confabcon | Apr. 1st, 2019

Hello fellow fanpersons, your Programming Team here with some announcements!

Programming submission time is here! We will be running submissions starting on Monday, April 8th, 2019 and closing on Sunday, June 30th, 2019. We will be accepting submissions for any of our three tracks of programming: one track of panels, one of group discussions, and one of workshops. After the submission period ends, programming will be voted on and chosen by you, the attendees.

Here's a handy guide to the types of programming we have to get you started:

Panels — Programming about a topic that applies to multiple fandoms (soulmate AUs, vintage fandoms, found families, diversity in genre TV, femslash, incest) or a more general fandom universe that has multiple smaller fandoms that fall under its umbrella (Video Games, Anime, K-Pop, Hockey, the MCU, DCEU/DC TV). Panels run for one hour, and can have up to 4 panelists, including a moderator, whose job is to keep discussion moving and ensure that the panel stays within established time limits. Panels usually involve a discussion between the moderator and the panelists with less feedback from the audience than Group Discussions. If you don't want to mod your own panel, we can find someone to help you. Previous panel topics have included boy bands, queer animated shows, fandom history, the MCU and the apocalyptic media. We look forward to seeing what new topics you’ll bring us.

Group Discussions — Programming about a single fandom (like The Magicians, or BTS, or Critical Role), or a niche topic within fandom. Group Discussions can be run by one person, but can have up to 2 facilitators.Discussions will be one hour long, and are meant to be conversations between facilitators and attendees.

Workshops — Programming where attendees get a chance to learn something new or hone their skills. Past workshop topics have included things like live beta reading, art tips and tricks, making fannish plushies, tabletop RPGs 101, and more, but they can be about anything you're interested in! If you submit a proposal for a workshop, you must be willing to run it. Workshop sessions run for one hour, but you may offer more than one session of your workshop across multiple days, or request a single day session of longer than one hour (in one hour blocks, only).

We look forward to hearing your amazing ideas for programming! Help make CONfab an awesome experience! We will be accepting submissions for all types of programming from everyone, whether you have registered for the con yet or not. This is your chance to get the programming you want by submitting your ideas. What are you excited about? Share it with the group!

Comment on this post with your programming ideas and questions. Find friends and strangers to help you flesh out your ideas, or offer assistance in planning your presentation, and get ready to submit your proposals starting on April 8th! A new post will go up with submission instructions and a link to the submission form on Monday, April 8th.
The comments on this post will be open throughout the submission period, so feel free to use it as a resource and a sounding board for new ideas that you want a second opinion on before submitting. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment on this post, or email the Programming team at programming@confabcon.com. We’re happy to be a sounding board!