FedCon USA

[paraka]

So, as some of you might have heard me squee about, I am at Fedcon USA this weekend.

I'd like to say it's going well, but when we got there this morning, they announced that it was canceled.

Yeah.

Comments

[argosy.livejournal.com]

*speechless*

*pets*

[paraka]

I've... never heard of something like this happening before.

[aurora]

Oh shit. I'm sorry. :( :(

[paraka]

I just can't believe that this could happen.

[ana-grrl.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what this con is, but seriously, WTF? Who just cancels a con on the day it starts? Fucked up.

[paraka]

God I've been googling and following forum conversations, and it's just making me pissed off so much.
FedCon is actually a German convention that has been going on for years (like 16 or something) and they lent their name to the US one. Back in *January* the German side of things pulled out in everything but the name, and so many people were coming to this con based on the name, actors and fans alike. Now Fedon Germany is going around everywhere making really condescending posts saying that they are in no way the same as FedCon USA and it was a mistake to let them share their name.
No shit Sherlock. You should have made more of an effort back in *January* to make this clear.

[itsjustkristen.livejournal.com]

That just sucks! I'm sorry!

[paraka]

Yeah. I've gone to a few cons before, but they were always in Toronto, this was supposed to be my first big one. :(

yea I know

[dean-and-lauren.livejournal.com]

we flew out here from Philly to promote my dad's book

Escape 2 Earth

http://escape2earth.com

I think it was really jerky of them to not let the guests know first. People we're walking in apologizing to us and we had no idea why.

Re: yea I know

[paraka]

I think it was really jerky of them to not let the guests know first. People we're walking in apologizing to us and we had no idea why.
Wow, that's horrible. I know they told some of the guests first because when the announcement was made I was standing with Garret Wang and I thought they were joking. But they kept talking about how the show was canceled so I turned to Garret and asked if he knew, and he said they were told about 20 minutes before.

[keewick.livejournal.com]

That's awful.

*hugs*

[paraka]

Thanks, we're trying to make the best of it, and actually Paul McGillion, who I had been going to the con to see, called us from, I think on set between takes, and did a 20 minute Q&A over the phone for a few of us, so that was pretty awesome.

[his-spiffyness.livejournal.com]

This is a mess. This is defintely the worst con story I've heard in ten or so years I've been going to these things.

[paraka]

I'm just super annoyed because this was supposed to be my first big con (I've gone to some small local ones, but never one so big as this was supposed to be) and I flew down from Canada. I had a friend with me that had never gone to a con before, and after this one never wants to go to one again. :(

[his-spiffyness.livejournal.com]

I'm real sorry to hear about that. Did you pre-pay for the tickets? If so I'd be on the horn with your credit card company telling the to reverse the charges.

[paraka]

Yeah, thank god I bought it with a credit card.

[fencon.livejournal.com]

My name is Michael Nelson, and I am part of the Executive Committee for FenCon (with an N), a Dallas-based, non-profit, literary science fiction convention.

Our organization - the Dallas Future Society, which holds FenCon (www.fencon.org) - is in no way, shape or form associated with FeDConUSA.

We first heard about that organization last year, and were somewhat taken aback that they had chosen a name so close to ours, seeing as we had been in existence for over four years at that time.

We are working on a press release which we plan to send to as many SF related information sources as possible to explain that this similarity in names should not reflect on our organization or convention.

FenCon prides itself on being a successful, non-profit, fan-run convention, which is operated in a professional manner. We always strive to show the highest respect to both our guests and members.

If you feel the need and have opportunity to spread this information to other SF professionals or fans, we would greatly appreciate the effort. As you know, a convention such as ours relies heavily on word of mouth, and any negative implications can be unintentionally damaging.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael Nelson

[paraka]

Ummm, I'm not even American so don't really have anyone to spread the news about your con to, but thank you for the PSA.

[kronos999.livejournal.com]

Jees, that is of the suck. I read something about this on another blog, but didn't realize that you were already there when you found out. WTF.

[paraka]

God, if only they had done the right thing and canceled it a week ago. They were planning on passes bought at the con to get them through the weekend. Well, day passes and not actually buying plane tickets for the actors to come on.

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I just read about this on the HLWW yahoo group. This sucks for those, like you, who actually turned up expecting a convention, to find this waiting instead.

[paraka]

I just... there are no words.

[(Anonymous)]

I have opened up my forum for people to have a single unbiased gathering place to discuss what happened and where things go from here.

Please spread the word to everyone who attended and let them know they can go there and talk to others in the same boat.

Disclaimer: I have no connection to any event, FedCon or otherwise. This website is brand new and isn’t even ready for public release yet but I thought this issue was important enough to make it available to you.

I’m also willing to help out with free advertising on the site for those vendors who are out of pocket because of the whole mess


http://fannishinquisition.com