Basic summary for those that don't want to read the entire response: I am in favor of the proposal, but I would not attend the convention. My concerns are that the changed be made clear to attendees BEFORE the convention, and that large groups of people are not alientated by feeling they are "Them".
My introduction to the proposal - Since the "gang of ten" and "high-resolution Minicon" came across my path twice in one day I thought I would look it up. At worldcon I had attended a panel about "Parasites in Fandom", I was pretty pissed by the end of the panel, and since I was unknown to the moderator I was not allowed to make comments, so you might be getting some residual of that in here too. I mentioned the panel to Mike Pins who said I should look into the Minicon stuff. I got home and there was e-mail from Susan Levy Haskell about it, so I decided to look it up. I found I have a lot to say so I figured I'd reply to the proposal.
Who is this bozo - My convention/Minicon background: I have been to approximately 100 conventions including 7 Minicon's. My first one was 24, so I probably missed the good old days' of Minicon that the authors refer to. I attend between 4 and 6 small (200-500) sized conventions a year, Minicon and Worldcon. I have gotten the impression from the proposal that Minicon is to big, the focus is not what is wanted, and that there are problems running it. I'm sure there are problems, but as an out of town attendee I'm pretty oblivious to them. My work with Minicon tends to be being on a few panels and watching doors. The only problem I have had at Minicon was volunteering last year when I was asked to watch a door position for 10 minutes and it was many hours before I was relieved, when what I really wanted to do was go to sleep.
Why I go to most conventions - Mostly I go to socialize and meet people of similar interests, continue conversations after panels and spend time with friends. I prefer small local conventions cause I have more of a chance to get to know people, to interact with the guests, and the people I meet are more likely to be local people. I am a firm believer in a local convention to build the local community. I was very disappointed when I moved down to Champaign- Urbana, Illinois, attended the local con here and didn't meet anyone from the area. I know that when I think of areas in the country to move to one of the things I check out is the local con. If the goal of Minicon is to build Minn- stf then you should regroup into a local convention.
Why I go to worldcon/Minicon - large conventions are a chance for me to meet people and connect with friends from farther away. The numbers of people that I know who attend is one of Minicon's draws for me, the other is the music. If Minicon changes to a smaller, panel oriented convention I probably will not go. I also would not have any problem with that. I would probably pick some other weekend (who will run the Minneapolis music festival? I would go to that...) to go visit the people that I know up there, and hear music. There are many conventions that I can attend excellent panels at that are much closer to me, with attendance of 200-500 (which is for me much more conducive to panels and conversation). Plus if the convention is in easy driving distance then the people I meet are likely to be as well.
Regional/Local - Minicon has turned into the default regional convention. Maybe part of the crowding problem is that so many people travel to Minicon from far away. I know it is the one convention of the year that I will see all my Midwest friends at. Maybe changing the focus to a local' convention would naturally make the changes. For instance increased hotel rate, or a change of weekends to a non-holiday weekend, or meeting at a convention center without attached hotels would decrease the number of travelers and reduce membership. I agree with the impression that the 'locals' are unwelcoming to newcomers, but I assumed that was just the people. I rarely get to know any new people from Mpls at Minicon. They seem to be tucked away in some suite that no one has access to. I do meet those same Mpls people at other conventions and events. But even the ones that I know I don't interact with much at Minicon cause they aren't around the convention.
Minn-stf - If the goal is to recruit members for Minn-stf, then maybe Minn-stf should have more of a presence at the convention. I've been to Minicon many times and know very little of Minn-stf, maybe local people attending received the same lack of information? When I was living in Chicago and disappointed by the approachability of the fannish community there I turned to other towns for my involvement. I never knew about Minn-stf, but became an active member of the KCSFFS in Kansas City (4 hours further from me (at the time) then Mpls).
Problems - I know little about the running of Minicon, the board, or even about such 'problems' as seem to be being addressed. I have noticed in the past few years that the quality of mascarade has declined, that there is more music (Dark Star) and that I am put on some panels that don't have anything to do with SF&F (Tattoo). I assumed that there was someone that wanted the panels, and I was asked me to be on them so I was. (I wouldn't have gone to the panels had I not been on them). I have heard rumors of problems but I don't listen to second hand reports.
Focus on written science fiction and fannish community'- This can be interpreted many ways. It needs to be made much more clear in the proposal. Are you including fantasy/horror or just science fiction? Where is the line of fannish community being drawn? My first impression of this stated focus is that there will be only hard SF' panels and guests, and if you aren't one of the Mpls in 73 suite people you are not welcome. Since I am not part of Mpls in 73, and am part of them' and part of the alternative culture festival' or the masses', not behind closed doors then by this definition I am not welcome. I have no idea if this is the intention, but that is how it came across to me. It is a sad fact that much of fandom has low-self esteem, this will lead to many people assuming that they are the them' that is being excluded. Also I have never felt welcome in the Mpls in 73 suite, so I'm guessing that I would not feel welcome at the new Minicon'.
