Small ponds.
So Conflux was this weekend and I went and did things and so on and so forth but, mostly, some general observations:1
- The SFF con scene is not very big.
- That includes both fans and pros.
- Big name pros.
- Internationally.
- No one is more than two or three degrees of separation away from anyone else.
- Even if people aren’t directly BFFs, they know each other by reputation.
- You want to have a good reputation. Especially with the people you aren’t BFFs with.
- I really, really mean that.
- And not just for “opportunities” and “career advancement” (though it will help that), but also because you just… don’t want to get the reputation of being That Guy.
- If you’re ever That Guy, it’s really, really difficult to ever not be That Guy.
- People notice who Gets Things Done; who organizes events, volunteers time and resources, who goes out of their way to help other people.
- They really notice the people who are only there for themselves.
- Not to mention the people who are never there for—to put it delicately—specific demographic segments within the broader community.
- I mean it is an SFF con, so it’s likely a good number of the attendees are awkward, shy, weird, or all three. Particularly if they’re new.
- So people are fairly forgiving.
- But not eternally forgiving.
- And, like I said, the scene really isn’t that big…
Just… something to keep in mind.
- Not, it must be said, directed at anyone likely to be reading this… [↩]