Ok so I am awake after a few hours sleep cause this #FanCon situation got me fucked up. I was hopeful till I saw the Statement & FAQ that went up last night. It’s at the site if you haven’t read it. [Thread]
So first off, full disclosure. @INeedDivGms was an affiliate organization to the event. I then joined as staff on the Interactive Events Division. (Gaming) My hotel was supposed to be covered. I was doing panels as well, so that’s out in the open
As for the postponement, I found out not much before the Kickstarter backer email went out due to the Hyatt cancelations & folks breaking that on twitter.
I had gotten a Hyatt cancelation as well but saw the email after things went to hell in a hand-basket. I was trying to wait on a statement from FanCon before I shared tweets etc. Once the KS email went out, well y’all saw how things imploded.
I still held out hope a good statement was coming. Hours passed, we saw Robert’s short thread. Which was not good. But everyone was already coming at him, so I let that go; still waiting on a statement.
I shared folks tweets, etc. It’s the very least I could do while waiting along with everyone else. Then...around 10:45 pm my time a statement and FAQ rolled out. Y’all...
I cannot get behind it. I know folks who worked on it, I have put my orgs name out there as supporting this event and put some time into helping where I could but that statement & FAQ? That was a big no from me.
First off, no one cares one bit that organizers are put out too. No one, cause that’s a cost of doing business to attend the convention you’re putting on. It’s dismissive AF & minimizes the damage to others.
I fucking talked people into attending FanCon, because I believed in the mission. A con where folks usually left out of the conversation could present on topics important to them. I’m so sorry y’all.
But that’s not all, and I say this as someone who knows how much work goes into a convention; so I have an idea of how much work it is to do this. The scope got away from folks. First year event mistake.
But, that doesn’t excuse holding out until the last moment to postpone. This is too close to not have *something* happen as FanCon. I know popup spaces are being sought per tweets I saw yesterday.
But that means very little to folks who can’t just eat the cost of a flight. Or if they have merch ordered and possibly waiting at the former venue. That’s why the no refund & next FanCon part of the FAQ made me upset.
I don’t know about the finances part of the con, never was my purview. So don’t ask me. But I’ve seen a lot of chatter about class action suits & refunds. Can’t fault folks wanting money back.
I I know goodwill has been lost. I can’t say that I’d give money again (I only backed the KS for $5). Mostly cause I’m usually walking a fine financial line; but it’s the trust that’s gone.
I say that knowing full well organizers of the con follow me & will see it. But folks have had their $ messed with, vacation time used and time lost. I can’t stand by the no refund part of this.
There is the issue of how this will affect anyone who tries to put together a convention like this in the future. This isn’t just about FanCon, this is a ripple effect that will touch future events.
I don’t know what’s going to happen next regarding next weekend. I know some folks who can’t cancel flights are still going. They plan to make the best of a bad situation. I’ll boost the fuck out of folks who need it to recoup $
I’ll share any updated info I see coming from official FanCon channels. I can offer advice if this can be salvaged into an event happening in the near future. I hope it does happen in some way because so many sunk time, $ & work
Into this event being great, inclusive and something for a community of marginalized folks who don’t get to be the assumed audience at most conventions.
Now off to have some strong ass ☕️ get this proposal re-written for another conference & do laundry. Strength & peace to folks hit hard by this postponement. You’re not alone. 🙏🏾✊🏾
Folks have been super kind with sending money to my personal PayPal & INDG as well. Please go help others that are out a lot more $ & can’t cancel their flights, etc. I know @Official_BGG Founder @supadupacurl got hit hard with the £ to $ exchange & can’t cancel
Or check out various threads stemming from @Karnythia’s thread yesterday. The #FanCon tag has folks who are sharing their shops, etc. There’s a virtual artist alley set up too.
