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Domain: penguicon.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to penguicon.org.

Comments · 6

  1. Yep, missing the mark by Eil · · Score: 2, Insightful · on What Do You Look For In a Conference?

    Without more detail, the conference you started sounds suspiciously like every other "professional" conference I've ever heard of. You know, the ones middle managers dream up and attend to make it look and sound like they're busier and more important than they really are.

    You don't say who your target audience is exactly, but if you're looking to attract the Slashdot crowd, you have to have:

    1. 1. A solid set of speakers and panels. Geeks justify their time and money spent at a conference by what they'll be able to learn.
    2. Lots to do that is cheap or free. One of the more popular cons around here has free beer on tap from 8PM throughout the night and snacks all weekend long. I've personally never attended a con with a ticket price over $75.
    3. Fun. Related to #2, you need something (or more likely, many somethings) to guarantee that the attendees will have fun. This means interactive panels, workshops, competitions, and so on.
    4. Sponsors. Most cons expect to barely break even where funds are concerned. If your conference is any good, you almost certainly need at least one major sponsor and a few minor ones.

    Running a con is hard. I was on a conference committee once and while my job was comparatively easy, many other organizers (especially the conchair) spent an entire year of their free time all for the sake of one great weekend. If you really want to figure out what makes a con tick, get involved with another con before diving into one of your own, no matter how great you think your event planning skills are. There are a few cons with a relatively open planning process, one in particular that I can recommend is Penguicon.

  2. Re:I'm not surprised by Eil · · Score: 1 · on UK Female Sci-Fi Viewers Now Outnumber Males


    I have to concur. My first sci-fi con was Penguicon, an Open Source/Sci-Fi con. I was amazed how the gender ratio was fairly well balanced. It did seem that most of the women there were either geeks or sci-fi fans, though. I didn't enounter many who were both.

  3. Re:A little help with the names please! by Matt_Arnold · · Score: 1 · on Linux + Sci-fi + Detroit = Penguicon3.0

    Photos of the Guests of Honor are on the Penguicon website and we expect to get photos of most of the Nifty Guests posted soon. http://www.penguicon.org/
    -Matt Arnold
    Penguicon 3.0 Communications

  4. Penguicon by Eil · · Score: 1 · on Notacon: Geeks, Community, and Technology


    Don't forget Penguicon in Novi, MI (near Detroit. It's a Linux/Sci-Fi con that's just a whole lot of fun with plenty of games, celebrities, panels, parties, and so on. Check it out if you're in the midwest.

  5. Penguicon?! by Eil · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Ohio Linuxfest Registration Now Open


    Oh sure, the Ohio Linuxfest gets a Slashdot mention, but not Penguicon, the single best Open Source/Sci Fi convention that the midwest has seen these past two years?

    CmdrTaco was even a GOH for the first one and a Nifty Guest for the second. C'mon, Slashdot, you can do better.

  6. Why?? Why?? by Apreche · · Score: 3, Funny · on Annual Ludum Dare Independent Game Competition

    Why is everything cool the same weekend? I'm missing triple points weekend at media play and now this. All because I'm going to Penguicon Oh well.