We are now taking panel suggestions for CON.TXT 2021! Please read this post and comment on our Dreamwidth using the template provided there.

We are making several changes to the panel proposal process this year:

1. Open versus closed panels. This year, you will have a choice between submitting a panel proposal as Open or Closed. A Closed panel is a panel for which you are submitting the idea as well as the full lineup of mods. If the panel is accepted, the panels committee will not find you any additional co-mods.

An Open panel is a panel you are asking the panels committee to put together—you propose the idea, and we assemble a panel out of the potential mods who volunteer. Every mod selected will be able to opt in or out of the final panel, but no mod will have veto power over co-mod assignment.*

If you would like to have control over the mod lineup of the panel you are proposing to mod, we invite you to use the comments on this post to find co-mods and submit your panel as Closed. (Feel free to edit your proposal post if you fill up a panel before the deadline!)

(*Just to be clear—if we assign you to a panel with someone you do not trust to adhere to the Code of Conduct, please let us know! Our goal is to streamline the panel selection process and simplify communication with mods, not to force you to work with anyone you don’t feel safe around.)

2. Prerecorded versus live content. While most panels will still be conducted live, we are offering two kinds of pre-recorded panels this year!

• Full-length prerecorded panels. What it says on the tin! This format is best-suited for How-to panels or other information-heavy panels involving a lot of screensharing, but we will consider proposals for prerecorded programming in all categories.
• Minipanels! We’re hoping to do at least one block of short (3–10 minute) prerecorded presentations—basically a big fannish knowledge party! This is a great place to pimp your fandom, share your favorite nifty facts, or rant about your pet peeve.

Prerecorded panels and minipanels will be reviewed by the concom for usability and content in violation of the code of conduct, but they won’t go through the voting process. If you would like to submit a prerecorded panel or minipanel, please comment here to let us know. Then, submit your video to the programming committee by May 25. (We’ll make another post soon letting you know how!)

Also—not a change from last year, but a thing you may not have known—you can suggest vid shows! If you would like to VJ a vid show panel—or you think someone else should—suggest it here!

All attendees and those considering attending are welcome to suggest panels, regardless of whether or not you want to moderate. Most full-length panels are 50 minutes long but we have had panels run for a longer duration, so please note if you think your panel suggestion needs more time.

If you have an idea for a panel but don’t want to moderate it, no problem—suggest it as an Open panel! If you see an Open panel suggestion and would like to moderate it, drop a comment and volunteer.

Timeline

Now: Panel submissions are open!

Sunday, April 18 (11:59 pm EST): Panel submissions close.

Thursday, April 22: Panel voting opens!

Friday, May 7: Panel voting closes.

Early May: Notification of panel assignments.

May 25: Prerecorded panels and minipanels due.

Beginning of June: CON.TXT 2020 programming schedule posted on our website.

Mid-June: Virtual con instructions go out.

June 25-27: CON WEEKEND!

Please proceed to the Dreamwidth post to read the FAQ. You can suggest panels in the comments of that post. You do not need a Dreamwidth account to comment!