BayCon - May 28-31 - CA/SF Bay Area

Started by omängum fra'uti, December 26, 2009, 02:55:29 AM

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omängum fra'uti

The schedule is up.  There will be an Avatar / Na'vi Language BoF at BayCon on...
10 a.m. Sunday May 30
Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA
Camino Real room

Quote from: BayCon programmingThere is a rich and fully-fledged language and culture of the Na'vi in the new movie Avatar. Come meet others who are interested in learning to speak it, and discuss the elements of Na'vi culture that appeal to you most.

This isn't a formal panel, rather a gathering of fans with a common interest.  However I am going to make the most of it and still try to do some leading there as far as introductions to the language, teaching, and such.  Plus, anyone that comes and can speak a little Na'vi (Even if they learn it on the spot) will get one of these for their convention badge...



Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

Txur’Itan

I worked conventions before.  It is a hard gig.  My experience is with E3 and DevCon, for a few years.  One year I had to do tech support on an incomplete game that I had not touched until I was assigned that section of the booth.  To make matters worse, Robin Williams decided to visit the booth complicating security for the kiosks.

Another convention I worked was Comdex, in 2001, I was presenting during a corporate keynote presenting a new technology, the company loved the presentation.  However, I was isolated after that, so I have not had recurring experience with large public presentations since then.

However, challenges aside, the experience is exhilarating! 
私は太った男だ。


omängum fra'uti

Trade shows and fan conventions are vastly different beasts.  I wasn't thinking anything so lofty as a trade show, nor could I think of one where a community like us would fit in.  But fan conventions we'd fit into quite nicely.
Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

Txur’Itan

Quote from: umängam fra'uti on December 26, 2009, 05:43:01 PM
Trade shows and fan conventions are vastly different beasts.  I wasn't thinking anything so lofty as a trade show, nor could I think of one where a community like us would fit in.  But fan conventions we'd fit into quite nicely.

I get where you are going.  Wonder con, maybe.  Comic con, probably not
私は太った男だ。


omängum fra'uti

Exactly.  The one I specifically have in mind is a sci-fi specific con, and I think it would be right up their alley.
Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

Txur’Itan

The sci-fi conventions, that are targeted for Sci-Fi, appear to be focused on a particular universe.

Star Wars
Star Trek
etc...

Some times Comic Con gets some cross coverage, because new movies don't have a their own venu.

Interesting dilemma.

Fan run conventions would require the blessing of FOX, and James Cameron, but are not impossible.

I know places where conventions can be held inexpencively, but they are still not cheap.  It might require considerable effort to think thorugh, then pay for it all.
私は太った男だ。


omängum fra'uti

The specific fan convention I'm talking about IS a general science fiction convention.  Worldcon (AKA world science fiction convention) is probably one of the bigger ones.  I know in California (Or the west coast area) there is also westercon and loscon.  All are just general sci-fi fandom conventions.

I wouldn't go so far as to suggest an Avatar or Na'vi specific one just yet, but a few panels at one of the general conventions, and there are plenty.

And thus back to my original topic of this thread... If anyone here besides me tends to attend them, and if there would be interest in approaching the programming staff of some of these conventions about a Na'vi panel.
Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

Taruia

If you need help contacting cons I have quite a bit of experience in this, as my group has performed at NY Comic Con, Wizard World Philly, VGXPO, and GameX. And our NY brethren have performed at many many more. I'm also one of the con liaisons for our groups, so I might be able to get in contact with people who actually have a little pull. 

Nume fpi sänume

That could be a lot of fun. Assuming its before the 24th (of may), i would attend.

Prrton

Quote from: omängum fra'uti on December 26, 2009, 02:55:29 AM
Posted this in another thread but figured I'd bring it up on it's own.

Basically, I regularly attend a local Science Fiction convention in my area (San Francisco Bay Area) called BayCon at the end of May.  I've noticed quite a few of us (5 or 6 and counting) are in this general area, and I was wondering who else attends or would be interested?

