Summing up my SwanCon opinions

[tommmo]

1. More panels relating to specific fandoms (ie. particular authors, shows, etc) are better than having an overabundance of vague, "general" panels

Comments

[baby_elvis]

Nice list, mate.

[baby_elvis]

btw- are you going to send this to the current committee or post on the swancon lj?

[baby_elvis]

I assume that Tom would want as many people as possible to have the chance to take up his ideas.

[tommmo]

Not opposed to spreading the word, but I think the SwanCon lj has been pretty saturated lately. Besides, I have plenty of SwanCon folk friended.

[stephbg]

Well said. Hey, you should go on a committee ;-)

[tommmo]

Hahaha, been there (programmer 2007). Need a break ;)

[stephbg]

I remember it well, and oh I understand :-)

[alias_sqbr]

/seconded on all counts. (Well, personally I like panels which focus on many different works from a specific POV. But I realise my tastes aren't universal)

[tommmo]

The sort of panels you talk about are fine as well. As long as the panel has some focus and direction in its topic then I'm happy with it :)

[angriest]

Just wanted to say:

1. Yes, ish. I think general themed panels are great if they have a good critical question to be answered at their centre, and have really good panelists.
2. Yes.
3. Yes. This one is really striking me as weird at the moment, because I swear to god this battle was fought and won in 2008.
4. Yes. We had a kid's program in 2008 and 2009. Isn't it the Swancon rule that two times means it's a tradition?
5. Yes. I really like the idea I saw mentioned of trying to move the memberships desk to the front of the con wherever possible. (All Seasons is a bit tricky in this regard, but not impossible.)
6. Yes.
7. They did the $50 membership for newcomers back in 2004 and it went well from memory.
8. Yes.
9. Oh probably. : )
10. Me too! (Assuming I haven't got a job outside of Perth!)
6.

[tommmo]

Re: #1 - see my reply to alias_sqbr below, where I say pretty much the same thing. The important thing is that the panels have focus and direction.

[tommmo]

And by "below" I of course mean "above" ;)

[angriest]

I find most panels fall into two categories: critical and appreciative.

I went through a phase of thinking appreciative panels, which are generally either loose celebrations (the Buffy Panel, the Why Spider-Man is Awesome panel) or lists (Best SF Movies of the Year, Trailer Park), should be discouraged, but then I realised they're often the easiest items for newcomers to engage with and participate in.

These days I think there should be a balance - always program something nice and critical opposite something light and appreciative.