Debrief: Dragon Con 2022 Atlanta, GA – September 1 through September 5, 2022
Boom! Dragon Con 2022 is in the books!
And it was an experience of highs and lows.
Attendance was reported at 65,000, and while it was definitely higher than the 42,000 from 2021, it was still pretty manageable. The big issue was the convention’s pandemic precautions (or lack thereof… more on that later), but I could still get behind an attendance cap in the 65,000 to 70,000 range. It felt comfortable enough.
As usual, we did a lot of good charity work this year. Open Hand Atlanta will be receiving at least $190,000, which is $70k more than we raised in 2021.
Dragon Con was also a getaway from reality that I really needed. Life and work have been insanely busy lately, and it was refreshing to decompress with the geek family, especially the former Scapecast folks that my wife and I hadn’t seen for three years.
Dragon Con 2022
Atlanta, GA – September 1 through September 5, 2022
Dragon Con!
It’s an annual tradition for me. It’s also a family reunion of sorts as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my (lucky) thirteenth time attending and my (lucky) seventh year as an attending professional.
If you plan to be there, you can find me at various places over Labor Day weekend according to the schedule below. This year is still a bit lighter than normal due to the continuing spread of COVID-19. It is neither joke nor hoax, and I fully support masking and vaccination until the spread is knocked down. I’ll still be around having fun while adhering to Dragon Con masking policies to combat the virus.
The convention app is available now – look for Dragon Con by Core-apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store – and will have the schedule of events soon. The list of confirmed guests, performers, artists, and attending professionals is available on the official Dragon Con site.
Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is Open Hand Atlanta. Open Hand’s mission is to help underserved individuals prevent or better manage chronic disease through tailored nutrition interventions, which include a variety of therapeutic meal plans as well as nutrition counseling and coaching delivered by an experienced team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. With the dedicated support of over 14,000 volunteers, they currently prepare, pack, and deliver over 5,500 meals per day in Metro Atlanta and rural Georgia. Donations can be made at various locations around the convention, including donation buckets in each track room and contributions from the annual charity auctions. Dragon Con will match every donation up to $100,000.
The convention hosts the Dragon Con Hustle, a virtual 5K conducted on the honor system. The registration fee is donated to the annual charity and each participant gets a physical medal two weeks after the convention ends. This is probably one of my favorite ways to donate since I routinely log 30 to 35 miles during the convention as I walk to and fro. You can run, walk, roll, or even skip your way to the goal, and all Dragon Con asks is for a progress update on social media with the #DragonConHustle hashtag.
Dragon Con also hosts one of the most successful blood drives with the donations going to the non-profit Lifesouth Community Blood Centers. Lifesouth serves 125 hospitals in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and the Dragon Con blood drives routinely outperform those held at that big west coast corporate convention.
If you’re new to the convention, consider stopping by the Dragon Con Newbies group on Facebook. It is run by Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony, and me, and is an in-depth community resource for information about this massive (and sometimes overwhelming) event. Memberships (tickets) for this year’s convention are available, however, due to the pandemic-related attendance caps, memberships are limited.
Along with the attendance caps, all attendees are required to wear masks that adhere to CDC guidelines. The other preventative measures taken by the con this year can be found on their website.
Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post.
Revision History:
Rev 0 – 19 Aug 2022: Initial post.
The Schedule
Attendees start rolling in up to a week before the convention and start partying. I don’t have any big plans for Wednesday yet, but I will definitely be in the area on Thursday to check in to the hotel, pick up my badge and Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and get started with programming.
12:00p-4:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (4 hours) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get a ‘lay of the land’ and find your way around the hotels? Did you know there’s a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con and get a tour with some veteran con-goers. The last tours will leave at approximately 3:30pm. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
5:30p-6:30p: Dragon Con Newbies Q&A (1 hour) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share tips and tricks. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
8:30p-9:30p: James Bond: No Time to Die – A Review (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5
Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007 has finally been released. Love it or hate it, it was definitely climactic. Our discussion will answer the burning question: was it finally time for Bond to die? Panelists include: Caro McCully, Alan J. Porter, Janné McKamey, Tony Bowers, Niki Veasey
10:00a: Dragon Con Newbies 101(1 hour) Main Programming Hyatt, Regency V
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share their tips and tricks for making your experience an awesome one. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
11:30a: Go Web! Spider-Man Movie’s 20th Tobey-Versary(1 hour) American Sci-Fi Classics Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Bonesaw is ready for our tribute to the movie that launched the Spider-Verse as well as webs from Peter Parker’s hands (that’s still weird.) Panelists include: Michael Bailey, Kevin Cafferty, ToniAnn Marini, Derek B. Gayle, Gary Mitchel
1:00p: 60 years of James Bond (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5
