I find running some of these primer panels to be an exercise in headbanging (of the desk, not metal, kind).
Well-meaning established people make the suggestion, because if only new people understood, they would understand. Only the new people rarely bother to come to the primer panels. This may be because the panels aren't effectively pitched to newcomers (where "may be"="definitely"). This may be because the newcomers, in a fit of hubris, are offended at the suggestion they don't know everything (where "may be"="often").
Some recent newcomers make the suggestion, because they've surmounted the obstacles and become a part of things. But they're often unable to pitch the panel ideas in ways programming heads understand.
Mind you, I've seen this work at Costume-Con. Then again, that's a much smaller and more focused convention. It's easier at reg to identify newcomers and pitch newcomer panels to them. The "So this is your first Costume-Con" panels are populated by established participants, who start talking about their experiences at their first Costume-Con, and then open up to questions on the floor.
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Well-meaning established people make the suggestion, because if only new people understood, they would understand. Only the new people rarely bother to come to the primer panels. This may be because the panels aren't effectively pitched to newcomers (where "may be"="definitely"). This may be because the newcomers, in a fit of hubris, are offended at the suggestion they don't know everything (where "may be"="often").
Some recent newcomers make the suggestion, because they've surmounted the obstacles and become a part of things. But they're often unable to pitch the panel ideas in ways programming heads understand.
Mind you, I've seen this work at Costume-Con. Then again, that's a much smaller and more focused convention. It's easier at reg to identify newcomers and pitch newcomer panels to them. The "So this is your first Costume-Con" panels are populated by established participants, who start talking about their experiences at their first Costume-Con, and then open up to questions on the floor.