WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.420 I've been going to nerd conventions for over a decade, 00:00:03.426 --> 00:00:06.708 and even when I was just starting to go to conventions as a teenager, 00:00:06.708 --> 00:00:10.597 I always found the atmosphere exciting, and freeing, and welcoming. 00:00:10.597 --> 00:00:14.355 Regardless of whether it was a small convention, or one as huge as Dragon Con. 00:00:14.355 --> 00:00:18.086 And I've always recommended that anyone with niche hobbies or interests go to a 00:00:18.086 --> 00:00:19.296 convention at least once. 00:00:19.296 --> 00:00:23.246 Then, starting in 2016, I decided to not just attend conventions, 00:00:23.246 --> 00:00:25.638 but to at least try to be a part of them. 00:00:25.638 --> 00:00:27.670 I was about a year into my Youtube channel 00:00:27.670 --> 00:00:30.296 and had about a tenth of the subscribers I have now. 00:00:30.296 --> 00:00:33.626 Not a big enough audience for anyone to be reaching out to me to guest, 00:00:33.626 --> 00:00:35.319 or even just panel for them. 00:00:35.319 --> 00:00:38.012 So it was on me to figure out how to start the process. 00:00:38.012 --> 00:00:41.837 I also didn't start out with any connections at conventions, 00:00:41.837 --> 00:00:44.888 especially outside of Dragon Con, where I think I knew one person 00:00:44.888 --> 00:00:48.510 who was helpful and very supportive, but wasn't really involved with the kind 00:00:48.510 --> 00:00:51.300 of tracks I'd be paneling on, like film or horror. 00:00:51.300 --> 00:00:54.968 I've made a lot of friends and met very kind and encouraging people on the con 00:00:54.968 --> 00:00:58.732 circuit along the way, but starting out I had very little help and no roadmap or 00:00:58.732 --> 00:01:00.286 real plan for what I was doing. 00:01:00.286 --> 00:01:04.001 I wanted to go back to my FILM NERD roots and make an instructional video essay 00:01:04.001 --> 00:01:07.056 explaining what I did, and what I learned, for a while. 00:01:07.056 --> 00:01:10.919 And I figured now in-between the first and second independent artists videos would 00:01:10.919 --> 00:01:14.520 be a good time, while I'm on the high of talking about getting out there and 00:01:14.520 --> 00:01:17.136 supporting art, and getting involved with other artists. 00:01:17.136 --> 00:01:20.959 As far as my credentials for making this video, here is a list of conventions 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:25.384 I have paneled at and upcoming conventions I am slated to panel at this year. 00:01:25.384 --> 00:01:28.006 As a note, at the Cattanooga Film Festival 00:01:28.006 --> 00:01:33.037 I didn't so much panel as participate in a D&D live show which was really really fun. 00:01:33.037 --> 00:01:37.395 And on top of this list I've also screened films at or helped judge a bunch of 00:01:37.395 --> 00:01:41.720 different film festivals, and participated in some festival Q&As, which is pretty 00:01:41.720 --> 00:01:44.944 different from paneling at conventions, but there is some overlap. 00:01:44.944 --> 00:01:48.685 Especially considering that a lot of cons have their own festivals, and you can 00:01:48.685 --> 00:01:49.411 do both! 00:01:49.411 --> 00:01:52.671 One of the first tools I found that helped out a lot was the website 00:01:52.671 --> 00:01:54.779 called the Southern Fandom Resource Guide. 00:01:54.779 --> 00:01:57.679 It's a very long list of conventions all around the Southeast, 00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:00.433 from toy shows to big mult-genre cons, 00:02:00.433 --> 00:02:03.758 to very very small weird niche conventions. If you go looking, 00:02:03.758 --> 00:02:07.407 you can probably find a similar list or calendar for your region. 00:02:07.407 --> 00:02:11.060 I just started skimming the list for conventions that seemed like they'd be a 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:14.507 good fit, opened like twenty tabs in my browser, looked over the websites 00:02:14.507 --> 00:02:18.533 individually to weed out conventions that I wasn't interested in, and filled out a 00:02:18.533 --> 00:02:22.131 guest application if there was one, or sent a cold email if there wasn't. 00:02:22.131 --> 00:02:25.995 I get a lot more responses now that I have a track record of paneling at different 00:02:25.995 --> 00:02:29.512 conventions and a bigger fan base, but starting out the vast majority of my 00:02:29.512 --> 00:02:30.498 emails were ignored. 