Anyone here going to WorldCon 2005?

[Gary Wassner]

laurie d t mann is the person who keeps telling me that they are still finalizing the programming and she is unsure if they will have space for me. Unfortunately, it's not like I am driving there. I understand how difficult these things are to organize, and I am sure that they are all deluged with requests. The only thing that upsets me is that I contacted them so early about this and it's taking until now to respond. I feel like a kid in the schoolyard waiting in line to get picked for the football team and watching everyone on either side of me get called while I am still standing. But in this case, I play just as well as the others in the line. It's frustrating, that's all. I see them adding names to the list of attending authors, and though I am an author and i am attending, mine is still absent.

I attend World Fantasy every year and i moderate a panel at each convention, I am scheduled for a reading each year and they really do treat me nicely, not because i am anyone special, but because I get to them early and my panels have been successful so far.

I hate to whine, and I hate to be a pest, but scheduling this has really been a pain without knowing what I am doing. I hope you understand.

thanks.

gary

[I, Brian]

Waiting for some details on the fan tables here as well - but it sounds extremely hectic over there.

Anyway, just to let you know, Gary, that you're not the only one waiting, but I'll wager you a pint that you get your details through before me.

[Gary Wassner]

A pint sounds like a fair wager. Deal.

[Kevin Standlee]

Originally Posted by Cairn

laurie d t mann is the person who keeps telling me that they are still finalizing the programming and she is unsure if they will have space for me. Unfortunately, it's not like I am driving there.

I certainly hope you're not making your decision on whether or not to attend based solely on whether you're on programming or not.

I understand how difficult these things are to organize, and I am sure that they are all deluged with requests.

Indeed, most Worldcons have far more people asking to be on programming than they have slots to use them; furthermore, while Interaction will have a lot of programming, and the SECC has a lot more available function space than it did ten years ago, it still has fewer spaces in which to hold program items than comparable American convention centers. This means that there will be people, even published authors -- even people who have been on programming at other Worldcons or World Fantasy Cons -- who will not be on programming items.

I see them adding names to the list of attending authors, and though I am an author and i am attending, mine is still absent.

The list of "attending authors" includes only those people who have been asked to be on programming (including readings), and it's not complete. There are published authors who will attend Interaction, but who will not be on Programming, and their names aren't on that list. (And there will be published authors who are on Programming and are attending and who will never make it into the list, because there are so many people involved and there are so many places where communications can go wrong.)

I hate to whine, and I hate to be a pest, but scheduling this has really been a pain without knowing what I am doing. I hope you understand.

If I were in your position, at this time (a bit over six weeks out), and hadn't been told I was going to be on Programming, I'd assume I wasn't and make my during-Worldcon plans accordingly. If Programming was then to come back and ask me to be on something, they'd have to fit my schedule, not the other way around.

I am on a couple of programming items myself, but some of them are ex officio like the WSFS Mark Protection Committee meeting -- I'm the MPC Chairman -- and others are panels of fannish interest because I'm a WSFS rules wonk, including one about "A Fair Ballot" (how the Hugo ballots work, among other things) and about Worldcon financial responsibility. But my own personal schedule is highly constrained by my responsibilities managing the convention's Events division.

When Interaction was originally organized, one person was going to be managing Events and Programming. He was obliged to step down for medical reasons, and the job was split between me (Events) and Ian Stockdale (Programming). (And in a further twist, both Ian and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.) Even split, the jobs are vast. In some respects, I'm finding managing one division of a Worldcon more challenging than chairing one was in 2002.

[CherylMorgan]

I see them adding names to the list of attending authors, and though I am an author and i am attending, mine is still absent.

As Kevin said, that list is only for attending authors who are going to be on programme. They are the only ones we can guarantee fans will be able to find. And indeed there are one or two authors who are attending but don't want their names publicized for various reasons.

Being responsible for PR, I've been keen that the list should feature as many authors as possible, but it hasn't been easy to keep it updated. More people get added all the time, and I don't always hear about them. And when I do they don't always get put up. I know that comics writers Alan Grant and Bryan Talbot are coming, but they are not on the list yet. Right now I'm afraid I'm way too busy with other work to chase this.

If it is any consolation, at last year's Worldcon I was nominated for two Hugos and won one of them. But I was not invited to be on programme. Other people were deemed more important and interesting than me. At least one other Hugo nominee was not put on programme. When you have such a huge pool of potential panelists, inevitably someone loses out.

[Gary Wassner]

It's good to know these things. It's just frustrating. I understand that many many authors are more well known and much more desirable to have on the roster than I might be. But my books were just released in February 2005 so I was really hoping, probably unrealistically it seems, that this might happen.

My decision to come was not based upon my participation. But it certainly would have justified the long trip. I love the opportunity to do readings and I was, as I said, hoping that there would be a slot for me. I made the request so early last year that I guess I expected to hear either yes or know long before now.

But, I do understand completely and I know the nightmare of organizing things like this.

Thanks for the feedback.

[I, Brian]

Gary, if you're looking to do a little book promo, have you thought of getting some cards or leaflets printed out to distribute about? Even if it may not necessarily lead to many direct book sales, I should think it a decent opportunity at brand marketing and increased profile awareness?

[Gary Wassner]

I definitely will. It does increase awareness, if nothing else. i always bring bookmarks, flyers, buying info from my publisher...things like that. I also have someone in the dealer's room selling my books. It all helps.

[lazygun]

Lucky for me I'm only half an hour away by train.

The dealers room sounds like the place i'd like to be,all those books.

Pity most of the entrance/door prices seem to be a state secret.

[I, Brian]

I think the pricing is here:
http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/joining.htm

I *think* that means it's about £30 on the door.

And walk through the door, and - oh, pass Terry Pratchett casually chatting to a few people - George R R Martin lounging on one of the chairs to the side...

Oh - and a photographer from the Scotsman (Scotland's national newspaper) had me modelling in the main concourse with an Alien figure made from old scrap. Will be interesting if any of the pics make it to tomorrow's edition.


EDIT: Oh, and for those turning up - check out Hall 2 where the exhibitors are and you should hopefully find Winters_Sorrow and myself on the chronicles stand.

[Alia]

And walk through the door, and - oh, pass Terry Pratchett casually chatting to a few people - George R R Martin lounging on one of the chairs to the side...

Where are the pictures, Brian? We demand proof! aammm... please

Sounds like your having fun... wish I was there on vacation enjoying the experience too. Have a great time!

[CherylMorgan]

Direct access to day membership rates here.

Glad you are enjoying it, Brian. I see you have found out what is so good about Worldcon. Terry and George are both really friendly guys.

Alia - start saving for next year in Los Angeles now.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think the thing to remember about WorldCon or any other SFF convention is that you don't buy a ticket to sit down and be entertained, you pay for a membership to participate.

It looks like WS and Brian jumped right it, and I'm betting they'll have a great time.

[lazygun]

A thousand thanks,I,Brian.
Did not think to look at joining link/s.

Would so love to be present during the Hugo Awards part.

That would be very special to me.

Again,thanks.

[CherylMorgan]

Lazygun - the day membership for Sunday is £40. That includes entry to the Hugo Awards Ceremony. (There are no hidden extra charges at Worldcon - entry means entry). However, the Ceremony is scheduled to start at 8:00pm and and is timed to finish just after 10:00pm. If someone decides to ignore our advice and start thanking their extended family, their pets, their entire school class and their personal trainer then it could run longer. You might want to check the times of last trains home.