🚀 go-pugleaf

Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:

>I would be interested in opinions of the new CopperCon 21 page. 

These comments aren't intended to be hostile.  Just frank statements about
some things that didn't work for me and some suggestions about what I'd
like to see in future incarnations of the page.

I don't like embedded music on web pages.  I'm almost always listening to
music on my computer, and a web page with an embedded song interferes.  I
recommend axing the Thunderbirds theme.  Or, at least, making it something
that the user voluntarily elects to play.

The dancing penguins and the bowing genie don't serve any purpose and
should be eliminated.  Animated .gifs on web pages quickly wear out their
novelty value.

I'm just a casual SF fan.  The reason that I've never been to a convention
in the Valley area is that no advertising or other publicity that I've
seen has ever convinced me that I'd enjoy myself enough to justify the
admission fee.  I believe it's to your benefit to let potential newcomers
know what goes on at a convention.  In other words, show me what I'm
missing by not going.

I think--by listing blurbs of activities--you did a better job of giving
the viewer an idea of what goes on at a convention than was done on the
Copper Con 20 page.  I'd like to see you expand these blurbs into actual
descriptions, perhaps with photographs.  What are some examples of panel
discussions?  What sorts of merchandise can I find in the dealer's area?
Julian May has a fan base that will come to see him, but what do you have
for people like me who have never read Julian May?


-- 
T. Troy McNemar                                    Troy@McNemar.com
"If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
--The Dodecahedron in Norton Juster's _The Phantom Tollbooth_
http://www.mcnemar.com

Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in 
<84n8osokok7103e0hglr26033j8e3jtars@4ax.com>:

>Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
>
>>I would be interested in opinions of the new CopperCon 21 page. 
>
>These comments aren't intended to be hostile.  Just frank statements about
>some things that didn't work for me and some suggestions about what I'd
>like to see in future incarnations of the page.
>
>I don't like embedded music on web pages.  I'm almost always listening to
>music on my computer, and a web page with an embedded song interferes.  I
>recommend axing the Thunderbirds theme.  Or, at least, making it something
>that the user voluntarily elects to play.

I have heard this comment before.  But I don't happen to agree with it.  Every 
page I surf to that starts music playing like that impresses me.  And more 
importantly it sets a mood I was after.  Dry facts on a page can't do that.  It 
is like a movie with no background music.  However, since many are annoyed by 
the music, I put the controls to stop it near the top.

>
>The dancing penguins and the bowing genie don't serve any purpose and
>should be eliminated.  Animated .gifs on web pages quickly wear out their
>novelty value.

I felt, again, that they helped set the mood for what I was trying to say in 
the portion of the page they were on.  They also attract attention beyond a 
list of facts.   And they are 100% novelty value, so losing that value is 
equivalent to not having them.  In the mean time they served their purpose.  As 
it is, the penguins were the favorite part of the page for the Con chairman.

>
>I'm just a casual SF fan.  The reason that I've never been to a convention
>in the Valley area is that no advertising or other publicity that I've
>seen has ever convinced me that I'd enjoy myself enough to justify the
>admission fee.  I believe it's to your benefit to let potential newcomers
>know what goes on at a convention.  In other words, show me what I'm
>missing by not going.

I had not considered an explanation of the various areas under their 
references.  Thank you.  I usually explain it verbally to those that ask about 
cons. 

>
>I think--by listing blurbs of activities--you did a better job of giving
>the viewer an idea of what goes on at a convention than was done on the
>Copper Con 20 page.  I'd like to see you expand these blurbs into actual
>descriptions, perhaps with photographs.  What are some examples of panel
>discussions?  What sorts of merchandise can I find in the dealer's area?
>Julian May has a fan base that will come to see him, but what do you have
>for people like me who have never read Julian May?
>


I was planning on providing more web reference info on the guests as I found 
them.  We have had this on other CopperCon pages in the past, Did it make a 
difference to you when we have in the past?  What could I tell you about 
CopperCon that would make you want to attend (short of lieing about it or 
changing the Con)?  Backgroung, history, pictures, attendees, samples of 
guests, testimonials, explanations, puzzles or amusements combined with the 
above?



