constrictcon, posts by tag: 2014 - LiveJournal

So, the meta poll, didn't close last night like it was supposed to, and when I tried to manually close it this morning, it instead wiped out all the votes.  My apologies, but I need you guys to go to that poll and vote again;  I'm not setting it with an automatic close date so it doesn't get wiped out again when I try to fix (and I know how to manually close a non-fixed poll).  I'll keep this one open through Sunday night and close it Monday morning (7th).  Sorry about that.

The link

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/group…

Below is the current membership as I have it.  If there is an asterisk after your name, I need your badge request. If I do not get one by the 30th, I will assume you are bringing your own. (Bring badge holders too, if you can, whether I'm making your badge or not. While I probably have enough for everyone, they will be a hodgepodge of styles, and might not be as useful for keeping keys or whatnot tucked in as some of the others.) The names I have listed are what the badge/membership will reflect, unless I hear differently from you. If Elke or anyone else wishes to attend last minute, I will not turn you away; you can pay at the con and bring your own badge -- I'll have a couple extra schedules available and can most likely get you a cd of the zine before the con ends, though you will have to be happy with the drinks and what not provided. (If you can let me know you're coming before the con, I can be better prepared for your arrival, even if it's the Wednesday before, so ...)

Deadlines for the zine and vid show are also on the 30th.  I leave for a con on the 1st, and while I'll be back before Con*Strict, I will have only four days to do all the final stuff that needs printing, compiling and what not, so I do have to have a hard deadline this year that isn't the day before ;) I will attempt to get the schedule up, based on the final poll results (also ending the 30th), while I'm on the road and will consider changes, but I will make no guarantees.  Fandom specific panels will be placed around the lunch break first, so it might give folks more time to go off-site if they wish; assuming the fandom panel isn't something they're interested in.

Amberlee
Gloriana**
Emu**
Elayna
Jennifer/Gail**
Marie**
crazy4ew
De**
Sian
Calysta Rose**
Katbear
Terri
Kadymae/Devilc
Barbana
Chat Noir
Franzeska**
Michelle (FishieMishie)**
Saklani
Trudy**
Laura
Christie
Alex**
Batagur – prepaid years back, but haven't heard anything about attending this year
Candygramme**
Thalia
Wayne**
Quasar**
Octavian
Kitai

The Sales Manager who I'd made the arrangements with (and who'd been there for five years when we discussed the likelihood of constant staff turnover), has left and the Assistant General Manager is now handling our event.  Overall, I think we'll be fine, but it does affect pool usage, in that as of right now, we're going to have to observe the posted hours which is 8a to 10p, so no morning before breakfast, and no midnight discussions at the pool. I did point out that getting the extended hours was one of the main reasons we'd chosen their facility, but she pointed out that most other hotels in the area (and at the Strip) close at 8 (I do know that Sunset Station closes at 8 unless they're having some sort of sponsored event -- most hotels figure visitors are going to be hitting the clubs, shows and casinos in the evening, so they don't have the staff to cover late night at their own places).  She also said she would discuss it with the General Manager and see if there was something that could be done, but the AGM feels that if they make the allowance for us, they would have to for everyone, and that would include kids who couldn't be quiet if their lives depended on it poolside, so don't hold your breath. (No, it wasn't in the contract, because they don't do that kind of contract, mine is pretty much a room contract for meeting rooms as well as the sleeping rooms.)

With regard to our room block, it does end on Thursday. Everyone who'd let me know they'd booked was on the list I was provided except for Thalia, but this was as of last Thursday, so if you've booked since then, that's why I don't have it, and if you're rooming with someone who didn't mention it, that's why I don't know :)  There do still seem to be a few of you I haven't accounted for one way or the other ... it's not like I have to know, nor do I have a block that I have to fill or I get charged excessive penalties, but the 'best available rate' is $5 more a night or more depending, right now on the web, so if you are planning on staying at the con hotel any of the nights from Wed before through the Monday, you need to book now to get the better rate.

