Business Meeting Recording Plans

[kevin_standlee]

Lisa is not going to Chengdu with me. She has no desire to go, and only consented to me going due to my deep involvement with WSFS business, including being Chair of the WSFS Mark Protection committee and being asked to be Deputy chair of the WSFS Business Meeting. However, she, like me, is very concerned about us being able to record the WSFS Business Meeting. Today she decided that I can take her medium Panasonic recorder with me. Those of you who were in Dublin or Chicago will have seen that as the equipment she used there. It's not the large Panasonic P2 she used in DC or San Jose (see the user pic for this post); that's just too much to take by air, and besides, I don't know how to operate that professional-grade camera. The medium Panasonic AG-H10 is relatively small, and we think we can get it packed to the point where it will fit in my backpack (except for the tripod, which will go in my checked luggage). As I've mentioned, I do not intend to take any of my computer equipment with me, so I'll have the full capacity of my computer backpack that I'll take on the plane with me.

We've told Chengdu that we need a power outlet. I have a multi-plug adapter that includes a China outlet, so that's not a problem, assuming that there is one of the room where the Business Meeting is happening. Chengdu announced their program schedule today, and the Business Meeting appears to be in the "World Science Fiction Park Meteor Museum," which I assume is one of the pieces of the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum."

Unlike the small Sony that we used to use (last time was 2014), the Panasonic has a roughly 4 hour recording capacity. The small Sony can't record more than about 30 minutes at a time, although multiple 30-minute recordings will fit on one memory stick, so the operator can stop and start the camera. This is a hassle and we don't want to do it, especially because I can't stay with the camera and monitor it as I am part of the head-table staff. I have to be able to plug the camera into power, start it recording, and leave it be until the meeting ends or we take a recess.

As I said, I'm not taking my computer. Even if I did, I might not be able to upload the recordings to the YouTube Worldcon Events channel. However, if I do get access to tech that will allow me to do such an upload while I'm in Chengdu, I will try to upload the meeting records. If I can't do that, you'll have to wait until I get home, which should be on Tuesday the 24th.

Comments

[kevin_standlee]

And before anyone says anything about it: yes, we know that China doesn't use North American plug outlets and their power is 220V. The power supply can handle the full range of voltages (it worked in Ireland), and I have a plug adapter that should fit the Chinese outlets.

[madfilkentist]

It's too late for me to keep telling people not to go, and I understand your reasons. I hope everyone going to Chengdu encounters no major problems and makes it back without delays. Not taking a computer sounds like a smart move, and I assume you know more about burner phones in China at this point than I do.

[kevin_standlee]

I know nothing about burner phones. I am not taking a phone with me and do not intend to carry one with me. My personal phone will be turned off and stored, but only so that I have it with me to turn back phone once I arrive in LAX and can tell Lisa that I'm back.