Convention Schedule

[joshuapalmatier]

I got an invitation from Norwescon to be an Attending Pro, which prompted me to post about my con schedule for 2009. Basically, there are some cons I definitely intend to attend, barring any unforeseen tradegies or emergencies. These cons would be:

Boskone, Boston, Massachusetts (Febraury 13-15)
Norwescon, Seattle, Washington (April 9-12)
Balticon, Baltimore, Maryland (May 22-24)
Worldcon, Montreal, Canada (August 6-9)

Those are the 4 definites. I'll drive to all of them except Norwescon, and I've already got my flights and a hotel room for that. It sucks because I can't bring a box of books with me in case the dealer's room runs out of copies, but we'll see. Maybe I'll just pack extra books instead of clothes. No one will notice I'm wearing the same clothes for 4 days in a row with they?

Anyway, these are the cons I'm currently considering:

Gencon (August 13-16)
Albacon (October)
Capclave (October 16-18)
World Fantasy, San Jose (October 29-November 1)

I'd love to go Gencon, but it would be a long drive from here, and I don't think I can afford another flight con this year. It is during my "off" time from teaching though, so it's tempting. Plus I could play games! I should really do it, simply because I do think my Throne series could be marketed to gamers fairly easily. And did you see the dates for Gencon? Compare them to the dates for Worldcon. Um-hmmm. That's right. I'd be doing two heavy-duty cons back to back. Can I handle that? Probably, but what if I die in the attempt?

Now, Albacon has been a staple for the past few years and is my backyard. So that one is definitely possible. The problem is that I was trying to branch out to some other cons this year, rather than doing the same ones over and over, and Albacon may conflict with Capclave. If they're on the same weekend, that's a problem. If they aren't on the same weekend . . . I'm not sure I can handle two cons in the same month, let alone during the middle of teaching. So we'll see about those two.

World Fantasy is another issue. It would be a flight con. And it's during the semester. That's two knocks against it at the moment. A plus would be that the DAW staff is likely to go, so I'd get to see my editor in person, etc. However, that will probably happen at Montreal as well. So at the moment, World Fantasy is probably not going to make the final list.

Now, I may end up adding Lunacon to the list. I've been to Lunacon for the past few years but with mixed results. We'll see.

Any other cons out there that I should consider? Remember, being within driving distance of Binghamton, NY, is a plus.

And what's your favorite con (whether I can attend it or not)? Why is it your favorite?

And do you attend cons for the panels on books or for books, or the costuming/masquerade, or for the gaming?

Comments

[jaxom92.livejournal.com]

I think the literary angle is why I attended first. My 10th grade English teacher has a small press and darkfantasy/scifi magazine out of his house and attends Norwescon every year. That got me to go my senior year in high school. I was rather bowled over at how fun it was. All the crazy people, but at that time, it was the panels on books that really interested me. I was a budding writer (not sure if I'm as serious about that now) and I sort of became a sponge those four days.

In later years I went with a girl of interest and later girlfriend and got a bit into the costuming side since she's big on that, but after last year, when we had broken up, I was pretty much by myself at the con and it just didn't feel quite as fun. This year I'm hoping to drag my sister and her boyfriend along to give me some company. I really do enjoy going but I'd much rather go with people.

As to what's my favorite? Well, I've been to all of two different cons in my life. Norwescon since 2003 and Tolcon once, which I think was in 2005 or 6. Can't remember. Anyhow, I much preferred Norwescon for it's more broad interests and even though I'm not a big crowd person, there's just something strangely appealing sharing close quarters with a bunch of nerds. Tolcon was much, much smaller (got to meet the scale double for Frodo!) which had it's own appeal.

I wish I had been able to attend worldcon when it was in Seattle a few years ago but I couldn't get it off work. Labor day weekend was pretty busy for us.

So, hopefully I'll make it to Norwescon and I'll be sure to say hello if I do.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

You should definitely find me at Norwescon and say hello! I'll be there every day except Sunday (I catch an early flight back that day). I'll be posting my con schedule once I know what it is. I actually plan on arriving a few days early to hit the bookstores for stock signings and (hopefully) a mass signing at the University Bookstore.