Who's at Worldcon this week...and who's not? Also, my fannish birthday

[thatcrazycajun]

I am not going to be attending Denvention III, the 66th annual World Science Fiction Convention, which in one of those rare instances is not on Labor Day weekend this year but opening tomorrow. Just wondered which of my friends list members are going or already there, aside from those who have overtly mentioned such on their pages. Post here what your plans this week are. Also, discussion question: Has the Worldcon become financially out of range of the average fan? Opinions and venting welcome.

Oddly enough, this weekend also marks the 30th anniversary of the very first science fiction convention I ever attended, the fifth of the now-defunct Vul-Con series in New Orleans, LA on the second weekend of August, 1978. This was a primarily media-oriented con that took place at a hotel on Canal Street downtown that has changed hands and names more times than (insert your own simile here). It was one of those charming old-fashioned hotels with oddly-designed function spaces, little side corridors and nooks and crannies that made exploring it almost as interesting as the con itself. (Not quite as bad as Lunacon's famous Rye Town [Escher] Hilton, but up there.) Sadly, a quick check of Google Street View shows it looking boarded up and closed as of now. This was my introduction to the subculture that has formed the nucleus of what I laughingly refer to as my social life for two-thirds of my life now, and the source of many, many friends and acquaintances who have made my life immeasurably richer. (If you're reading this, the chances are very good that you're one of them.)

It would be nice to be able to afford the outrageous costs a Denvention trip would entail...but I am still saving for that almost-as-hideously expensive trip to Nairobi to see the Songbird. (Nearly $1800 for a round-trip plane fare, last I checked.) Oh, well, we have an even bigger convention coming up right here in Hotlanta just a few weeks from now...and all it will cost me is the membership plus parking and gas money.

Comments

[trektone.livejournal.com]

I'm here at Denvention!

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I'm at home.

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

I won't be at Denvention. Instead, this weekend I will be en route to Tampa with my froggy to see the sights and get together with friends and family.

I've left fandom a long time ago, my interest having faded. I heard Babelcon in Baton Rouge was a good one, though. Wish I could have gone.

Have fun at Dragoncon!

[hms42]

@ Denver - going to dinner right after I find the message about free net access.... Mariot wants to charge almost everywhere.

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

Won't be at WorldCon.

Have to be two places at nearly the same time, though,

My niece is getting married in the next state over. Then the next day, my new senior pastor is having his formal installation next door from my home.

The vagaries of the road and of fatigue will determine how many of these we attend.

[poltr1]

Nope. Staying at home again. Big cons or events just aren't interesting for me anymore. I prefer smaller, more intimate cons these days.

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

At home, though my two closest friends are at the con.

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

happy anniversary :)
i'll be missing ya at dragon con. we had our fun last week at the swannanoa gathering and got our filk fix at contata. that'll have to do for now, as joe has no vacation time left, we're out of funny money for now, and i'm headed to england in a month for gigs over there. i certainly don't feel deprived, just can't do everything!
(it can't be my imagination- does there or does there not seem to be more and more conventions of every kind- medical, SF, you name it- popping up like wildflowers?)

[ldwheeler.livejournal.com]

Worldcons are quite expensive, when you factor in registration, hotel, travel and incidental expenses like, uh, food -- even if one shows remarkable restraint in the dealer's room and thereabouts. So I skip 'em unless they're near enough to drive to in 3-10 hours and near friends and such so that I can combine the con and social trips. As such, the only Worldcons I've been to only been to the Millennium Philcon, Torcon and Noreascon. (I think that's what the Boston Worldcon was named. I also think we shared a hotel room for one night.) I like Worldcon -- while I'm fond of smaller, intimate cons like Confluence, I also enjoy the big gatherings-of-the-tribes every now and then -- but it's usually just not fiscally feasible. Now Montreal next year just might happen ...

[mrgoodwraith.livejournal.com]

Echo (echo echo)...I have had the same experience and share the same thoughts.

Yeah, you and I should plan on doing a roomshare at Anticipation (Montreal) next year, Dave, although we might have to split the room further to really afford it. But that time next year will certainly be interesting: I might be coming off a June with back-to-back weekend odysseys to Chicago (DucKon) and Boston (Concertino) and a July that adds to Confluence the weirdness that will be Anthrocon and the Mensa Annual Gathering (the Worldcon of Mensa) both happening in Pittsburgh on the same weekend a few blocks from each other. Hoo-eee...

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Plans? I didn't plan a bloody thing beyond going to the store tomorrow for orange juice. I do not expect to be anywhere near Denver at any time in the foreseeable future, Worldcon or otherwise. IF I'm extremely fortunate and can collaborate with friends, MAYBE I'll make it to Montreal next year. I have yet to attend a Worldcon beyond the Northeast Corridor. In fact, I've yet to attend a convention outside the Eastern Time Zone and I've been in Fandom 32 years.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

I am at home. The friend I went to Nippon2007 with is leaving today for Denver. I won't be doing Dragon*Con, but will instead be doing a Celtic festival up the road in Chickmauga.

As far as Worldcon being too expensive? Yes, it has. The best way to go is to share a room with several other people (which will save several hundred dollars), eat in the con suite (which also saves bucks), and fly coach (which I would not recommend if you're going, say, to Melbourne in 2010). For instance, for Nippon2007, the hotel for 4 nights was $1,074. Breakfast for 4 days was $20 (and got better after I went away from the dreaded Starbucks). Dinner was always pricey (because the convention facilities closed down at 6PM and you were forced to go elsewhere to eat and I wanted to experience Japanese food in Japan, which I did). The air fare was 140,000 frequent flyer miles (for flying in business class on Delta, Air France and Korean Air). The membership was $100 + the voting + the supporting at LACon3.

That being said, Denver is a whole lot cheaper (probably close to $1000 less than flying coach to Japan), the hotel rates are considerably less, and food costs are much less as well. Still, with me having limited vacation time during the year and using it extremely judiciously, doing Worldcon at any time other than Labor Day weekend isn't that good for me, as since I get Labor Day off, it makes things easier as far easier regarding my vacation time.

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

I'm here, sharing a room with happyfunpaul.