Panel suggestions are open!
Mar. 23rd, 2021 05:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alpheratz posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
con_txtWe 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:
- 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.) - Prerecorded versus live content. While most panels will still be conducted live, we are offering two kinds of pre-recorded panels this year!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
no subject
Date: 2021-03-25 05:32 pm (UTC)Mod(s): Noxelementalist, whoever else is up for it
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: Meta
Description: Now that we're living in the so-called "Golden Age" of TV, it's easier than ever to find and revisit the fandoms you thought nobody else remembered or got around to seeing. so let's talk about some of these "lost but not forgotten" fandoms who are just waiting for the right folks to find it again- rare shows/rare pairing shippers welcome!
Other notes: Not really? Experience shows this depends a lot on how extroverted people are that day. Too few and it becomes like a series of mini-panels pimping fandoms. Many and it can be a fun conversation.
Title: You're Tearing Me Apart Lisa!
Mod(s): needs more of a host than a mod, but whomever
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: activity
Description: Need to unload? Feel like indulging your inner bad movie fan? Come join us for a showing of the so-called "Citizen Kane" of bad movies, Tommy Wiseau's 2003 flick, The Room. Note: while all participation is virtual, a viewer participation guide will be provided for those who want to play along.
Other notes: bring a sense of humor. I'm okay with substituting Rocky Horror in place of this flick if needed. The easiest viewer guide for the room I can find at this time is available at http://www.kristianfletcher.com/THEROOM_viewersguide.pdf (we'd likely modify it some).
Title: Bring Your Fandom to Work
Mod(s): whoever wants it? I can mod, but see "Other"
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: Meta
Description: It's always that one detail about your job/school/hobby that throws you out of a story. It's time for you to share your expertise to save a writer! Bring your pet peeves that Everyone Gets Wrong in fic, and show us how it's really done.
Other notes: Personally I think it's helpful to rotate mods/get different professions in the room. The larger bit though is to make sure a list of the peeves is shared out later (last year this got kinda wiped out between those who posted in chat vs in Discord).
Title: Canon Tea and Coffee Shop
Mod(s): ...not sure you'd need a formal mod so much as a host?
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: Activity
Description: Feeling a little overwhelmed from the other panels and just want to unwind for a bit? Well break out the beverage of your choice, kick back, and chat with fans about how their con and life is going!
Other notes: I'm labeling it with tea and coffee because I want to be sensitive to any AA folks out there and not force folks to be drunk/drinking alcohol.
[Note: following inspired by that one Twitter post of 2005 ConneXions' program]
Title: Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
Mod(s): whoever
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: Multi-fandom
Description: From Harry Potter and BBC Merlin to Guardian and MCU, magic gets used and intermingled A LOT with possible sexy times. But what complications or advantages does magic bring into relationships, and how do we dissect an existing magic system so we can use it believably in canon?
Other notes: Content-wise I'd like to see this panel discuss both the ways magic is and is not used with character consent, though I'd leave the balance up to the mods.
Title: Can Fandom be Healthy?
Mod(s): Whoever
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel or full-length prerecorded panel
Category: ...How-to??
Description: a lot of fandom can be pretty sedentary, and fandom is often a place of escape for those in rough mental well-being. How can we as fandom help to promote a better sense of physical and mental well-being given this?
Other notes: i'd appreciate mods be body positive folks.
Title: Who Watches the Watchers?
Mod(s): whoever, though I don't mind modding if needed
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: Multi-fandom
Description: Spirituality and Religion can be a huge thing in a show's canon, from characters becoming or getting confused for divinities and vice versa (think: Xena, Buffy, BBC Merlin, Supernatural, Star Trek, etc.). How do we best depict these values in fanworks, and how do our own "faith backgrounds" impact this?
Other notes: I would *greatly* appreciate a mix of mods, at least 1 of whom *isn't* Christian, if possible, because content-wise you'll have a large range of beliefs and backgrounds to work with.
Title: The Other Closet
Mod(s): whoever
Open or Closed: Open
Type: Full-length live panel
Category: ... How-to?
Description: Even in today's world there can be an...awkward moment when you have to tell someone "hey, I am totally into Steve and Bucky boning." So who, and how, do you tell folks you're into slash? Is this a first date conversation, or should a ring be put on it first? And should your parents, siblings, coworkers, etc., EVER find out?
Other notes: bring a sense of humor?