Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 11:53:13 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Capclave
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

> twhite8 at cox.net 10/18/04 7:17:24 PM >>>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
>To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
>Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 2:42 PM
>Subject: [WSFA] Re: Goodbye?
>
>> You missed an excellent con.
>
>Really?  By what standards?  I heard a lot of complaints.

I thought it a pleasant weekend.

>
>They boiled down to two things:  That a decreasing number of
>out-of-the-area fans showed up (especially contrasted with
>Capclave 1,
>which drew a number of people from elsewhere), and that the
>GoHs were
>neither significant nor a draw.  At one point on Saturday
>Madeleine and I
>asked Sam how many people had registered.  He looked
>worried and said he
>didn't know, but it was being bruted about that the number
>was somewhere at
>or below the breakeven point.

The numbers from Alexis were 124 paid, 76 free (which includes a lot of
WSFAns who for working each year gettheir membership rolled over into
the next).  Ideally at 1st Friday we'll know more about memberships and
finances.

But yes, the decreasing number of warm bodies is troubling.  I was
rather surprised that Tenn wasn't a bigger draw.  Perplexing.

>
>Last year's GoH, Phil Klass, was an *excellent* choice -- a
>man who has
>written some of the best SF of the last half-century.  This
>year's was
>someone I'd never heard of, and after reading his story in the
>program
>booklet I'll never again read anything else by him.  It was
>badly written
>and would have been rejected by any professional editor.  I'm
>told he
>himself recommended it for Capclave publication, which
>doesn't speak well
>for him.  (Nor does the fact that it was *not copyrighted* speak
>well for
>Capclave.)  Why honor a man who apparently writes
>hackwork under
>housenames?   (And, I'm also told, has a history of not
>showing up for
>scheduled appearances?)
>
>And I know one fan who boycotted Capclave when he heard
>Dennis McCunney
>would be a GoH.  I'm glad the artist GoH exhibited some nice
>sculptures in
>the small but interesting art show; he at least did deserve the
>honor.

If anyone wants to try to sell me on an Art Goh, feel free to pitch.

>
>Next year's GoHs -- Howard Waldrop and the Nielsen-
>Haydens

Nielsen Hayden.  See http://nielsenhayden.com/name.html .

>-- are far
>better choices, and I hope that will help re-energize Capclave.
>Otherwise,
>I can see it fizzling into extinction.  And that would be a
>shame.

Oh my yes.

Generally speaking, plans are to do more promotion and to try find a
long term home for the con.

Elsewhere, it was commented that the Tysons hotel has space we can grow
into.

True, but . . .  I'm sure everyone noticed the other groups that shared
the hotel with us.  They were in the ballrooms.  With food functions.
Currently that space would cost us $10,000 a night.  I don't expect
Capclave to grow next year to the size that would take enought sleeping
rooms thereby giving us something to offer to the hotel in exchange for
the ballrooms.  Here I'd love to be proved wrong.

That said, the hotel - and the staff - were, overall, quite good.
We've all been to cons where this was not the case.

mjw

>
>--Ted White
>