty much means that, if you make it available as a public forum, it *IS* a public forum.

Having had several run-ins with various ne'er-do-wells on LJ, I've become overly familiar with their response style and what they will and won't do for their users. :/ Your LJ is *not* your personal space on the web. It's a public space that you utilize to share personal things (or not) about yourself.

Хороший блог!

[hwangfoke.livejournal.com]

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