Panel suggestions are open!

[alpheratz]

We are now taking panel suggestions for CON.TXT 2021! Please read this post and comment with your suggestions using the template below.

We are making several changes to the panel proposal process this year:

1. Open versus Closed panels. This year, you will have a choice between submitting a panel proposal as Open or Closed. A Closed panel is a panel for which you are submitting the idea as well as the full lineup of mods. If the panel is accepted, the panels committee will not find you any additional co-mods.
   
   An Open panel is a panel you are asking the panels committee to put together—you propose the idea, and we assemble a panel out of the potential mods who volunteer. Every mod selected will be able to opt in or out of the final panel, but no mod will have veto power over co-mod assignment.*
   
   If you would like to have control over the mod lineup of the panel you are proposing to mod, we invite you to use the comments on this post to find co-mods and submit your panel as Closed. (Feel free to edit your proposal post if you fill up a panel before the deadline!)
   
   (*Just to be clear—if we assign you to a panel with someone you do not trust to adhere to the Code of Conduct, please let us know! Our goal is to streamline the panel selection process and simplify communication with mods, not to force you to work with anyone you don’t feel safe around.)
   
   
2. Prerecorded versus live content. While most panels will still be conducted live, we are offering two kinds of pre-recorded panels this year!
   
   
   1. Full-length prerecorded panels. What it says on the tin! This format is best-suited for How-to panels or other information-heavy panels involving a lot of screensharing, but we will consider proposals for prerecorded programming in all categories.
      
      
   2. Minipanels! We’re hoping to do at least one block of short (3–10 minute) prerecorded presentations—basically a big fannish knowledge party! This is a great place to pimp your fandom, share your favorite nifty facts, or rant about your pet peeve.
      
      
   Prerecorded panels and minipanels will be reviewed by the concom for usability and content in violation of the code of conduct, but they won’t go through the voting process. If you would like to submit a prerecorded panel or minipanel, please comment here to let us know. Then, submit your video to the programming committee by May 25. (We’ll make another post soon letting you know how!)

Also—not a change from last year, but a thing you may not have known—you can suggest vid shows! If you would like to VJ a vid show panel—or you think someone else should—suggest it here!

All attendees and those considering attending are welcome to suggest panels, regardless of whether or not you want to moderate. Most full-length panels are 50 minutes long but we have had panels run for a longer duration, so please note if you think your panel suggestion needs more time.

If you have an idea for a panel but don’t want to moderate it, no problem—suggest it as an Open panel! If you see an Open panel suggestion and would like to moderate it, drop a comment and volunteer.

Timeline
Now: Panel submissions are open!
Sunday, April 18 (11:59 pm EST): Panel submissions close.
Thursday, April 22: Panel voting opens!
Friday, May 7: Panel voting closes.
Early May: Notification of panel assignments.
May 25: Prerecorded panels and minipanels due.
Beginning of June: CON.TXT 2021 programming schedule posted on our website.
Mid-June: Virtual con instructions go out.
June 25-27: CON WEEKEND!

FAQ:
Q: What is a CON.TXT panel?
A: CON.TXT panels are typically discussions among all attendees, led by one or more moderators who have prepared a discussion outline. Some panels include a lengthier presentation by the moderator, and some are activity, workshop, or game panels. Most panels are 50 minutes long, but some are longer. This year, we are also scheduling blocks of 3–10 minute prerecorded minipanels.

Q: What is a good CON.TXT panel suggestion?
A: You want a catchy, yet informative title and a two- to four-sentence description that raises specific questions. Warn for spoilers if your panel will include them. Use a fannish in-joke or two! Say up front if the purpose of the panel is to attract newbies or to hold a detailed dissection of book eighteen in the series.

Q: Are you taking all suggestions?
A: We'll put all suggestions up for a vote by our attendees, and as many as possible will be scheduled. If your panel doesn't get in, you will have a chance to sign up for a DIY panel slot during the con.

Q: Won't voting eliminate smaller fandom panels?
A: We make sure to offer a wide range of panel topics, and the vote helps us choose among similar panels or decide which suggestions should be combined. It's not a strict numbers cut-off.

Q: What if someone else has already suggested something that I was going to suggest?
A: Panels can have more than one moderator. If they’ve suggested it as an Open panel, comment on their suggestion and offer to co-mod! If we receive panel suggestions that are substantially similar, we may reach out about combining the two ideas.

Q: How many panels can I suggest?
A: As many as you like! We won't schedule you to moderate more than three of them, though, so if they all make it through the voting process we'd appreciate your help in suggesting alternate moderators to take over your panel ideas.

Q: What if my friend wants to moderate this panel I'm suggesting?
A: That's fine; you can put your friend's name in as moderator and we'll consider it to be their suggestion. Please don't put people's names in without making sure they're willing!

Q: What if I suggest a panel now and then change my mind later on?
A: We'll check in with all potential moderators after voting to make sure you're still enthusiastic about the topic.

Q: Do I have to have a co-mod?
A: For this virtual con, you do at least need to have a tech mod—it’s just too much to ask one person to lead the whole discussion and manage muting and unmuting and chat on their own. However, if you’re sure you don’t want help leading discussion or presenting, you can submit a Closed panel of just yourself, and we will only assign a volunteer to help out as tech mod.

Q: How do I pick a category?
A: A Meta panel is one with a topic that's not tied to any particular fandom, although certain fandoms may be discussed or used as examples. A Multifandom panel has a topic that's common across several specific fandoms. A Single Fandom panel goes into depth in a particular fandom. An Activity panel can be something like a podfic recording session or a game of Pictionary. A How-to panel teaches attendees how to do something.

To propose a panel for CON.TXT 2021, please comment on this post with the following information:

Title: A Short Yet Interesting Title
Mod(s): The badge name(s) of interested moderator(s)—please list your own badge name if you would like to moderate
Open or Closed: Use “Open” if you would like the panels committee to assign mods to this panel. Use “Closed” if the co-mods named are prepared to mod the panel on their own.
Type: Full-length live panel, full-length prerecorded panel, 5-minute minipanel, or vid show.
Category: Meta, Multi-fandom, Single Fandom, Activity, How-to
Description: This is a longer description of the panel, which will be included in the con program. This should be as specific as you can be in a paragraph!
Other notes: These notes will not be part of the final listing for the panel and will not appear in the con program, but can include things like technology requirements or general thoughts on panel content which you'd like to flesh out in further comments.

To propose a change or expansion to an already-suggested panel or to volunteer as an additional moderator for one, please reply to the suggestion and not to the main post so that each panel's discussion is threaded. Note that if two suggestions seem very similar we may merge them into one, so check what's already been proposed before suggesting a new panel. If a similar idea exists, comment to ask if the original suggester wants to work with your ideas.

An example from 2018:

Title: Werewolf Torts and Undead Annuities 201
Mod(s): v_greyson & maralenenok
Category: Meta
Description: Do zombies get life annuities? Does a lawyer with a demonic possession have a conflict of interest? We’re back for Volume 2 of supernatural legal and actuarial hypotheticals! No prerequisites or required reading, just bring your questions about vampire life insurance and whether entering the fairy ring in the forest is actually a legally binding contract.
Other notes: We will not be providing legal, financial, or any other kind of advice.

Feel free to brainstorm away in the comments section!