What is the North American Discworld Convention?
Why are you hosting a Discworld Convention in North America?
Why did you choose Phoenix, Arizona?
Why is the convention being held on Labor Day weekend (Sept 4-7, 2009)?
I've never been to a convention before. What should I expect, and how much will it cost me?
When should I plan to arrive at the convention, and when should I plan to depart?
What is the Hospitality Suite?
Will there be a child care room?
After we register, will we receive a membership packet in the mail?
How do I register a child who is under five years old for the convention?
How do I upgrade my membership from a supporting to a full membership?
What if I have to cancel my registration? How do I do this?
Why is a line for 'Fees' included when I book my hotel room?
Are you coordinating room-sharing for single convention-goers?
What kind of handicapped or wheelchair access will there be at the hotel?
What's all this nonsense about Terry Pratchett having an evil twin named Silas T. Firefly?
How can I help with the convention?
When will we see more information about the convention on this website?
How can I learn about updates or get on a mailing list?
What is the North American Discworld Convention?
The North American Discworld Convention is a fan-run convention designed
to celebrate Terry Pratchett's long-running, bestselling, hilarious,
insightful (etc.,etc. - we can keep going all day) series of satirical
fantasy novels. The UK has been holding Discworld Conventions regularly
since 1996, and more recently there have been Discworld Conventions in
Australia and Germany, but this will be the first one held in North
America. Scheduled for Phoenix, Arizona over Labor Day Weekend, 2009
(Sept 4-7, and maybe September 3 as well - stay tuned!), the convention
is delighted to welcome Guest of Honor Terry Pratchett, as well as other
guests with connections to Terry and/or Discworld. We chose 2009 to
avoid conflict with the UK Discworld conventions that take place during
even-numbered years - which makes us officially odd!
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Why are you hosting a Discworld Convention in North America?
It's long overdue. Terry Pratchett has been a guest at many conventions
in North America, including Guest of Honor at Noreascon in 2004, but no
one has yet successfully organized a Discworld-specific convention like
the events held in the UK and elsewhere in the world. These have a
wonderful atmosphere and spirit all their own - a little slice of
Discworld coming to life in Roundworld. As Terry's popularity has grown
enormously in the US and Canada, we've witnessed an equally growing
interest in a North American event that would share the feel and focus
of Discworld conventions elsewhere. This will be for fans who can't
afford to travel to an international convention; fans who want to show
Terry how much his writing is appreciated on this side of the pond; and
fans from all over the world who want to meet some great people and
experience another fun Discworld event (and you can never have too much
Discworld). It's our turn to host the party!
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Why did you choose Phoenix, Arizona?
One of the reasons there has never been a North American Discworld
Convention before is that it poses some serious organizational
challenges. Many Discworld fans here don't have much experience running
or even attending conventions, and are scattered over a wide geographic
area. Many cities were considered, including Washington, D.C., New
York, and Los Angeles. After a lot of research, the organizers
concluded that this convention stood the best chance of success if it
began with a local group of experienced fans to form a stable backbone; a
well-established organization to oversee it; and an accommodating
location that would not pose a high financial risk. Since one of the
organizers had long-established connections to Arizona fandom, the
proposed convention was brought to Leprecon, Inc., a Phoenix-based, fan-run, non-profit organization which has had prior experience hosting the 2004 World Fantasy Convention, the 2004 World Horror Convention, the 2006 Nebula Awards Weekend, and the annual LepreCon conventions,
among others. The convention chair and hotel liaison alone each have
more than 20 years of organizational experience with local, regional,
national, and international conventions. With its core committee
situated in Phoenix and boasting a good track record with local venues,
the logical conclusion was to hold this convention in Arizona. The
fifth-largest city in the United States, Phoenix also has some inherent
advantages as a convention location; our Travel and Tourism guide
highlights some of these. Regardless, it is important to remember that
this decision does not rule out the possibility of a future North
American Discworld Convention happening elsewhere. We intend to
establish a viable convention in 2009 so that ensuing events can use our
experience to help with organization, planning, and negotiations with
prospective venues. We hope that this will be the first of many North
American Discworld Conventions.
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Why is the convention being held on Labor Day weekend (Sept 4-7, 2009)?
A lot of factors contributed to this decision. Ideally, we would have
chosen mid-October, a date suitably distant from the many summer
conventions across the country, a few weeks before the World Fantasy
Convention, and right in the midst of some of the most temperate autumn
weather in the United States. Unfortunately, the high season for hotels
in the Phoenix area starts right after Labor Day in early September and
continues through Memorial Day in late May. Holding the event during
that time would mean either selecting a far less appealing hotel, or
accepting hotel room rates in the US$200+ range combined with a contract
which would leave the convention exposed to a much higher financial
risk. In addition, with Phoenix fandom also hosting a Westercon (the
annual western regional science fiction convention) in early July, we
knew we might run short of local volunteers if we held our convention
too close to that one. If you then factor in the San Diego Comic-Con
International in late July and the Montreal WorldCon in early August,
Labor Day weekend was the best option for the convention.
