[Dragaera] What 'cha do'n? (Nov 2017)

[Corwin Brust via Dragaera]

So, here’s an idea which I, myself, have thought of…

If this threatens to take over the list, I guess DDB or Felix or
someone can bounce us to fetch our own subscribers, but, so y’allv’e
had it first…

Let me know if you might be able to come, to help out, and all of your
best most and most fun ideas for a Steven Brust focused convention,
especially as may relate to test balloon for same in Minneapolis, Late
Fall 2017.

For a number of years I’ve been discussing with various people the
concept of creating an SF convention around Steven Brust/Dragaera/Vlad
Taltos/etc/or so forth.  I now have a --somewhat long-shot-- plan to
pull together such a thing.  It’s crazy --- isn’t that enough?

A one-year trial balloon, probably with a reg cap well under 500.
More like 100.  Maybe 250?  I think 50 should be fine, in terms of
pulling it off...

One pro, several fahn guests

Single track of programing designed by Steven

Music and gaming, we think.  Probably.

Food being kinda a thing, thinking fine-dining, Friday and Saturday
evening maybe? Could potentially be a separate ticket, or something,
we think, maybe?

Stream/record programing and music (and cooking?) for supporting
members who can’t make it after all, people who missed the first year
should it keep going, and so on.

THIS YEAR!


VALDCON -November, 24th-25th, 2017 in Minneapolis?  What could go wrong?

***

I still need lots of help pulling this plan together, so I might give
up in the next several weeks if going public with the project doesn’t
flush out people interested in helping make it happen.  I’ve been
focused on keeping the commitments fairly modest for each of my
hearties, but let’s not kid ourselves -- convention building a quite a
job of work. A mighty Thank You out to those who’ve offered to help or
soon will.

And then too, some sense that I would not go bankrupt if I signed an
hotel contract would be good.

On that note, did I mention a have quite a number of SKZB related
goodies just at the moment?  Another round of MSS, some first editions
that could become signed first editions, posters, signed records that
are starting to get difficult to find and also that Dad has said
hang-out time with people is definitely top item on the menu if this
manages to come about?

Which nearly brings me to the beauty of the all or nothing funding
model, especially for creating a new fan convention.  Like many
people, I’m interested in developing tools to make various complex and
extremely fun things a bit easier and less risky.  To that end, by
offering various types of convention membership opportunities to
interested potential convention members **only if we get enough
overall interest**, we can basically open a door for anyone who might
be able to take the idea further to come charging in with light-bulb
glowing and finger raised.

Finally, more best for last than last for least, Dad has talked with a
few professional writers he allegedly knows, and who sound interested
in doing a lecture series style set of talks with him.  This would
include Emma Bull, Skyler White and Will Shetterly, would occur
Thursday, Nov 23rd --the Thursday following Thanksgiving, and Steven’s
actual birthday-- and would be a separately ticketed event supported
out of the same fund-raising initiative.

Which fund-raising initiative is hereby declared potentially in season
subject to our being shouted down by you, our peers in Steven’s fan
base.


To sum up --b/c fuck corporate america but hey, bullet-point lists!

- All or nothing flash-fundraising initiative to see if this idea/this
year could happen
- Coming soon to a social financing platform near you!
- Lots of interesting things sitting around, here and there.


Thanks in advance for your thoughts and all whatever support may befit
and especially too for sticking with good 'ol dragaera.info, part of
your low-key first-to-know network of internet services.


-- 
Corwin
612-217-1742
612-695-4276 (mobile)
corwin.brust (skype)
corwin at bru.st