Readercon 19, 20, and 21

Last year was my first year at Readercon, even though I've lived insanely close to it for quite a number of years now. I can't even say I hadn't heard of it, because I was aware it was there at some point, but never motivated enough to figure out a way to go. Money and transportation were always issues though.

After Readercon 19, I felt.. dissastisfied, let down. Like it could have been more, but wasn't. I thought it was me. I knew I was comparing it with Wiscon, which is unfair because Wiscon is totally freaking awesome and outstanding compared to every other con I've been to. I thought maybe I was in the wrong headspace for it. Leaving work, heading down in an insanely complicated path involving at least 3 public transportation vehicles and possibly more, and then bam, being at a con. But being in Burlington at a con. Which is where I worked for about 8 months once upon a time.

So I thought my head was just in the wrong space the whole time and I hadn't gotten out of it. I mean, there were good points, certainly. Seeing Clarion classmates and instructors, attending interesting panels, shopping in the dealer's room and actually spending money because I was finally fulltime at work. It was good. It wasn't Wiscon, but it was good.

Now I've attended 2 Readercons. And I again have the same feeling. And I dunno.. yea, it's not Wiscon, but it's not.. any other con I've been to either. It wasn't.. fun?

I can point to specific things that contribute to its being rather sucky. In fact, I shall do so. Hotel -- no free shuttle to airport, no food within walking distance, no free wifi (and it's 3$/day more than last year!), sucky wifi even when you do pay for it, freezing cold rooms, unhelpful staff, unreliable shuttle to mall, problems with key card both years, and space for additional gripe to be named later when I think of it. Only one meal break, yet almost nonexistent programming at night. 55-minute panels, which aren't quite long enough for the Q&A to really get going.

But I don't know that it's any one thing. Changing the hotel would help a great deal, but.. would I be more involved? Because maybe that's it.. I feel more involved at Wiscon. I felt more involved at Shoujocon. Cuz, well, I was. Even my first year at Wiscon, I volunteered the first day I showed up. It was welcomed. It was encouraged. It was disorganized, but I was given something to do and I met a few people.

I know people at Readercon. I even recognized people this year that I saw last year. I didn't spend a whole lot of time talking to people though. And I can say that's me. I'm introverted. Given the choice of staying up 'til 3am and watching the end of Torchwood versus going downstairs and trying to find random people to talk to (because programming ended that day around 9 or 10), yea, I went with hanging out in the room and online. But I'm still me at Wiscon too. So why is it so much easier at Wiscon for me to talk with people and hang with people? The meal breaks?

There were some things at Readercon that I'd love to see at Wiscon. So Wiscon lacks some things that made my Readercon experience good. The kaffeeklatsches and the workshops primarily. The highlight of my Readercon 20 were the writer's block workshop with Barry Longyear, the kaffeeklatsche with Ellen Klages, the improv workshop with Ellen Klages, and even the rather non-sf/f not-really-to-my-taste reading by Samuel Delany will be something I remember for a long time. And the twittering. That was my first experience of twittering surrounded by others doing the same.

So how can I say Readercon is bad? It's not. But I still feel.. dissastisfied and let down. Like I could have had a lot more fun. Like my mind could have been blown a lot more. I've actually felt more engaged reading the discussions about Readercon 21, than I felt engaged at Readercon 20.

It can't be me. So, sorry to say, it's you, Readercon. At the very least, it's your hotel.

I'll have thoughts about the Readercon 21 plans once the promised FAQ goes up on the website. ATM, it does not sound promising.