kumoricon programming staff are having a meeting, this wednesday, at 5:30 pm. by that time, i need to have a sense of when those interested in the fanfic panel and workshop would like those to be held: which day, which time, which size room, for how long.
this is my gut level feeling; i'm hoping for everyone's input.
i would aim for something like:
medium-sized room, away from really loud stuff. last year, i couldn't hear some participants in the back, from the speakers' table, over the ruckus from the gaming room next door, even with our door closed! i'm going to put in a request to evade such this year.
same room for workshop and for contest results, if possible, to make it easier for folks to remember and find us.
24 hours between start of workshop and presentation of contest results, if possible. continuity of time would also help memory and turn out. i.e., if the workshop were at 11 am on sunday, the results would be at 11 am on monday.
5 to 10 hours between the end of the workshop, and the cut off time for submissions for the contest. example: workshop 11 am to 1pm; entries accepted until 6, or until 11pm.
my thoughts are that: (a) we want to be sure judges have enough time to seriously review all entries, and to compare notes with each other; (b) we want to be sure that there is enough time after the workshop, for anyone who is inspired, by the workshop, to join the contest, to do so...to whip up something quick and/or get online (will there be access at the marriot, like there was at the clarion? i hope so!) and print something they'd posted for friends, themselves, or a website....(c) i personally think it would be more exciting for the awards to be given right there at the con, than to have to find out later, online, who won...i think that if the awards are given ceremoniously, it aids in eliciting turnout and drumming up enthusiasm (plus is logistically easier).
i think it would be fun to have a little judge-a-thon in one of the con central rooms or something...and if it is like last year, some entries will trickle in in the days before the con, so it won't be like we'll have to crunch on every entry right there on site.
anyway, what do others think? i will copy and paste this into the fanfic workshop section, as well.
i need input, asap, please! thanks!
love,
rem.