How do I......

[LaideeMarjorie]

Hi Ruth & Judy.

I have a question. Will there be a place somewhere at the hotels where there will be a central message board/table so that those of us who won't have a laptop or a cell phone with them will be able to leave messages?

For instance, if the Letters of Mary group is getting together for dinner on Thursday night and we were going to meet at 8:00, but it has to be moved to 9:00, will there be a place to post the message, old style?

Thanks for all your hard work, by the way. This will be my first B'con and I am very excited.

Thanks,
Marjorie

[LaideeMarjorie]

On the tentative schedule the following appears most days:

**** PWIDOL 12:30

What does that mean?????

Thanks,
Marjorie

[LaideeMarjorie]

I see that Elizabeth George is no longer n the list of attendees.

Is that correct? I was looking forward to seeing her as I am enjoying her Inspector Lynley books so much.

Thanks,
Marjorie

[Old Beeg]

I see that Elizabeth George is no longer n the list of attendees.

Is that correct? ...Her name was removed 5 or 6 weeks ago. :(

[vicki]

Good questions, LM. I'm sure we'll get some answers posted soon.

Sorry about the EG withdrawal! But here's a bit of good news, in the maybe, maybe category: I went to a Tana French reading last week (she won the Edgar for best first mystery for the fabulous In the Woods last year, and just published a follow-up, The Likeness, which is also wonderful), which I'll post about else-thread, and she said that she *might* be able to get to B'con this year. It's very much a maybe, but I hope she can be there--she's an excellent speaker and it would be fun for the attendees to see a rising star at the beginning of her publishing career.

[tangential1]

OMG, Vicki! I'm entirely jealous! I really wanted to make it out to one of her readings for The Likeness, but I'm going to be at a wedding the weekend she's in my area (this weekend, actually). I asked my mom to go to the one near her, though so hopefully I'll still get a signed copy of the new book.

[vicki]

Oh, I'm so sorry you can't go! She does a great reading. I've got some notes typed up on my computer and will prettify them for posting elsethread sometime today, if I can find the time.

I need some clone-minions. Bad.

[Andi]

FWIW, I am not going to B'con this year, but I've been to at least what 8 of them and was on the committee that hosted one back in 1994, so i can probably answer questions about convention stuff, if someone else can't. i've chaired two other mystery conventions and know how they go pretty well.

[LaideeMarjorie]

FWIW, I am not going to B'con this year, but I've been to at least what 8 of them and was on the committee that hosted one back in 1994, so i can probably answer questions about convention stuff, if someone else can't. i've chaired two other mystery conventions and know how they go pretty well.

Andi,

Thanks for the kind offer of advice. So, as I am a B'con newbie, what should I be packing that I won't have thought of? What shouldn't I ever say to an author? What is the best way to get the most out of the experience?

I am sorry that you aren't attending this year.

Thanks,
Marjorie

[Andi]

Okay, #1. What should you be packing that you might not think of?

A water bottle. Your favorite hard candy/cough drops/sucking candy. I say this as someone who (Beeg might remember this) loses her voice within three hours of any hotel stay. Hotels are very very very dry and you will want to keep drinking water, keep something handy to help with that dryness. Fill your sink, even the tub at night, fill the ice bucket with water to create a little moisture in the room. (This comes, I was fascinated to learn, thanks to the horrors of that episode of "Legionnaires Disease" which caused all hotels to undergo evaluations of their HVAC systems and now, things are dry dry dry in hotels, esp new ones where you can't open the windows!) I have a friend who used to bring a humidifier to local conventions she could drive to because of this.

Even bring your favorite teabags if you're a tea drinker since most rooms have those coffee makers. I always (and I'm not big tea fan) tried to bring a cup of tea with me to a program item since the laryngitis sets in from the second I go in the door! (and I always tried to be on Friday programs for that reason - and because then I could relax the rest of the con.)

What should you never say to an author? Hmmm,what I've heard from friends is that they really dislike "would I have heard of you?" or "Have you written anything I know?" I'm sure you're too smart to do that but I really have heard people report that one. No kidding.

Another might be "where do you get your ideas?" which is asked of every author too often. However, I've heard some fascinating responses to that so if you have a specific, say "where did you get the idea for X?" go ahead and ask. It shows that you know the author's work (coolness points!) and it's a legit question. I once heard Kate Wilhelm do this regarding where she got the idea for a specific sf novel for a good 20 minutes, and she was utterly fascinating.

I have gone public with this advice though again, I've heard authors say "oh it's okay" but the one thing I say never to do to an author is to follow her into the hotel rest room and shove a book into the next stall to get it signed. No, I'm not making it up.

