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CONvergence Programming

CONvergence programming promises panels and events related to Science Fiction and Fantasy. There will be discussions with our guests of honor, discussions related to our theme, and ones that discuss many other topics as well.

The programming discussion meetings will be:

They will be held at a private house in St Paul. Contact us at programming@convergence-con.org for the address.

Have an idea for a panel you'd like to see?

We'd love to hear about it. But it takes more than an idea to bring a panel to life. It takes people to sit that panel, and we don't conjure them out of thin air. It takes volunteers. Read on for more on these topics. Panel suggestions are now open for the 2012 convention year.

Want to be on a panel?

Not everyone who sits on a panel has to have "expert" credentials. If you have an opinion on something and like to talk to other people about it, you're qualified to be a convention panelist! If you would like to be on a panel, be sure to drop us an e-mail at programming@convergence-con.org and tell us:

You can group these in any obvious way. If your name and/or email address is on the message, you don’t have to duplicate it.

If you are signing someone else up, we need their name and email address. (We’ll assume that you have their permission.)

Unfortunately, the programming contact database and registration contact database are separate (:-(. So, we do need this information. We will send each panelist an email message with their complete schedule a few days before the convention: please print or hang onto it: that's your only schedule.

Please note we try to limit panelists to six or fewer panels over the course of the weekend. Any more than that and it becomes difficult to avoid conflicts.

Why Didn't My Favorite Panel Get on the Schedule?

We get way more panel suggestions than we can actually use. So, many panels aren't going to make it. Typical reasons for a panel not making it onto the schedule include:

Why Didn't I Get on a Panel I Asked for?

While we try to get everyone on the panels they request, we can't always manage to do so. There are several cases, including:

Format

CONvergence programming features 60-minute panels on a 90-minute schedule: 60-minute panels with 30-minute breaks in-between. We divide our programming into themes by media or subject. And yes, we try to schedule the ones that we think will be popular into the larger rooms.

The Dorian Gray Memorial Literary Lounge

CONvergence is proud to continue presenting a formal literary lounge up on the 22nd floor. This space is intended to give local authors, guests of honor, and others an intimate setting, off-the-beaten-track for quiet readings, workshops, and discussions. We may try our hand at a few poetry slams (or fiction slams) as well as the opportunity to meet with authors who are willing to share their stories and ideas in a refined atmosphere. You can read more about the lounge here. The literary lounge is scheduled using the normal panel process (next item).

How Do Panels Make It Onto the Schedule?

There are several stages.

In November, there’s a brainstorming meeting. At this meeting, we gather lots of ideas. Anyone can come: typically 20-30 people do.

During January and February, there are two or three panel discussion meetings. During these meetings, we go over the panels, flesh out the descriptions and titles, and consolidate obvious duplicates. Again, anyone can come, although we’ve tended to have more like ten people or so.

At this point, we open the idea list to general sign-ups. The best way for a panel to get on the schedule is to get 3-4 panelists to sign up to be on it (we try to ensure that these make it). The programming heads also work with the guests of honor and similar people to identify panels that they want and get these onto the schedule. We also continue to take suggestions for panels during this time (note: try to get them into us by mid-February or not enough people may notice them to sign up).

If you have an idea and have the panelists lined up, please let us know. We can lock panels upon request.

Then, the programming heads get to work and schedule the panels. While we try to do everything and accommodate everyone, it just isn’t going to happen. For example, you may not make it onto a panel that you signed up for due to conflicts. Or, we may run out of programming rooms and time slots. But we try to do our best.

The Garden Court

In addition to all the other stuff, Programming schedules the Garden Court. To request a spot, send an email message to programming@convergence-con.org and include:

We ask that all of you understand that the Garden Court is a finite space and we normally have more requests than we can schedule. As much as we don't relish saying "no" to any one of you, the chances are very good that we will have to. Please understand this is not personal. It is the realities of scheduling function space at a convention that is increasing in attendance but must continue to fit in the same space.

Our primary responsibility lies in creating an interesting experience for our attendees and that often means finding new and interesting special events in addition to the old favorites that have been there for many years. One of the consequences of this is that, just because we've done something in past years, we may not be doing it again.

How Can I Help?

You can help in any or all of several ways:

Items marked with [*] count as volunteer hours.

[**] Signing up doesn't count, but actually being on the panel does.

[***] As with all Convergence head positions, this comes with a free admission to the mental hospital of your choice.

Do Panelists Have to be Convention Members?

Yes, all panelists must be registered members of Convergence. If you know that you want to be on a panel, register early and save!

What Are My Responsibilities as a Panelist?

First, show up on time. Preferably, 5-10 minutes early so that you can meet your other panelists and get settled.

Second, get ready. Pour some water if you want, turn off your cell phone ringer, etc. Review the panel description.

Third, stay on topic. Talk about what’s actually written: don’t veer off onto a tangent. If you don’t like the topic as written, don’t sign up for the panel hoping to change it at the last minute!

Fourth, spread the word. Ensure that all panelists are involved and can have their say.

Fifth, involve the audience. For the most part, these panels are interactive and the audience is both expected to contribute and expecting to contribute. Take questions and comments. This obviously doesn’t apply to certain panels that are presentations or readings.

Sixth, end on time.

Also, if you move or rearrange things in the room, it’s your job to put them back. There isn’t any hidden army of people to do it for you.

Being a Programming Sub-Host

We will continue to use sub-hosts for programming. A sub-host will be pretty much running programming during their shift, so it’s a great way to get involved! Basic duties:

Being a Programming Room Host

We will continue to use a few programming room hosts. Room hosts will be programming hosts for (we hope) panels that you would be attending anyways. We will typically be assigning room hosts to panels that may require that "extra touch," incluing GoH panels and those with A/V equipment (you don’t have to be an A/V expert!).

Being a Programming General Host

These are the "traditional" programming volunteers.

Shift Slots

Programming is organized into shift slots, each is three hours long and typically covers two panels. Here’s a summary:

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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