The Baltimore Universal FanCon described itself as "The First multi-fandom Con dedicated to inclusion, highlighting Women, LGBTQ, the Disabled and Persons of Color." With exactly the guest list you would expect from this kind of con it was shaping up to be the least fun con ever held.
Well, today a week before things were to kick off and long after bus tickets and couch surfing arrangements had been made. The organizers replaced the web site with a statement that the con was postponed and an announcement would be made today (it wasn't). According to some of the guests they only found out about it when their hotel reservations were cancelled for lack of payment. This morning one of the organizers announced via twitter she was leaving. Since then it's been pretty quiet and all signs are that they ran out of money despite getting double what they asked for on kick starter.
Allowing the inmates to run the asylum has worked so well in the past (Dashcon, RainFurist, etc.) that it's hard to understand what could have gone wrong. Given the number of twitter speds on the guest list who are absolutely not getting paid and can't get their deposit back ; I'm expecting this might blow up in any number of directions.
The Hollywood Reporter was shilling for the con just three days ago, and they are shocked by the developments.
Minor update: The Con finally released a statement. It's pages and pages of BS to say one thing: We spent the money, we don't have it and you can't get it back.
One interesting thing that has emerged is the involvement of a Mr. Thai Pham. Pham has a history of running Conventions that vanish with backer funds. It looks like he found some well meaning , but not so bright social justice types to be the face of the con. Those founders were shilling tickets as late as the 18th of April and none of them seem to know whats going on. Pham is going to be the one to watch as he appears to have mastered the art of separating the woke from their money.
Edit: added links, twitter is a SOB to archive.
https://archive.md/hZBDz
Well, today a week before things were to kick off and long after bus tickets and couch surfing arrangements had been made. The organizers replaced the web site with a statement that the con was postponed and an announcement would be made today (it wasn't). According to some of the guests they only found out about it when their hotel reservations were cancelled for lack of payment. This morning one of the organizers announced via twitter she was leaving. Since then it's been pretty quiet and all signs are that they ran out of money despite getting double what they asked for on kick starter.
Allowing the inmates to run the asylum has worked so well in the past (Dashcon, RainFurist, etc.) that it's hard to understand what could have gone wrong. Given the number of twitter speds on the guest list who are absolutely not getting paid and can't get their deposit back ; I'm expecting this might blow up in any number of directions.
The Hollywood Reporter was shilling for the con just three days ago, and they are shocked by the developments.
Minor update: The Con finally released a statement. It's pages and pages of BS to say one thing: We spent the money, we don't have it and you can't get it back.
One interesting thing that has emerged is the involvement of a Mr. Thai Pham. Pham has a history of running Conventions that vanish with backer funds. It looks like he found some well meaning , but not so bright social justice types to be the face of the con. Those founders were shilling tickets as late as the 18th of April and none of them seem to know whats going on. Pham is going to be the one to watch as he appears to have mastered the art of separating the woke from their money.
Edit: added links, twitter is a SOB to archive.
https://archive.md/hZBDz
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