World Fantasy Convention 2010, Columbus OH
Moderator: Seareach
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
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Now *there's* an idea. We could do a mini-fest in VA while Jenn's here. Altho if we're talking Thanksgiving-ish, that might not work for many people. Jenn, what are your dates for the VA trip?
My new apt. is only 1BR but the layout is ideal for entertaining.
My new apt. is only 1BR but the layout is ideal for entertaining.
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
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He didn't register me, either, Sea. I had to do it myself. 
I'll be arriving Thursday the 28th.
So far on the registration list I see Romeo, dlbpharmd, and Orlion. Who's with us??
I'll be arriving Thursday the 28th.
So far on the registration list I see Romeo, dlbpharmd, and Orlion. Who's with us??
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
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Menolly wrote:You!aliantha wrote:So far on the registration list I see Romeo, dlbpharmd, and Orlion. Who's with us??
...and SRD.
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Very inconsiderate of him!!!!aliantha wrote:He didn't register me, either, Sea. I had to do it myself.
I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...I wanna go...
But (on a totally unrelated topic): I've just completed half of my work contract and will probably get more once I've finished the whole 20 days. I've got enough money already for my airfare +
SOOOOOOOOOO...the next big fest I'M THERE!
Ok...sorry...continue with your plans (without me <sob>)
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
- Posts: 17865
- Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 7:50 pm
- Location: NOT opening up a restaurant in Santa Fe
Come to WFC, Sea! That's a *lot* sooner. You can bunk with me...
(Somehow I don't think we'll have any trouble talking danlo into hosting another E-fest next summer...)
(Somehow I don't think we'll have any trouble talking danlo into hosting another E-fest next summer...)
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
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I almost just booked a ticket: for some reason there's flights around that time for only $699 (one way). Considering I paid about $1350 one way last time that's CHEAP!aliantha wrote:Come to WFC, Sea! That's a *lot* sooner. You can bunk with me...
(Somehow I don't think we'll have any trouble talking danlo into hosting another E-fest next summer...)
But, yeah...don't think I'll be able to organize myself that quickly....
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
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- Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 7:50 pm
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Aw, phooey. 
But that's okay. I sort of can't believe I've signed myself up for a weekend in Columbus, Ohio. This convention had better be good...
But that's okay. I sort of can't believe I've signed myself up for a weekend in Columbus, Ohio. This convention had better be good...
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
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Romeo
- The Gap Into Spam
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Here are some general details on the convention. They don't release a schedule of panels or readings until the day of, though.
Thursday afternoon most people are still making their way into town. A lot of sitting around and waiting for more friends to arrive (punctuated by trips for food). But there will be some panels and readings after it officialy launches. When you first arrive, you'll want to seek out the registration desks (in the same area as the con - not in the hotel lobby) to get your ID badge, schedule of events, and your mega-huge bag of free books. There are different books in each bag, and usually a swap table where you can leave books you dont' want and pick up ones that others have left behind.
Friday and Saturday are the big days. Friday night (8 - 10 pm) is normally the autograph session. Anyone who has anything published will find a seat in the ballroom and sign autographs. Some years they're organized alphabetically, but most years the author just picks up their sign and finds an empty seat. There are usually very long lines for the guests of honor. Steve and Bob Vardeman more often than not sit next to each other - so make sure to bring books for Bob to sign, too!
Oh - and Steve is almost *always* late to this because he'll be out at dinner just before it. But he's never *very* late. Don't panic if you charge in there with the first rush of people and don't see him. *grin*
Saturday night around 6-ish, Howard's clients gather in the lobby to go out for their black tie "family dinner." Or, as some call it, "The March of the Penguins." There are some pics in the album from previous years' dinners. He's got some really big names on his client list. Last year he added Amber Benson (Tara from Buffy), and she came with her boyfriend Adam Busch (Warren from Buffy - yes, we should bathe in the irony *LOL*). Last year they came just for the dinner, and left for San Francisco to Amber's sister's right after. I don't know if they'll be there this year - the invitations for the dinner don't go out until much closer to the event, and Howard's office won't get an RSVP list until a couple weeks before.
There is some programming on Sunday morning. Around 1pm they have the Awards Banquet (you have to buy a separate ticket for this). I've gone in past years and it was pretty fun, but I dont' think I'm going this year. That lets out around 3 or so, at which time there's usually a mad dash to change and checkout and catch afternoon flights. It's pretty quiet after the banquet (and mass exodus), but still plenty of opportunity to sit around and chat.
