Match Game: Panelist Briefing

I've been asked if the Match Game panelists (and staff, including me, Announcer Eric, and sound tech Lisa) could get together on Saturday to refresh everyone's game mechanics. Unfortunately, checking Saturday's schedule, at least one of our panelists (and sometimes more) are on other panels except during the 5:30 PM block. So, I propose that those of panelists who can do so meet with me on Saturday at 5:30 in the Fanzine Lounge on the 2nd floor (assuming Chris Garcia doesn't mind us using the Fanzine Lounge that way -- I figured it would be easier on him on account of he's running it).

It's likely that we all will not be able to meet. That's okay; we'll do what we can. I would like for Lisa and Eric to get a chance to practice with the equipment a bit, so we can get the timing on the opening titles right.

I have printed the Bonus Round prize envelopes and inserts and scrambled them up so that even I don't know what is in which envelope. I've printed the MG logo on the backs of the 4 x 6 cards we will use both for answers and for the audience members to write their names so they can have a chance to play. I've printed the panelist name tents. (I know that BayCon gives panelists name tents, but not all of our panelists are official BayCon program participants, so I made standard, Match Game-esque, first-name-only name tents.)

Still left to do:

Print the large MG banner

Write short prize descriptions to go with each prize. ("Eric, tell us what our contestant has just won!")

Write PSA-ish ad copy for a couple of fannish good causes I've agreed to plug during the show.

Whew, What a Day

I wish I hadn't put off so many things until so late. Worse, the act of doing some of the things on my list reminded me of other things that I hadn't done but should have done. Let's see:

( Way too busy )

And all of the other stuff I mentioned earlier today.

Now I think I may be able to go home and pack, as I'll go straight from work to BayCon tomorrow. Lisa called this morning to tell me she was on her way and will arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Remote Control Cheryl

cherylmorgan's flight was delayed for over an hour this morning due to bad weather, but in a sense that didn't matter, because her connecting flight (and the flight after that) at O'Hare to Madison was canceled anyway -- something that I saw while checking the flight status shortly before her delayed flight touched down. She called me while her flight was taxiing, and I broke the bad news to her. There were two other Bay Area fans heading to Wiscon on the same flight with her (Jed Hartman, Lenny Bailes), and they were all stuck in O'Hare with a limited chance of getting to Madison, and even if they were lucky, it wouldn't be until close to midnight.

( Ground Control to Major Cheryl )

Whee, what excitement! I'm rather glad I didn't have to go through it myself, and merely served as "base control" and looked up things on web sites for them. Last I heard from Cheryl, she was heading out to get some food. I'm sure there will be an interesting blog post coming up when she gets settled into her hotel room and gets the computer connected.

Update, Friday 8:10 AM: Cheryl's side of the story is on her blog.

Another Update, Friday 11:00 AM: Jed Hartman's version of the story is now on his blog, and I've added Jed and Lenny's names to the story above.