00:02:30.498 --> 00:02:34.493 So don't be discouraged if you don't hear back or get accepted by everyone. 00:02:34.493 --> 00:02:38.275 When thinking about what types of panels you'd do well on, and even what cons to 00:02:38.275 --> 00:02:41.888 reach out to in the first place, you should focus on a few key areas that you 00:02:41.888 --> 00:02:43.285 can speak on with confidence. 00:02:43.285 --> 00:02:46.994 Like, I have years of firsthand experience with running a Youtube channel, with 00:02:46.994 --> 00:02:50.811 Patreon, and with no-budget film making, and I've spent a lot of time researching 00:02:50.811 --> 00:02:54.388 parasocial relationships and studying film theory and film history, and I've 00:02:54.388 --> 00:02:58.058 been interested in horror as a genre for like, twenty years, as long as I can 00:02:58.058 --> 00:02:58.764 remember. 00:02:58.764 --> 00:03:02.031 So I'd have no problem talking about any of these things for an hour. 00:03:02.031 --> 00:03:05.714 There are other areas where I'm less knowledgeable, but could spend some time 00:03:05.714 --> 00:03:09.626 prepping and feel comfortable speaking on a topic, and then some topics that I just 00:03:09.626 --> 00:03:10.338 avoid. 00:03:10.338 --> 00:03:13.768 Like I don't know anything about current sci-fi literature or young adult 00:03:13.768 --> 00:03:15.957 novels or the current state of American comics. 00:03:15.957 --> 00:03:19.237 There are lots of panels about these subjects at conventions, but if I 00:03:19.237 --> 00:03:22.793 convince someone to put me on a panel about them, I'd both be taking a spot 00:03:22.793 --> 00:03:26.332 that should go to someone genuinely knowledgeable and passionate about that 00:03:26.332 --> 00:03:28.932 subject, and I'd probably end up looking like an idiot. 00:03:28.932 --> 00:03:30.603 Don't sell yourself short, though! 00:03:30.603 --> 00:03:34.148 I have a lot of hobbies and passive interests I've had since I was a little 00:03:34.148 --> 00:03:37.477 kid, and while I never consciously accumulated them, I'm just a pretty 00:03:37.477 --> 00:03:40.364 curious person who had a lot of free time when I was younger. 00:03:40.364 --> 00:03:43.821 They've been valuable both in having subjects for my video essays and for 00:03:43.821 --> 00:03:44.547 paneling. 00:03:44.547 --> 00:03:48.441 If you feel like you don't have a lot to talk about, or wouldn't know what to talk 00:03:48.441 --> 00:03:52.139 about, but you've also been passionate and excited about whatever type of nerd 00:03:52.139 --> 00:03:54.674 subject since you were a kid, you'd probably do great. 00:03:54.674 --> 00:03:58.594 A lot of conventions have what are called 'programming tracks', and you should keep 00:03:58.594 --> 00:04:00.668 what tracks a con has in mind when applying. 00:04:00.668 --> 00:04:04.159 As an example, Dragon Con is a huge convention with 30 or 40 very specific 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:04.873 tracks. 00:04:04.873 --> 00:04:10.613 Paranormal, animation, Star Trek, video games, horror, puppetry, military, 00:04:10.613 --> 00:04:11.463 sci-fi. 00:04:11.463 --> 00:04:15.023 Whatever, a smaller convention would probably have less tracks that are 00:04:15.023 --> 00:04:16.929 broader, like these are Monsterama's. 00:04:16.929 --> 00:04:20.791 And the actual application process can vary tremendously. 00:04:20.791 --> 00:04:24.811 With most of the cons I've paneled at, I'm brought on as a guest or a panelist 00:04:24.811 --> 00:04:27.797 or 'attending professional' in Dragon Con terms, 00:04:27.797 --> 00:04:30.697 and while I usually have the option to pitch panels if I want, 00:04:30.697 --> 00:04:34.316 especially at smaller cons that I've been paneling at for a couple of years, 00:04:34.316 --> 00:04:36.941 I'm mostly assigned them or given a list to choose from. 00:04:36.941 --> 00:04:41.028 Contrary to that, a lot of convention websites have open access panel submission 00:04:41.028 --> 00:04:44.619 forms, where anyone can apply and pitch their panel without any formal guest 00:04:44.619 --> 00:04:45.358 status. 