Frequently
Asked Questions . . .
What
is a convention?
One of the best descriptions we've heard is "a convention
is a quiet, intimate gathering for you and a couple hundred of your
closest friends". This is actually closer to the truth than
you'd imagine. It's an opportunity to get together with like-minded
individuals. Whether you like Doctor Who, Neil Gaiman, Battlestar
Galactica, comic book, horror films, Buffy, wrestling or anything
even vaguely connected, you'll meet other folks there with similar
interests. It's a chance to learn and try new things and to make
new contacts and friends. But mostly it's fun.
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How does
it work?
Ordinary people like yourself volunteer their time to the running
of these events. As a rule they do not get paid for this work, they
do it for the joy of it. It can sometimes be a little hard, but
is very rewarding. They organise everything from the badges, booklets
and t-shirts through to the advertising, the venue, the program
and of course, the guests. Most conventions are one-off's. A group
gets together to run one and once they've run it they go back their
lives. Sometimes a group will run a number of events. In the case
of Continuum we hope to be able to have a gradually changing committee
of people running one convention a year in Melbourne. So far most
of our group were involved in the ConVergence 2002 National Convention
and of course the first three Continuum conventions.
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What time
is everything on?
Programs differ from convention to convention,
which might run for just a single weekend or for an extended period
of time at either end. Continuum 4 is running from Friday
morning until Sunday evening and our Program
is currently under development so times might vary somewhat from
now until the convention. We can tell you that Registration will
open at 10.30am on Friday 4 August, with official scheduled programming
to commence around midday and run until late. Over the weekend,
the Program will begin earlier and run all day, with the convention
winding up on Sunday evening with the Closing Ceremony. Please check
our Program page in the new year for
announcements and updated timetabling changes.
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Do I have
to be a member to attend a convention?
Yes, you do need to take out a membership to attend a convention.
There are various kinds of memberships available at different rates,
including single day memberships which allow people to come along
for just one day if they prefer not to attend the entire three-day
event. (Complimentary "panel passes" will be issued to
participants who do not wish to attend the rest of the convention.
"Panel passes" are valid only for the duration of the
panel, presentation, etc, in question.)
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What
do I have to pay?
Basically, once you've paid for your membership,
nothing at all. There are no additional entry costs or event fees
during the convention. If you purchase a full membership, for example,
this allows admission to every day and night of the convention and
entitles you to attend as many panels, presentations and events
as you wish. A day membership entitles you to the same access, but
only for the single day and night for which it is purchased.
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Can I come
just for an author signing without paying for a membership?
Unfortunately, no. Only paying members - whether
they have purchased a Full Membership or a Day Pass - will be admitted
into the convention area where signings are held. Continuum does
not charge any additional fees or charges above our initial membership
cost, so we cannot admit people simply for a "signing fee".
This policy enables us both to control attendance numbers at our
convention and also to be fair to our paying members.
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Can
I go into the Dealers Room without paying for a membership?
Once again, we're sorry to say that this
is not possible. The Dealers Room is within the convention area
where only paying members are permitted access. If you don't wish
to attend the entire three days Continuum 3, you are more than welcome
to purchase a Day Pass.
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What
is a Fan?
A fan usually has a range of interests of which
science fiction or related fields are their main one. The media
perception is that fans are all geeks and nerds obsessed with a
single show or aspect of the genre. While this is true for a few,
the vast majority are ordinary people like yourself. The best analogy
is a sports one. Just as you will find some people who have their
one sport or team that they are insanely passionate about, you will
find that most like a variety of games and events. The guy who paints
his house in team colours, names his children after favourite players
and watches the same game endlessly is an oddity. Most fans watch
a few tv shows or movies, read a few books and have other interests
besides science fiction. Chances are, if you're reading this page
and considering coming to our convention, you're already a fan.
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What do fans do?
Whatever they like. Most people are in it for
the social side, to mix with people who like the same things. Some
are in it to learn about writing or TV work or art or all manner
of things. Many people who started as fans have gone on to have
professional careers. Some just like to watch panels, some like
to participate in running things. Chances are you will find other
folks who are interested in the same activities, be that serious
creating or meeting up for a drink to talk about the latest films.
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What are the major
events of fandom?
In Australia we have a yearly National Convention
(or NatCon for short) at which awards are given to various professional
and fan related fields. Perth has a yearly regional convention called
Swancon, Canberra has Conflux, and Continuum is the Melbourne version.
On the world stage, there is the yearly World Con, a massive event
where you get anywhere up to 10,000 fans and professionals attending.
The highly prestigious Hugo Awards are given out there. Australia
has hosted three World Cons to date, the last being held in Melbourne
in 1999.
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What
do you do at a convention?
Socialise, make friends, listen to talks,
play games, learn about writing, television, films, music, comics,
party and all manner of things. Some events will be quite serious,
some will be exceptionally silly. A well run convention tends to
have a range of items to cater to a range of tastes.
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What's the deal
with hotels?
Most conventions have their events in a hotel
with conference facilities so that people can stay up as late as
they'd like talking and partying and then wander off to bed once
they get tired. Usually there is a deal so that convention guests
get a discount.
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What is a room party?
A fan or group of fans decide to have a party
in their hotel room. Room parties can be closed, invite-only affairs,
but are more usually open to all and have their room numbers written
up on prominent whiteboard in a main throughfare of the convention
so that you know they are on. Most parties provide some refreshments,
but bringing along munchies or a bottle of drink to share is always
gratefully accepted. At the bigger conventions, large organised
room parties are held by groups bidding for the rights to hold National
Conventions and World Cons.
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What is the Masked
Ball?
It's traditional at most conventions to have
a masquerade night. These have often been run as fairly formal things
where the costume entrants show off their costumes on stage and
sometimes perform rehearsed acts or comedy routines. This is fine
but does rather leave a good chunk of the convention out of the
action. We want ours to be more social. The Continuum Masked Ball
is a party. Costumes are encouraged but not essential, the main
idea being to get together and have fun, so don't feel that your
street-clothes aren't good enough! So long as you want to have a
good time and maybe a bit of a dance, come along.
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Can I attend
the Masked Ball without paying for a membership?
Yes, you certainly can! While entry to the Masked
Ball is included in the cost of Continuum 4 membership, we will
also be selling "Masked Ball Only" tickets will allow
admittance into the convention area shortly before the commencement
of the Masked Ball. You are most welcome to come along simply for
this event or, if you are already a convention member, to bring
your family and friends for the night.
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Do
I have to dress up?
For the Masked Ball, no. For the convention,
no. Thanks largely to the mainstream media, the common perception
of these events is that everyone who attends dresses up in outlandish
outfits for the entire convention. The truth is, outside the Masked
Ball, only a small number of people walk around the convention in
costumes. It used to be more common twenty years ago, but even then
it was only about 5% of the attendees. So long as you have shoes
(for health and safety reasons) and clothes (because we don't want
to see your dangly bits) that's all the dressing up you have to
do. But if you have a costume and feel like wearing it, feel free.
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How long has this kind
of thing been happening?
Well over half a century all around the
world. Different countries and cultures started at different times,
and every country has it's 'old guard' who were around at the beginning.
But chances are there's been conventions like this one running every
year for your entire life, no matter how old you are. Check out
our links page and you'll find some handy
sites to visit if you'd like to know more.
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