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The SFX Weekender (Partially) Remembered
So if we're looking for a British version of San Diego Comic Con, or, more realistically, Dragoncon, I think we might just have made a start. Those events are Stateside media spectacles, growing out of comics and gaming respectively. But now the former at least is much more about Hollywood. They attract enormous crowds for their guests from TV and film, and comics, gaming and now literary guests follow to where the audience is. The SFX Weekender, held from Friday lunchtime until the early hours of Sunday morning last weekend, at Pontins in Camber Sands, was an attempt to replicate the concerns of SFX Magazine onstage, and thus it incidentally mimicked the profile of those huge events, but this time from the outset. There were actors with big cult followings, big name comics creators, an area for gamers, an anime lounge, and far more high profile SF and fantasy literature guests than the core audience might strictly have thought of as necessary. The blending of those audiences was the most interesting feature of the weekend, especially since, with the autograph queue in the main convention hall, there was a welcome amount of non-deliberate exposure. For example, those queuing early for James Marsters' or Tom Baker's signature would find themselves watching a panel about the Gemmell Awards, or China Mieville talking about writing for young adults.
(Photo by Jason Arnopp.)
Oh, and I got my copy of Vworp Vworp! which as you saw in the previous entry, was some consolation as I collapsed without doing a Ten Things from the convention. That plan needs a re-think. Until later this week, Cheerio!
The format suited me down to the ground. I found myself with a foot in all three of my worlds, talking about books, comics and writing for television. The actors most often appeared in the Main Void area, a vast central space which also housed the dealers, but with acoustics that meant everyone could hear everything.
The special effects people and those with TV episodes to introduce (and well done SFX for getting the next episodes of Supernatural and Being Human) were in an excellent screening area, about half the size, but again well equipped. And the authors, to the consternation of some, were mainly in The Slaughtered Lamb, a Pontins pub with crap beer, with a stage the like of which 'turns' would normally do five minutes on, done up rather nicely in an occult fashion. Unfortunately, when this area filled up with people, while those on stage could still hear themselves, those at the back of their audience couldn't hear the guests, meaning that the size of the crowd who were there to listen to the panel tended to be self-limiting. And unlike in the main area, passing trade wasn't acoustically encouraged to tune in to what was on. I gather that the Gaming Area was what those who came along for that were after, but the Anime Lounge, a great idea, seemed empty most of the time, perhaps because that was the one group of fans SFX had failed to make successful outreach to.
The special effects people and those with TV episodes to introduce (and well done SFX for getting the next episodes of Supernatural and Being Human) were in an excellent screening area, about half the size, but again well equipped. And the authors, to the consternation of some, were mainly in The Slaughtered Lamb, a Pontins pub with crap beer, with a stage the like of which 'turns' would normally do five minutes on, done up rather nicely in an occult fashion. Unfortunately, when this area filled up with people, while those on stage could still hear themselves, those at the back of their audience couldn't hear the guests, meaning that the size of the crowd who were there to listen to the panel tended to be self-limiting. And unlike in the main area, passing trade wasn't acoustically encouraged to tune in to what was on. I gather that the Gaming Area was what those who came along for that were after, but the Anime Lounge, a great idea, seemed empty most of the time, perhaps because that was the one group of fans SFX had failed to make successful outreach to.
Starting the weekend with dancers dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein leaping around to metal, and then disrobing into something more comfortable, said something about the nature of the expected audience. Nobody was expected to be embarrassed. This is just for us, and we're allowed to have noisy fun. That, I assume, is equally the mark of the other audiences which the organisers and venue cater for, weekenders for Northern Soul and Heavy Metal followers, etc. Which suited the Torchwood Girls, but made the older, more bullied fandoms ill at ease. Following the Twitter feed during and after the event, I think it'd be fair to say that a large majority of the (often new to conventions, often not identifying as a fan of anything in particular) crowd enjoyed it a great deal, but that the venue was a great deal more negatively received. I think some of that was about the cleanliness of the chalets (although mine was spotless, if simply functional) and venue spaces, but equally some of it was about doing geekery in the very domain of the Not We, the land of Normal People.