00:04:45.358 --> 00:04:49.021 Formats vary as well. Most of the panels I've done are just me and a few other 00:04:49.021 --> 00:04:52.820 people speaking, while other conventions seem to have more Powerpoint style 00:04:52.820 --> 00:04:57.090 presentations that require a laptop hook-up, or one person giving almost 00:04:57.090 --> 00:05:01.136 TED style talks. It's all very different, so try to make sure you know what you're 00:05:01.136 --> 00:05:02.663 getting into when you apply. 00:05:02.663 --> 00:05:06.454 When I was in elementary school and middle school, I used to be so nervous about 00:05:06.454 --> 00:05:09.965 speaking in front of the class that I would physically shake a little bit. 00:05:09.965 --> 00:05:13.755 I've always been a very shy person and too much attention focused on me makes me 00:05:13.755 --> 00:05:14.470 uncomfortable. 00:05:14.470 --> 00:05:18.700 But, as I got older, I remember reports getting easier when I was confident at 00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:23.733 least in what I had studied. When I knew that, even if I was nervous, I wouldn't 00:05:23.733 --> 00:05:25.856 necessarily mess up or get anything wrong. 00:05:25.856 --> 00:05:28.510 That preparation helped ease my anxiety. 00:05:28.510 --> 00:05:32.258 Then, in college, I remember one of the first times I ever made the class laugh 00:05:32.258 --> 00:05:36.059 while giving a science presentation, and how that made it clear to me that they 00:05:36.059 --> 00:05:39.501 were enjoying the presentation I was giving, and that also made me less 00:05:39.501 --> 00:05:40.242 nervous. 00:05:40.242 --> 00:05:44.242 I mentioned in my Eighth Grade review that I reconnected and got dinner with a middle 00:05:44.242 --> 00:05:48.006 school teacher I had had, and that they were surprised I worked so publicly now, 00:05:48.006 --> 00:05:50.359 because of how shy and quiet I was in their class. 00:05:50.359 --> 00:05:54.379 I know that everyone is different, but my advice if you're interested in paneling or 00:05:54.379 --> 00:05:56.624 other public speaking, but hesitant and nervous, 00:05:56.624 --> 00:05:58.914 is that one way to work through it is to, do it. 00:05:58.914 --> 00:06:00.059 Like exposure therapy. 00:06:00.059 --> 00:06:03.429 A small room, at a small con, is usually a very friendly and supportive 00:06:03.429 --> 00:06:06.140 environment, and you can work your way up from there. 00:06:06.140 --> 00:06:09.305 And if you need it, take the time to prep and bring notes with you. 00:06:09.305 --> 00:06:13.177 Sometimes for a panel, I won't prep at all, sometimes I'll write some key terms 00:06:13.177 --> 00:06:16.740 in a little notebook, and sometimes I'll print out a whole wikipedia page or 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:20.498 interviews with related people and take notes all over them and bring them with 00:06:20.498 --> 00:06:24.180 me, it depends on how serious or in-depth the panel is, and what it calls for. 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:27.855 Panels at conventions that have multiple people on them, or that include an 00:06:27.855 --> 00:06:30.225 audience Q&A, also usually have a moderator. 00:06:30.225 --> 00:06:33.295 Sometimes the moderator is expected to organize the conversation 00:06:33.295 --> 00:06:37.003 but keep out of it, often the case with moderating well known or expert guests, 00:06:37.003 --> 00:06:39.268 and sometimes they're more a part of the group, 00:06:39.268 --> 00:06:42.897 but still responsible for keeping track of time and keeping the conversation 00:06:42.897 --> 00:06:43.633 on track. 00:06:43.633 --> 00:06:47.473 Moderating can be challenging, because you're not only expected to be 00:06:47.473 --> 00:06:51.342 knowledgeable and entertaining, but you also have to make sure you're on schedule, 00:06:51.342 --> 00:06:55.218 make sure everyone gets a turn to speak, deal with overzealous audience members, 00:06:55.218 --> 00:06:59.341 and on panels about sensitive topics, or on panels that suddenly veer off into 00:06:59.341 --> 00:07:01.569 sensitive topics, keep everything civil. 