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...in a slightly bemused fashion.
Andy answered the phone earlier today, asked the person who he was, then told me it was "Michael Somebody, he says he's doing programming for Minicon." Okay, fine, I'll talk to Michael Somebody.
He was calling because I hadn't responded to the programming questionnaire. I hadn't responded to the programming questionnaire because I'd looked at it and been devoid of anything resembling an idea or suggestion. But I remembered that Will and Emma are guests of honor, and said that I could talk about their work--"but so can lots of other people." I grabbed the questionnaire and said that I could talk about a couple of the things on it, and that I *can't* say anything sensible about most media topics or about Twin Cities fandom. And that I'd be embarrassed to be on a cryptography panel with Bruce Schneier, though Michael said that was true of just about all of us. (I didn't mention that I first met Bruce when we were both in seventh grade.)
He confirmed my email address, and said he'll email me if he has panels he wants to put me on. Or something like that.
Either Michael is spending a lot of time on the phone--as good a way as any to spend a snowy afternoon--or they don't have enough program volunteers. Or I have more of a reputation than I thought.
In any case, it's flattering--I've talked to the con programmers who look for tactful ways to leave certain people off programming, because their bad reputations precede them. And the ones who have to explain that they don't have room on the program for everyone who offered, or that membership in SFWA doesn't automatically entitle you to be on our program, or that your tax deduction for this trip doesn't depend on whether they put you on a panel.
Must make room reservation. (I already have a membership.)
Andy answered the phone earlier today, asked the person who he was, then told me it was "Michael Somebody, he says he's doing programming for Minicon." Okay, fine, I'll talk to Michael Somebody.
He was calling because I hadn't responded to the programming questionnaire. I hadn't responded to the programming questionnaire because I'd looked at it and been devoid of anything resembling an idea or suggestion. But I remembered that Will and Emma are guests of honor, and said that I could talk about their work--"but so can lots of other people." I grabbed the questionnaire and said that I could talk about a couple of the things on it, and that I *can't* say anything sensible about most media topics or about Twin Cities fandom. And that I'd be embarrassed to be on a cryptography panel with Bruce Schneier, though Michael said that was true of just about all of us. (I didn't mention that I first met Bruce when we were both in seventh grade.)
He confirmed my email address, and said he'll email me if he has panels he wants to put me on. Or something like that.
Either Michael is spending a lot of time on the phone--as good a way as any to spend a snowy afternoon--or they don't have enough program volunteers. Or I have more of a reputation than I thought.
In any case, it's flattering--I've talked to the con programmers who look for tactful ways to leave certain people off programming, because their bad reputations precede them. And the ones who have to explain that they don't have room on the program for everyone who offered, or that membership in SFWA doesn't automatically entitle you to be on our program, or that your tax deduction for this trip doesn't depend on whether they put you on a panel.
Must make room reservation. (I already have a membership.)