With less than three months to go before Easter,
Intervention is pulling out the stops to ensure its Fan Lounge
is a worthy addition to the tradition of fan rooms and
programme streams dating back to the early 1970s.
We've already scheduled a varied and exciting line-up of
panels, presentations, parties and performances, launching on
the Friday afternoon and running right up until late on the
Monday evening. And just to ensure the appropriate atmosphere
is maintained all weekend long, the Real Ale bar will be
located just outside our entrance.
But we've never intended that the Fan Lounge merely house
a non-stop programme stream. Rather, items will be dotted
about the schedule, allowing the area to concentrate on its
primary mission: providing an informal and friendly gathering
place for all members, be they veteran fans or newcomers
attending their first convention, established professionals
in the sf field or those yet to break into print. The central
theme of Intervention is "communication", and we aim there
should be no area where this is truer than in the Fan Lounge.
However, we still need the assistance of sf fandom if our plans are to become a reality. The list below indicates specific items currently receiving our attention, but we'd be just as glad to hear from you should you have any ideas of your own, or simply want to volunteer to help out on the day. After all, the Fan Lounge is intended to be a showcase for all that is weird and wonderful in this fannish community of ours.
Display Items: To reinforce the Fan Lounge
atmosphere, display boards located around the room will chart
the history and diversity of sf fandom. We need photographs,
newspaper clippings and similar relics from fandom's past,
which would obviously be returned after the convention. Dig
out your albums and scrapbooks - embarrass a fan today!
Fannish Readings: A number of gallant souls have
already come forward and volunteered to bring to life the
work of classic fanwriters, British and American, but we'd
still like more, especially if they have a favourite short
piece in mind.
Parties: Rather than have convention parties and
similar fannish events stretch their finances to hold
separate events in diverse locations across the weekend,
we're offering the chance for them to pool resources and hold
one memorable keynote event, whilst retaining a platform for
their individual agendas.
Promotion: Conventions and local groups are
invited to advertise themselves with inserts into a book and
a markers on a map; all we ask is that you limit yourselves to
a single A4 sheet. If you want to beat the crowd and get an
early page in the book, fill out the form below.
Finally, in honour of the much missed author and fan Bob Shaw, the lounge is to be named "Bosh's".
"Fandom used to be a village. Now it's a city, with all the attendant advantages and disadvantages. I reckon it's still a good place to live."Bob Shaw, "When Fandoms Collide"
We'll have more news in our next update. For now, we look forward to seeing you all at Intervention - and to hearing from everyone who can help make this an Eastercon to remember.