00:07:01.569 --> 00:07:05.096 I've never run a convention, so I don't know how many panelists are willing 00:07:05.096 --> 00:07:06.992 to moderate vs. how many hate doing it. 00:07:06.992 --> 00:07:10.062 I know a lot of convention guest surveys have a section that asks 00:07:10.062 --> 00:07:11.932 if a guest is willing to moderate. 00:07:11.932 --> 00:07:13.702 Uh, for me I always say yes. 00:07:13.702 --> 00:07:18.325 I get very annoyed if a moderator takes over a panel, or lets one guest talk 00:07:18.325 --> 00:07:22.687 over another, or lets the panel go over time, and I always try very hard to take 00:07:22.687 --> 00:07:26.583 it as a responsibility and make sure even the shy and nervous guests get a chance 00:07:26.583 --> 00:07:27.418 to respond. 00:07:27.418 --> 00:07:30.908 They're on the panel for a reason, let them talk, stop talking over them! 00:07:30.908 --> 00:07:34.429 And then I make time for audience questions if they're a part of the panel, 00:07:34.429 --> 00:07:36.242 and clear out at the appropriate time. 00:07:36.242 --> 00:07:39.903 I never did or wanted to do stand-up, but I used to go to a lot of small shows 00:07:39.903 --> 00:07:43.619 around Atlanta, and at those kinds of shows, comics are given a specific length 00:07:43.619 --> 00:07:46.331 of time to perform their set before they're shown a light. 00:07:46.331 --> 00:07:49.161 Sometimes just the host showing them a light on their phone, 00:07:49.161 --> 00:07:51.624 which means they have a minute or whatever left, 00:07:51.624 --> 00:07:55.184 then they're shown the light again when it's time to end and get off stage. 00:07:55.184 --> 00:07:59.129 It sucked, it always sucked, when a comic at an open mic doing awful, unfunny jokes 00:07:59.129 --> 00:08:00.946 would run the light and keep going. 00:08:00.946 --> 00:08:04.296 I've never straight-up interrupted and tried to give the con equivalent 00:08:04.296 --> 00:08:07.747 of the light to a moderator that's going over because I'm not a monster, 00:08:07.747 --> 00:08:10.842 but I've definitely wanted to, because everyone at a convention 00:08:10.842 --> 00:08:13.298 (audience member or panelist), should be respected, 00:08:13.298 --> 00:08:15.221 and that includes respecting their time. 00:08:15.221 --> 00:08:19.087 As an additional note for people who are nervous about public speaking, I've never 00:08:19.087 --> 00:08:22.988 had a difficult crowd in the traditional sense at a convention. 00:08:22.988 --> 00:08:25.538 Especially if you spend a lot of time on the internet, 00:08:25.538 --> 00:08:28.568 you might think the audience at a nerd convention would be mean, 00:08:28.568 --> 00:08:32.093 and that they might try to snipe you and poke holes in what you're saying, 00:08:32.093 --> 00:08:36.130 or try to argue or be cold or stern, but in my experience it's the opposite. 00:08:36.130 --> 00:08:39.330 They want to be a part of something, they're interested in what you 00:08:39.330 --> 00:08:41.434 have to say, and they want to learn from you. 00:08:41.434 --> 00:08:45.550 Some people will devil's advocate you in a way that is well-meaning but annoying, 00:08:45.550 --> 00:08:51.044 especially if you're talking about your own experiences, but in the genuine spirit 00:08:51.044 --> 00:08:54.561 of friendly discussion vs. the mean, pedant debate nerd harassment you get 00:08:54.561 --> 00:08:58.211 online from people who just want to dominate you in order to win an argument. 