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

[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!