Business Post: Can*Con 2024

Alright, time to talk about the very last convention that I went. Can*Con is based in Ottawa, is a sci-fi and fantasy convention which sits around 500-700 people I believe and which draws both industry professionals (agents, editors and publishers in the Canadian sphere and writers, both aspiring and established) as well as fans to the event. 

I'll admit, it does feel more industry focused than fan focused, what with the majority of the talks about crafts - though there's regular book launches and readings - but that might just be my perception of those I met and based off the various panels. Anyway, let's talk the basics.

The Convention Basics

This year, the convention was held in downtown Ottawa in the Sheraton. Not a bad location, there are food places within walking distance and the bar area while small was held open enough that people could sit around and chat and mingle. Overall, can't complain about it at all. I didn't stay in the hotel, having the luxury of staying with a friend so can't comment on the hotel; but it's the Sheraton so I'd assume expensive but nice rooms.

Next year, they'll be hosting it during their regular times in mid-October I believe and in a new hotel, which is a little further out. Won't matter that much for me, but it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

The convention, as mentioned, seems to be more writer focused with a smattering of reader type events. Lots of readings, there were 2 rooms dedicated to that in fact and then about 4 other rooms filled with panels. There were also a bunch of writer organised events, like book launches and mass readings that went on along with a vendor room filled with publishers and writers and a few fans in there. Overall, no complaints about that and I certainly ended up with more books (as always).

As usual for these events, they also had kaffeeklatsches (coffee talks) with the guests of honor, including the guest of honor writers, editors, artist and agent. All of which meant people had a chance to speak (and in a few cases, pitch) their work. Pretty damn cool, I would have to say.

 If anything, I think my biggest complaint was the lack of events for the general public. I'm not sure that's the focus for Can*Con, it certainly doesn't seem so. As an example of what I meant, the panels were very craft focused, and structured so that it rarely would be of interest (I think) to the general public. There's certainly little focus on more 'fun' stuff, like Romantasy or popular TV show so that fns of those kinds of works could meet and geek out together, which something like Dragoncon does well.

Then again - as I said, not sure if that's what they want to do. If not, that's fine; just a pity we really don't have more of these kinds of events that aren't giant Comic Cons and the likes.

My Own Experience

So, this is my second year at Can*Con. Funnily enough, as I mentioned in World Fantasy, I found this one more relaxed in a sense because (again), I knew more people going in. That always makes a big difference, I find, because there's less energy pushed towards being social and less anxiety. 

I had two panels again this year, and they were both business related. One was on when social media failed you and other forms of marketing and the second was on building a sustainable creative business. Great topics, had fun talking on them, don't actually mind doing talks on business...

But I did ask that if I am back, to be thrown onto a craft panel. It's frustrating to go these conventions and rarley get to talk about anything but DEI or business stuff. I'd love to talk about my work, the writing process, the research and history and the like.

Otherwise, it was fun catching up with people, learning things at the panels I visited and getting some thoughts sparked. A lot of it has faded into the background, I'm sure to come out later; but some of it is useful.

We'll have to see how it all plays out.

Overall

Can*Con is fun. It's a smaller convention, very local, but good to meet other Canadian authors and a few other industry professionals. It's never going to be a 'must go' event, but I did buy a ticket for next year. If I'm cutting back on my US conventions for next year, it might start becoming one that I'll be doing more regularly anyway.

We shall have to see, but sadly, it's not going to replace something like Worldcon anytime soon for meeting other (more trad pub) focused professionals or NiNC or Author Nation (formerly 20booksto50k Vegas) for indie stuff.