There are usually parties going on in one suite or another every night, hosted by the publishing companies. They're open parties, and it's usually so crowded that it's hard to breathe. There should be fliers for these, or you can ask at registration where they are. I usually don't go to them since I'm not trying to sell anything and crowds don't really do it for me. But always a big crowd pleaser ... the Aussie party. (go figure! *grin*)
There are normally two panels going on in two separate (but adjacent) rooms (the banquet hall normally has a divider - so it's two panel rooms during the day and one big room for the autograph session and banquet). You'll get a program (or a programme *grin*) with the schedules - and it lists who is on each panel. Some years the panels are good, some years ... not so much. A lot of the time the panel members don't know what the subject is until they get to the convention. So a lot of it is made up on the fly. Panel discussions usually start at the top of the hour and run 60 minutes.
There should be at least two rooms set aside for readings, which run concurrent with the panels. 30 or 60 minutes each. Authors sign up for these, and read something from a new book or something they're working on.
The con has a hospitality suite where you can get free grub. If you're on a budget, this can normally cover your breakfast. And some years they had dinner type food as well (although not a lot of it, so you have to find out when they're putting it out).
Most of the con (for me, anyway) is spent sitting around and talking to people. I only see most of these folks once a year, so I can't get enough of them during these few days. Authors will have meetings with their agents and editors, which is about the only times they're not approachable. If someone you want to talk to is sitting down with one or two people, I'd suggest to wait until they're done (unless it's clear that it's a casual thing and not business). But everyone is VERY approachable when they're standing or sitting around in larger groups. And if it's a bad time, they won't take offense - they'll just tell you. Steve does his best to make himself available in public areas like this - and he felt really bad the one year when he really couldn't be. And most people are never alone - they're always talking to one person or another. So don't be afraid to sidle up to the group and find an opportunity to catch their attention. If you're going to wait until the person is alone, you might be waiting a long, long time - and it might be that they're on their way somewhere.
There will also be an art room and a dealer's room. The art room has, well, art. Mostly paintings, but some other kinds like jewlery and small sculptures. Most of the art (or prints) can be bid on. The dealer's room has a couple dozen booksellers - some from the area, but mostly ones that come every year. Lots of new and used books. And many rare ones (that run in the thousands of dollars). Usually some other things for sale as well. Make sure to visit these rooms early in the wekend - I think they close down rather early on Sunday. And they're always worth looking through.
When you arrive, look for me! I'll probably be in the lobby or main sitting area for the con, or something like that.
Um ... any other questions? I think I covered all the bases here.
Thursday afternoon most people are still making their way into town. A lot of sitting around and waiting for more friends to arrive (punctuated by trips for food). But there will be some panels and readings after it officialy launches. When you first arrive, you'll want to seek out the registration desks (in the same area as the con - not in the hotel lobby) to get your ID badge, schedule of events, and your mega-huge bag of free books. There are different books in each bag, and usually a swap table where you can leave books you dont' want and pick up ones that others have left behind.
Friday and Saturday are the big days. Friday night (8 - 10 pm) is normally the autograph session. Anyone who has anything published will find a seat in the ballroom and sign autographs. Some years they're organized alphabetically, but most years the author just picks up their sign and finds an empty seat. There are usually very long lines for the guests of honor. Steve and Bob Vardeman more often than not sit next to each other - so make sure to bring books for Bob to sign, too!
Oh - and Steve is almost *always* late to this because he'll be out at dinner just before it. But he's never *very* late. Don't panic if you charge in there with the first rush of people and don't see him. *grin*Saturday night around 6-ish, Howard's clients gather in the lobby to go out for their black tie "family dinner." Or, as some call it, "The March of the Penguins." There are some pics in the album from previous years' dinners. He's got some really big names on his client list. Last year he added Amber Benson (Tara from Buffy), and she came with her boyfriend Adam Busch (Warren from Buffy - yes, we should bathe in the irony *LOL*). Last year they came just for the dinner, and left for San Francisco to Amber's sister's right after. I don't know if they'll be there this year - the invitations for the dinner don't go out until much closer to the event, and Howard's office won't get an RSVP list until a couple weeks before.
There is some programming on Sunday morning. Around 1pm they have the Awards Banquet (you have to buy a separate ticket for this). I've gone in past years and it was pretty fun, but I dont' think I'm going this year. That lets out around 3 or so, at which time there's usually a mad dash to change and checkout and catch afternoon flights. It's pretty quiet after the banquet (and mass exodus), but still plenty of opportunity to sit around and chat.