Specifically, I was thinking that if there was enough interest, to suggest to the programming staff at a minimum a Na'vi BOF, if not a full panel.  (Of course a panel would need knowledgeable people to sit in as panelists.)

I know it's nearly half a year away, but planning for the convention has been going on for months already, so any suggestion for panels should be sooner rather than later.

Oeru txoa livu, nìÌnglìsì piylltxänge... I live in SF so getting down to Santa Clara at some point over that weekend would be do-able—should be anyway. I'm scheduled to have house guests in town from London that weekend, but it's the last few days of a long stay, so I should be able to get away for a day or so, but I won't be able to attend the conference there for the entire weekend. I used to do demos on the stage at Macworld Tokyo and the like (in Japanese) about 20 eons ago, but I'm still pretty good in front of a crowd of people whom I don't know. I also taught (computers) in classroom settings and currently have to facilitate focus groups, etc. for work, so mì pongu suteyä atxan, oeru tìtxur tireayä sì tìngop leiu nìtam. "BayCon '10"fpi nìNa'vi ke'uti nìwotx tsleram a sutefpi 'noob'yä nì'it lì'fyati Na'viyä tsun sänume sivu oel. Oeri krrti tayeiìng. Greetings. Pronunciation. Funny sentences about avatars falling off of pa'li and toruk eating careless ikran midflight...? If a lot of people were interested I'd do it up to 3 to 4 times in one day for a group of 25 each time. And maybe we could also have a slightly more advanced chat group that was smaller... over a meal or something... For the "Beginning Na'vi" lessons I would be willing to come up with all of the teaching materials for the sessions, but interfacing with the conference officials/planners and/or dealing with the member registration for the actual sessions, etc., would not be my thing. So basically, I'd be happy to spend a day (maybe two if there were a lot of interest) down in Santa Clara running sessions (and would do the didactic prep work for that including shouldering any costs), but I'm not volunteering to do the formulaic organization around the rooms; who's in each session (scheduling/wait-listing); etc.. But, if that prep work is done by someone else, I'd be happy to show up ready to introduce some new folks to Na'vi in the "real world." It would be a great stimulus to get me to be as fluent as possible with the vocabulary available at that time in late May, which I hope will be a lot more than we have now!

PS: People would have to show up knowing that I'm not Paul Frommer and cannot answer questions that he hasn't spoken about... simply 'cuz I don't know. I won't theorize about grammar, vocabulary, and the like in front of that kind of group.

omängum fra'uti

Generally what they set up is there's a bunch of meeting rooms in the hotel, something like 4 to 6, and they have hour long panels throughout the day on different topics.  If you look at past years there you can get an idea for it.  Registration would take care of coordinating what is happening in which room, though there is no formal sign-up for attendance, it's purely a walk-in situation.  Then there will be 2-4 people sitting at the front talking about the subject (The "panel"), with varying levels of interaction with the audience depending on the topic and the speakers inclination.  It's also a lot more informal of an affair than a trade conference.  That and you'll have people randomly wandering around in costume.

In general, a single topic isn't repeated directly, though they may have variations on the same topic in different panels.

I might fire off a few emails to the programming coordinator and see if it is something they would be interested in doing.
Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

Prrton

Quote from: omängum fra'uti on December 27, 2009, 04:56:28 PM

I might fire off a few emails to the programming coordinator and see if it is something they would be interested in doing.