By placing it on the weekend of a major US holiday, it means much
lower hotel rates for the attendees, a better hotel contract for the
convention, and a three-day weekend for most US residents. We are aware
that this unfortunately places us directly opposite Dragon*Con in
Atlanta, but we concluded that the potential impact upon the committee
and attendees would be less detrimental than a conflict with WorldCon,
Comic-Con, or Westercon. Since Dragon*Con does not have an established
Discworld program track (á la Weyrfest, Wheel of Time, etc.), we
felt there would be minimal overlap. As it is, we are still very close
to the usual date for the local CopperCon convention, and with the
Montreal WorldCon featuring Neil Gaiman as Author Guest of Honor only a
month beforehand, we realize that some people will have to make some
tough choices. We genuinely regret any conflicts, but we made the best
decision possible when considering all the circumstances.
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I've never been to a convention before. What should I expect, and how much will it cost me?
First of all, don't expect to be the only newbie! Many Discworld fans
are not typical sci-fi/fantasy conventioneers. There will be a mix of
complete newbies, experienced convention veterans, and probably even
some fans who have been to the UK Discworld conventions. Given the wide
appeal of Terry's books, the age range of attendees is bound to be
enormous. Some fans will dress as Discworld characters; some will wear
ordinary clothes. In this diverse crowd, you're sure to meet lots of
friendly fans, and maybe even make some lifelong friends.
As the convention approaches, we will be updating the website with more
information concerning what we have planned. You'll be able to consult a
tentative program schedule listing which events will be happening, when
and where they'll take place, and who the participants will be. Once
you arrive at the convention, your first stop will be registration,
where you'll pick up your badge, program book, and the final event
schedule - for a given value of 'final.' If there are any last-minute
changes to the printed schedule, they'll be posted in prominent
locations.
During a hypothetical day at the convention, maybe you might start the
morning sharing breakfast with some other fans. Then you decide to
attend a panel where authors and fans explore some aspect of Terry's
writing. Then you move on to play a Discworld game -- Thud!, perhaps.
At this point, there are about three things going on at the same time
that appeal to you, but you finally choose a Discworld art workshop.
Breaking for a free snack in the hospitality suite, you just happen to
bump into Terry Pratchett talking with a group of fans; you eagerly join
in. Then you race to attend a reading by one of our other author
guests. Realizing you forgot to eat, you grab a quick meal and then
attend a Discworld trivia panel, or maybe a session where fans sing
their own Discworld parody songs, or possibly a panel discussing the
latest Discworld film adaptations - but watch out for those Morris
dancers! They've got sticks and buckets, and they aren't afraid to use
them . . . .
Your hypothetical mileage may vary, but basically, expect fun! There
will generally be several programs/panels to choose from at any given
time. Special events should include an interview with Terry; a reading
by Terry, usually from an in-progress novel; a charity auction of fun,
rare, and/or valuable Discworld items; a stage Maskerade where you can
show off your own Discworld-themed costume or applaud the competitors;
book signings; and more. In between, you can stroll through the
Marketplace to view and purchase Discworld/fantasy items; attend a party
or two in the evening; and hang out with guests and fans in the bar.
All these programs, panels, and events are included in the price of
membership. However, we'll also be featuring a themed banquet for an
additional fee, and possibly one other additional-fee event.
Beyond the price of registration, travel, and accommodations, the cost
of the convention will be largely up to you. Do you want to attend the
banquet; buy some special collectibles in the charity auction and the
Marketplace; eat at a nice restaurant; go shopping or clubbing in the
surrounding Mill Avenue District; buy drinks at the bar; purchase
souvenirs for your entire extended family; and rent a car to drive to
the Grand Canyon? If so, you're going to want to budget some extra
money. If, however, you just want to attend the convention without any
'extras,' then the cost of registration, travel, and accommodations
(plus a few basic meals - we don't want you fainting in the halls) will
cover most of your expenses.
In a way, the content of the convention is equally up to you. Don't be
afraid to ask questions, participate, talk to people, and try something
new! Everyone's there because they love Discworld, too. If you have
suggestions for program topics or special events, please let us know.
We're doing our level best to deliver a convention that exceeds your
expectations!
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When should I plan to arrive at the convention, and when should I plan to depart?
We plan on starting official programming in the early afternoon on Friday and will
likely have some sort of event or activity on Thursday night as well. If you are
interested in attending the banquet, it will be taking place in the late afternoon
and early evening on Sunday and we will be having programming through mid to late
afternoon on Monday. We may also do a post-convention party of some sort on
Monday evening. If you want to catch everything, it would be best to get here on
Thursday and leave Monday night.
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What is the Hospitality Suite?
Two words: Free food!