00:08:58.211 --> 00:09:01.771 And when panelists get kind of nervous or emotional and need a moment, con 00:09:01.771 --> 00:09:07.152 audiences, especially in small rooms are usually very sweet and understanding and 00:09:07.152 --> 00:09:08.119 supportive about it. 00:09:08.119 --> 00:09:12.459 The problem is that audiences can get too engaged, and maybe 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:16.516 feel a little too involved with the conversation, and then you, especially 00:09:16.516 --> 00:09:19.597 if you're moderating, have to figure out how to stop their: 00:09:19.597 --> 00:09:23.159 "I have more of a statement then a question", or their five questions in a 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:27.626 row or their interrupting over and over and over, and taking up more time then the 00:09:27.626 --> 00:09:31.553 panelists who people actually came to see, without hurting the feelings of someone 00:09:31.553 --> 00:09:35.336 who is really genuinely excited, and does not realize that they're interrupting. 00:09:35.336 --> 00:09:39.686 It's up to you, and to the tone of the panel, and the convention, to draw that 00:09:39.686 --> 00:09:40.434 line. 00:09:40.434 --> 00:09:44.293 Some panels are more informal, and conversational and participatory, and some 00:09:44.293 --> 00:09:46.817 are more serious and need to stay on track. 00:09:46.817 --> 00:09:51.197 As far as paneling itself, I try to actively gauge an audience's level 00:09:51.197 --> 00:09:55.714 of expertise with the subject so that I don't condescend or over-explain things 00:09:55.714 --> 00:09:57.929 while also avoiding going over their heads. 00:09:57.929 --> 00:10:02.332 Unless the panel is on a heavy topic, I try to keep the atmosphere light, and keep 00:10:02.332 --> 00:10:06.138 topics moving, and keep the panel entertaining and engaging, as well as 00:10:06.138 --> 00:10:07.102 informative. 00:10:07.102 --> 00:10:11.656 And the less formal or serious a panel is, the earlier I open it up to the audience 00:10:11.656 --> 00:10:15.434 to move it in a direction they'd find beneficial, or for us to just straight-up 00:10:15.434 --> 00:10:17.060 start answering their questions. 00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:21.108 I am a firm believer in monetary compensation for labor, if you're putting 00:10:21.108 --> 00:10:24.169 in work, your time and your work should be compensated. 00:10:24.169 --> 00:10:27.759 If you're paneling at a convention, ideally you would at least wouldn't have 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.409 to pay for travel or a hotel room, or food. 00:10:30.409 --> 00:10:33.670 But I also understand that conventions, especially small conventions 00:10:33.670 --> 00:10:37.009 or nonprofit conventions don't have big budgets. 00:10:37.009 --> 00:10:41.749 Realistically, like, hundreds or even thousands of dollars for every guest, 00:10:41.749 --> 00:10:43.838 when they're charging attendees reasonably. 00:10:43.838 --> 00:10:47.948 For me, one convention, one time, paid for my hotel and travel. 00:10:47.948 --> 00:10:50.150 All the other ones I've paid for out of pocket. 00:10:50.150 --> 00:10:54.085 And so far not selling any merchandise at conventions, or being paid for autographs 00:10:54.085 --> 00:10:56.026 or whatever, I've spent a lot of money. 00:10:56.026 --> 00:10:59.649 What I will say is that you're paneling at a convention, especially if you're 00:10:59.649 --> 00:11:03.525 paneling a lot, and they make you pay for your badge, you are getting ripped off. 00:11:03.525 --> 00:11:07.835 Generally, you can expect free admission to the convention and some free or reduced 00:11:07.835 --> 00:11:09.361 cost badges for a friend or two. 00:11:09.361 --> 00:11:12.891 Please don't pay at conventions that you can put on programming for them. 00:11:12.891 --> 00:11:17.081 Dealer's rooms and artist alley tables are different, of course, since you're buying 00:11:17.081 --> 00:11:19.562 a table to use to sell merchandise and turn a profit. 00:11:19.562 --> 00:11:23.085 Most conventions also offer volunteer spots, where you can get a free pass 00:11:23.085 --> 00:11:27.178 after so many hours of volunteering as staff, but I don't have any experience 00:11:27.178 --> 00:11:27.988 with that. 00:11:27.988 --> 00:11:30.666 I do try to keep costs relatively low while paneling. 00:11:30.666 --> 00:11:33.916 For a lot of people, conventions are all-out vacations where they buy 00:11:33.916 --> 00:11:36.522 expensive merchandise and spend a lot at the hotel bar, 00:11:36.522 --> 00:11:39.458 or spend a lot on costuming, but the majority of these trips 00:11:39.458 --> 00:11:41.839 for me are closer to a business trip. