I still don't do Millennicon......

[poltr1]

This is a repost from five years ago, with some edits. My opinion hasn't changed much since then.

This weekend is Millennicon, a science fiction convention in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Although its goal is to be a literary con (face it, authors are cheaper to bring in than stars), there are often many media fans there as well.


So, if I'm a fan, why am I not there? The first reason is that I don't think the convention changes that much from year to year. There are the same attendees, the same programs (with some variation), the same guests (but different guests of honor each year), the same concom, the same roles, the same situations. Now, many people in the fan community happen to *like* the same old thing, year after year. As for me, I want a different experience year after year, not the same experience over and over again. Now, maybe I wouldn't mind so much if this was a relaxacon, with little or no programming.

The second reason is a little more personal.

At my last Millennicon (in 1999), I was doing a panel on Babylon 5 with members of one of the local SF clubs (Starward Bound). I had another commitment of the Friday night of the convention -- I was to volunteer at a local church's fish fry that night -- and asked the programming chair to not schedule the convention on Friday. Lo and behold. the panel was scheduled for....Friday night at 9 PM. So I had to back out of the fish fry commitment so I could be at the convention, and at the panel.

Well, we (my now ex-wife mariasmom and I) got there at 8:45pm, behind a few folks dressed as Klingons who wanted their Klingon persona names on their badges instead of their real names, which delayed registration. My membership was "comped" (complimentary membership) because I was on the panel, but mariasmom (who wasn't) had to pay the full one-day price of $20, even though the dealers' room and art show were closed by the time we arrived. We were a few minutes late to the panel, which went pretty well. Since mariasmom was busy with wedding preparations, she couldn't attend the rest of the convention.

I wrote a letter to the convention committee describing the situation, and asked for a partial refund of $10 for mariasmom's membership. Their response was, essentially, "Sorry; no full or partial refunds". For a fan-run convention, I was ticked that they were trying to gouge fellow fans, especially since two of the higher-ups knew mariasmom. I'd expect something like that from a Creation con, but not a fan-run convention. And I was tired of their crap. My counter-response was, "Fine. I'm taking my convention business elsewhere." And I haven't been back since. Neither has mariasmom.

The third reason is that it's too close on the schedule to another convention I'd rather go to. (FilkOntario).

And there's a fourth reason. With a noble name like Miami Valley Fandom for Literacy (the organizers of the con), I'd expect some lofty mission statement, annual reports, etc. And other than their website, I haven't seen much activity to remedy local illiteracy.

Now I know that some folks work hard to put on this convention every year, and I'm thankful that they do. (Because if they didn't, someone like me would have to step forward.) But to do this to long-time convention attendees is just plain ridiculous. I won't stop people from attending the con, but I won't go myself.

Comments

[elvensunhame.livejournal.com]

I've never been to the con but I'm not feeling to sorry for you. It sounds like you expect the moon. I think your expectations were unreasonable. The fact that you're STILL holding onto it ***9*** YEARS LATER and griping is childish and sad. I'm sorry but no sympathy.

[ocean-star.livejournal.com]

I completely understand. I expect better service than that, especially from fellow fans. I talk with my money, and wouldn't pay again either.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

If I understand this correctly, you were looking for an exception for her because of your panel status, yes?

IMO, rules is rules. To break them for one person is to break them for everyone (yes, this is the teacher speaking). If everyone who was with compt-in personnel was also compt in, they might as well just make the thing free admission.

I also don't like the I'm-known-so-I-get-special-treatment clause. If you work the event or if you are in some way a part of it, that's fine. But to expect special treatment forces people to evaluate friends and acquaintances on a sliding scale and to judge people based on this system is unfair to the extreme.

Just my opinion. Take it with that grain of salt.

[fuzzyvanman.livejournal.com]

I understood the request to mean: "She was only there the one night, and half the con was already closed by that point. How about cutting her a break?"

Being on a concom myself, I know one of the things we try hard to avoid is the setting of precedent. Had they refunded half her membership fee, they then have to do that to anyone who asks or justify why not.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

If the organizers have special conditions built in to their entry fees that would address "late night entry" or something to that effect, then yes - I could see it.

As a performer with Snakes Rising, I got compt into events all the time. I always took care, however, to either ask my companion to pay entry or I paid it myself. To not pay would be like cheating myself out of band allowance as well as cheating the event organizers out of money they paid upfront for any number of expenses.

You are right about setting a precendent. Gotta be justifiable and fully equitable.

[athanasios.livejournal.com]

I for one AM sympathetic!

When we ran Elysium we made concessions for people all the time to make sure there was harmony.

I've been to Millenicon one time... that was -14 I believe back in the 80s. At the time it was taking place at the airport hotel in Dayton. I wish it were still close, I'd consider going.

[dragon-pet.livejournal.com]

You know it isn't the same people running it anymore. You are holding the "crimes" of the parents against the child so to speak. Perhaps you should go next year and see if things have changed. I know most of the current concom and they are really trying to do different things and break the mold. If you go again and see nothing has changed.. then you can keep holding the same opinion. But you are only punishing yourself by not going.. it is the best way to meet local sci-fi people and other fandoms (filk, furry, anime, gamers, etc).