The 007 film franchise is turning 60 on October 5th, 2022. This panel investigates the long-lasting impact the film franchise has had on the action movie. Where has Bond Been, and where will the franchise go after ‘No Time to Die.’ Panelists include: Caro McCully, Lauren Carey, Van Allen Plexico, Alan J. Porter, Janné McKamey
2:30p: Severance: Of Two Minds (1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M302-M303
Working at Lumon Industries is complicated. First, you have to agree to a specialized medical procedure called severance, and then you are not entirely sure what you’re working on. It’s pretty stressful. Take a look at what the MDR team, Mark, Helly R, and one of its former members, Petey, have to say about the experience. Oh, wait, you can’t, unless you’re talking to their ‘innie’, since their ‘outie’ doesn’t have a clue. A unique story, an intriguing allegory, consider our panelists’ perspectives, and then offer your own. Panelists include: Thomas Mariani, M.C. Williams, Felicity Kusinitz, Kevin Cafferty, Lindy Keelan
4:00p: Earth Station Who Podcast: A Look Back at the 13th Doctor (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 7
The era of Jodie Whittaker as the 13th incarnation of the Doctor is slowly coming to an end. The crew from the Earth Station Who Podcast will host a retrospective of her time in the TARDIS. We will look at how The Doctor and her “fam” took on villains of all shapes and sizes from across the universe as well as figuring out the mystery of the Timeless Child & the Flux, and reveal the good, the bad, and the Chibnall. Panelists include: Mike Faber, Michael Gordon, Mary Ogle
5:30p: Doctor Who New Series (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Crystal Ballroom
Doctor Who returned to our screens this year with the “Flux” saga and two other specials showcasing the Daleks and the Sea Devils (last seen in 1984’s “Warriors from the Deep”) We will discuss the themes, storylines, and ramifications of these stories, and how they might affect the upcoming 60th Anniversary special. Panelists include: Caro McCully, Sue Kisenwether, Anthony Williams, J.M. Tuffley
11:30a: Host, Co-Host, or Group Host That is the Question Digital Media Hilton, Galleria 6
Do you need a co-host? Do you want one? What about group hosting? How do you find a compatible co-host and what do you do if the honeymoon is over? Whether it’s a new podcast or you are changing it up with your current one, we’ll talk about how you can find the right co-host, how to divorce a co-host, and how to create connections for guests to fill in the gaps without needing an HR department. Panelists include: Tyra Burton, Mike Faber, Tony P Henderson, Sue Kisenwether, Leighann Lord, Lali DeRosier
1:00p: Space: 1999 – 45 Years Later(1 hour) Military Science Fiction Westin, Chastain DE
What is the enduring appeal of Space: 1999? Where else could it have gone? We look at this iconic show that, even now, still lives on in the hearts of fans. This cross-track panel between BritTrack, American Sci-Fi Classics, & Military SciFi Media discusses the legacy of Moonbase Alpha. Panelists include: James Henson, Ryan Carey, “Badger”
2:30p: Shake Your Tailfeathers: You Have a Podcast, So Now What? Digital Media Hilton, Galleria 7
What do you need to do to take your podcast to the next level? How do you keep your listeners engaged while continuing to come up with evergreen content? We’ll talk about networking, topic generating, watching for scammers, and when you need to tackle the business of podcasting. I will be the moderator for this panel.
Panelists include: Tyra Burton, Mike Faber, Bobby Blackwolf, Marc Leary
4:00p: So, You Have A Face For Radio: Surviving The Evolution of Podcasting To Video Digital Media Hilton, Galleria 7
Podcasting has evolved from being audio-only to including video and live broadcasts. How do you make the switch to being on camera? Join us as we chat about equipment, setup, solutions, and apps. Get ready for lights, camera, and action whether it is on Twitch, Facebook Live, or YouTube. Panelists include: Tyra Burton, Mike Faber, Bobby Blackwolf, Rob Roberts, Todd Cochrane, Kyle Sullivan
No panels scheduled at this time.
11:30a: Battle of the Fictional Bands: This One Goes to 11(1 hour) American Sci-Fi Classics Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Be part of the discerning audience of music connoisseurs who decides the winners in a tantalizing tournament of bands from Josie and the Pussycats to Spinal Tap. Panelists include: ToniAnn Marini, Chris Cummins, John G. Hartness, William Joseph Roberts
Debrief: Dragon Con 2021 Atlanta, GA – September 2 through September 6, 2021
Just like that, Dragon Con 2021 is in the books! And, wow, it was a weird year.
Attendance was reported at 42,000 and you could definitely feel it. Thanks to the pandemic precautions – proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test along with a 100 percent masking requirement – and attendance caps (including limits on daily sales), the crowds were significantly thinner. Let me tell you, though, I could get used to an attendance cap at Dragon Con. Maybe 65,000 to 70,000 in normal times?
Despite the smaller crowds, we did a lot of good work this year for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, raising $120,000 for that charity. That’s $10,000 more than we pulled together in 2019 with just over double the weekend crowd.
It was also a getaway that I really needed. With everything that’s been going on recently, I needed to see the geek family and get my mind orbiting around a lot of fun and creative things. I mean, let’s face it, I’ve missed these people.
It’s important to note that the Marriott and Hyatt were flooded with partiers at night who weren’t wearing face masks. It seemed that, once the sun went down, enforcement went out the window. Since I’m seeing several reports of attendees popping positive for COVID-19, panelists who refused to wear masks on panels, and vendors who went unmasked at their booths, I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone get tested for COVID-19 (both rapid and PCR if you can) and limit the spread as much as possible in the meantime.