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:44.229 They're still fun, but if you go to a lot of cons, 00:11:44.229 --> 00:11:48.387 even small ones, costs add up and budgeting is important. 00:11:48.387 --> 00:11:52.991 As far as how to carry yourself and how to interact with other people at a convention 00:11:52.991 --> 00:11:56.655 like I said, be respectful and take whatever responsibilities you have 00:11:56.655 --> 00:11:57.508 seriously. 00:11:57.508 --> 00:12:00.858 Be prepared, and be on time, and only panel on subjects you're actually 00:12:00.858 --> 00:12:02.373 able to talk about. 00:12:02.373 --> 00:12:07.344 And, drinking is normalized at a lot of conventions, and if I'm doing panels at 00:12:07.344 --> 00:12:11.149 10 or 11 at night, I might have a couple beers or cocktails, but I don't want to 00:12:11.149 --> 00:12:13.187 ever get hammered in front of an audience. 00:12:13.187 --> 00:12:16.117 That's all another area that varies a lot between conventions. 00:12:16.117 --> 00:12:19.693 Some are very family friendly, some are more of party cons, 00:12:19.693 --> 00:12:22.302 and some change a lot after 9 or 10 PM. 00:12:22.302 --> 00:12:25.411 But, you should always act according to your own comfort level. 00:12:25.411 --> 00:12:29.162 And don't self-aggrandize or drop a bunch of names or act like you're the most 00:12:29.162 --> 00:12:33.393 important person on a panel, or spend the entire time aggressively self-promoting. 00:12:33.393 --> 00:12:37.443 Like if you mention what you're working on at the beginning and the end, that's fine, 00:12:37.443 --> 00:12:41.223 but some panelists just like won't stop talking about their own work even when 00:12:41.223 --> 00:12:44.547 it's not relevant. Just make it a conversation and be nice to people. 00:12:44.547 --> 00:12:48.387 If someone is being a jerk, or is being offensive, or a bigot, or being creepy 00:12:48.387 --> 00:12:52.438 and making you uncomfortable, regardless of who they are, you should not have to 00:12:52.438 --> 00:12:53.203 put up with it. 00:12:53.203 --> 00:12:56.783 Any decent convention will have a solid anti-harassment policy, and 00:12:56.783 --> 00:13:01.294 you can report weirdos to staff and reach out to track directors or con chairs or 00:13:01.294 --> 00:13:03.853 whoever if another panelist makes you uncomfortable. 00:13:03.853 --> 00:13:09.949 But, also, outside of creeps and bigots, be empathetic and understand that a lot of 00:13:09.949 --> 00:13:14.205 people who come to conventions are shy and awkward, and might not be great at 00:13:14.205 --> 00:13:18.428 interpreting social cues, or used to a ton of social interaction, so try to put out a 00:13:18.428 --> 00:13:22.349 general vibe of friendliness and approach-ability, and if you feel 00:13:22.349 --> 00:13:26.017 comfortable, offer a business card with your email on them so that people can 00:13:26.017 --> 00:13:29.932 reach out after if they have any questions that weren't addressed during the panel. 00:13:29.932 --> 00:13:31.419 Maybe they were too shy to ask. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:34.804 My outlook both personally and professionally is to try to be kind and 00:13:34.804 --> 00:13:38.461 friendly and empathetic, but to also have a backbone. 00:13:38.461 --> 00:13:42.569 My identity and beliefs and politics don't disappear when it's convenient 00:13:42.569 --> 00:13:45.100 for my panelist or Youtube career or whatever. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:49.516 And while using a nerd convention panel as a soapbox for totally unrelated 00:13:49.516 --> 00:13:53.412 political grievances is more self-aggrandizing and annoying then 00:13:53.412 --> 00:13:58.584 anything else, any platform should be used honestly and responsibly, and if I 00:13:58.584 --> 00:14:02.589 disagree with another panelist or an audience member, especially politically, 00:14:02.589 --> 00:14:06.693 or if we're discussing media or events that I take issue with, I am vocal about 00:14:06.693 --> 00:14:10.536 it, and if that's upsetting to someone who books a convention, then I don't have 00:14:10.536 --> 00:14:12.070 to be a part of that convention. 