Sure. That would be great. If they're interested in dedicating one of the rooms to a "classroom" setting for one (or more) of the sessions, I'd be into it, but honestly I can't conjure up what a bunch of people who aren't really fluent in Na'vi could discuss in panel format in front of a not-already-into-Na'vi audience that would be appealing. I'd consider being on a panel if the "directive/topic/mandate" is clear, but unless Paul Frommer is there the audience is likely to leave disappointed (in my humble opinion). I can't imagine it not turning into "how do you say X?" in Na'vi and that X NOT containing nonexistent vocabulary and grammar.  :-\

xsoft

Here at Czech republic am acting on several ones (5-6 per year). And I guess that there will be also some .. Na'vicon (most usually as part of bigger convention). Whoa, those costumes must be awesome ;) .. if any.
Navi != Na'vi. Deku Tree != Utral Aymokriyä

Txon Tompa

oel ngati kameie

bagget00

Quote from: vidvamp01 on December 26, 2009, 08:27:24 PM
The sci-fi conventions, that are targeted for Sci-Fi, appear to be focused on a particular universe.

Star Wars
Star Trek
etc...

Some times Comic Con gets some cross coverage, because new movies don't have a their own venu.

Interesting dilemma.

Fan run conventions would require the blessing of FOX, and James Cameron, but are not impossible.

I know places where conventions can be held inexpencively, but they are still not cheap.  It might require considerable effort to think thorugh, then pay for it all.


Okay, I don't think Avatar can literally be considerd a new movie seeing as the story has been around since before titanic. lol. Also, If the convention or whatever it is is in SanFran, I might go. It would also be my first sci-fi type convention. Plus some of us forum goers would be able to see eachother for once. We could get together and share words and ideas and the like.


Eywa ngahu
"meoauniaea" (meh-oh-ah-oo-nee-ah-eh-ah). "Don't ask me what it means - I haven't assigned a meaning yet. But I love the word!" Frommer said.

"Latin and Zombies. Technically dead, but still influencing society."

Author of http://forum.learnnavi.org/fiction-fanfiction/displayed/

Tanhì'ite

I live in the Bay Area, so I'd definitely be interested in attending. (Plus, Peter S. Beagle will be there!)

Even if we can't get a panel, it'd be nice to meet some people from here. ^^


ma tsmukan : Tanhì'itan

omängum fra'uti

Quote from: Tanhì'ite on January 01, 2010, 05:59:33 PM
I live in the Bay Area, so I'd definitely be interested in attending. (Plus, Peter S. Beagle will be there!)

Even if we can't get a panel, it'd be nice to meet some people from here. ^^


Definitely this.  When it gets closer to May, even if we don't have anything officially scheduled, certainly set up something for those who will be there.

Hell, I wouldn't mind some sort of get together even sooner than that, just to get together and make everyone else around us think we're strange. :D
Ftxey lu nga tokx ftxey lu nga tirea? Lu oe tìkeftxo.
Listen to my Na'vi Lessons podcast!

bagget00

"meoauniaea" (meh-oh-ah-oo-nee-ah-eh-ah). "Don't ask me what it means - I haven't assigned a meaning yet. But I love the word!" Frommer said.

"Latin and Zombies. Technically dead, but still influencing society."

Author of http://forum.learnnavi.org/fiction-fanfiction/displayed/

Txur’Itan

Quote from: omängum fra'uti on January 02, 2010, 12:09:29 AM
Quote from: Tanhì'ite on January 01, 2010, 05:59:33 PM
I live in the Bay Area, so I'd definitely be interested in attending. (Plus, Peter S. Beagle will be there!)

Even if we can't get a panel, it'd be nice to meet some people from here. ^^


Definitely this.  When it gets closer to May, even if we don't have anything officially scheduled, certainly set up something for those who will be there.

Hell, I wouldn't mind some sort of get together even sooner than that, just to get together and make everyone else around us think we're strange. :D

I live in the bay area, I love to make people think strange things.

We could recite essays in Na'vi over a megaphone.
私は太った男だ。


bagget00

"meoauniaea" (meh-oh-ah-oo-nee-ah-eh-ah). "Don't ask me what it means - I haven't assigned a meaning yet. But I love the word!" Frommer said.

"Latin and Zombies. Technically dead, but still influencing society."

Author of http://forum.learnnavi.org/fiction-fanfiction/displayed/