----- Jim Strait, CopperCon 21
	E-Mail: CuCon@CASFS.org
	Web Page: http://www.casfs.org/cucon

Jim Strait <CuCon@casfs.org> wrote:
: Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in 
: <84n8osokok7103e0hglr26033j8e3jtars@4ax.com>:

: >Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
: >
: >>I would be interested in opinions of the new CopperCon 21 page. 
: >
: >These comments aren't intended to be hostile.  Just frank statements about
: >some things that didn't work for me and some suggestions about what I'd
: >like to see in future incarnations of the page.
: >
: >I don't like embedded music on web pages.  I'm almost always listening to
: >music on my computer, and a web page with an embedded song interferes.  I
: >recommend axing the Thunderbirds theme.  Or, at least, making it something
: >that the user voluntarily elects to play.

: I have heard this comment before.  But I don't happen to agree with it.  Every 
: page I surf to that starts music playing like that impresses me.  And more 
: importantly it sets a mood I was after.  Dry facts on a page can't do that.  It 
: is like a movie with no background music.  However, since many are annoyed by 
: the music, I put the controls to stop it near the top.

Well, Jim, I think you'd better study some Web design, then.

I don't mean HTML and Java and all that: I mean human interface. 

If I didn't have DSL at home, I would not have waited for the Web site to
load at my old speed of 28.8 to 32KBPS (which was what I was getting 
with the lines I had pre DSL).  Also, I often turn JavaScript off.
Sometimes I log in to a site text-only.

Understand: I'm not saying don't have graphics and sound. I -am- saying
that there are proven ways to have a more effective Web experience.

Try this Web site for specifics:

  www.asktog.com

That site is run by Bruce Tognazzini (I've just messed up his name, I'm
sure...) who is a user-interface specialist with 20 years experience.
Lots of good stuff there - most of it easy to implement.

-- 
Patrick Connors  |
                 |  Dance like there's nobody watching
                 |

Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
>Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote:

Same comments about tone that I used earlier.  If my comments come off as
hostile, please attribute it to my not taking proper time to construct the
tone of my sentences rather than any actual hostility.  I'm trying to be
constructive regardless of whether I actually achieve it.  :)

And you've done an impressive job, Jim, even if I do disagree with some of
your choices.  I regret that I didn't mention that in my prior message.

As an initial matter, where are the answers to the music quiz?  (I.e.,
guess what I did yesterday after I posted to az.sf?)

>>I don't like embedded music on web pages.  I'm almost always listening to
>>music on my computer, and a web page with an embedded song interferes.  I
>>recommend axing the Thunderbirds theme.  Or, at least, making it something
>>that the user voluntarily elects to play.
>
>I have heard this comment before.  But I don't happen to agree with it.  Every 
>page I surf to that starts music playing like that impresses me.  And more 
>importantly it sets a mood I was after.  Dry facts on a page can't do that.  It 
>is like a movie with no background music.  However, since many are annoyed by 
>the music, I put the controls to stop it near the top.

I understand your position, but I really don't like a website taking over
control of my computer sound system without my consent.  I expect it to
fill my web browser and I wouldn't have gone to the site if I didn't want
to see the visual content.  But the audio content was unexpected and
interferes with listening to the Metallica that I downloaded off of
Napster.  :)

>>The dancing penguins and the bowing genie don't serve any purpose and
>>should be eliminated.  Animated .gifs on web pages quickly wear out their
>>novelty value.
>
>I felt, again, that they helped set the mood for what I was trying to say in 
>the portion of the page they were on.  They also attract attention beyond a 
>list of facts.   And they are 100% novelty value, so losing that value is 
>equivalent to not having them.  In the mean time they served their purpose.  As 
>it is, the penguins were the favorite part of the page for the Con chairman.

You don't need to attract attention on the page itself, though.  The user
has already made it to the site.  Presumably, they're there for the
content.

Look at it this way.  There's three types of people:  People who will be
annoyed by cute penguin animated .gifs; people who don't care one way or
the other about cute penguin animated .gifs; and people who like cute
penguin animated .gifs.  Now, you are trying to sell something.  If you
put up cute penguin animated .gifs, you potentially lose a sale to people
who are annoyed by them.  If you don't put up the cute penguin animated
.gifs, you aren't as attractive to the people who like them but the site
hopefully makes up for that by being interesting and informative in other
ways

>I was planning on providing more web reference info on the guests as I found 
>them.  We have had this on other CopperCon pages in the past, Did it make a 
>difference to you when we have in the past?  

No.  I've never been to a CopperCon.  :)

>What could I tell you about 
>CopperCon that would make you want to attend (short of lieing about it or 
>changing the Con)?  Backgroung, history, pictures, attendees, samples of 
>guests, testimonials, explanations, puzzles or amusements combined with the 
>above?

