My letter to Baycon Programming.

I had a few issues with the convention's programming department. Here's what I just sent them.

To all and sundry...

I'll start with the good stuff. All the panels I was on went very well and were well attended. Most of what I heard was positive. People had a good time. Before the con communication with the programming staff was handled well. But it could have been so much better.

Let's start with the lead time. Baycon has a core stable of panelists who show up year after year. Many of us can be relied on to speak on a wide variety of topics. The convention should know us by now. So why are we just getting invites and links for the form at the end of March? Contact these regulars *now* and get us involved in the process! Next year is the 30th anniversary, so I suspect that everyone want to make it special. Let your panelists help!

You could have at least the beginnings of a grid ready by early March. Let me know the theme of the con today, and I'll have six good panel ideas for you to use by next weekend. I know that others feel the same way. Which brings up another problem. The exceedingly short time between getting our schedules and the con. I got my schedule less than ten days before the event. Even though I'm home on disability, that was still a challenge to do proper research for my panels. If we have even a vague idea on what we're doing with more lead time, you'll have better-prepared panelists.

In this vein we come to the question of moderators. It seems like half - or more - of the panels had no listed moderator. I heard tales of panels where fifteen minutes were wasted while panelists bickered over who was going to be forced into the moderator role. This doesn't need to happen! You have veteran panelists, determine which of them are willing to moderate and note that. Ask the panelists for feedback on who should moderate. Even if you pick at random, the schedule should never go out without every panel having an assigned moderator. If a choice turns out to be a bad idea, then note that Person X shouldn't moderate again.

One thing that I'd really like to see is clearly-defined programming tracks. A science and technology track, a costuming track, literature track, etc. Assign each track a room, and you go a long way towards avoiding conflicting panels and events.

Finally, panelists need to be able to communicate with each other before the con. I had one panel where one panelist had a completely different view on what the panel was about, and brought an entire media presentation along that killed the discussion. Being able to talk among ourselves prior to the con would solve this problem.

I love Baycon and want it to improve.

I'm hoping for some feedback, but not hoping too hard.