Only one and a half months to go!

[louiselux]

I thought I'd better do my 'I'm going to Worldcon, does anyone want to meet up' post now so I can be organised rather than not. 

So, ahem: I'm going to Worldcon in Glasgow and does anyone want to meet up with me?

I've never been to a big con before, so am expecting to wander round in an info overload half the time and am also expecting to feel completely lost. I'm going with friends so won't be alone, but it'd be great to meet up with any of you, at any point. I would dearly love it, so drop me a comment here if you want to.

Comments

[weyrlady.livejournal.com]

I'll be there. ^^ It would be awesome to meet you.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

You will? Excellent!

What's your schedule? I'll be there basically from Thursday to Monday. Nearer the time I'll pass on my mobile number so we can arrange something.

[weyrlady.livejournal.com]

Don't know my schedule yet. ^^; I'll probably be there for the entire con and then some. I've never been to Scotland before, and I suspect my mother's going to turn it into a family vacation.

Er, right. I'm not sure I've mention this on my LJ recently, but fandom's kind of a family thing. My parents met at an SF con, and haven't ever stopped going. *g*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Aww, sweet!

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

I can't afford a hotel room, so am planning to commute through from Edinburgh for at least some of the time. Would love to meet up!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'll be there from Thursday to Monday - I think I'm staying in a room at the University. There's a tentative plan to have an LJ gathering on Thursday evening, but otherwise I'll be happy to meet up whenever. Nearer the time I'll send you my mobile number and real name so you can get in touch via the messageboard thingy.

[scribblemoose]

Enjoy your first con! It looks very exciting. I'd love to go to a sci-fi con some time; Dr Who has reawakened my sci-fi interest significantly of late.

And talking of cons...a re you going to Ayacon in August? (Forgive me if I've already asked you, my brain's a seive) If so, I'm going too and would love to meet up then. ^_^

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm expecting sci-fi overload for 5 days - should be fun:)

I was hoping to go Ayacon for a day - what days are you going to be there? It'd be excellent to meet up:D

[scribblemoose]

I'll be there the whole time, although we may slope off early on the Sunday to go to Warwick castle.;) The Saturday's probably going to be the best day, though. Just let us know and we'll arrange something. ^___^

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Actually this is good - it motivated me into registering! I'll be there Saturday from mid morning to early evening as I'll be commuting back to Reading.

[scribblemoose]

Yay!! Remind me nearer the time and I'll send you my mobile number so we can arrange to meet. arnheimsdomain (my man,) semishade, genkischuldich, guenhwyvarsmind, lipstickcat and auburnimp from my flist are planning on going too - not sure how many of them you know, but they're all lovely. *bounce bounce* I'm excited!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Me too! XD

[derryderrydown.livejournal.com]

I'm going!

I was originally getting a little worried that I'd only know the person I'm sharing a hotel room. It's rapidly being brought home that that's really not the case. *g*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That's excellent!

astolat mooted a tentative idea for a Thursday night meet up, but otherwise I'll be there till Monday. Nearer the time I'll get in touch with my mobile and real name so we can arrange things proper.

[sinick.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely be going. In fact D will be hosting the Australia in 2010 bid party. Hopefully we'll run into each other. How will I know you? I don't suppose you'll have Louise Lux on your con badge? :)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! What about nearer the time I'll mail you with my real name and we can arrange something? There's a noticeboard and box file with cards type arrangement where you can leave messages for people.

[sinick.livejournal.com]

Oh, of course! *facepalms* How could I possibly have forgotten Filthy Pierre's voodoo board?

I was so thrilled for him when he finally got a Hugo last year. He's been soldiering on at Worldcons for years and years, purely out of his own sense of duty, doing the vital, onerous, yet thankless tasks of organising the party lists and voodoo boards etc.

[weyrlady.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, he did? I hadn't heard about that! This is what comes of missing cons for silly things like "school".

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

So, is that the official name for it? *g* You sound like a veteran of Worldcons - if so, have you got any hot tips on how to get the best out of it?

[sinick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been to 'em all since Aussiecon III in 1999 (D was helping out at Program Ops for most of them; I was helping out at Green Room for Noreascon IV.)

As for how to get the best out of them, well that depends on what 'the best' is to you! If any of the program participants (http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/proglist.htm) interest you, make sure you check out the program book for them.

Kaffeeklatsches are easily overlooked by novice congoers because of their incomprehensible-if-you-don't-speak-German name, but they're well worthwhile. They're small (about a dozen or so) round-table chats with authors or artists: seats are strictly limited by number and go on a first-come-first-served basis, so sign up ASAP. Queueing may be necessary to sign up for kaffeeklatsches with the really big celebrities.

A lot of authors do readings of their (often unpublished) work as well as attending panels. Authors like Terry Pratchett pack out large auditoria for their readings, and rightly so.

If you're interested in large ceremonies, they always hold the award ceremony for the Hugos at the con. Me, I tend to skip that. The Masquerade's more fun to watch.

...But for me the real heart of any Worldcon is the parties held in the con hotels. These are of two basic types: privately-hosted parties and convention bid parties (hosted by the committees of various regional conventions, all competing for fans' voting support so they can host future Worldcons at their cities). Large numbers of people (often in 'hall-costumes': less elaborate/fragile/impractical/expensive/stainable than the ones competing in the Masquerade) circulate from one party suite to the other, for most of each night of a worldcon. Much eating, drinking and being merry ensues.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Um. I'm not going to Worldcon, but I am just across the way - if you've got a bit of free time (though preferably daytime and not evening) I could come through and meet up? Would like to.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That sounds excellent! I'd love to. I'll email you with my mobile number and we can arrange something.

[new-kate.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the first time I'm hearing about it, but I really want to go now, so if we manage to, I would so love to meet up.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That'd be so great!

It's August 4-8, which is pretty short notice though.