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Uncon 2009 - the "official" suggestions thread

More opportunities to meet up and socialise, because the lecture's don't leave lot's of time for socializing.

It would be nice if things didn't just stop dead at 5'o'clock in the evening, on the Saturday night. a longer bar, movies and the like, as a possibility, so that we don't all have to disappear into the night and go our separate ways.

And a 'Fortean Times Message Board Message Board', of some description, where we could all meet up, too. I met some great FTMB'ers this year, but I'm sure I missed loads, too.
 
In fact, we looked at doing an evening event this year, but it proved impossible to organise in time.

Would people be interested in a distinct, ticketed evening event? This would cost money both for us to put on and for you to attend, so we would have to be sure of interest in advance. We were thinking of something far looser and more sociable than UnCon proper - perhaps live music, screenings, cabaret acts and so on in a venue with food and drink and a more pubby/clubby atmosphere.

If there appears to be enough support for this sort of idea we will look into it for next time.

DS
 
Please, not a disco. :lol:
 
escargot1 said:
Please, not a disco. :lol:
I once went to a Comics & SF Convention, where they showed films and rare TV series all night. That was good. Doctor Who and the Ice Warriors, at 3'o'clock, in the morning. But, there was rather less of a rigorous lecture schedule. :)
 
All of the above, with cheap food and cheap drink. I think screenings of cult films and TV series sound good, I'll never get around to watching these sorts of things otherwise and it sounds fun to catch up on these things with fellow forteans.
 
A separately ticketed event would probably be best for people who might have partners that aren't attending the Con proper, but might want to come for movies/performances/whatever. Include it in the cost of the weekend ticket, but sell it separately for day ticket holders, and non attendees.

This would be a good place to put things like the Burlesque, or the Cthulhu film from 2006.

As I said on the other thread, WiFi access for attendees would be good. And some kind of forum for announcements and chatting.
 
10-15 mins between lectures would be good. Less of a scramble and less chair-scraping and footsteps for the the first 10 mins of a presentation.

As mentioned elsewhere, more stalls or an event of some kind (eg the psychic olympics of a few years back) would be a welcome break from all the lectures.

And get Jan "sticky clouds" back. He funny.
 
I'd be in favour of an evening event. As Anomie says, this might be a good setting for theburlesque shows and whatnot.

An 10-15 minute break in mid-morning and mid-afternoon, so people can grab a cup of tea or empty their bladders, would also definitely be great.
 
At some previous UnCons there were films at the end of the Saturday session,something similar would be a good start for an evening session, possibly with some carbaret style acts.
 
comfy seats would be nice, rather than those awful plastic things

can we go back to posting out the wristband passes as well, or at least have seperate ones for the two days again
 
zarathustraspake said:
As Anomie says
This has been bugging me.

There is no "I" in me. There is a "me" in me, but no "I".

Carry on.
 
SoundDust said:
comfy seats would be nice, rather than those awful plastic things

can we go back to posting out the wristband passes as well, or at least have seperate ones for the two days again

Amen to both those requests. I got frowned at because I'd taken my orange wristband off on Saturday night. It just seems... unhygienic to wear it two days running :shock:

(Or, to be honest, I'd put it on too tight and it got uncomfortable)
 
Some people actually bathed while still wearing their wristband.

I, of course, accessorised it quite smartly, and received compliments for my style and ingenuity.
 
Actually, thinking about it, an Uncon 2009 rather than 2010 would be a good start :)
 
Actually, on the current baseline it would be 2012.

October 2004 - April 2006: 18 months. (1.5 years)
April 2006 - October 2008: 30 months. (2.5 years)
October 2008 - April 2012: 42 months. (3.5 years)

[EDIT] Or it could be 2010, I suppose.
April 2002 - October 2004: 2.5 years.
October 2004 - April 2006: 1.5 years.
April 2006 - October 2008: 2.5 years.
October 2008 - April 2010: 1.5 years.
 
Alternatively the first UnCon was 1994 and this was the 12th so averaging it out it comes out at about one UnCon every year and two months so the next one should be 1st Jan 2010 :)

Gordon
 
mutant_camel said:
10-15 mins between lectures would be good. Less of a scramble and less chair-scraping and footsteps for the the first 10 mins of a presentation.

As mentioned elsewhere, more stalls or an event of some kind (eg the psychic olympics of a few years back) would be a welcome break from all the lectures.

I'd like to second both of these suggestions :D
 
Ditto. And I like the idea of a dedicated Fortean-based screening of TV and movies, perhaps with a buffet...?

As for the stalls, maybe its time for ASSAP and the faked Aura photo teams to pack up their bags...
 
Ther's got to be an UnCon 2009, on the Saturday, 31st of October and Sunday, 1st of November!

We could have Fortean, fancy dress, Halloween party, on the Saturday night!

Also, what about an all night Nigel Kneale special, showing of the likes of 'Quatermass and the Pit', 'The Stone Tape', 'Beasts' and, of course, 'The Abominable Snowman'!

The Powers That Be could do worse than invite Dudley Sutton to perform some of his verse and monologues to close the UnCon. He has more than a slight touch of the Ken Campbells about him. :yeay:
 
While Halloween feels absurdly right for an Uncon date, there is the problem of cross-over events that will probably attract some of the potential audience/speakers away (and annoy the hell out of others who want to do two things simultaneously and haven't yet invented the appropriate equipment.)
This year we had several comments about the comparatively low profile of the Dealers' Room - and a main reason we didn't attract more stalls was that we'd chosen the Halloween weekend when anything vaguely spooky/weird was quite possibly already booked to be elsewhere.
We could try to declare a year with two Halloweens in it...the Halloween and the Anti-Halloween?
G-N
 
I've often thought that 18 months was a good period for UnCon. Purely for selfish reasons, as it gives me time to save up for another trip to the UK. The only problem is that April/May starts to get into high season when everything (airfares, hotels, rail passes, etc) costs more.
 
If it is on Halloween next year, plenty of notice would be appreciated. I had already booked something and so had to miss the whole thing which was a bit of a blow.

I like the idea of an evening do. I've spent too many hours wandering about with other forteans trying to decide where to eat and drink. As has been said many times before, it's like herding cats.
 
But you're so good at it, Cider.

BTW: I have a picture of your favourite Chinese place in Camden somewhere.
 
:D Does that make me a Fortean Pied Piper?
 
I'm up for that, as long as involves 'the monster mash'. On repeat.
 
I could do a Fortean disco no worries.....
I've even got a magic laptop possessed by a dead DJ that can take over when I need to visit the little boy's room.
 
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