The Obligitory Octocon Post
Oct. 16th, 2007 09:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lostcarparkHaving been involved in the organisation of Octocon for more years than I care to remember, it's funny that I get at least as nervous about the years I'm not involved in as the years I was.
This year there was good reason to be nervous coming up to the con, as a lot of things were, well, late. I don't want to criticise the committee too much in public, as I've made my fair share of Octocon blunders, and I do think there is plenty of evidence to show that the committee know what the problems were and are taking steps to address them.
Having said that, once the convention started, everything seemed to go very well. Attendance was down on previous years - at a guess I'd say about 80 - but at least most programme items had enough to spark lively debate. most of the people I enjoy meeting at Octocon were there, and it was an enjoyable experience all round.
I did think the programme items could have been better thought out, and I'd really to have known in advance who the panalists were going to be. in some cases I felt they would like to have known this too! But most seemed to get a good discussion going, even if it wasn't the discussion listed in the programme book.
The casino night was fun. I was croupiere (or whatever it's called) on the Roulette wheel for a while. I do rather miss the disco, though I think we'd need to get numbers way up before that would be worth reintroducing.
There was an interesting discussion about bidding for Eurocon or even Eastercon. I would like to see it happen, though I think three Irish cons with less than a hundred attendees each is not a good starting point. It was agreed to hold off for this year and discuss it again for a posssible 2011 bid. I'd like to see what attendance is like next year before making a decision.
Showing rare foresight, the committee announced they almost have a guest for next year, and will announce when confirmed. They have also announced 2009 as year of the fan, with Dave Lally as guest of honour, and 2010 will be a very big year for the con, with the famous George R R Martin already confirmed.
I'm very impressed by this, and if they can keep building momentum, the con is in for a very bright future.
This year there was good reason to be nervous coming up to the con, as a lot of things were, well, late. I don't want to criticise the committee too much in public, as I've made my fair share of Octocon blunders, and I do think there is plenty of evidence to show that the committee know what the problems were and are taking steps to address them.
Having said that, once the convention started, everything seemed to go very well. Attendance was down on previous years - at a guess I'd say about 80 - but at least most programme items had enough to spark lively debate. most of the people I enjoy meeting at Octocon were there, and it was an enjoyable experience all round.
I did think the programme items could have been better thought out, and I'd really to have known in advance who the panalists were going to be. in some cases I felt they would like to have known this too! But most seemed to get a good discussion going, even if it wasn't the discussion listed in the programme book.
The casino night was fun. I was croupiere (or whatever it's called) on the Roulette wheel for a while. I do rather miss the disco, though I think we'd need to get numbers way up before that would be worth reintroducing.
There was an interesting discussion about bidding for Eurocon or even Eastercon. I would like to see it happen, though I think three Irish cons with less than a hundred attendees each is not a good starting point. It was agreed to hold off for this year and discuss it again for a posssible 2011 bid. I'd like to see what attendance is like next year before making a decision.
Showing rare foresight, the committee announced they almost have a guest for next year, and will announce when confirmed. They have also announced 2009 as year of the fan, with Dave Lally as guest of honour, and 2010 will be a very big year for the con, with the famous George R R Martin already confirmed.
I'm very impressed by this, and if they can keep building momentum, the con is in for a very bright future.
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Sorry I missed it ...
Date: 2007-10-16 09:01 am (UTC)George is coming in 2010? I'll have to let everyone know!
Hey, you doing NaNoWriMo this year?
STARTLINGLY
Date: 2007-10-17 10:08 pm (UTC)Had I thought about the scale and location I might have come.
The issue I always have with cons is the choice of a large, corporate hotel in the middle of **cking nowhere (e.g. near Leicester, or at Heathrow), with nothing else to see and a totally captive audience (cf. bar prices, room rates).
I should get out more, but £425 for a single B&B w/end at Bradford is a bit off-putting when you've no desire to visit Bradford.
But I digress. I'd rather be in Ireland.
Doctor Reg x