There is still no problem with bringing our own phone and beverages in -- they do serve the standard good morning continental breakfast on site for guests, (the nearest Starbucks is over at Sunset) -- so I plan to bring a little fridge for keeping water cold, and will have some soda and snacks as well (healthy mostly, like fruit, veggies, cheese, crackers, chocolate), that we can keep in the room so I will not be putting the stuff in your packets as in the past. I also figured on subs or something for lunches (that I'll put $150 toward as part of your memberships). At this point, I figure we'll just confab at the event to come up with what a majority are willing to eat.

If anyone has questions or comments, go ahead and ping me.

The polls for the panel choices are in the yahoo group

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/group…

is the link for the meta panels

the second one for fandom specific hasn't shown up yet in messages, but you can click over to open polls to find it once you've answered the first.

Thanks.

I've gathered together most of the panel suggestions to date and we've now got a few too many. It's turned out to be much more meta than show specific. After I'm done here, I'm going to put together a survey, including a write in spot for something you want that isn't on the list.

I need you to ticky the panels you expect to attend (no limit), and I'll go with the top vote-getters. I've listed the proposed title as well as the blurb, so you have something to reference when you vote.

Best/Worst Movies You've Likely Never Seen   
                Some of the little gems that deserve more fame
              
Hail Hydra, Hello Bucky & Yes, Sir, Director Coulson        
                MSC: Phase Two (So far). Where Do We Go From Here
              
Are Young Adult Series the new Slash Training Ground, Or Reaffirming the Heteronormative Status Quo?           
                What are the kids are reading/watching these days
              
Is Sherlock Worth The Wait (and the Hype)?     
                3 Episodes for Season Three … Really?
              
The OTW and the Mainstreaming of Fanworks & Slash Fandom
                The OTW is becoming the voice of Fandom. What exactly is it saying for us? What is it doing for us?
              
Vidding 101       
                Tips, tricks and tidbits of the art.
              
Super-Villians, Serial Killers and Demons, Oh My.            
                A celebration of the anti-heroes. Who's worth redeeming and who should stay just as they are?
              
From Glee to Gladiators              
                Canonical LGBTQ TV/movie characters of the past 5-7 years
              
Generic Game of Thrones           
              
Princess Leia is Now A Disney Princess 
                What do *we* want from Star Wars now?
              
It All Goes Back to Star Trek       
                Whether you like K/S, P/Q, J/7, or something else, Star Trek has helped shape modern fandom from the beginning. How has it shaped you?
              
              
What pushes your ethical buttons?       
                How important is ethics to you in fiction? Is it difficult to enjoy a work if there aren't any 'good guys' - or if there are too many, maybe?
              
Show and Tell  
                Not just a pimping panel about your favorite books, movies, tv, but also for good reference material -- bring your websites and fanworks urls
              
Sexual Politics: Fandom is No Longer a Two Party System            
                Asexual, pansexual, genderqueer and more … What are we seeing and what  would you like to see?
              
The Evolution of Fanworks        
                Zines, journals, archives and the like each have their pros and cons; what do you prefer and where do you go for your satisfaction?
              
OT3, Moresomes, Everyone is Poly (and Together)        
                Let's discuss the shipping trends beyond the OTP
              
Self-Indulgences of the Id or Giving the Audience What They Want?     
                A discussion of kinks, squicks, taboos and turn-ons
              
Alpha and Omega Sexual Dynamics       
                How we define who tops, bottoms, get's pregnant, is the sadistic or masochistic one, and breaking our own fannish stereotypes
              
Is Nothing Sacred?        
                From Holiday fic to Religious Aus and all the blasphemy and salvation in between; a look at religion in fic and fandom
              
Great Shows, Lousy Fandoms (or Vise Versa)   
                Why some things do or don't become part of a fannish zeitgeist
              
Little Black Dress Fandoms         
                Pacfic Rim, Black Jewels, His Dark Materials … the universal fusions
              
Days of Future Slash     
                A celebration of Charles/Erik, along with other worthy X-Men pairings
              
*Where* &  Back Again?            
                Hobbits, Dwarves and Dragons. Oh My.
              
