Marscon 2009: Friday, part I

[barondave]

The Census application went much faster than expected (I did pretty well, claimed the guy who scored my test) and so I got to Marscon a little earlier than planned. I registered and headed to Ops. There, Art had a map of the progress of the Invasion, which had just started.

Alien Invasion Progress Art pointing to Mpls on map at Marscon 2009 March 6, 2009 Bloomington, MN

I was on three panels on Friday. The first was "Non-fiction for SF/F Fans" with Naomi Kritzer, Emily Stewart and PMF Johnson. I thought we slung some good suggestions, which occasionally generated side discussions so we had to bring the audience back to attention. My suggestions included: Autobiographies Harpo Speaks and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Barbara Tuchman histories, Goedel Escher Bach, The Annotated Alice In Wonderland (to show the parodies that are long gone while the humor lives), The Cosmic Trigger and Holy Blood, Holy Grail and sequels.

the great Luke Ski and Earl Luckes as Kirk Opening Ceremonies, Marscon March 6, 2009 Bloomington, MN

Opening Ceremonies was fun, as usual. Some good puns and pop references.

Next I interviewed the Music Guest of Honor, a long time friend, Wally Pleasant. As in the podcast, he was great. We had a fun time, and his wife got into the act. Unfortunately, we didn't have many people in the audience, and I expected a bunch of the Dementia Musicians.

Wally Pleasant and Baron Dave Marscon March 6, 2009; Bloomington, MN

This was the second year in a row where Programming rescheduled a panel at the request of the Dementia Musicians, and the second year in a row where their attendance was little to none. It won't happen again.

Last year, not only for being dissed over Programming that was specifically targeted for musicians, I was very discouraged. This year, I'm pissed, in a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" sort of way. No, I'm not angry at anyone in particular, but I won't underestimate the insular nature of the Dementia track and won't drag Marscon through any hoops because of them.

I had lots of good times with many of my musician friends. Indeed, wormquartet almost rescued the Dementia track's standing with me by... well, that will have to wait until I get to the pictures from later in the evening.

The next panel was "Podcasting 101". The guy who wanted the panel, who scheduled 101 and Saturday's "Podcasting 102", leaving me as the lone presenter. This enabled me to talk to Wally for longer, as I was in the same room for two panels in a row.

I expounded on the history and definitions of the technical terms for the podcasting neos in the audience, then went on about radio and such when I ran out of steam. I seemed to entertain the crowd, which grew, so it went well.

Then there was more of the con. But that will have to wait.

Continues with Marscon 2009: Friday, part II

Comments

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

How does one go about applying for work with the Census?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

I called the St. Paul office (I forget the number) and they told me the next and closest test. You can try 800-728-4748, which will probably direct you similarly.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll check that out.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

This site has a job posting for a photographer/photo specialist:

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-J1ZQKFFH4UR;_ylt=Anv9tOiyjURkLr8w69AxYbn6Q6IX?source=SRP

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry I couldn't attend your panel; it looked very interesting, but I was stuck in my room party at that time and couldn't get away. )c:

[lukeski.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry more people didn't attend your interview with Wally Panel. Asking for it to be moved was my attempt to keep people having to choose between that and the concerts by Rob Balder & Possible Oscar. I know of two people who attended your panel that were very grateful that change was made. As for myself, when you're running a track, you have little-to-zero time to view anything else programming wise. If you'd like to talk about this phenomena with me further, please email me. I hope you realize that everyone in the dementia community that attends MarsCon likes and respects you, and their non-attendance of that panel had nothing personal to do with you. In addition, let me tell you that I very much appreciate the photos and coverage you give to all of MarsCon. MarsCon would not be the same without Baron Dave Romm.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

While I appreciate the reply and the sentiment, being the insecure fool, I'm no longer going to underestimate how much Marscon is a series of smaller conventions that don't really overlap. I've been trying for years to get musicians onto (and into) programming, without much success; slightly better the other way.

For example, the Wally interview was originally scheduled at 9 to, among other things, avoid being opposite another GoH's event. Switching the times of the two panels in the Fuji room seemed a good idea on the surface, to get more people who would be interested in the Musician Guest of Honor, but I kept seeing musicians poke their head in the room, then go on to something at the Pool. The Podcasting 101 discussion was almost cancelled (since the person who proposed it ducked out) but 9 was a slightly better time for panels, as people arrived late and/or came back from dinner. I alone, discoursing on podcasting, had a few more people than Wally and me.

Programming is not a precise science by any means, and I know how much work you put into the Dementia Track and how much other Dementia Artists relish the opportunity to see and interact with each other. Still, I wish people would spend a little time at Marscon.

I can only speak for myself: As much fun as it is to see you guys perform and hang out with old friends, a goodly chunk of The Marscon Experience is stretching my fannish legs.

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

I was on two panels that had nothing to do with the dementia track, but I realize that makes me the exception. I had to miss Carrie and Marc's shows for the writing craft panel on Sunday. There was nobody performing this year I wouldn't be sad to miss, and the parties are the other highlight, so that does leave me not a lot of time to make the other panels I am interested in. Trade-offs and conflicts just heavily favor music for me at this one. I have lots of other cons where I can geek out about other fannish stuff.