I'm almost afraid to try to get into PAX. I need to cut my teeth on a lesser con first.. ;-)
It's not a scary thing. Just throw yourself into it. Accept the fact that you will have a weekend of fun, but don't set up expectations of doing X, Y, and Z. As long as you did stuff for 3 days and it was all fun (this is almost impossible to avoid), then you did a good job enjoying a con.
Hehe. I'm more of the handcrafted jewelry-and-knick-knacks variety than the drawn variety. Not sure how that works out in an art fight.
No you go see it, even if you think that it is not for you, go see it. The group is a staple of any convention I been attending and have not been disappointed by.
So, is the con this disorganized every year? Information is scarce, promised updates are missing or delayed, no maps published 3 weeks from the convention..? Is this typical?
Are all cons like this?
The staff on the forum seem annoyed by most questions, too.
No, NOT all cons are like this. Rym is making a broad generalization from the Guest Panelist perspective when he says PAX is the only one not like this. He has a limited perspective from which to judge interactions. That said, so do I, but it is a different one.
Having dealt with many cons from the dealer/artist alley perspective, it is rare to find this level of incompetence in communicating to the people who really need to know things. Otakon is a good example of a con with the same level of horrible communication, but I have rarely had the same problems with other cons when selling there. Pretty much every other con I've sold/vended at has had great communication with me prior to the con, and the staff were extra helpful at the convention too. Often even if con-specific maps are not up for the general public, you can get a map of the convention center for logistical planning.
Connecticon is really bad about getting information up. The con itself is fun, but the communication and information dispersal is atrocious. At least the panels staff has it together now. ;P
You couldn't bribe them, but you are much more likely to get accepted as a panelist than many others because you post on here and have known them for a while. After my very mixed results at my MLP panel last year, I wouldn't have accepted my Madoka/Eva panel, but they did anyway. Because it was outwayed by American Tezukas and FTG? Maybe. Because I played in Ryms Burning Wheel game at the NerdNYC Recess? More likely.
You couldn't bribe them, but you are much more likely to get accepted as a panelist than many others because you post on here and have known them for a while.
And if I sucked at giving panels, or was a total dipshit on these forums, they would've laughed me out of the room, so to speak. Using connections isn't corruption. It's using connections. Do we have an advantage because we have a semblance of a personal relationship with Rym and Scott? Sure. But we also earned that advantage.
Comments
SUPER ART FIGHT!
I put the "awk" in socially awkward.
Thanks for the tip.
Having dealt with many cons from the dealer/artist alley perspective, it is rare to find this level of incompetence in communicating to the people who really need to know things. Otakon is a good example of a con with the same level of horrible communication, but I have rarely had the same problems with other cons when selling there. Pretty much every other con I've sold/vended at has had great communication with me prior to the con, and the staff were extra helpful at the convention too. Often even if con-specific maps are not up for the general public, you can get a map of the convention center for logistical planning.
Connecticon is really bad about getting information up. The con itself is fun, but the communication and information dispersal is atrocious. At least the panels staff has it together now. ;P
-- Panels staff not totally corrupt [ ]
1. Does it appear that they'll show up and run their event?
2. Do they appear intelligent and competent?
3. Does it appear their event will do at least one of the following?:
a. Draw a large crowd
b. Add something of value to the convention
4. Will they or their event cause a problem for the convention?
5. Does the event duplicate existing better content I have already scheduled?