I’ve been hearing a fair amount of frustration with this year’s
World Fantasy Convention over various issues.
WFC was the first “world-level” convention I attended, more than a decade ago now. It was intimidating and overwhelming, but also fun and rewarding. Sadly, I won’t be at WFC in Brighton this month. Which could raise the question, “Why am I
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Having attended one WFC in the US, I foresee some major culture clashes, as this particular con committee have very Fixed Ideas about what/who is/is not wanted - and also despite the attempts at 'exclusivity' a fair few UK fans have signed up, thinking they're going to get something more akin to the usual UK FantasyCon which is a very different beast indeed.
I personally am appalled at the idea of charging for kaffeeklatches. However it is a fact that setting up anything like a US con suite in a UK hotel is impossible - more's the pity. Having made extensive use of such facilities in the US, I hate to think what visitors' reactions will be when they see Hilton Metropole prices. Fortunately Brighton is well supplied with much cheaper eateries.
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Frankly, if they don't want comics, they don't want me, because that's what I do. (I also do some other stuff, but comics are my primary outlet.) And if Maus, Watchmen, and Sandman am not literary enough for them, then I can cheerfully write them off. Probably a lot of very nice people are going, but I can hang out with them at other cons--I don't need to go where my art form is dismissed across the board as without literary merit.
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I LIKED the two WFCs I attended (more as artist than writer). I'm fine with WFC being a more professional con and setting up their panels and activities to reflect that, not having hall costumes or masquerades, movie rooms or other such fannish-side things. I'm fine with the art show entrants being juried to make sure they fit a minimum standard - I passed, so the bar isn't *too* high. I think the fact that they ALSO refuse to do writing workshops or pitch sessions somewhat .... undermines that premise, to my eye, and on their FAQ those are also strictly excluded due to the same "exclusivity" excuse.* But, well, it's their call what professional means when it comes to what happens at a convention, and I don't have a BIG issue with where they drew that line.
But, as you say, Cost ( ... )
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