There were a lot of naked respiratory orifices at Dragon Con 2021. Far. Too. Many.
Dragon Con 2021
Atlanta, GA – September 2 through September 6, 2021
Dragon Con!
It’s an annual tradition for me. It’s also a family reunion of sorts as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my twelfth time attending (counting last year’s virtual events) and my sixth year as an attending professional.
If you plan to be there, you can find me at various over Labor Day weekend according to the schedule below. This year is a bit lighter than normal due to the continued pandemic – the COVID-19 coronavirus is neither joke nor hoax, and I fully support masking and vaccination until it is eliminated – but I’ll still be around having fun. I won’t be attending any parties or large gatherings, and I will be adhering to Dragon Con policies to combat the pandemic.
The convention app is available now – look for Dragon Con by Core-apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store – and will have the schedule of events soon. The list of confirmed guests, performers, artists, and attending professionals is available on the official Dragon Con site.
Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.
If you’re new to the convention, consider stopping by the Dragon Con Newbies group on Facebook. It is run by Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony, and me, and is an in-depth community resource for information about this massive (and sometimes overwhelming) event. Memberships (tickets) for this year’s convention are available, however, due to the pandemic, memberships are limited.
Along with the attendance caps, all attendees are required to wear masks that adhere to CDC guidelines. The other preventative measures taken by the con this year can be found on their website.
If you want a printable copy of my schedule, I have a convenient PDF.
Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post.
Revision History:
Rev 0 – 20 Aug 2021: Initial post.
The Schedule
I will be around starting Thursday to check in to the hotel, pick up my badge and Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and get the ball rolling.
12:00p-4:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (4 hours) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get a ‘lay of the land’ and find your way around the hotels? Did you know there’s a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con and get a tour with some veteran con-goers. Last tours will leave approximately 3:30pm. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
5:30p-6:30p: Dragon Con Newbies Q&A (1 hour) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share tips and tricks. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
10:00a: Dragon Con Newbies 101(1 hour) Main Programming Hyatt, Regency V
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share their tip and tricks for making your experience an awesome one. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
1:00p: Getting Started with Digital Media: The Ups & Downs (1 hour) Digital Media Hilton, Galleria 7
Have you always wanted to podcast? A group of experienced podcasters will help with ideas on how to get started & making it past the dreaded pod-burnout. Topics include picking a subject for your show, equipment to record with, how to get an audience, & more. For beginners & vets alike. Panelists include: Mike Faber, Tyra A. Burton, Matthew Charles Malis
2:30p: Disney Afternoon: Rescue Rangers & More Goofiness! (1 hour) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105
A tribute to chipmunks dressed like Magnum PI & Indiana Jones, & other Disney excellence. Panelists include: Sue Kisenwether, Bethany Kesler
4:00p: Disney Afternoon: All-Duck Edition (1 hour) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105
We celebrate the afternoon cartoons that solved mysteries & rewrote history. Panelists include: Sue Kisenwether, Bethany Kesler
10:00p: Classic Sci-Fi Charity Lock-In: Howard the Duck (2.5 hours) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105
We lock you in with a crowd of semi-willing participants to celebrate Marvel’s infamous – and very first – theatrical movie. The only way to escape: donate to the Dragon Con charity! Panelists include: No one else? Don’t make me do this alone!
[It’s worth noting here that there won’t be a parade flood this year. Saturday one-day passes are not being sold and the parade is for badged attendees only.]
11:30a: ESW Presents Doctor Who: The Movie 25th Anniversary! BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5
In 1996, Doctor Who returned to our televisions in the classic TV Movie. The Earth Station Who team will delve deep into this unique production & the uphill battle bringing it to life. Panelists include: Mike Faber, Michael Gordon, Sue Kisenwether
1:00p: Classic Series Doctor Who(1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5
With the release of the entire classic series on Britbox, there has never been better access to the bulk of Doctor Who history. We will discuss this, the release of The Faceless Ones animation, & the expanding worlds of Classic Who on audio. Panelists include: Davey Beauchamp, Dr. Scott Viguié, R Alan Siler
5:30p: …And You Will Obey Me: Doctor Who‘s the Master at 50 (Pre-Recorded Virtual Panel) BritTrack BritTrack YouTube Channel
Yes, the Doctor’s best enemy, the Master, is turning 50 this year, & we have some big discussions ahead of us. Except, of course, until the Master uses his Tissue Compression Eliminator on them. Say something nice! Panelists include: Sue Kisenwether, Dr. Scott Viguié, Rob Levy
7:00p: Classic Sci-Fi Charity Lockdown: Mac & Me and More (2.5 hours) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105
Will we watch Mac & Me, the movie that plunged off the cliff & into our hearts forever? The only way to escape is by donating to the Dragon Con charity. Panelists include: JC De La Torre, Rita De La Torre
1:00p: Rising from the Shark: Re-invent the Team! (1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M301
It happens for any number of reasons, ratings, licensing, actors, but teams change up. We’ve seen it in on the big screen & small with Arrow, Legends, Flash, The Boys, & many others. We’ll look back at when it works or doesn’t. The lost & found members that we miss, or are thrilled to see. Panelists include: M. Haynes
2:30p: Collectors Panel: Toys & Merchandising in MSFM (1 hour) Military Sci-Fi Media Chastain DE – Westin MSFM is more than just the moving pictures on your screen. From action figures & collectibles to board games to comics to apparel, come discuss & take a look at all the ways you can bring your fandom directly into your home! Panelists include: Van Allen Plexico, John Hudgens
4:00p: Black Widow: Shadow of the Red Room (1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M302-M303 Long overdue from COVID & gender politics, Nat Romanoff finally gets to share her story. A spy thriller with considerations of family & identity. There are new heroes & villains, & all the usual MCU Easter eggs. Aren’t pockets great? Panelists include: None specified at this time
8:30p: When Was Star Trek Ever Subtle? (1 hour) Trek Track Hilton Galleria 2-3 Star Trek has always been ripe with political & social commentary, but was it really more subtle during the TOS era? This panel will take a look back at several examples throughout the franchise and then ask: What’s changed, Star Trek or what we expect of it? Panelists include: Sue Kisenwether
Pop Pop Con Con
October 16 through October 18, 2020
Last weekend was Pop Pop Con Con, a free virtual convention hosted by Shaun and Laura Rosado of PopCycled Baubles.