To some, I'd guess that this never felt like a safe space. But I'd like to point out that the staff in my experience were, every single one, very polite, with none of the patronisation that some groups of fans get from the workers in some hotels. Indeed, the bar security guard got into it, helping my team out in the quiz, and keeping order by being friends with as many people as possible. What was equally important was that the dancers and such weren't a cheap gesture towards mainstream entertainment: they moved through the crowd all weekend, on stilts, or in zombie outfits, having obviously rehearsed a dozen different very SF-specialist displays. In short, this wasn't the mainstream nodding to us via their previously-established format, it was our culture written into the mainstream. Beforehand, I wondered if ancient rockers Dumpy's Rusty Nuts and cheesy DJ Pat Sharp would draw any audience at all. But I heard that a good time was had with them. After geeky comedy from John Cooper and Toby Hadoke, this new breed of cross-polinated fan would quite like a bit of a dance, and they don't necessarily need a geek DJ.
To some, I'd guess that this never felt like a safe space. But I'd like to point out that the staff in my experience were, every single one, very polite, with none of the patronisation that some groups of fans get from the workers in some hotels. Indeed, the bar security guard got into it, helping my team out in the quiz, and keeping order by being friends with as many people as possible. What was equally important was that the dancers and such weren't a cheap gesture towards mainstream entertainment: they moved through the crowd all weekend, on stilts, or in zombie outfits, having obviously rehearsed a dozen different very SF-specialist displays. In short, this wasn't the mainstream nodding to us via their previously-established format, it was our culture written into the mainstream. Beforehand, I wondered if ancient rockers Dumpy's Rusty Nuts and cheesy DJ Pat Sharp would draw any audience at all. But I heard that a good time was had with them. After geeky comedy from John Cooper and Toby Hadoke, this new breed of cross-polinated fan would quite like a bit of a dance, and they don't necessarily need a geek DJ.
I certainly enjoyed the panels I was on. I was with James Moran and Toby Hadoke on 'Has Doctor Who been good or bad for SF?', which perhaps could have done with someone putting another side to the debate, because, as big Who geeks, we certainly weren't going to. Dave Gibbons, Al Ewing and I talked about the road from comics to films, Dave being as friendly and down to earth as always. (Every report about meeting this man has to confirm, for some reason, that Hollywood Hasn't Changed Him and I'm proud to continue that fine tradition.) I shared a stage with Mark Charan Newton and Paul Kane, talking about spinoffery, and one with Toby Whithouse, Matthew Bouch and James once more, on writing for TV, which turned into mostly me scaring Toby with my love for Being Human.
(Photo by Jason Arnopp.)But my favourite panel of the weekend was a purely SF one, as myself, Peter F. Hamilton and Mark once again, with audience contributions from Richard Morgan and Justina Robson, and others in a very involved crowd, talked about the differences between British and American SF.
(Photo by Julie Crisp.)
It was the sort of intense, learned debate that you get at an Eastercon or a Worldcon, and it made me feel very warm about the whole weekend that we could get to that point at the very first event of this kind, at the same moment Spike from Buffy was making girls faint in the room next door. The existence and upkeep of this literary thread seemed to be down to the efforts of SFX editor Dave Bradley, who ran about all weekend, fixing stuff, while always keeping the prose at the centre of his efforts.
(Photo by Julie Crisp.)It was the sort of intense, learned debate that you get at an Eastercon or a Worldcon, and it made me feel very warm about the whole weekend that we could get to that point at the very first event of this kind, at the same moment Spike from Buffy was making girls faint in the room next door. The existence and upkeep of this literary thread seemed to be down to the efforts of SFX editor Dave Bradley, who ran about all weekend, fixing stuff, while always keeping the prose at the centre of his efforts.