I'd really just like to know what to expect for my admission fee.  I've
never been to an SF con and I don't know anyone who's been to an SF con.
What is the typical experience for a CopperCon attendee who isn't active
in Phoenix area SF fandom?  

Pictures would be good.  But I'd really like to know things like what's
for sale in the dealer's room and what types of discussion panels are
available.

-- 
T. Troy McNemar                                    Troy@McNemar.com
"If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
--The Dodecahedron in Norton Juster's _The Phantom Tollbooth_
http://www.mcnemar.com

Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in
<jmacos06vup9k4krqb1rr15k4ioci3sdfm@4ax.com>: 

>Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
>>Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote:
>
>Same comments about tone that I used earlier.  If my comments come off
>as hostile, please attribute it to my not taking proper time to
>construct the tone of my sentences rather than any actual hostility. 
>I'm trying to be constructive regardless of whether I actually achieve
>it.  :) 
>

Understood.  Byt hat same token I hope you realize that I don't agree with some 
comments.  Others I fould quite valuable.

>And you've done an impressive job, Jim, even if I do disagree with some
>of your choices.  I regret that I didn't mention that in my prior
>message. 
>
>As an initial matter, where are the answers to the music quiz?  (I.e.,
>guess what I did yesterday after I posted to az.sf?)
>

?

>
>I understand your position, but I really don't like a website taking
>over control of my computer sound system without my consent.  I expect
>it to fill my web browser and I wouldn't have gone to the site if I
>didn't want to see the visual content.  But the audio content was
>unexpected and interferes with listening to the Metallica that I
>downloaded off of Napster.  :)
>

Yes.  On some site's I have to click the mute box.  Still others I am 
mezmerized and play over and over.  

>
>You don't need to attract attention on the page itself, though.  The
>user has already made it to the site.  Presumably, they're there for the
>content.
>

Agreed.

>Look at it this way.  There's three types of people:  People who will be
>annoyed by cute penguin animated .gifs; people who don't care one way or
>the other about cute penguin animated .gifs; and people who like cute
>penguin animated .gifs.  Now, you are trying to sell something.  If you
>put up cute penguin animated .gifs, you potentially lose a sale to
>people who are annoyed by them.  If you don't put up the cute penguin
>animated .gifs, you aren't as attractive to the people who like them but
>the site hopefully makes up for that by being interesting and
>informative in other ways

My assumption is that, of the majority that don't care or like them, Have I 
expressed a mood of joy or amusement at least subconsiously?  If so, then they 
will be more open to the concept that the convention will also be enjoyable.  
If they have no effect, then nothing was lost.  If they have a negative effect, 
then it is unlikely I would be able to convince that the convention would be 
fun not matter what information I could provide.  Like or dislike is not really 
an issue, with the possible effect of word of mouth.  Which is more likely, 
"Oh, you have to go to this CC21 site.  They have cute penguins."  or  "Oh, 
don't go to the CC21 site.  They have annoying penguines."  

>
>
>No.  I've never been to a CopperCon.  :)
>
>
>I'd really just like to know what to expect for my admission fee.  I've
>never been to an SF con and I don't know anyone who's been to an SF con.
>What is the typical experience for a CopperCon attendee who isn't active
>in Phoenix area SF fandom?  
>
>Pictures would be good.  But I'd really like to know things like what's
>for sale in the dealer's room and what types of discussion panels are
>available.
>

Damn good idea!

Ok.  It took a while, but I have added narratives on most (if not all) of the 
events mentioned.  I geared them towards someone who has never been to fan-run 
SF/F convention before.  I also created Information Sheets on the guests listed 
with what pictures I could find.  I will have look for pictures of events. But 
in the mean time could you look at the write ups under each department and tell 
me (in general) if that is what you felt was needed.  I can't provide 
specifics.  For that you need to contact the Dept Head.

http://www.casfs.org/cucon/cu21/cc21.html

It's funny that you mention pictures of the various areas, because at the last 
LepreCon we went around and recorded sample video footage.  Our intention was 
to use it to make a commercial on the local feed of the SciFi Channel on cable 
TV.  We still might be able to pull it off, but I don't know.  There are a 
number of technical issues still pending.  We did it before, but the ad was 
mostly still frames and computer animation.  We wanted to show short live 
action bits of attendees, events & locations.  That is what I am after now.  

pmc@primenet.com (Patrick Connors) wrote in
<8m45g6$jkq$1@nnrp03.primenet.com>: 