00:14:12.070 --> 00:14:16.144 And as far as networking, my approach there is to, again, be friendly, but to 00:14:16.144 --> 00:14:20.493 only really try to connect with people who I would want to be friends with anyway. 00:14:20.493 --> 00:14:24.361 Like I met my friend Michelle when she was on a panel I moderated at Con Carolinas 00:14:24.361 --> 00:14:28.135 last year, and we talked a little after that, and then we kept seeing each other 00:14:28.135 --> 00:14:32.034 at other conventions and film festivals, and she really liked our short film, and 00:14:32.034 --> 00:14:35.585 we were blown away by her feature 'Livescream', and then my fan Graham and 00:14:35.585 --> 00:14:39.431 I auditioned for and were both cast in a short film of hers, and working with her 00:14:39.431 --> 00:14:40.167 was great. 00:14:40.167 --> 00:14:43.719 That is a genuine friendship, and now working relationship built on mutual 00:14:43.719 --> 00:14:47.590 respect. It would be just kind of awkward if we didn't really see eye-to-eye, or 00:14:47.590 --> 00:14:51.550 didn't really get along great, but I tried really hard to be her friend just to use 00:14:51.550 --> 00:14:52.524 her as a connection. 00:14:52.524 --> 00:14:55.574 Or, at some conventions, I'll interview an actor or 00:14:55.574 --> 00:14:58.372 director for an audience, or moderate their Q&A. 00:14:58.372 --> 00:15:01.012 Unless we genuinely get along super super well, 00:15:01.012 --> 00:15:04.968 and keep chatting after the panel, it would be inappropriate and invasive 00:15:04.968 --> 00:15:09.158 to try and use that as an opportunity to befriend a famous person 00:15:09.158 --> 00:15:13.015 just because they're famous, when they probably want to be left alone, and just, 00:15:13.015 --> 00:15:16.850 they, they probably want to go back to their table to sign autographs or go back 00:15:16.850 --> 00:15:20.692 to their hotel room for a nap, rather then hear me talk about a-video essays, or 00:15:20.692 --> 00:15:24.019 whatever, I'm not-I'm not being self-deprecating, I'm saying it's 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:27.342 inappropriate to try to force a connection when there isn't one. 00:15:27.342 --> 00:15:31.403 Especially if you're transparently trying to use someone to advance your own career. 00:15:31.403 --> 00:15:33.485 Because people can tell, and they'll notice. 00:15:33.485 --> 00:15:37.331 And whether you're dealing with a way bigger guest then you, or dealing with an 00:15:37.331 --> 00:15:40.780 awkward audience member, just be respectful and remember boundaries. 00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:45.633 And, as a panelist, if you have time, go to other panels, both on topics you're 00:15:45.633 --> 00:15:48.149 already interested in, and areas that are new to you. 00:15:48.149 --> 00:15:51.479 I don't believe in ghosts, but I still find paranormal panels 00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:56.116 with local ghost hunters or people telling stories about local legends and cryptids 00:15:56.116 --> 00:15:57.067 fascinating. 00:15:57.067 --> 00:16:00.357 Like, unironically I'm not making fun of them I-it's really engaging 00:16:00.357 --> 00:16:04.580 and interesting to listen to people talk about local urban legends or-or 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:07.774 ghost hunting, even if it's not something that I'm into personally. 00:16:07.774 --> 00:16:11.574 And I really enjoy going to panels on fiction writing and on accessibility. 00:16:11.574 --> 00:16:13.086 I always learn something new. 00:16:13.086 --> 00:16:16.467 And go to the artist alley and the dealer's room, check out local art. 00:16:16.467 --> 00:16:20.019 I never spend a lot of money at conventions, but I usually find at least 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:23.953 something hand-made and charming, or cheap art prints that I like or-or something 00:16:23.953 --> 00:16:24.938 like that. 00:16:24.938 --> 00:16:27.758 Every convention is different and has something novel to it. 00:16:27.758 --> 00:16:30.868 Even if you're there on, like I said, more of a business trip, 00:16:30.868 --> 00:16:34.921 there's usually something new to learn or experience, and you can get more 00:16:34.921 --> 00:16:38.202 out of it then just self-promoting or talking in front of crowds. 