The last bit of advice is this, re how to have the best experience. Do not run yourself ragged. Do not try to do it all. You won't be able to and you'll end up frustrated and wondering what you missed. Let it go. Go to some programs, yes. Go to some where the topic might be interested even if you've never heard of the participants. Even if (gasp) some of them are not authors, but are readers, fans, reviewers. People like us. Because we know a lot (I've been told i give great panel and I am not a published author.)

If the organizers could manage it, there may be a taping service taping all the programs (nowadays, they come on a disc or you can download individual panels. I don't think they even offer tapes anymore.) This is a surprisingly good way to hear other programs that you missed.

Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Unless you are so so shy that this causes you terror, know that you are among friends. We're all there because we love mysteries. You might meet someone new, find a new author, have a great conversation with someone it turns out you really do know. Whatever, it will enhance your experience. I've been in this community over 15 years and a great part of a great many conventions for me are those conversations over a drink, over coffee, at the line at a signing, hanging out in hospitality, with someone I just met, knew from the internet or is an old friend. Even at times yes, when it meant missing a panel I wanted to attend.

Just don't guilt-trip yourself that you're not doing it all. Do what you can and realize that you can't do it all. After you do a few of these, you'll realize that whatever you did, it was right.

And thanks. Laura Lippman is one of my oldest friends in mystery and I'm very bummed to miss the B'con where she's the guest of honor. Besides, I've not eaten in Baltimore for a long time and dang, I would so love to go out and eat crab til I pop. Sigh. Poor liddle me.
Andi

Andi,

Thanks for the kind offer of advice. So, as I am a B'con newbie, what should I be packing that I won't have thought of? What shouldn't I ever say to an author? What is the best way to get the most out of the experience?

I am sorry that you aren't attending this year.

Thanks,
Marjorie

[LaideeMarjorie]

Andi,

Thank you so very much for answering my questions so beautifully. I already feel much more likely to cope with it all in a sane and informed manner because of you.

I am sure that many of the other first-timers around here appreciate your detailed responses as much as I do. Please don't hesitate to add to your post if you think of anything else useful in the next two months.

--Marjorie

[Bachi]

Andi,

That was fantastic advise about traveling in general - Thanks!

I too am sorry you won't be able to make this years B'con.
Regards
w

[Bachi]

***REQUEST TO B"CON ORGINIZERS***

If the panels are being recorded could you provide the recorders contact info here? -Thanks!

[Andi]

Andi,

Thank you so very much for answering my questions so beautifully. I already feel much more likely to cope with it all in a sane and informed manner because of you.

I am sure that many of the other first-timers around here appreciate your detailed responses as much as I do. Please don't hesitate to add to your post if you think of anything else useful in the next two months.

--Marjorie

Marjorie and all. I was just talking to a friend (Kate Derie, whom some of you may know) about providing information being a sort of "hobby" for me. What i mean is that i've been around for so long that I've picked up a lot and it seems silly/churlish not to pass it on. There's no one mechanism for this stuff. i've seen a few guides to convention-going but you know what? Usually by the time you get them, you're there already!

In this same vein, it is why I wrote up a 30+ page "how to run a mystery convention" guide with what I knew so at least folks could start with the basic round wheel shape and then do things from there. I hate reinventing wheels, but so often people do that because there's no one source of info. Attending several conventions is a very good way to learn about them, but running them? Contracts and budgets and hotel rooms and "industry standards" and how to create panels and what are comp rates and how to choose guests of honor and what they should get for their honor? It's not all written down.

I'm truly happy that what i said helped. i'm truly happy i actually came up with useful stuff and will do my best to continue until you head off to Baltimore.

[LaideeMarjorie]

Andi & Oldbeeg and everyone else,

So, there is a cocktail party listed on the tentative schedule for B'con on Friday evening ("Meet the Brits").

Is this a dress-up, put on your finest, kind of event? Just wondering.

Thanks!

--Marjorie

[Old Beeg]

...cocktail party listed ... on Friday evening ("Meet the Brits"). Is this a dress-up, put on your finest, kind of event? ...In the spirit of "a picture (http://oldbeeg.typepad.com/photos/las_vegas/bc03_285.html) is worth a thousand words" ... this is from the International Reception from the 2003 B'con. The people pictured are from the rec.arts.mystery news group.

[LaideeMarjorie]

In the spirit of "a picture (http://oldbeeg.typepad.com/photos/las_vegas/bc03_285.html) is worth a thousand words" ... this is from the International Reception from the 2003 B'con. The people pictured are from the rec.arts.mystery news group.

Old Beeg,

Thanks so much. I think I have finally found my people!!! I didn't know that there could be a whole convention full of folks that all look smart, fun, down to earth and are book lovers, too. I am thrilled.