Three days of geeky discussions helped to fill the gap of conventions cancelled by the global pandemic, and it was a really fun event overall.
All of the weekend’s panels can be found on the PopCycled Baubles YouTube channel, and the videos from the panels I participated in can be found below.
I want to thank the Rosados and all of the panelists for a great weekend, and for experimenting with the path forward for events like this in the future. The entirety of the convention was hosted and run on Streamyard, including the transitions between discussion panels, video bumpers, and scrolling chyron banners. It was very well crafted.
I keep saying that this is the way new and smaller conventions should be run. There’s no need for renting physical space with this, and it would certainly help to build an audience and get the convention on its feet in the first few years.
Pop Pop Con Con
October 16 through October 18, 2020
I’ll be contributing to another genre convention this year.
With the global pandemic, so many fan conventions have been cancelled. The fun of great conversation and hanging out with friends is something that I miss. In an effort to help fill that gap, Pop Pop Con Con will be happening over the weekend of October 16-18, 2020.
Pop Pop Con Con is absolutely free, and will assemble fans of anime, movies, comics, TTRPGs, and more. We’re going to be discussing a ton of fun topics with a laid back atmosphere.
The event is being hosted by Shaun and Laura Rosado, longtime fans and owners of PopCycled Baubles. Along with putting on this show, they’re also celebrating the re-opening of their online store.
The event will be hosted online on the PopCycled Baubles Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Twitch channel.
The schedule of events can be found on the PopCycled Baubles website, and the specific panels that I am sitting are listed below.
Friday, October 16th
9:30pm – New Normal VOD Premium Movie Rentals: COVID-19 has changed how we do a lot of things, even going to the movies. Will Premium VOD become the new normal? What does the movie industry look like after COVID? Panelists include Nathan Laws, Gary Mitchel, and Jenna Busch
11:00pm – 1984 It’s been argued that 1984 was one of the single best years in the history of movies. Is it true? Why? Let’s find out. Panelists include Kristen Nedopak, Eric Ratcliffe, Gary Mitchel, and Calvin Watts
Saturday, October 17th
3:00pm – Far Beyond the Stars Deep Space Nine was a groundbreaking moment in Star Trek and in TV history. We’re going to talk about the best Star Trek series you’ve never seen and how it changed the world. Panelists include Sue Kisenwether, Nathan Laws, Kimi Hughes, Michael Williams, and Will Nguyen
8:00pm – D&D Tips and Tricks (Player Edition) Being a player can be tricky and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. We’re going to talk about the best tips and tricks to ensure you get the most out of your TTRPG experience (can be used for any Tabletop RPG). Panelists include Dodger, Jeff Mueller, Nathan Laws, and Michael Williams
Sunday, October 18th
6:00pm – NuTrek Trek has entered a new golden age of content. With Picard, Discovery, The Lower Decks and new movies on the horizon, the world of The Federation has grown by leaps and bounds. What hit? What missed? What’s next? Let’s talk. Panelists include Sue Kisenwether, Callie Wright, Nathan Laws, Michael Williams, and Calvin Watts
7:30pm – Sci Fi Westerns In the last 20 years, the Sci-Fi Western has become a regular staple and the cornerstone of a genre that tends to produce excellence. From The Mandalorian, Firefly, Westworld and Wynonna Earp, we’re going to talk about the Sci-Fi Western. Panelists include Corrine Vitek, Bethany Kesler, Donald Maher and Brandy Roatsey
Debrief: Dragon Con 2020 September 3 through September 7, 2020
Dragon Con 2020 is done.
