Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:17:43 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Whither Capclave? was Re: PhilCon et al?
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

> myeh at wap.org 11/17/04 12:03:09 AM >>>
>On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 18:28:21 -0500
>  "Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net> wrote:
>
>>> Gaming and filking are both part of the larger sf
>>> community, and since we do want to have more than one
>>> track, I think those are the logical areas in which to
>>> expand.
>
>> More to the point, *why* do "we want to have more than
>>one track"?   What
>> purpose does it serve -- besides attracting
>>gamers/filkers/whomever?

To take their money & put them in some distant function space?

>>How
>> does it aid in the development of a LitCon?

Well, the idea of taking money from filkers & gamers to support a lit
con has certain degree of amusement in it (also desperation).

>    I like doing different things.  I remember fondly
>going to listen to filkers at my first con

The first cons I went to in the late 60s filkers were fans, like Joe
Haldeman, who brought their guitars and sang.  Sometimes in a room
party, sometimes in stairwells (ah, those acoustics).  It was dreadfully
unorganized, as compared to today.

Hmmm . . .  Joe Haldeman, Capclave Filk GoH?

>-- in the
>evening after the programming; and being introduced to
>some games at a later con.  I think it would be nice to
>have different aspects of the SF community at our
>convention.  SF conventions are suppose to be FUN not a
>writers' workshop.

But writers do have FUN at their workshops <g>.

>   So to answer the question; we want to amuse people who
>are interested in SF and games, SF and singing, SF and
>films; SF and art. We need more people.

Yes, we need more folks to attend Capclave.  If for no other reason it
cost money to get function space at a hotel.

The Big Question, to my mind, is: Are there enough folks "out there"
who are interested in the written aspects of SF to support Capclave?

The sales of writers like Gene Wolfe, as an example, say yes.  But
would these readers be interested in going to a con?

The reasonable success of Readercon says yes, there enough folks out
there.

But, if we should stay at the Tysons Marriot, there is currently not
enough affordable space to expand the con.  (I'd like to be proved wrong
when Lee wraps up her Capclave and we see the financial report.)
Multitracks are wonderful, but only if you can afford the space.

Ideally, a con (like Capclave) is much like fandom (however one defines
fandom): it is a conversation.  People should interact.  If they want us
to entertain them, they should go buy a movie ticket instead.

Remember this mantra: There are no tickets, there are memberships.

mjw