Frequently
Asked Questions
> Basic
Information >
Attending
ArmadilloCon >
Etiquette
> Guests > Writers'
Workshop > History
Basic Information
Who runs ArmadilloCon?
ArmadilloCon is sponsored
by The
Fandom Association of Central
Texas, Inc. (FACT), a nonprofit literary
organization based in Austin.
Each of ArmadilloCon's
chairs or co-chairs is
required to be a member
of FACT. Many of the other
people who work on the
convention are members
of FACT, but that is not
a requirement. Most of
the convention workers
live in the greater Austin
area, but there are also
several workers from San
Antonio, Houston, Dallas/Fort
Worth, El Paso, and sometimes
even from out of state.
Is ArmadilloCon a "for-profit" convention?
No. When an ArmadilloCon
takes in more money than
it cost to run the convention,
this money is put into
a fund to run future ArmadilloCons.
No individual or organization
gains material benefit
from ArmadilloCon.
Attending ArmadilloCon
Do I need to join FACT to
attend ArmadilloCon?
No.
Do I have to be pre-registered
to attend ArmadilloCon?
No. Memberships may be purchased
at the door, although the
cost is higher.
May I buy a 1-day or 2-day
membership at the door?
Certainly. See our membership
information page for prices.
Maybe I pre-register for
a 1-day or 2-day membership?
No. Only full-con memberships
are available in advance.
The advance cost of a 3-day
membership is less than the
cost of a 2-day at the door
membership, and if bought
before April it's the same
price as a 1-day at-the-door
membership.
I just want to attend one
event at the convention.
Do I still have to pay?
Yes.
Is there a lower "dealers
room only" membership
rate?
No.
Is there a lower "gaming
room only" membership
rate?
No.
Is there a lower membership
rate for people who are submitting
art to the art show?
No.
Why are you all being so
inflexible regarding giving
membership discounts?
I know it may seem that way,
but we really only look at
it from a budget standpoint.
The majority of our funds
come from memberships, so
we have to be firm. Even
the committee has to buy
a membership.
Is there anyway way to get
a lower membership rate?
Volunteer for 8 hours.
But what if I don't want
to volunteer during the show?
We have a limited amount
of opportunities where you
can volunteer outside of
the show to gain your 8 hours
(mail outs, loading the U-Haul,
etc.). All of these opportunities
would take place in the Austin
area and some of them would
not be near the time of the
Con. If interested, please
visit Volunteering.
Etiquette
I'm a writer and I'd like
to be on programming (panels,
readings, autographings,
etc.) at ArmadilloCon. How
do I go about it?
Send us a letter stating
your qualifications and how
you'd like to be involved
in programming. We'll only
use writers on programming
if they've published something
in a professional market.
If your greatest achievement
is having a story or book
under consideration at a
publisher or magazine, you
aren't ready to be on programming
at ArmadilloCon. However,
we encourage you to come
to the convention and see
what we are about. Also,
meet the committee members
and be nice. Getting on the
committee's good side is
a great way for us to remember
you the next year. Please
do not be offended if we
do not ask you to be on programming.
We get many requests to be
on programming and we have
chosen to draw the line at
only having professionals.
When may I approach an author
about getting a book signed?
It's easiest during a scheduled
autographing, but most authors
will also sign books after
they're on a program item
such as a reading or panel.
It's inappropriate to corner
an author at a meal or in
the bathroom.
May I distribute flyers
for another con here?
Certainly.
Should I bathe every day?
God, yes. Please brush your
teeth/chew gum/have a mint
as well. There is nothing
more uncomfortable for
a guest when they are giving
you an autograph and trying
to guess what you had for
lunch at the same time.
Guests
Why do you only have new
and relatively obscure authors
as Guest of Honor at ArmadilloCon?
Since its inception, ArmadilloCon
has bestowed the Guest of
Honor position on innovative
authors of cutting edge SFF.
We try to be the first to
notice the rising stars of
tomorrow. Our record has
been fairly successful, since
several past Guests of Honor
have gone on to become popular
and respected writers.
Who has been Guest of Honor
at ArmadilloCon?
Catherine Asaro, Kage Baker,
Neal Barrett Jr., Pat Cadigan,
Julie Czerneda, Bradley Denton,
Gardner Dozois, George Alec
Effinger, William Gibson,
Alexander Jablokov, K. W.
Jeter, Gwyneth Jones, J.
Gregory Keyes, Jonathan Lethem,
George R. R. Martin, Elizabeth
Moon, Chad Oliver, Mary Rosenblum,
Lewis Shiner, Sharon Shinn,
Dan Simmons, John Sladek,
Bruce Sterling, Sean Stewart,
Charles Stross, John Varley,
Howard Waldrop, and Martha
Wells
Writers' Workshop
Is the Writers' Workshop
a competition?
No. Each person who submits
to the workshop will get
an individualized critique.
There is no competition with
the other participants, and
there is no "winner".
Who does the critiquing?
All critiquing is done by
published SF/F writers
or editors with professional
credentials.
When may I submit a manuscript?
All entries must be received
by the posted deadline,
which is several weeks
before the con. No at-the-door
submissions will be accepted.
Can I still get a submission
into the Writers' Workshop
after the deadline has passed?
No. The deadline was set
to allow appropriate time
to evaluate each submission.
History
When and where was the first
ArmadilloCon?
Spring of 1979 at the Villa
Capri hotel. The Guest of
Honor was John Varley.
Who started ArmadilloCon?
Willie Siros and Robert Taylor
Where has ArmadilloCon been
held?
It's been held in the following
hotels, many of which have
since changed names or no
longer exist: the Villa Capri,
the Ramada Riverside, the
Driskell, the Wyndham Southpark,
the Red Lion, the Omni Southpark,
the Hilton North, and the
Doubletree Hotel.
What have been the guest
lineups and chairs for all
ArmadilloCons to date?
See the history
page for
a list of past ArmadilloCons.
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