Obviously, it wasn’t the situation that we wanted, but the Dragon Con social media team did phenomenal work to develop a platform that could deliver the convention experience at home. Alongside the convention staff, several track directors and their respective staffs were fantastic in both building content and stoking the fires throughout the weekend.
This convention gave me a chance to get comfortable with video content at home, and it gives me plenty of ideas going forward to develop ideas and content going forward. It was also good to touch base with my geek family, and even though it wasn’t in person, it still offered me the chance to catch up with them in an era when so many of us are isolated.
Thursday
Typically, Thursday would include breakfast at the local Waffle House, picking up our badges for the weekend, and introducing hundreds of newcomers to the convention via the Dragon Con Newbies events.
Instead, the convention got started here with a Zoom recording with the irregulars from the American Sci-Fi Classics Track. In what was scheduled as a one-hour event, we sat much longer and swapped tales of our various shenanigans and favorite memories from the convention.
It was a good way to catch up and almost feel home again.
Friday
Friday started with some browsing of the Dragon Con Goes Virtual channels before settling in for a chat about the second season of Lost in Space on the American SF & Fantasy Media Track.
The panel was moderated by my long-time friend Lindy Keelan, who I met during our time at The Scapecast. We were joined by Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast and Nathan Laws of The 42Cast, and the panel was a great discussion about the season, the series so far, and what might be ahead for the family Robinson.
The next panel for Friday was one that I recorded before the convention with the BritTrack and the crew of Earth Station Who. Mike Faber, Mike Gordon, Mary Ogle, and I joined Caro and Rob to talk about where to get started in Doctor Who.
It’s a large topic to tackle, especially since the franchise has been around since 1963 in so many various ways, but this was a fun and informative discussion and I hope that newcomers and long-time fans find it useful.
Saturday
Saturday started with a bit more Dragon channel surfing and a trip at 88 miles per hour with the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future.
I teamed up with Michael Williams, Shaun Rosado, James Palmer, and Joe and Gary to talk about this film, its franchise, and the legacy that they still maintain in science fiction. It got deep at times and was really fun.
Later that night, I popped back into the Classics Track for a look back at the Marvel films that preceded the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Sunday brought me back to my podcasting roots on the Digital Media Track with a topic that Mike Faber and I have been talking to people about for quite a while: How to get started in digital media.
The video is available on the track’s Twitch channel, and (with Mike and myself) included Matthew Malis, Sean Weiland, Tyra Burton, and podcasting newbie Channing Sherman. The goal now is to get Channing to record a podcast. Because he really needs to get his content and character on the airwaves.
Monday
Monday brought three more events to round out the weekend.
First up was a pre-recorded panel about Doctor Who that is similar in style to the classic Roll-a-Panel.
The second panel was a discussion on mathematics in science fiction.
I joined Darin Bush, Deanna Toxopeus, Sue Kisenwether, Gary, and Joe on a journey through how our favorite genre uses and abuses one of our favorite technical topics. This is another one that could easily spawn multiple discussion panels.
Finally, the convention came to a close for me with the Dragon Con Newbies team and a quick discussion on Dragon Con TV about coming to the con in person next year.
I joined Kevin Bachelder, Kim McGibony, and Sue to cover some of the basics. We also invite anyone interested in Dragon Con to visit both the website and the Facebook group to get information from a group of helpful convention veterans.
General Notes
As I mentioned before, the biggest benefit to going virtual was that we could have some semblance of a convention this year. That’s key in a time where we’re all siloed and unable to physically convene in celebration of our favorite works.
The other benefit that really stands out is two-fold and focused on the fan tracks: First is ingenuity and creativity, and second is continued access.
Each of the fan tracks had to decide how to best present themselves this year to a virtual audience, and many of the ones that I was able to follow this year did so through widely available platforms like YouTube. Using Zoom or Streamyard, these tracks were able to bring experts and fans together and stream their panels to the world. Those panels remain available for as long as YouTube stores them, and they remain an example of both creative problem solving and what the track has to offer for newcomers.
It’s a win-win.
That path was forged by Joe and Gary with the “quarantine panels” that they have done for months leading into this event. Search this site for “Quarantine Con” or visit their YouTube channel and see. In my estimation, those two are the MVPs of this event.
I’m not just trumpeting that to, as Michael Bailey would say, “wax their car”. It’s absolutely true.
And that brings me to the things that would improve this system going forward.
First, there was too much divergence on where content was available, and that was confusing for the man-on-the-street who just happened to wander in. My perspective on this comes from the fact that I have a Roku device, an XBox, and a television that can run apps. That means that I can stream YouTube and Vimeo from my couch.
I could literally attend Dragon Con this year from my couch.
The convention’s core programming (Dragon Con Main, Dragon Con Fan Tracks, and Dragon Con Classics) was available in one location (dragoncon.tv/virtual). Those streams were hosted on Vimeo and mirrored to a Roku app, but that app was broken for the first day and did not transmit the Fan Track channel.
If it hadn’t been for the broken code, the Roku app would have been perfect for that intent. But, it also limited who could simply switch on and watch since not everyone has a Roku. Ideally, going forward, a Dragon Con streaming app should be available on multiple platforms for more universal access.
