Con party advice

[Hypatia]

I’m considering throwing a just-for-fun party at a con here in the eastern US early next year and I’m looking for some advice and suggestions. I’ve been to many cons and many con parties, but all of them have been in the eastern part of the US so I’m unfamiliar with what goes on at con parties in other parts of the worlds (from what I gather we’re a somewhat boring bunch when it comes to parties).



It would seem that tasty food and free booze/beer are a good start. Any other suggestions? What have you seen at parties that you really liked or really didn’t like?

 

[littlemissattitude]

Probably the best con party I've ever attended was at LosCon last year. Can't remember who was throwing it - someone sponsoring a con bid, I think - but they had all the ingredients for building gingerbread castles - pre-baked parts of the house, tubes of frosting to put them together and to glue a wide assortment of candies on as decorations. Sounds kind of silly, I know, but instead of people just drifting in and out within a couple of minutes, people (including me) actually sat and played with the crafts materials and got into actual conversations. It was great fun.

Oh, and I always appreciate con parties that offer soft drinks as well as beer or other liquor. I'm not a big drinker, so I'm more inclined to hang if there's more of a choice of beverages.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

You could include a group reading of "The Eye of Argon" (if there isn't already an official reading on the schedule). That's usually a big draw at conventions out here.

 

[Brian G Turner]

The odd drunk guest starring author wouldn't go amiss, either.

 

[Hypatia]

Probably the best con party I've ever attended was at LosCon last year. Can't remember who was throwing it - someone sponsoring a con bid, I think - but they had all the ingredients for building gingerbread castles - pre-baked parts of the house, tubes of frosting to put them together and to glue a wide assortment of candies on as decorations. Sounds kind of silly, I know, but instead of people just drifting in and out within a couple of minutes, people (including me) actually sat and played with the crafts materials and got into actual conversations. It was great fun.

That would be fun!! However, I think space and finances will keep me from trying it for now. Great general suggestion to give partygoers something to do/work on to keep them engaged.

Oh, and I always appreciate con parties that offer soft drinks as well as beer or other liquor. I'm not a big drinker, so I'm more inclined to hang if there's more of a choice of beverages.

Ah, yes, I'll have sweetened acid and other non-alcoholic drinks and I plan on having food that'll satisfy everyone from chocoholics to diabetics.

 

[Hypatia]

You could include a group reading of "The Eye of Argon" (if there isn't already an official reading on the schedule). That's usually a big draw at conventions out here.

Embarrassingly, I don’t think I’d heard of this before. I got a copy online to read through and it does sound like a fun thing to try.

 

[Hypatia]

The odd drunk guest starring author wouldn't go amiss, either.

Ah, yes, but very hard to arrange! Ken MacLeod is GoH -- does he randomly check out parties? I do intend to have some fine Islay whisky on hand...



I've found at the cons I've been to authors don't go to general fan parties. I assume they go to secret closed parties, but I really don't know -- 'tis a mystery to me.





Questions for you folks: Would you like tasty home brew beer (I make a killer Belgian style) at a con party, along with commercial choices, or do you think it would come across as cheap? Similarly, do you prefer good homemade snacks to store-bought ones or does that, again, come across as cheap?

 

[littlemissattitude]

I think the home brew beer would be a cool addition to the beverages, as would be the homemade munchies. You'd probably want to do a combination of homemade and store-bought munchies, as well, though. It's kind of time-intensive to make a lot of food, even if it's just cookies, and I've seen the panic when a con party runs out of food. Then again, you have to take into consideration that when my best friend and I go to cons, pretty much a whole kitchen - including food - goes along with us because it's too expensive to eat in the hotel restaurants. You'd be amazed at the variety of food that can be cooked in a crock-pot.