>Jim Strait <CuCon@casfs.org> wrote:
>: Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in 
>: <84n8osokok7103e0hglr26033j8e3jtars@4ax.com>:
>
>: >Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
>: >
>: >>I would be interested in opinions of the new CopperCon 21 page. 
>: >
>
>
>Well, Jim, I think you'd better study some Web design, then.
>
>I don't mean HTML and Java and all that: I mean human interface. 
>
>If I didn't have DSL at home, I would not have waited for the Web site
>to load at my old speed of 28.8 to 32KBPS (which was what I was getting 
>with the lines I had pre DSL).  Also, I often turn JavaScript off.
>Sometimes I log in to a site text-only.
>
>Understand: I'm not saying don't have graphics and sound. I -am- saying
>that there are proven ways to have a more effective Web experience.
>
>Try this Web site for specifics:
>
>  www.asktog.com
>
>That site is run by Bruce Tognazzini (I've just messed up his name, I'm
>sure...) who is a user-interface specialist with 20 years experience.
>Lots of good stuff there - most of it easy to implement.
>


Yes.  We have spoken of this and his web site before, Pat, in discussions about 
your WesterCon Bid site.  I reviewed his site again, though.  He has a list of 
common major "Don'ts".  I believe, with the exception of load time, I do not 
violate any of them.  On my browser I can turn off java scripts, background 
colors & images, animations, and the like.  The page seems to load almost 
immediately set that way, although bland.  If your connection is always too 
slow for you, and it seems like the page is taking too long to load, you can 
usually press the "Stop" button and review the content.  I asked others if they 
felt the CC21 page took too long to load, and although they said it did take a 
while, they felt it did not.  

On the CC21 site I chose just midi files which are small and gifs & small jpgs.  
The first draft of the rotating CC21 gif was much larger.  We dinked with it 
and re-rendered to get it down to the smallest possible size without making its 
appearence suffer.  It seemed that the loading of the plug-in took longer than 
the load of the midi.  That would be computer dependent.  But the specific 
appearence was what I was after, not just random images.  

I admit, if my goal was to just provide convention information is efficiently 
as possible, I am sadly lacking.  But I do not feel that is the goal.  There 
are marketing issues that Tog does not address, just complains around them.  

As I review Tog's comments again, I still don't see what you are pointing out 
that the CC21 page lacks.  Did you have specfic points (beyond load time)?

Jim Strait <Jim@Strait.org> wrote:
: >
: >Pictures would be good.  But I'd really like to know things like what's
: >for sale in the dealer's room and what types of discussion panels are
: >available.
: >

: Damn good idea!

: Ok.  It took a while, but I have added narratives on most (if not all) of the 
: events mentioned.  I geared them towards someone who has never been to fan-run 
: SF/F convention before.  I also created Information Sheets on the guests listed 
: with what pictures I could find.  I will have look for pictures of events. But 
: in the mean time could you look at the write ups under each department and tell 
: me (in general) if that is what you felt was needed.  I can't provide 
: specifics.  For that you need to contact the Dept Head.

: http://www.casfs.org/cucon/cu21/cc21.html

: It's funny that you mention pictures of the various areas, because at the last 
: LepreCon we went around and recorded sample video footage.  Our intention was 
: to use it to make a commercial on the local feed of the SciFi Channel on cable 
: TV.  We still might be able to pull it off, but I don't know.  There are a 
: number of technical issues still pending.  We did it before, but the ad was 
: mostly still frames and computer animation.  We wanted to show short live 
: action bits of attendees, events & locations.  That is what I am after now.  

Jim: If you're going to put video clips up, put stills up on the main page
(just little gifs) and have the user click on the still to get a video.

(By the way: I like the music you've used - I just don't like having it
 auto-load.)

-- 
Patrick Connors  |
                 |  Dance like there's nobody watching
                 |