There are usually parties going on in one suite or another every night, hosted by the publishing companies. They're open parties, and it's usually so crowded that it's hard to breathe. There should be fliers for these, or you can ask at registration where they are. I usually don't go to them since I'm not trying to sell anything and crowds don't really do it for me.
But always a big crowd pleaser ... the Aussie party. (go figure! *grin*)There are normally two panels going on in two separate (but adjacent) rooms (the banquet hall normally has a divider - so it's two panel rooms during the day and one big room for the autograph session and banquet). You'll get a program (or a programme *grin*) with the schedules - and it lists who is on each panel. Some years the panels are good, some years ... not so much. A lot of the time the panel members don't know what the subject is until they get to the convention. So a lot of it is made up on the fly. Panel discussions usually start at the top of the hour and run 60 minutes.
There should be at least two rooms set aside for readings, which run concurrent with the panels. 30 or 60 minutes each. Authors sign up for these, and read something from a new book or something they're working on.
The con has a hospitality suite where you can get free grub. If you're on a budget, this can normally cover your breakfast. And some years they had dinner type food as well (although not a lot of it, so you have to find out when they're putting it out).
Most of the con (for me, anyway) is spent sitting around and talking to people. I only see most of these folks once a year, so I can't get enough of them during these few days. Authors will have meetings with their agents and editors, which is about the only times they're not approachable. If someone you want to talk to is sitting down with one or two people, I'd suggest to wait until they're done (unless it's clear that it's a casual thing and not business). But everyone is VERY approachable when they're standing or sitting around in larger groups. And if it's a bad time, they won't take offense - they'll just tell you. Steve does his best to make himself available in public areas like this - and he felt really bad the one year when he really couldn't be. And most people are never alone - they're always talking to one person or another. So don't be afraid to sidle up to the group and find an opportunity to catch their attention. If you're going to wait until the person is alone, you might be waiting a long, long time - and it might be that they're on their way somewhere.
There will also be an art room and a dealer's room. The art room has, well, art. Mostly paintings, but some other kinds like jewlery and small sculptures. Most of the art (or prints) can be bid on. The dealer's room has a couple dozen booksellers - some from the area, but mostly ones that come every year. Lots of new and used books. And many rare ones (that run in the thousands of dollars). Usually some other things for sale as well. Make sure to visit these rooms early in the wekend - I think they close down rather early on Sunday. And they're always worth looking through.
When you arrive, look for me! I'll probably be in the lobby or main sitting area for the con, or something like that.
Um ... any other questions? I think I covered all the bases here.
And then the ravens pecked out his eyes.
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
- Posts: 17865
- Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 7:50 pm
- Location: NOT opening up a restaurant in Santa Fe
Thanks, Romeo! Great summary!
Looks like I won't be in trouble, then, if I plan to drive in on Thursday. Yay! And yeah, I probably will skip the awards lunch Sunday, too, in favor of hitting the road.
Ooooooh, free books!
Looks like I'd better start trolling the used bookstores for Vardeman's stuff.
Looks like I won't be in trouble, then, if I plan to drive in on Thursday. Yay! And yeah, I probably will skip the awards lunch Sunday, too, in favor of hitting the road.
Ooooooh, free books!
Looks like I'd better start trolling the used bookstores for Vardeman's stuff.
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
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Romeo
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 1:22 pm
- Location: Ashland, PA, USA
- Contact:
One more thing I just remembered. There are no costumes allowed at this convention, even though it's usually held over Halloween. But a few years ago a bunch of us started wearing "stealth" costumes. That is, costumes that don't look like costumes. Or just explaining why what you're wearing is already a costume. Like "I'm a muggle," or "I'm a werewolf - it's just not a full moon." The first year I went as Monk, which meant buttoning my shirt and jacket up all the way and touching everything. Last year I went as Giles. Both "costumes" required nothing that looked like a costume. I assume the "dress up" day will be Sunday, since that's Halloween day. But since it's also a half day for most people, the "organizers" might move it to Saturday. I'll let you know.
And then the ravens pecked out his eyes.
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
- Posts: 17865
- Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 7:50 pm
- Location: NOT opening up a restaurant in Santa Fe
Excellent, thanks!
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
https://www.hearth-myth.com/