A contributing factor was each track’s individual programming. Some tracks used YouTube, which is universally available for anyone who can click a link. Others were limited to Facebook and Twitch, which are fine for attendees who were on their computers or could use one of the streaming sticks (Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, etc) to mirror the computer to the television. But Facebook and Twitch are not available on the Roku, and that was a deciding factor in which Dragon Con Goes Virtual content I chose to partake from.
An argument of “well, you wouldn’t have watched anyway” won’t fly here because I have watched several other panels this year that I usually don’t have the time to watch at a live event. One that stands out is the Star Wars droid-building presentation. Others were puppetry panels, including interviews and a Puppetry 101 discussion, and Michael Bailey’s presentation on Green Lantern and The Flash.
I also have a long list that I want to see because they’re now stored on YouTube for the foreseeable future.
An easy solution to that hurdle is to require every streaming track to have a YouTube channel. It’s not that far of a reach since everyone was using Streamyard and Zoom to broadcast, and those tools have the built-in capability to stream to YouTube.
If a track director has a question on how to do it, we obviously have several experts available to share that knowledge. I’m sure that we also have experts who could tie those YouTube videos into the apps (like the Roku one) to make one-stop-shops for people.
The second big stumbling block was the schedule. The main schedule for the three Dragon Con TV channels was available in the Quick Start Guide and on the Eventeny site for the con. The fan tracks, on the other hand, were buried behind a link hidden in plain sight in the Quick Start Guide. That schedule was a Google Sheets file which was not formatted well.
The schedule should have been more accessible and legible. So much content for this con was hard to find because of this stumbling block.
And, again, ingenuity and ease of access, I’ll point to an example: Kelley at the American SF & Fantasy Media track set up all of her panels ahead of time. She sent emails in advance to the panelists with their links to join the Streamyard recording, and she set up each YouTube livestream in advance so anyone subscribed to her track’s channel would have a ready list of what was going on at what time.
All anyone had to do was select the video and wait for it to start. Joe and Gary did the same on Classics, but I noticed it first from Kelley.
Both of these issues popped up while the con was in motion. Fixing them going forward would greatly improve the experience in the future.
Wait. Going forward?
Yes. Because there is some serious potential here for “off-season” programming and contingency planning for the future. Each of these tracks can literally produce panels at any time with this infrastructure, thereby keeping the interest alive throughout the year outside of Facebook groups and localized meetups.
Joe and Gary have a huge library of material to choose from – Dragon Con defines a sci-fi classic as any genre property over ten years old that is not taken by another track – and they have proven that there is interest beyond the scope of their mandate with panels on representation, social issues, and more.
Classics, SF & Fantasy Media, BritTrack, Digital Media, Star Wars, TrekTrack, Space, Science, Skeptics, Animation, Puppetry, the literature tracks… that’s just off the top of my head. All of these tracks have an evergreen presence because there’s so much to talk about. Doing panels year-round (even on a monthly basis) baits the hook for people who might want to come to contribute in person.
The potential is nearly endless.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed Dragon Con Goes Virtual, and I applaud the teams that made it happen. This wasn’t an easy choice, I’m sure, but they did fantastic work under the circumstances.
My deepest gratitude goes out to the staff, the directors, the pros and guests, the volunteers, and the attendees for this event. As one of the local news stations reported, the programming was accessed over 600,000 times by fans from over 49 nations.
That’s not insignificant.
You’ve done good work, gang. Congratulations.
I’m looking forward to see you in person next year.
Dragon Con 2020
September 3 through September 7, 2020
Dragon Con!
It’s an annual tradition for me, but thanks to COVID-19, it’s not going to be in person. And, as someone who personally has risk factors for the infection and lives with people who have risk factors, I’m okay with that. It sucks, but it’s understandable.
Dragon Con is going virtual, including three official video channels – Main Programming, selected programming from the fan tracks, and a classics track of panels from past years – as well as copious amounts of fan-generated content from the various tracks.
And all of it is free. No badges, no memberships… just tune in and get a taste of what Dragon Con does every year.
This year will be my twelfth time attending and my fifth year as an attending professional. I have done some work already with pre-recorded content, and I’ll also be on some live panels as well.
The main schedule is available in the 2020 Quick Start Guide. The Quick Start Guide is the overall guide to the convention that is given to each attendee every year. It includes a link to the large scheduling spreadsheet of fan panels, which points you to the channels where that video content will be hosted.
Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post. Revision History:
Rev 0 – 03 Sep 2020: Initial post.
Rev 1 – 04 Sep 2020: Added Doctor Who and available videos for Friday
Rev 2 – 07 Sep 2020: Added available videos for the weekend
Rev 3 – 11 Sep 2020: Added the Thursday video
9:00p: Shenanigans and Tails of Dragon Con! (4 hours) American Sci-Fi Classics Streaming live on Facebook (Event)
It’s here! It’s here! 2020 tried to stop us, but it couldn’t as Dragon Con Goes Virtual! As always, the American Sci-Fi Classics Track starts off on Thursday, because why wait for Friday? To kick things off, Joe, Gary, and a gaggle of the Classic Track Irregulars gather to tell the untold tales of Dragon Cons past. Well, untold until now. Now they’ll be totally told. So get your virtual con badge, an over-priced slice of pizza, settle in for the silliness, and remember to let Streamyard have permission to use your name, so the panel can see your name on your comments!