Actually, it's even more than that. The hospitality suite is a North
American convention tradition wherein one suite in the hotel is set
aside for the comfort of all convention members, even those not staying
at the hotel. Open from early in the morning until late at night, it's
a place to relax and chat with friends and/or
help yourself to a variety of constantly replenished snack food, ranging
from the reasonably healthy (fruit and vegetable trays, nuts, bottled water, etc.) to the extravagantly unhealthy (soda, cheese,
chips, cookies, muffins, candy, etc.). Our hospitality suite will, of
course, be designed with a distinctly Discworld theme; you may even spot
a rat-on-a-stick or two...
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Will there be a child care room?
The convention will not be providing a child care room due to liability
issues, although we will provide a variety of children's programming.
However, the Tempe Mission Palms hotel does contract with a child care
service. We will be able to provide current details about prices and
service options for your little Feegles about six months prior to the
convention.
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After we register, will we receive a membership packet in the mail?
We will not be mailing out membership packets prior to the convention.
Members will pick up their badges and registration materials at the
convention. However, we do mail out occasional email updates and post
news on our news page.
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How do I register a child who is under five years old for the convention?
Let us know in a note (if mailing) or in the comments (if using Paypal)
what the name of your child is and how old your child is.
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How do I upgrade my membership from a supporting to a full membership?
To upgrade to a full membership you will need to pay the difference
between the supporting membership you purchased and the current full
membership price. You may do this via Paypal using the "Other Payments"
box on our online registration page.
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What if I have to cancel my registration? How do I do this?
Our policy is that memberships are non-refundable but can be
transferred. To transfer your membership, first arrange for the
transferee to pay you for your memberships, via Paypal, check, or
whatever method you are both comfortable with. Once you have received a
payment from the person you are transferring your membership to, please
mail a signed and dated statement from you to our mailing address,
indicating who the memberships are being transferred to, and including
their contact information. If the person buying the membership from you
wants confirmation from the convention that these are valid
memberships, please let us know and we will be happy to confirm that for
them. Our mailing address is:
North American Discworld Convention 2009
c/o Leprecon, Inc.
PO Box 26665,
Tempe, AZ 85285
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Why is a line for 'Fees' included when I book my hotel room?
The "Fees" line is something that the hotel cannot disable on their
site, but it will not be added to your bill during the convention. When
you select your choice of dates and the total cost of the room is
shown, the line indicating an extra cost for 'Fees' should be ignored
since it will be subtracted from the total cost of the room.
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Are you coordinating room-sharing for single convention-goers?
Please visit our message board, which has a section where you can connect with other convention-goers to arrange room sharing and ride sharing.
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What kind of handicapped or wheelchair access will there be at the hotel?
There are four public elevators, two on the north side and two on the
south side, which will be available for use by convention-goers.
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What's all this nonsense about Terry Pratchett having an evil twin named Silas T. Firefly?
Contrary to the popular misconception, standing in line with a book and an eager expression is not the only --
or even the preferred -- means of meeting Terry.FN 1
Throughout the convention, you'll see him chatting with fans
in the bar, the hospitality suite, the corridors, etc. However, while
Terry is a famously fan-friendly author, sometimes even he needs a bit
of a break. Rather than forcing him to hide in his rooms like a
desperate fugitive, the UK Discworld Convention has devised an ingenious
system whereby Terry switches badges -- much like the "Do not disturb"
sign on your hotel door -- to signal his availability for conversation.
We'll be using this same badge system here at the NADWCon. If Terry's
badge reads "Terry Pratchett," please feel free to say hello! Remember,
he wouldn't be here if he didn't want to meet his fans. If, however,
his badge proclaims him to be 'Silas T. Firefly,' then please steer
clear and let him enjoy some well-earned quiet time to himself.
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How can I help with the convention?
We really appreciate your interest! We need a lot of fan participation
to help make this convention as successful as we know it can be. If
you'd like to volunteer, please email us at info @ nadwcon.org
and let us know about your interests, skills, and any convention
experience, although please don't hesitate to volunteer even if you've
never attended a convention before. We're still very much in the early
planning stages, but we've begun to compile a volunteer list and are in
the process of establishing a volunteer coordinator. As the convention
plans progress, we'll also put out a call for people with experience in
specific areas.
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When will we see more information about the convention on this website?
All the latest news will be available on the various pages here and in
the "news" section of the site. Please check back often for updates!
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How can I learn about updates or get on a mailing list?
We will be updating the website and LiveJournal
on a regular basis, and
have also created a mailing list to issue updates. If you are
registered for the convention, you will automatically be added to our
email update list. If you have not yet registered but want to receive
updates, just email us at
subscribe @ nadwcon.org with "SUBSCRIBE" as the subject header and your name in the body of the email, and we'll
add you to the list. If you've contacted us, you are on our email list,
even if you haven't yet received a response from our team. We definitely
intend to keep you notified whenever more details become available. We
look forward to seeing you here when 'the turtle moves' in 2009!
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Have a question? Ask Us!
FN 1: For some general advice on how to approach authors, you might like to read John Scalzi's post on meeting authors.