My Convention Career: 1996

• Westercon, El Paso -- This ended up being one of the more enjoyable Westercons for me, since it was smaller than the average Westercon. It drew some friends from New Mexico who don't usually make it to Westercon and we actually had time to chat. All I worked was a couple of enjoyable stints in the Green Room. The hotel was magnificent, with my room being literally bigger than my mom's studio apartment in LA! Probably the best ambience for Regency dancing ever, in a room with gorgeous chandeliers and period wallpaper. Plus I got to see touristy artificats in a jaunt to Juarez, Mexico with Rick Foss and David Clark.

• L.A.con III, Anaheim -- Running the Hugo ceremony turned out to be one of the most exhausting, stress-inducing experiences of my life. Thanks to friend Eve Ackerman, I got through it without totally falling to pieces, but a combination of communication problems, people not reading their mail, and facility glitches made this memorable, and not in a good way. However, the ceremony went well, thanks mostly to fabulous Toastmistress Connie Willis and a great staff, so I guess it was all worth it...

• Orycon, Portland -- My first visit to Portland when it didn't rain! I got to participate in Opening Ceremonies again (2 for 2), participate on a panel on "The Bible as Fantasy Novel" with an ex-nun, and tell Hugo anecdotes in the Fan Lounge in a scheduled program item! A highlight was an excursion to a fabled dessert restaurant that indulgent friends escorted me to, from which I emerged with a praline cream/chocolate mousse pie with a hazelnut crust. Yum!

• SMOFcon, Seattle -- A typical laid-back SMOFcon with a little more local-oriented programming than I would have liked. I was on two panels: one on programming big events (conclusion: don't just automatically schedule them but give the people what they want), and another on "fannish traditions vs. new blood" (conclusion: be nice to the Goths). Highlights were dinner at the top of the Space Needle, and setting up my Chanukah party in the con suite with updates on the crucial U of Florida/Alabama championship game (showing in the connecting room) being provided by the only other football fan in attendance: British fan Tim Illingworth!

This page hosted by