Just Pointing Out...

[cheshirenoir]

The last few cons have had a programme made almost entirely by suggestions submitted by the public, with the panels that appeared being almost exclusively the ones where volunteers being on them.

Yes, we could probably change the ratios, but we need more volunteers. This does not mean the same old tired people on more panels. That is a path that leads only to darkness.

So if you don't like the makeup of the programme, go round up more volunteers and make them volunteer! Stack the deck. Spoil the programmer for choice. Then (and only then) can you bitch that *insert fanboi preference of the week* doesn't happen enough in the programme.

Comments

[angriest.livejournal.com]

I personally think any of us who are on panels year in year out should start aggressively finding new people and inviting them onto panels with us. We're the ones mostly likely to be on the programme each year, and we should be doing our damnedest to bring new people up with us.

[tommmo.livejournal.com]

I don't know about other years, but in 2007 a really sizeable portion of the programme was panels that were devised by me personally, or gained via group brainstorming sessions (where you tend to come up with fairly vague concepts rather than concrete topics). I found that direct submissions from the fan community were much fewer than I expected, no matter how much I asked for people to submit them.

While more people should be submitting fully-formed panels ideas, I think these brainstorming sessions are one of the most important pre-con things, and perhaps shouldn't be left only to those who attend the OPMs. It's possible that cherrypicked focus groups might be a more productive avenue.

You're absolutely right about new panelists, though. This year I rounded up 3 new volunteers, so I feel like I'm on the right track there. I think an important thing to remember is that first-timers don't usually want to go on panels with intimidating, complex topics. Let's give them something straightforward to sink their teeth into.

Volunteering For Panels

[kyu-kage.livejournal.com]

I finally sat on a panel for the first time last year at Wastelands and found the experience nerve racking, but ultimately enjoyable.

I'd be willing to sit on more panels, but it ultimately boils down to two things: Time And Interest.

For example, I've been asked in the past by friends to sit on panels, and haven't been able to because of work.