Changing - Also I have no problems with conventions changing as long as it is WELL publicized. If I go to Minicon expecting to see many people I know and hear local/fannish musicians at Dark Star, and go to the elitist music party and those things aren't there then I would be upset. If I knew those things would be gone then I could choose not to attend. As long as I have accurate information to make that decision with, it doesn't matter. You will find people who will want to fight for their Minicon', and frankly that might make me decide to not go this year if it looks like it will be a battlefield instead of a convention.
Hospitality - what theme parties will you allow? Other conventions? Publishers? APA's? Music? Groups of fans? There are many 'groups of fans' (example Trolls guild) that have cabana parties and you need to be careful if you are going to make judgement calls on them. And know that you are going to piss some people off.
Art - I do know that the art show is not the wonder it used to be, but then again I have seen the same trend at other conventions. Arcon used to have the BEST art show that I knew of, Minicon's was a close second, currently neither of them instill a sense of wonder, but maybe I'm just jaded.
Burn out - The fandom that I know that seems to 'do it right' is Kansas City, Conquest is about 1/6 the size of Minicon, but the fandom group seems to be well knit, the convention is well run and entertaining. The chair rotates every year, but people come back and do it again. They also rotate departments, have 'understudies' and the like. Yeah, there are some differences between people, but there doesn't seem to be the 'psychodrama wars' that go on in many other conventions.
Fans vs Them - The Mpls 73 suite is often where I run into people but since I'm not part of the 'crowd' unless there is a 'function' there that I know is of interest I don't go there. I've never hung out there, figured it was for the 'kewl' people only and want to give them their space. Sort of like a green room that is open to public a few times with events. I don't know of the people who have stopped attending. I'm not sure what is being included with 'SF fandom' and what is being lumped into the 'alternative culture festival'. But I think these things need to be done CAREFULLY! Be very very careful with the 'them'. DON"T say we don't want 'them' at Minicon, say we want Minicon to be X, and people interested in X are welcome. Or define what is met my fannish members' better. Who is meant by it, who is included, is it me, or am I "them"?
About 3 years ago I got into a heated discussion with someone who said I was not a "fan" - who though I was one of the "Parasites" of the Worldcon panel. She had a check list of being a fan that included things like: Being on a con com, working on a worldcon bid, working dealers room, being on a panel, being in an APA... Well I don't necessarility think that fans need to do all those things to be a "fan" (I would stress things like oh -say read SF&F) I had indeed done all those things, but was still not a 'fan' in her eyes. SIGH.
So be careful. There have been many arguments at conventions and on newsgroups about what a "fan" is, it might be best to avoid that and just focus on what Minicon is going to be. I have been to the point of leaving fandom groups many times from flak from others, for not being a fan, for kissing my same sex partner in public that offended someone (Note: It was a "bye dear see you at dinner" kiss, quick kiss), for smoking, for having sex at conventions (in my private hotel room) for planning inappropriate events for guests, or whatever. I enjoy fandom, I enjoy conventions, but I am also the person that will presume "Oh, I'm the person they don't want there" and I have no idea if that is the intention or not. I'm not a member of minn-stf, I don't live in Mpls, I don't feel welcome in the Mpls 73 suite, and one of the main reasons I come if for the tunes. It sure sounds like I don't belong at the 'new' Minicon. Espcailly since life changes doesn't leave me anywhere as much reading time and I only get four genre books read a year instead of my two a month in my prior life, and those that I do read tend to be more on the fantasy side.
Please define fannish', and alternative culture festival', and such terms better in the proposal.
Programming - you list science fiction, is fantasy included? Why yes to the art show but no to the masquerade? What about music?
Capricon - An example of a convention that has gone thru this that I know of is Capricon, who seemed to want to crack down on the drunken teenagers. I know that after having a board member tell me that smokers were not welcome to the convention, having attendance down, realizing that my out of town friends were not traveling to the convention anymore, and having some serious backstabbing and bickering going on in Chicago fandom I just stopped attending. Capricon seems to be happy with where it has gone, and that is their choice, but it made me aggravated to not go to conventions in my home town when I go to and enjoy ones in other cities/towns.
So over all I just want to say be careful, but it sounds like a good idea.
Samantha Star Straf
Written Sept 27, 1997
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