00:16:38.202 --> 00:16:42.311 Most conventions have a full schedule posted online, or even an app where you 00:16:42.311 --> 00:16:45.963 can build out your own schedule on a calendar, and if I have enough breaks, 00:16:45.963 --> 00:16:49.625 I like to pre-plan a handful of panels I'd be interested in checking out. 00:16:49.625 --> 00:16:52.380 Sometimes I don't have enough breaks, but that's ok too. 00:16:52.380 --> 00:16:56.143 As for why you should panel at a convention, aside from free admission and 00:16:56.143 --> 00:16:59.932 for meeting people and self-promoting, what I get out of it has a lot of overlap 00:16:59.932 --> 00:17:02.009 with what I get out of my Youtube channel. 00:17:02.009 --> 00:17:06.869 With what I panel on, usually film and film-making, I'm either talking with other 00:17:06.869 --> 00:17:11.225 enthusiasts about something I'm really excited about and sharing that enthusiasm. 00:17:11.225 --> 00:17:16.505 Whenever I'm on panels about cult films or B-movies, I love bringing up Roar, and how 00:17:16.505 --> 00:17:20.388 the audience reacts to learning about a movie marketed as a family film where real 00:17:20.388 --> 00:17:23.530 life Tippi Hedren and her family were attacked by untrained lions. 00:18:31.591 --> 00:18:35.102 Or when I'm helping an audience learn something new that can help them in 00:18:35.102 --> 00:18:39.999 concrete ways, like explaining the basics of film-making or Youtube or podcasting, 00:18:39.999 --> 00:18:44.334 or dealing with social media harassment, or other aspects of making art and putting 00:18:44.334 --> 00:18:49.156 it online to people who want to make their own films and videos who are very 00:18:49.156 --> 00:18:52.151 intimidated, and to help ease their fears and encourage them. 00:18:52.151 --> 00:18:55.991 I find that really fun and really rewarding. 00:18:59.601 --> 00:19:03.639 Most of the photos and videos of me in this essay were taken by my friends 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:06.194 Devin, Shelby, Kevin, and Graham. 00:19:06.194 --> 00:19:09.654 The videos at Monsterama were taken from a Youtube channel that I'll link 00:19:09.654 --> 00:19:10.598 in the description. 00:19:10.598 --> 00:19:14.862 Photos and videos of Kim Plume's gonzo panels, and the Venture Brothers panels 00:19:14.862 --> 00:19:17.988 at Dragon Con were all taken by me over the years. 00:19:17.988 --> 00:19:21.470 I have nothing to do with those panels except being a big fan of them. 00:19:21.470 --> 00:19:25.333 Special thanks to Arin Fever and Bill Mulligan, who have both always been 00:19:25.333 --> 00:19:27.228 really helpful and really encouraging. 00:19:27.228 --> 00:19:30.952 And thanks to people on twitter who help me by asking questions about paneling 00:19:30.952 --> 00:19:33.166 while I was working on the script for my essay. 00:19:33.166 --> 00:19:37.036 I have a video with my full con schedule for this year up that I will link in the 00:19:37.036 --> 00:19:39.766 description, though here's an image with the schedule too. 00:19:39.766 --> 00:19:41.796 You can pause the video, and look at it. 00:19:41.796 --> 00:19:44.179 These are the rest of the cons I'm doing this year. 00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:47.995 And, if you enjoyed this video, and would like to support more videos like it, or 00:19:47.995 --> 00:19:51.665 support me traveling to conventions, I have a Ko-Fi and a Patreon, both linked 00:19:51.665 --> 00:19:52.581 in the description. 00:19:52.581 --> 00:19:55.521 The film of Michelle's that Graham and I acted in is called 00:19:55.521 --> 00:19:59.119 "Seven Deadly Sins", and I'll link her twitter with more information 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.763 in the description as well. 00:20:00.763 --> 00:20:02.541 And, thank you for watching. 00:20:02.541 --> 00:20:05.161 -that's great. Well, thank you everybody for coming! 00:20:05.161 --> 00:20:08.761 Thank you! Woo, thank you!