12:00p: Lost in Space – Season 2 Revisited(1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Live on YouTube
Trials and tribulations finally bring the Jupiter Two and the Robinsons back to the Resolute only to deal with robot slavery, mutinies, and all the mixed up trouble that only ‘Dr. Smith’ could get into.
2:00p: Doctor Who: Where to Get Started with the Earth Station Who Podcast(1 hour) BritTrack Pre-recorded on YouTube
Earth Station Who Podcast joins the BritTrack to chat about where new fans can get started with the Classic Doctor Who Series, New Series, novels, comics, and audios!
2:30p: Back to the Future 35th Anniversary(1 hour) American Sci-Fi Classics Streaming live on Facebook
The Avengers were wrong! This movie is awesome, and scientifically accurate, of course.
8:30p: Pre-Dawn of the Marvel Cinematic Universe(1 hour) American Sci-Fi Classics Streaming live on Facebook
We look at Blade, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and more.
3:00p: Getting Started With Digital Media: The Ups & Downs(1 hour) Digital Media Live on Twitch
This panel will help newcomers and veterans alike find the ins and outs of creating both audio and video podcasts, on multiple platforms.
10:00a: Doctor Who Potpourri (1 hour) BritTrack Pre-recorded on YouTube
Similar to “roll-a-panel,” Doctor Who panelists spin a wheel and get a topic with only five minutes to answer!
11:30a: Making Sci-Fi Add Up: Math in Classic Sci-Fi(1 hour) American Sci-Fi Classics Pre-recorded on Facebook
All slide rules must be peace bonded for this panel.
2:00p: Dragon Con 101(1 hour) Dragon Con Facebook and Instagram channels
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share their tips and tricks for making your experience an awesome one.
Debrief: Dragon Con 2019 Atlanta, GA – August 29 through September 2, 2019
Dragon Con 2019 is in the books! I had a better time this year despite the larger crowd numbers. It’s hard to predict how the crowds are going to ebb and flow from year to year, but you could feel the 85,000 attendees like the pulse of the con this year.
We also did tons of good works this year for the Atlanta chapter of the American Heart Association. $110,000 is a lot of money, and I hope it goes a long way to helping a good charity with a good mission.Read More »
Dragon Con 2019
Atlanta, GA – August 29 through September 2, 2019
Dragon Con!
It’s an annual tradition for me, and a family reunion of sorts as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my eleventh time attending and my fourth year as an attending professional. If you plan to be there, these are the places where you will be able to find me over Labor Day weekend.
I have fifteen scheduled program events in five days, and I’m sure more will pop up over the course of the con. Come find me and say hi!
The convention app is available now – look for Dragon Con by Core-apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store – and contains the current schedule of events. The list of confirmed guests, performers, artists, and attending professionals is available on the official Dragon Con site.
Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is the Atlanta Affiliate of the American Heart Association. It’s a personal selection for the convention and the donations are in honor of long-time Comics Director Thom Trainor, who lost his battle with heart disease in July of 2018. Dragon Con will match all donations made this year up to $100,000.
If you’re new to the convention, consider stopping by the Dragon Con Newbies group on Facebook. It is run by Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony, and me, and is an in-depth community resource for information about this massive (and sometimes overwhelming) event. Memberships (tickets) for this year’s convention are also still available.
If you want a printable copy of my schedule, I have a convenient PDF.
Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post. Revision History:
Rev 0 – 23 Aug 2019: Initial post.
I will be around starting Wednesday. Pretty much the standards of wandering the hotels, picking up my Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and catching up with some friends.