Jim Strait <Jim@Strait.org> wrote:
: pmc@primenet.com (Patrick Connors) wrote 

: >Jim Strait <CuCon@casfs.org> wrote:
: >: Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote
: >
: >: >Previously on az.sf, CuCon@casfs.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
: >: >
: >: >>I would be interested in opinions of the new CopperCon 21 page. 
: >: >
: >
: >
: >Well, Jim, I think you'd better study some Web design, then.
: >
: >I don't mean HTML and Java and all that: I mean human interface. 
: >
: >If I didn't have DSL at home, I would not have waited for the Web site
: >to load at my old speed of 28.8 to 32KBPS (which was what I was getting 
: >with the lines I had pre DSL).  Also, I often turn JavaScript off.
: >Sometimes I log in to a site text-only.
: >
: >Understand: I'm not saying don't have graphics and sound. I -am- saying
: >that there are proven ways to have a more effective Web experience.
: >
: >Try this Web site for specifics:
: >
: >  www.asktog.com
: >
: >That site is run by Bruce Tognazzini (I've just messed up his name, I'm
: >sure...) who is a user-interface specialist with 20 years experience.
: >Lots of good stuff there - most of it easy to implement.
: >


: Yes.  We have spoken of this and his web site before, Pat, in discussions about 
: your WesterCon Bid site.  I reviewed his site again, though.  He has a list of 
: common major "Don'ts".  I believe, with the exception of load time, I do not 
: violate any of them.  On my browser I can turn off java scripts, background 
: colors & images, animations, and the like.  The page seems to load almost 
: immediately set that way, although bland.  If your connection is always too 
: slow for you, and it seems like the page is taking too long to load, you can 
: usually press the "Stop" button and review the content.  I asked others if they 
: felt the CC21 page took too long to load, and although they said it did take a 
: while, they felt it did not.  

: On the CC21 site I chose just midi files which are small and gifs & small jpgs.  
: The first draft of the rotating CC21 gif was much larger.  We dinked with it 
: and re-rendered to get it down to the smallest possible size without making its 
: appearence suffer.  It seemed that the loading of the plug-in took longer than 
: the load of the midi.  That would be computer dependent.  But the specific 
: appearence was what I was after, not just random images.  

: I admit, if my goal was to just provide convention information is efficiently 
: as possible, I am sadly lacking.  But I do not feel that is the goal.  There 
: are marketing issues that Tog does not address, just complains around them.  

: As I review Tog's comments again, I still don't see what you are pointing out 
: that the CC21 page lacks.  Did you have specfic points (beyond load time)?

Load time was my biggest concern, as that's the number one item that
causes users to go away. I just don't like a lot of bells and
whistles on Web sites in the first place, and there we'll agree to 
disagree, unless I want to take over managing the Web site.  Load time
doesn't look too bad, but I've got DSL and so am a bit spoiled. :)

I'd also like to apologize for my tone in that last post.

-- 
Patrick Connors  |
                 |  Dance like there's nobody watching
                 |

pmc@primenet.com (Patrick Connors) wrote in
<8mmkmk$oj0$2@nnrp02.primenet.com>: 

>Jim Strait <Jim@Strait.org> wrote:
>
>
>: As I review Tog's comments again, I still don't see what you are
>: pointing out that the CC21 page lacks.  Did you have specfic points
>: (beyond load time)? 
>
>Load time was my biggest concern, as that's the number one item that
>causes users to go away. I just don't like a lot of bells and
>whistles on Web sites in the first place, and there we'll agree to 
>disagree, unless I want to take over managing the Web site.  Load time
>doesn't look too bad, but I've got DSL and so am a bit spoiled. :)
>
>I'd also like to apologize for my tone in that last post.
>


de nada


-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim Strait
      E-Mail: Jim@Strait.org        
      WWW Home page: http://www.Strait.org/
      Phoenix, Arizona   USA

pmc@primenet.com (Patrick Connors) wrote in
<8mmk9t$oj0$1@nnrp02.primenet.com>: 

>Jim Strait <Jim@Strait.org> wrote:
>
>
>: http://www.casfs.org/cucon/cu21/cc21.html
>
>: It's funny that you mention pictures of the various areas, because at
>: the last LepreCon we went around and recorded sample video footage. 
>: Our intention was to use it to make a commercial on the local feed of
>: the SciFi Channel on cable TV.  We still might be able to pull it off,
>: but I don't know.  There are a number of technical issues still
>: pending.  We did it before, but the ad was mostly still frames and
>: computer animation.  We wanted to show short live action bits of
>: attendees, events & locations.  That is what I am after now.  
>
>Jim: If you're going to put video clips up, put stills up on the main
>page (just little gifs) and have the user click on the still to get a
>video. 
>
>(By the way: I like the music you've used - I just don't like having it
> auto-load.)
>

That's why I put the Manual-stop at the top.  