With SF authors in play, publishers and agents were there too, so I spent my evenings at dinners and parties, again in a properly Worldcon way. The Tor imprint had rented a holiday cottage, where editor Julie Crisp, her efficient and glamourous staff, and four of their authors all stayed. So on Sunday night, me and my agent and Tom Lloyd (stolen from the night from Gollancz, causing Joe Abercrombie to yell 'traitor' at him as we left) went over and had dinner and good conversation with Mark Charan Newton, Peter Hamilton, Adrian Tchaikovsky and China Mieville, who spent the evening drawing sketch requests on postcards. Then we played a pop trivia game, and, what can I say, my Pop Fu is better than Mark Charan Newton's.
So I missed the Awards, at which I gather there were some big announcements and guest appearances, as befits an Awards show. I gather that Forbidden Planet did good business (though only having a few other dealers there was a bit of a shame), that attendance numbers were as big as expected, and that while autograph queues were long, the actors signing were kept happy enough to keep going and spend time with everyone. Saturday's main venue block of Tom Baker, Gerry Anderson, Elisabeth Sladen and Gareth David-Lloyd (with Jeff Wayne on the other stage) was as audience-pleasing as one might have hoped. And the sweat on the brows of the organisers said they'd put every effort in. Maybe the non-actor guests could have been welcomed and looked after just a tad more, but it's off the way of these things that if your lead actors are happy, the audience is happy. In short, it's a bit of a surprise that the first go at this sort of thing went so well. I'm sure the organisers will learn from the effort, that teething problems will be sorted, and that next year, as long as fans can transform Pontins rather than be oppressed by it, we can look forward to an even bigger cross-cultural melding.
So I missed the Awards, at which I gather there were some big announcements and guest appearances, as befits an Awards show. I gather that Forbidden Planet did good business (though only having a few other dealers there was a bit of a shame), that attendance numbers were as big as expected, and that while autograph queues were long, the actors signing were kept happy enough to keep going and spend time with everyone. Saturday's main venue block of Tom Baker, Gerry Anderson, Elisabeth Sladen and Gareth David-Lloyd (with Jeff Wayne on the other stage) was as audience-pleasing as one might have hoped. And the sweat on the brows of the organisers said they'd put every effort in. Maybe the non-actor guests could have been welcomed and looked after just a tad more, but it's off the way of these things that if your lead actors are happy, the audience is happy. In short, it's a bit of a surprise that the first go at this sort of thing went so well. I'm sure the organisers will learn from the effort, that teething problems will be sorted, and that next year, as long as fans can transform Pontins rather than be oppressed by it, we can look forward to an even bigger cross-cultural melding.
Labels:
Adrian Tchaikovsky,
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Peter F. Hamilton,
SFX Weekender,
Toby Whithouse,
Tor Books
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My favourite panel of the weekend was the SF one as well - just the kind of panel I love. Shame it was so difficult to hear what with it being in the pub.
Ah well, next time!
Well said.
Whilst my main reason for attending were the "big name" guests - namely Gareth David Lloyd - I must say that my Weekender highlights were the authors and the panels. I shared you concerns with the sound quality in the Slaughtered Lamb - even after your microphone was turned on. Good idea and concept, just needs thinking through.
The chalets were grim, but to be expected from Pontins.
I may attend next year, but I am going to need good quality guests and reassurances that mistakes have been learnt from.
It's always interesting to read about new variations on congoing in this country. I recently researched and wrote an article on the 1944 Eastercon for the 16th issue of Peter Weston's RELAPSE (which will soon join previous issues online at eFanzines.com) and I'm fascinated by how strong the fannish urge to gather and celebrate our shared interests is, even within weeks of D-Day.
It will be the 80th birthday of SF fandom in the UK this year - on
27th October to be exact. Long may it continue.
- Rob Hansen
I thoroughly enjoyed your talk and panels, but have to say that you are mistaken in thinking that the Main Void had "acoustics that meant everyone could hear everything".
There are plenty of comments on the SFX forum about the poor sound system and noise from the dealers/costumers/autograph queue drowning out the talk. My favourite tale is the couple who missed Tom Baker's talk, because they were still waiting in the long queue for his autograph!