IKEA Porn          
                How not to write generic sex scenes -- feel free to bring examples of both sides of the coin
              
I Love My Fandom But Hate My Show  
                Jumping the shark, killing off part of your OTP; how to keep going in a fandom whose canon has left you behind

Generic Hurt/Comfort

Generic AU Showcase

Checking in with the hotel today, our room block has only 5 rooms taken according to their records.  So, what I need is for those of you staying in the hotel (and who've already made their reservation), to tell me so off list (sian1359@yahoo.com), along with who is staying in your room so I can give them back a list of names to make sure you are all being credited to the event (I sure hope we've picked up more than five rooms). I'll need the real name of who made the reservation, please, though fan names are fine for your roommates.

If you haven't made your reservation, although our room block runs through the 20th, we kinda need to have them feel like we're still going to be doing this and it would be grand if you could make the reservation (or at least let me know you intend to) by Friday.

Thanks.

Who is still planning on contributing, please?

I've culled the conversations so far and we have twelve-ish -- needing a focus for the last four.  A couple of the potential fandom specific panels,  I've made broader, but of course, that doesn't have to stick, or we can do broad and specific both if there is enough interest.  We do need more suggestions, meta, fannish and fandom -- I'm more than happy to receive more than we have space for so that we vote if that's what folks want (there always seems to be one or two that when it comes down to it, no one ends up attending (or the subject ends up being too short to sustain an hour's conversation).  If I'm misinterpreted someone's suggestion, please do not consider my title or explanation to be the final word either, it's just what I've come up with off the top of my head.  (The parenthesis at the end of the detail line is what panel suggestion I've taken.)








ConStrict 2014 Panel Ideas (need 20-21)               
              
Best/Worst Movies You've Likely Never Seen    
                Some of the little gems that deserve more fame (the one about movies most people haven't even heard of)

              
Hail Hydra, Hello Bucky & Yes, Sir, Director Coulson         
                MSC: Phase Two (So far). Where Do We Go From Here? (the one about Agents of Shield, Captain America, Thor 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy)

              
Are Young Adult Series the new Slash Training Ground, Or Reaffirming the Hetero-normative Status Quo?            
                What are the kids are reading/watching these days (the one about The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight...)

              
Is Sherlock Worth The Wait (and the Hype)?     
                3 Episodes for Season Three … Really? (the one about BBC's Sherlock)

              
The OTW and the Mainstreaming of Fanworks & Slash Fandom
                The OTW is becoming the voice of Fandom. What exactly is it saying for us? What is it doing for us? (the one about the OTW)

              
Vidding 101       
                Tips, tricks and tidbits of the art. (the one about vidding)

              
Super-Villians, Serial Killers and Demons, Oh My.            
                A celebration of the anti-heroes. Who's worth redeeming and who should stay just as they are? (the one about Hannibal, Loki, Dexter, Breaking Bad...)

              
From Glee to Gladiators              
                Canonical LGBTQ TV/movie characters of the past 5-7 years (the one about the media's portrayal of the LGBTQ culture, lifestyle and representatives)

              
Game of Thrones           
              
Star Wars           
              
Star Trek            



Hobbits

The website has been updated.  Sorry that it took so long; I honestly thought it had been done back when I signed the hotel contract, but I guess I simply changed the information on lj and dreamwidth.

The following list is who I have as paid members for 2014. If you believe your name should be on the list and isn't, contact me directly off-list; it is more than possible that I've let someone fall through the cracks.  If there is a single asterisk after your name, this means that you have paid (or rolled over from a previous year), but that you have indicated you are not going to be able to attend in 2014.  Again, if I am in error, please let me know off-list.   (Jenna, we still need to connect, I know -- between travel and time zones and isp changes, that hasn't happened. I will email you directly this weekend to figure something new out.)

