Time really flies, doesn’t it? I’m still catching my breath after ConQuesT, and to be honest, I haven’t fully unpacked yet.
The suitcase full of art is still sitting on the dining room table, too, but I’m just going to re-tag them for SoonerCon anyway. No sense in hauling it upstairs just to turn around and drag it down again.
As for my own suitcase, well, the Trouble Twins will sleep on top of it no matter where I leave it. (They insist that it’s not really a suitcase, but a supremely desirable cat bed with wheels and a handle, and how dare I remove it from the house, ever.)
I think the con went well. There has been good word of mouth about it, and I’ve received several thank yous from the participants. I was afraid I had overbooked folks for panels, but we had enough cancellations and last-minute additions that it mostly worked out okay.
As for the panel topics, they were a little tired and road-weary, even though I tried to snazz them up by merging some of the “writer” panels and “art” panels into more broad-themed “creative” panels. Most of the panels I was on or peeked in on were sparsely attended. The only time I really saw critical mass was at opening and closing ceremonies, the masquerade, the free food event, and the late night parties.
But everyone seemed to be having a good time. The art demos went well — sort of a sideshow in the hallway in front of the art show. If only there had been more foot traffic through that hallway, it would have been spectacular!
It would be fabulous if ConQuesT were in a hotel were all programming is clustered around the same general area, rather than flung about in opposite corners of the building.
Meanwhile, I spent most of the con somewhat under the weather with a non-con-crud ailment, and while it remains a lingering concern, I’m feeling much better. And so far, no con crud! I’m almost caught up on my supreme lack of sleep, made all the more annoying by the mundanes who threw a wild party on the “quiet floor” until the wee hours of Friday night.
tapestry01
May 29, 2008 at 8:19pmI thought the con was great! Thanks for all your hard work.
conbarbie
May 30, 2008 at 8:31pmDitto! I couldn’t agree with Tap more. (Even though I may not have had a chance to say it. đŸ™‚
geekmom
May 29, 2008 at 11:12pmFor the most part it went well. I feel like panels are never that well attended, although the blogging panel seemed to have a good crowd and was the most fun out of all of the ones I did.
ETA – Oh, and the low foot traffic combined with higher panel fee was exactly why I didn’t put art in the art show this year.
allisonstein
May 30, 2008 at 2:09amRe: art show panel fee — Agreed. “But we’re not charging commission!” they say. That’s all well and good for the con’s wallet, because the artists are subsidizing it with panel fees — and we aren’t getting any sales. I think I may have broke even on panel fees, but only because they owe me a refund for the third panel I didn’t get.
geekmom
May 30, 2008 at 5:37amExactly. It sends the wrong message, and I told them so.
And if they have huge auction sales, the con really deserves to get a cut, since it’s their auctioneers and attendees who drive up the price. I don’t see the big deal with charging a commission and much lower panel fee, or better yet no panel fee and only commission.
jimmy_hollaman
May 31, 2008 at 3:22pmi had quiet a few people at the panels i was on, or stood in as a person on.(british tv panel) i checked in on some of the other panels and seen a good number of people on them as well, tho there was some that had only like one or 2 people. (the health of fandom panel i was asked to do only had 3 seats in the audiance filled) i thank you for your help you gave me. if not for you i think i would have gone by nuts…. (well even more than i had been)