Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:05:57 -0400
From: Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Ravencon ?
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Mike B. wrote:

>  At 4/26/2006 12:43 PM, samlubell at verizon.net wrote:
 >>
> > Many pros are also fans yes, but they are also one of the main
> > attractions that cause fans to attend specific conventions (And it
> > is the fans who give us their money).
>
>  *Some* fans.  Some of us just go for the interaction with fans and
>  whoever else is there.  I very seldom attend any programming, and
>  when I do it's usually science programing (the sort there usually
>  isn't much of).  I've enjoyed pros at cons...but usually at parties,
>  not panels.

You've put your finger on it, Mike.  Conventions were originally for
fans to get together and hang out, party, etc.  The pros who came, came
as fellow fans.  We were all fans of SF -- not of specific authors.  We
fans knew of each other mostly by mail, and the few conventions which
existed then were opportunities to meet face to face.

The early ('50s) Disclaves were opportunities for fans from
Philadelphia, NYC and Boston to come down here and meet up with local
fandom.  When A. J. Budrys came to Disclaves, he did not come as a Big
Pro (although he certainly was), and there were *no* panels or program
items for him to appear on.  He came as a fellow fan, and hung out at
the room parties.  Disclaves started having programs early in the '60s.

These days conventions (with some exceptions) aren't held for the fans.
They are held for the pro-worshiping mundane readers who will fork out a
bunch of money to attend a program item with some pros on it.  They are
conducted, essentially, as businesses -- and the business they are in is
entertainment.  WSFA is now in Event Promotion & Management. And this is
what drives many of the comments on this topic here.

--Ted White