Wiscon 34 - Overall Thoughts

This may sound like a final post on the subject of Wiscon 34, but I hope it's not. I have more to say. It's just that work has begun to eat me again. I've even signed up to work on Sunday!!

I spent Wiscon 34 doing a lot. I deliberately didn't bring my netbook into panels, so I'd pay more attention. I took notes on some panels, but not on others.

I felt like there was a lot of simultaneous programming at certain blocks (including when my panels/reading were scheduled!) and scarce programming at other times. So it seemed like the panels that were most interesting to me were scheduled opposite each other. While at other times, I felt like I could sleep in without missing anything, or that by making a choice, I was just making do.

Never getting to all the panels you want to is always a problem at Wiscon. I just felt like it was moreso this year.

Were there any gender panels? I don't think so. And by 'gender panels', I don't really mean 'women in this' or 'girls in that', but specifically addressing gender as a topic. Judging the Tiptree was the closest thing. Which is, well, about gender, but focused specifically on specific works. Only one of which (Ooku) I'd read. If there were any panels on intersex, transgender, genderbending, etc, etc, I never saw them.

I felt the two panels I was on went well. I'm afraid the two might start to conflate in my head, as they were both in the same room and on closely related topics.

Is your third Wiscon the Wiscon where you start to feel like you know everyone? I went from knowing a couple of people and recognizing names from books and the internet to recognizing faces without names, to being in a room with a random assortment of people and knowing who a number of them were. I could recognize Wiscon people at the airport or walking around Madison. (And not just because they were wearing their con badges.) I felt like I talked more and was more.. socially engaged. I even initiated a conversation or two.

Staying in the Governor's Club was weird. I felt like I should take advantage of the free food and the lounge space. But there was so much going on, and free food to be had other places (consuite, parties) and it's hard to turn down a lunch or dinner invitation with cool people. I'll probably write more on the Governor's Club later.

I didn't think I'd buy a lot of books, but I did buy a fair amount. Over 100$. It all fit in my luggage though, so that's good. Look for a post with my list of books, soon.

Arriving on Thursday and leaving on Monday, while also taking Tuesday off, does seem like the way to go for a Wiscon. Although I might think differently if/when I have books to sign at SignOut. Then, the extra day might be nice. Or if I'm silly enough to join the concomm in some capacity.

On more than one occasion, we wondered why more of our Clarion classmates don't/didn't come to Wiscon. They'd all be welcome, and I think they'd all enjoy it. Even if it would suit some of them more than others. And, seriously guys, we're not worth going to Wisconsin to see?!

Being on two or three programming items seems about right. It does help me meet more people and feel more plugged into the con to be on a panel. Any more than that, though, and I wouldn't feel free to go and do and see everything I might want to. (Even if I'll never go and do and see everything I want to.)

Panels and sleep again proved more attractive than parties to me. Though I did appreciate the Vid Party. I'm not good at talking in a large crowd. Watching music videos though, that I can do. I just wish I'd been more familiar with the source material of the ones I was there for.

So, yea, good con. I think I'm starting to realize that every Wiscon is going to be different. And that I'm going to get different things out of it each time. And maybe this time it wasn't lots of cool ideas from the panels, but more of the fun and the socializing. Weird, huh? Who knew?