I fortunately had a seat near the stage most of the time, so it wasn't generally an issue for me, But one time I left to get a particular autograph, figuring I'd still be able to hear Liz Sladen on stage, and couldn't hear a thing!
Thanks, all. Viv: ta! Sarah: I think, from the quality of the organiser involvement, that they were learning lessons, particularly about the autograph queues, even on the day. Rob: I'm really interested in early UK fandom. What was the very first event? Anon: I've seen similar posts on the SFX forum. My experience was that, when one of the big guests was on, I could walk around right at the back of the audience and hear everything. Is it that, if you were sat down on the side next to the autograph queue, that drowned the guest out? Or couldn't you hear from within the queue itself? (I don't do autograph hunting, so I never experience that side of things.)
I think both organisers and attendees will have learnt a lot, and we will all have a better idea what to expect next year.
Would be good to see writers appearing more prominently at other events to like Collectormania etc as opposed to purely stars.
Paul, during Liz Sladens talk I was standing at the back of the short 'VIP' queue which ran behind the tables at the right side of the hall, near the bars. It wasn't actually that far from the stage. This queue, despite its name, actually moved at a slower than a snails pace, so much so that at one point I left it to try to catch some of the talk, and found that I actually had to stand very close to edge of the seated rows area to be actually able to hear everything clearly. Unfortunately I couldn't stand there long as I had to return to the queue as they were closing it off, so missed most of the talk.
Interesting point about authors and Collectormania! We're actually in discussions with the organisers to have Tor UK authors appear there this year - and Sci Fi London and the London Expo as well! Watch this space...
Well maybe not this exact space!
Paul - I think Mark's still sore at you beating him at the Playstation music game. A rematch may be on the cards!
Sarah: there's an answer from one who knows! Anon: ah, I think I was wrong in assuming the sound went out at the edges. But it did reach the back of the hall facing the stage. Julie: that's all good news. And tell Mark I'll take him on any time. Only, don't make it sound as flirtatious as that.
Since you asked, Paul, 27th October 1930 was the inaugural meeting of our first ever fan group, the Ilford Science Literary Circle. It was started by Walter Gillings, who went on to edit the first British SF prozine, TALES OF WONDER. UK fan history is the main focus of my website:
www.fiawol.org.uk/FanStuff/
so if you're interested in the early days click on the link to my history of the period which relates how the various groups scattered around the country gradually coalesced into a national fandom. Clicking on the Archive link will take you to a pile of stuff, including accounts of the Ilford Science Literary Circle meetings. Gillings wrote these up for his local newspaper and I put them online a few months ago. It was a different world in 1930, I tell you.
The fanzine RELAPSE I mentioned earlier is devoted to fan history and it's editor, Peter Weston, is doing sterling work contacting the few survivors from the early days, unearthing period photos not seen for decades, and generally helping fill in some of the gaps.
- Rob Hansen
i had a great weekend - writers' panels and talks were largely what had attracted me in the first place and i wasn't disappointed - the slaughtered lamb was reminiscent of the 'poems and pints' nights of my youth
Well I hope to see authors at Collectormania this year then!! I was lucky enough to Crew at Collectormania London last November and had a blast. Fingers crossed I get asked again, and that there are some quality guests.
Rob: that's great stuff. I love 'first fandom'. That's where I want to be when I'm eighty, blinking through the Hugo ceremony in a huge beard. Ani: it was a bit poetry slam, wasn't it? Sarah: I think authors at events like that is the way forward.
The authors and panels were the main draw for my husband and me, as well. I was a little disappointed with the pub-stage, as I had trouble hearing whoever was on unless I was seated close to the stage (thanks to background noise and wonky acoustics), but the talks were really stimulating. The US/UK SFF panel, and the YA fiction panel the next morning, were particularly fascinating - and clearly could have gone on for hours more. What was particularly wonderful about the ever-so-slightly haphazard pub setup, though, was the chance to rub shoulders with the authors over a pint or two all weekend. For book geeks like us, it was a very rewarding experience.
I'm glad to hear it. Having so many people there who were into the prose was a pleasant surprise.