BTW: I did a real dumb thing.  I had left the pointer to the background 
image pointing the file on my computer and did not notice it before I 
installed it.  No one was seeing it but me and I didn't know.  I did not 
intentionally leave the background grey.  I took a picture of the front of 
the hotel and faded it out (so text could be read over it).  The logo was 
to appear floating in front of the hotel.  I can't believe I left that link 
in.  If I did this for money I would starve.  


-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim Strait
      E-Mail: Jim@Strait.org        
      WWW Home page: http://www.Strait.org/
      Phoenix, Arizona   USA

Previously on az.sf, Jim@Strait.org (Jim Strait) wrote:

Sorry that this response has taken so long.  I looked at the revisions
immediately after you posted, then neglected to respond to your post.

>Ok.  It took a while, but I have added narratives on most (if not all) of the 
>events mentioned.  I geared them towards someone who has never been to fan-run 
>SF/F convention before.  I also created Information Sheets on the guests listed 
>with what pictures I could find.  I will have look for pictures of events. But 
>in the mean time could you look at the write ups under each department and tell 
>me (in general) if that is what you felt was needed.  I can't provide 
>specifics.  For that you need to contact the Dept Head.

That was a definite improvement for me.  I know have a much better idea of
what to expect.  And it never would have occurred to me, for example, that
the con suite was open to everyone.

My next suggestion would be to have the department heads supply you with
more specific information that you can include in the blurbs.  That may
not be possible a year in advance, but you should include them as they
become available.

-- 
T. Troy McNemar                                    Troy@McNemar.com
"If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
--The Dodecahedron in Norton Juster's _The Phantom Tollbooth_
http://www.mcnemar.com

(RE:   http://www.casfs.org/cucon/cu21/cc21.html)

Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in
<ds5jps42ntf9u0loavsq6ik3b7dtgo9skg@4ax.com>: 

>
>That was a definite improvement for me.  I know have a much better idea
>of what to expect.  And it never would have occurred to me, for example,
>that the con suite was open to everyone.
>


Good.  The Chairman liked the idea too.  Thank you.  The ability to hear what 
the Music Guest sounds like before-hand will even be a first for some regular 
attendees.


>My next suggestion would be to have the department heads supply you with
>more specific information that you can include in the blurbs.  That may
>not be possible a year in advance, but you should include them as they
>become available.
>


If you mean like what games will be played in Gaming, what the schedule will be 
in the Video Room, and what the programming will be; I really don't think I can 
do that.  I might be able to put out some updates.  Programming is usually 
making whiteboard notices of changes during the Con.  When I ran the Video Room 
I was up the night before Con typing up my schedule to have printed on the way 
to the Con.  I would like to provide specifics, I just don't think it's 
possible.  I could put up some kind of rumor page of what info I suspect, but 
I'm afraid some might take it seriously and make plans around it.  It's bad 
enough when the "definate"'s change.  

Some one was about to buy their plane tickets just to see Philip Jos� Farmer at 
CopperCon 2000 before we caught them to let them know he had cancelled.  

Can we go on to the next suggestion after that for the time being?  Later, I 
will approach them.  

Previously on az.sf, Jim@Strait.org (Jim Strait) wrote:
>Troy@McNemar.com (T. Troy McNemar) wrote in
><ds5jps42ntf9u0loavsq6ik3b7dtgo9skg@4ax.com>: 


>>My next suggestion would be to have the department heads supply you with
>>more specific information that you can include in the blurbs.  That may
>>not be possible a year in advance, but you should include them as they
>>become available.
>
>If you mean like what games will be played in Gaming, what the schedule will be 
>in the Video Room, and what the programming will be; I really don't think I can 
>do that.  I might be able to put out some updates.  Programming is usually 
>making whiteboard notices of changes during the Con.  When I ran the Video Room 
>I was up the night before Con typing up my schedule to have printed on the way 
>to the Con.  I would like to provide specifics, I just don't think it's 
>possible.  I could put up some kind of rumor page of what info I suspect, but 
>I'm afraid some might take it seriously and make plans around it.  It's bad 
>enough when the "definate"'s change.  

I really think specificity is your friend in promotion.  The more specific
you can be, the more interest you will be able to attract.  Granted, you
have to do it with a disclaimer about being subject to change.  But if you
know that there's a planned panel on "Hugo Awards:  The Post Game
Analysis" or "TV Battlin' Babes", there's no reason not to mention it with
as much detail about the panel as possible.

-- 
T. Troy McNemar                                    Troy@McNemar.com
"If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
--The Dodecahedron in Norton Juster's _The Phantom Tollbooth_
http://www.mcnemar.com