I won't have to bring my evening gown after all!
;)

Wonderful,
Marjorie

[LaideeMarjorie]

Bouchercon has had dress-up events where folks come in dress-up clothing. Others come in whatever they're comfortable in. i sometimes bring a "dress-up" outfit if I can because i seldom get the chance but you can attend every event at Bouchercon in whatever you want to wear...


Thanks for the additional information in your post and for giving me a glimpse of the sorts of intrigue that will be happening all around me! I can't wait.

Please post again if you think of any other helpful hints.

--Marjorie

[Andi]

[QUOTE=LaideeMarjorie;9843]Andi & Oldbeeg and everyone else,

So, there is a cocktail party listed on the tentative schedule for B'con on Friday evening ("Meet the Brits").

Is this a dress-up, put on your finest, kind of event? Just wondering.

Bouchercon has had dress-up events where folks come in dress-up clothing. Others come in whatever they're comfortable in. i sometimes bring a "dress-up" outfit if I can because i seldom get the chance but you can attend every event at Bouchercon in whatever you want to wear. If you're the type to be happy in heels, make-up, dressy clothes and matching bag and can fit that in the suitcase, you will find reasons to wear that. if you prefer to bring 3 things that mix and match for the whole event, do that, it'll work. i only know of ONE person who EVER drew comments at a Bcon for vastly over-dressing and i won't name names, but it was years ago and the particular author is very impressed with herself, thinks she's knockout gorgeous, spends time telling people this and looked a bit um, tarty, to be honest. We all were cracking up because she looked out of place.

i'm a tee shirt person so any time i'm wearing anything that isn't that, i'm dressing above my usual level!. The one thing to remember is bring short and long sleeved and a jacket because hotels can go from warm to air-conditioned hell - AND assuming you're going to go out, at least to eat, it's a time of year where weather can change.

At the Chicago Bcon, there was a very odd occurrence; in the dealers room was someone selling clothing. This is not standard - there's almost never anything but books. But a bunch of us went wild - Donna Andrews i know buys from her regularly. i got my LCC banquet outfit there because what she sells is gorgeous burnt velvet stuff (capes, scarves) in unending ranges of color and knits to wear underneath. it took me at lest 30 minutes even with my roommate Cornelia's help to pick the right cape/serape. i could have shown up in the usual, or a bit fancier than the usual, but it was my easy excuse. And i don't know where the business card is but it was "frozen...something" and i told the woman to start attending science fiction and fantasy cons immediately! I think she'd found Bcon through the romance writers.

in this instance i don't recall the Brits getting especially dressed up. Except Zoe Sharp. the bitch. (JOKE JOKE!!!!) (She's adorable and wonderful and she looks SO DAMN GOOD in everything that she should wear cocktail dresses every day of her life. i hate her. Er, um, she's REALLY cool.)

[vicki]

FWIW, when I'm not sure about the dress range, I often end up taking a Chico's black travel-cloth tank and pants, with a couple of jackets--one is plain-jane black and the other is an almost identical one with a few sparklies on it. And the sparkly jacket isn't really even necessary, as you can dress their stuff up or down very easily with a few accessories.

I love Chicos travel stuff because you can lay it down in the road and let 18-wheelers drive over it and it's just fine. I seriously do. not. know. what they are doing to those molecules, but it is something Very Advanced. I love that you can just stuff it all any which way in your suitcase and as long as you make sure to hang it up when you get to the hotel, it looks fabu within a few hours! It's also machine washable and nearly as comfy as jammies. :D

i got my LCC banquet outfit there because what she sells is gorgeous burnt velvet stuff (capes, scarves) in unending ranges of color and knits to wear underneath.

Oooh--loove burnt velvet!

[Andi]

I love Chicos travel stuff because you can lay it down in the road and let 18-wheelers drive over it and it's just fine. I seriously do. not. know. what they are doing to those molecules, but it is something Very Advanced. I love that you can just stuff it all any which way in your suitcase and as long as you make sure to hang it up when you get to the hotel, it looks fabu within a few hours! It's also machine washable and nearly as comfy as jammies. :D

Oooh--loove burnt velvet!

This sounds exactly the way to think about packing for Bcon. You're spending several days in a hotel, remember, and you don't get to go home to your fluffy robe and bunny slippers. You'll be sitting and/or standing around a lot. Be comfortable.

I don't know Chicos but yes, this sounds ideal. I travel with stuff from "Deva" which is a long-time fave of mine. They do drawstring pants and tonics and tops, all from crinkly no-iron cottons and stuff that should not be ironed (they're what many folks would call a "hippie" sort of company but I've worn their stuff for YEARS and it's great to travel with.) and YES, the other stuff, sounds very Chicoesque. Jersey that never wrinkles and loves being rolled up into little balls.

Oh me too. I have 2 scarves that I use over very plain black stuff that makes me look positively elegant.