The Fedcon Con

Apparently, this weekend in Dallas for FedConUSA, was a complete and total disaster. SyFy Portal has been all over the story, so click their stories here, here, here, and here for all the details.

James Callis who was scheduled to appear released a detailed statement to the message board of his unofficial fan site. Key excerpts:

Sorry to anyone who bought a ticket to this gig.

I had been expecting to go to Dallas for Fedcon for ages! - so in the week coming up - I was surprised that I hadn't heard anything from the promoters via my agent -

At this stage filming for Battlestar is very hectic and Jamie Bamber and myself will be directing webisodes - which is also taking prep time, organization etc.

So with a convention planned mid schedule - I just want things to be as easy as possible.

No tickets and radio silence - were not encouraging signs

It seems that the organizers had no real intention of bringing Aaron [Douglas] and myself to Dallas after a certain point (whenever that was?) that it became commercially un-viable for them to to do so.

But Aaron and I NEVER CANCELED THEM! -

This is not the first time this has happened to me.

Last year I was set to attend FEDCON in Germany - at the last minute - they canceled me. But I was told I had canceled!

Needles to say it's the fans that get the raw deal.

Sorry again for the confusion - but up until the last minute on Friday I was still waiting for a plane ticket - a ride to the airport - and a hotel booking in Dallas. None of which materialized. There was some conversation during the afternoon about if I was willing to buy my own flight there and get reimbursed -

- Yeah.

These people are just brazen

After this kind of fiasco - I for one am going to be a lot more careful what I am going to commit to...

All conventions on the material side are about making money

But on the other side there's something great about all these collections of people/fans and attendees - a common bond through the spirit of ideas and fantasy.

But making money shouldn't include short changing or ripping off your clients- actually more than your clients, "your guests". On level of Karma then the whole thing breaks down - which is exactly what has happened in Dallas at FEDCON this weekend.

Be well

When your planning to go to a convention, do research into the reputation and history of the organizers before spending your money.

ETA: A report on the happenings at FedCon from Trek Movie Report. Also, in the comments, Meshel73 provides links to Aaron Douglas's comments posted on FedCon's message board here, here, and here.