2014 Paid/Rollover Membership List:

Auburn*

Elayna

Emu

Gloriana

Jennifer/Gail

De

Calysta Rose

Katbear

Terri

Jenna*

Kadymae

Barbana

Chat Noir

Franzeska

Michelle

Saklani

Sandie*

Alex

Batagur*

Wyomingnot*

Sian

People who have indicated they are coming, but have not yet had a chance to pay

Amberlee

Christie

Marie

Anyone else who does plan on attending and I do not have you on any list, please give me a heads up, as I am beginning con prep with regard to supplies, packets and whatnots. (Right now, I'm counting 19 people...)

With regard to the whatnots, I do need some of the standard information from you each:

Badge request (single, pairing, group or fandom) unless you are providing your own -- I need to know that too.

Drink preferences. Since we can bring food and drink to the hotel, I intend to have cans and/or bottles in the lounge instead of the con-suite were only a few take advantage. To that end, it would be nice to have stuff you might like. Water will be included in your membership packet.

This weekend, I will begin to put together a preliminary panel list from the suggestions. I know we do not have enough to fill the weekend, but we do have time.  Please give some thought to what you want to talk about in a forty--odd days.

This year's con will be held at the Comfort Inn & Suites, Henderson (475 Marks Street, Henderson, NV 89014 702/387-6500).  Room rates are $74 a night for a Queen Queen room (up to four per room), while a King Suite runs $84  (plus 12% for tax). This is a non smoking facility. Our room block is through June 20, but it would be best to make reservations early so if we need to modify the block to accommodate more arrivals, we have a chance. You need to call the hotel directly and mention Con*Strict as the group -- should be good to go by Monday (or Tuesday since Monday's the holiday and I'm not sure the back office is fully staffed to handle bookkeeping and accounts).

For anyone new to the discussion, Henderson is maybe 10 miles southish from the airport. It's a pricey taxi ride but once there, there are multitudes of things in the area and there should be plenty of us with cars to help out getting around. Next door is the Sunset Station Casino Resort -- walking distance if you're healthy and conscious of the heat, though after hours I would not suggest it as the area is mainly commercial but in the suburbs, so there isn't any foot traffic like tourists along the strip. Two streets over is the Sunset Galleria for shopping, along with strip malls on all sides with grocery, pharmacies, departments stores and more restaurants than you can shake a stick at: fast food, family style and a few higher end places. The area is right off the Beltway at the Sunset exit, so it's also very easy to get around from, including back to the Strip, the airport and other points of interest in the area. As we get closer to the convention, I'll compile a list of local business of interest; with the address above you can also slot it into a map app and see for yourself what's in the area.

We will be the only major group in the hotel as far as using function space (We have the two main conference spaces reserved, I don't remember whether there is also a boardroom or not but it would be appreciably smaller. That's not to say there might not be a family reunion, or the basketball teams or some other organization needing sleeping rooms, but the only conflict then should be at breakfast or in the pool, although the late pool hours are privately reserved for us alone. There are always also the individuals and families that might be staying our weekend; this is a very nice property with a good fill rate so there will be mundanes around us but we're probably the also the largest group in general on site.

Outside food and drink will be allowed in the convention space; we should discuss whether you want a break in the schedule for lunch as we've done before, a smaller break (say 1/2 hour) so people can go out and get something but bring it back to eat during the next panel, or whether we want to coordinate some sort of pick-up or delivery one or more days. I'm thinking the pizza/wings/crazy bread and cake or something for the Friday reception is a go, but if we wanted to go more elaborate with lots of little Chinese take out boxes to share or something we can brainstorm about that too,

I'm prepping for Gallifrey over the next two days then leaving for the con, but I've got a week between Gallifrey and Escapade and during that time I expect to get the website updated and I will have a handful of flyers available at Escapade with the new information as well as be available in the dealer's room if folks want to ask questions, pick up memberships or pimp new attendees. Ideas for panels or events are welcome at anytime, though I'll wait a month or more before I make any formal push for suggestions.