Puppygate Scuppers Worldcon Match Game Plans

[kevin_standlee]

After a lot of thought between me and Lisa, we've decided that we're going to have to withdraw from doing Match Game SF at Worldcon this year. In an ordinary Worldcon year, even chairing the Business Meeting (and Lisa recording it) would not be a barrier to us also doing one or two shows at Worldcon; however, this is not an ordinary year. We think that the stress on both us us will be such that we simply can't afford the additional hours during the convention. I personally expect to be spending much of my nominally "off" time getting the videos from each day edited and uploaded or simply trying to rest from what is likely to be a very stressful meeting even if it goes smoothly.

I thought it best to call things off now, as Sasquan has been sending out Programming invitations, than to raise false hopes.

On the other hand, I'm told (I haven't seen it myself yet) that Westercon 68 has us down for three shows at this year's Westercon in San Diego. So expect me to put out the usual call for questions and help very soon. In particular, we have neither production assistants nor an announcer for our shows there, and both those jobs are very important for the smooth running of the game.

Comments

[lou antonelli (from livejournal.com)]

I, for one, thank you in advance for taking the time needed for that business meeting. I think it's obvious some tweaks and reforms are needed in the Hugo nomination process, and it's smart to leave time for that all to play out properly. I hope in the long run there will be some positive changes made that will make the process run more smoothly in the future.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm spending the resources on both trying to educate people (so we can spend less time discussing procedure and more time discussing substantive proposals) and on improved tech for getting the recordings done and online faster (so nobody can accuse the Secret Masters of Fandom as being particularly secretive).

[rono-60103.livejournal.com]

Yes, the tentative plans for Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27 are for three sessions:
- Thursday afternoon (Family friendlyish)
- Thursday late night
- Saturday late night (after Masquerade and some time)

These are somewhat subject to making sure that we can find appropriate space with time for setup.

I can put out calls for production assistants and announcers if wanted. (We have at least one professional or semi-professional voice actor who regularly makes San Diego cons, who could probably do announcing)

Alas, i can pretty much ensure that there will be other stuff going on during these (parties for the late night occurrences, if nothing else - but my programming person has found a dance person). We'll try to minimize bleed through if we put something noisy on the other side of an airwall (like a dance or concert), but no airwall is perfect.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks. Someone who has done voice work might well be what we need here. PAs who will do what Lisa tells them to do are very valuable.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

This almost makes me more angry than the Hugo fiasco.

However, as I think I've said otherwhere, better this now than at the last minute - or worse, your (Kevin, Lisa, Kuma) exhaustion.

I wish I could help out in San Diego.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We'd love to have you there, too, but understand the constraints.

[jcbemis.livejournal.com]

I will be in San Diego, and would be willing to help man the prizes table on the daytime show at a minimum (I'm not particularly a late night person, but would be willing to try if you run short of offers for that as well)

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Helping with the prize table would be helpful, especially as you've seen the show and know what we do.