My Convention Career: 1982

Westercon, Phoenix -- Despite my not supporting the Atlanta bid for the 1986 worldcon, I ended up "volunteering" to host the Atlanta in '96 party here since so few Southerners get out to the West Coast. Helped by fellow apan and local Greg Brown, the party went pretty well. Fan Phil Reed and I also came up with a fake con bid for "ConFlakes: Grand Rapids in '84" offering a tour of the Kellogg's factory and huckster tables at 25 boxtops each.
Chicon IV, Chicago -- My con report for this worldcon was called The Many-Colored /L/a/n/d/ Badge and it was by far the most title-and-position-conscious worldcon I'd attended up to that point (and probably all-time, now that I think about it). I got a field promotion from doing track management for programming to troubleshooter and got a different-colored badge holder! I also was then eligible for the "secret VIP staff lounge" -- I'd been wondering where all the people I'd been wanting to see were hanging out!

Probably the most memorable occurrence at this con was the T-shirt I got made for Glyer saying "Six-Time Hugo Loser," for him to wear whether he won that night or not. As it happens, he didn't win the Hugo but he did win a special committee award, and proudly revealed the shirt then. The in-flight movie on the plane on the way home was *ta da* Star Wars, which all of us had seen a minimum of twice already!
Loscon, Universal City

This page brought to you by Janice Gelb. Last updated February 26, 1997.

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