1:00p-5:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (4 hours) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get a ‘lay of the land’ and find your way around the hotels? Did you know there’s a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con and get a tour with some veteran con-goers. Groups leave every 30 minutes. Last tours will leave approximately 4pm. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
5:30p-6:30p: Dragon Con Newbies Q&A (1 hour) Main Programming Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share tips and tricks. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
Other Events of Interest 10:00p-12:00a: The ESO Network 2019 DragonCon Meet & Greet (2 hours) Westin, Bar 210 Hosted by the ESO Network
10:00a: Dragon Con Newbies 101(1 hour) Main Programming Hyatt, Regency V
First Dragon Con? Confused or overwhelmed? Savvy con attendees will share their tip and tricks for making your experience an awesome one. Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony
2:30p: Captain Marvel: Blast from the Past (1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M302-M303 From her beginnings as a female foil to her own place in the MCU as a pre-eminent powerhouse, we’ll consider just how Carol Danvers and her story work in the MCU and her future as a stand-alone hero and Avenger. Panelists include: Bethany Kesler, Casi Hamilton, Jenna Johnson, Kelley Harkins
5:30p: New Series Doctor Who (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Crystal Ballroom
With Series 11 over, this panel discusses what Chibnall did in his inaugural series as show-runner & the impact of the Doctor & her companions. Panelists include: Angela Hartley, Robert Bowen, Allison Lane, JM Tuffley, Robert Lloyd
7:00p: Battlestar Galactica Anniversary Panel: The End…? (1 hour) Military SciFi Media Westin, Chastain DE
It’s the 15th anniversary of the start, and the 10th anniversary of the end of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica…are we ready to talk about it? What is the verdict? Where might a future reboot of BSG take us? Panelists include: Andrew E.C. Gaska, Kevin R. Grazier, Van Allen Plexico
8:30p: Classic Sci-Fi Charity Theater: Mac and Me (2.5 hours) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105
Witness the 1988 kid-meets-alien movie that totally was not an, um, homage to E.T. It’s this year’s movie watch for charity — you have to donate to the Dragon Con charity TO GET OUT. Panelists include: Darin Bush, Gary Mitchel, Joe Crowe, Chris Cummins
Other Events of Interest 11:30a-12:30p: David Tennant (1 hour) Marriott, Atrium Ballroom
10:00a: Classic Sci-Fi Roll-a-Panel: Batman’s 80th Anniversary American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105 We can’t possibly cover all Batman movies & TV shows & cartoons in one panel. So we’re doing TWENTY in one hour, with audience members choosing the Bat-topics on our one-of-a-kind Bat-d20 (we auction it for charity at the end of the panel!) Panelists include: The All-Star line-up from the American Science Fiction Classics Track
1:00p: Earth Station Who Presents: Deconstructing Doctor Who(1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5 What are the essential elements of one of the most popular science fiction series for over 50 years? The Earth Station Who crew lead an in-depth discussion on the what, why, and how of Who. Panelists include: Mike Faber, Michael Gordon, Mary Ogle, Tara Newman
5:30p: Farscape Anniversary Fan Panel (1 hour) Military SciFi Media Westin, Chastain DE Farscape was a monumental show for its weaving together of intricate stories, compelling characters, practical effects in puppetry, and strong visual storytelling. Come aboard Moya as we look back on 20 years of this fan favorite. Panelists include: Amy J. Murphy, Amanda, James Henson
Other Events of Interest 12:00p: Doctor Who Trio Epic Photos
2:30p-3:30p: David Tennant (1 hour) Marriott, Atrium Ballroom
11:30a: Bond, James Bond 007, Anniversary Edition (1 hour) BritTrack Hilton, Galleria 5 The Bond Film Franchises has a number of anniversaries this year including the 50th Anniversary of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” the 40th of “Moonraker,” the 30th of “License to Kill,” and the 20th of “World is Not Enough.” This panel discusses these films and more. Panelists include: Mike Faber, John L Flynn, Bob Nygaard, Caro McCully
4:00p: The Amazing Sci-Fi Worlds of Steven Spielberg (1 hour) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105 Our tribute to the creator who took us from sharks to dinosaurs to flying bikes to the Temple of Doom and back. Panelists include: Michael D. French, Sue Kisenwether, Jessa Phillips, Jonathan Williams, James Palmer, JC De La Torre
10:00p: UHF: 30-Year Anniversary Sponsored by Spatula City (2.5 hours) American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105 See the epic Weird Al Yankovic movie — OR YOU GET THE FIREHOSE. Bring your own spatulas for a celebration where we don’t need no stinking badgers. Panelists include: Kevin Eldridge, Shaun Rosado, Kevin Eldridge, Noel Wood, Beth Van Dusen, John Hudgens
Other Events of Interest 5:30p-6:30p: Catherine Tate(1 hour) Epic, Imperial Ballroom
7:00p-8:00p: RetroBlasting Presents the Vehicles that Drove the 80s (1 hour) Marriott, M103-M105
11:30a: Classic Sci-Fi Roll-A-Panel: 1979 & 1999 American Science Fiction Classics Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M103-M105 We have too many movies we want to celebrate and panels we want to have– so we’re doing 20 of them in one hour! It’s a lightning round crowd participation melee of geekiness that’s bigger than the Deep Blue Sea! This year we’re talking about sci-fi movies from 1979, and 10 movies from 1999, from Black Hole to Wild Wild West — Audience members roll a giant customized d20 to choose which movie we discuss, and then at the end of the panel, we auction the d20 off for Dragon Con’s charity. Panelists include: The All-Star line-up from the American Science Fiction Classics Track
2:30p: Endgame: MCU(1 hour) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Marriott Marquis, Marquis Level, M302-M303
For the final panel of the con, we’ll look at the final film of this part of the MCU. There was a lot of fan love, and some crazy timey wimey stuff, and the sad loss of some of our favorites. Panelists include: Bethany Kesler, Lisa Manifold, Alison Sky Richards, Jenna Johnson
9:30pm – New Normal VOD
11:00pm – 1984
3:00pm – Far Beyond the Stars
8:00pm – D&D Tips and Tricks (Player Edition)
6:00pm – NuTrek
7:30pm – Sci Fi Westerns
Creative Criticality 