ConFusion

[elizilla]

Tuesday night at Tios, a number of us were talking about things that might be done for ConFusion to make it ever more fun, and to promote it.

I might just have to step up to the plate and do some of these things. Assuming the conchairs agree that these things should be done, but I don't see why they wouldn't.

One thing I think would be cool would be to add convention reports to the website. If, on the website for the 2006 ConFusion, we had a link to a page with a bunch of convention reports for 2005, then people who might be interested could get a feel for what it's like. A ConFusion From Many Points Of View kind of thing. I've read at least a dozen people's convention reports here in LJ. Anyone willing to let me put them up on the ConFusion website? Some might need editing to remove (or clarify) names or other items, and to pull out some of the more private interactions. I'd run 'em past you after I edited them, or you could edit it yourself. Anyone willing to let their words be used for this?

Another thing I would like to do, is promote the convention directly to teachers at smaller high schools and colleges in the area, who are teaching Science Fiction classes. I know there are such classes at the high school level, even in fairly small schools, because I took some classes like that myself in the small high schools I went to. I also have a whole box of ConFusion program books left from 1999, that I could send to these teachers so they could see what sort of things happen at ConFusion. There may be full boxes of program books from more recent years floating around, too. tammylc ought to know. Tammy?

Comments

[fallenhero143.livejournal.com]

Promoting to colleges should be easy, promoting to high schools somewhat less so. It IS a gathering where there is alcohol after all, and a majority of over 21 members. Many teachers might still want to promote it, but a number of parents and more conservative faculty/admin staff would likely balk at doing so.

[elizilla]

That's why I would send these program books, they give lots of details about what people would be getting into. Everything from "15 will get you 20" to "we're gonna card you if you want to drink" to "here's our BDSM policy" is laid out in there.

If they're not comfortable with it, I don't want them to show up. But my experience of teachers who teach such classes, especially in smaller schools, is that they teach SF because they love it, and they're reasonably open minded. These teachers would know which students to offer conventions to and which ones not to. Worst case, they don't come. And even if we just get the teachers themselves, no students, they'd be good additions.

Still, the colleges are definitely the ones to target first, because there are a smaller number of them to track down, and the students we'd get would be much more of an age to fit in, and much more able to travel to the convention and partake of all the things there.

I'm particularly interested in the smaller schools. Everyone targets umich, but there are a million things there to compete with for the student's attention, and even if they did come out to ConFusion they'd be harder to assimilate because they'd come in a horde and bring their own social group. I think the smaller schools in less culturally rich communities might have a few students who are starving for something like this, who would be high quality additions to our community. The students from small schools might be more likely to cast their social lot in with this group from outside their school, because they don't have enough similar people within their school.

[fallenhero143.livejournal.com]

Engineering and tech schools would make especially rich targets. I went to Lawrence Tech in Southfield and the population was mostly male, but 100% geek regardless of gender. :)

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

It's absolutely worth targeting smaller schools.

However, you're drastically underestimating the ability of Umich students to come to cons and assimilate into fandom. There are a hell of a lot of former students who have permanently assimilated, and a lot of current ones attending. I'm not even counting the staff. You just don't know that, because we don't wear maize and blue all the time.

[brendand.livejournal.com]

I think some people would be surprised that we *HAVE* a BDSM policy... and with the economy so bad, I think you'd have a harder time finding a Science Fiction class being taught than you think. Those things get cut right along with music these days...

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I think these are wonderful ideas. Both the reviews and the promotion to students/teachers at smaller schools.

[hotwire7.livejournal.com]

Both excellent ideas.
The time to work on the con reports page is now, while it is fresh and people are writing and remembering.

In past some of our GOHs and notable guests have posted con reports, I think that has been useful publicity for us.

There is more time to think and plan about promoting to schools. It is a very good idea IMO.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

I've seen a ton of stuff posted to LJ. :)

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

Penguicon already does it and they just made the raw data available via links.

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

I think it would be cool if I scan the old ConFusion and Penguicon program books in my archive, and put it on the web. Good idea? Bad idea? I don't know.

[talyen.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got this stuff we talked about written down. The placeholder website for 2006 seems like a great place to do it, and we need to get that up Real Soon Now. There's a spot on the server already, we just need to change pointers on a web page or two...

Asking people, Stilyagi members especially, but also other fandom LJ-ers, about ideas for bringing in fun attendees and retaining them is a Good Thing, too. Ideas, people? (: