Main Page

Welcome to ConRunner, a Why and How-To reference for Convention organizers.

ConRunner was started in July 2005, and we are currently working on 337 articles. You are invited to join us, and to help make them better.

We hope to document all aspects of running a successful convention. Please browse our pages, and if you have something to add, please do so. Registration is required to edit or add pages, however anyone may browse articles.

Featured Article - Flyer A Flyer is a publication that is designed to be handed out in large numbers in order to promote a convention or other event. Typically a flyer is a single sheet of paper, printed on either one or both sides. The appearance and content should reflect the theme and content of the event that is being promoted. Most flyers incorporate artwork and colored paper to help them attract the eye. On a convention flyer you want to prominently feature these items, if you know them: Convention Name Convention Dates Location (not just the name of the hotel! At least the city and state) Theme/Focus/Description of event Featured Guests Contact email address Web Site Address Then, according to space, also include some of the following: Hotel name, rate and reservation phone number Registration rates and deadlines, as applicable Indication of who is running the event. A logo can suffice if you have one. Or you can include it in the event description. Mention of special events or program content A Registration Form - Usually on the back, best positioned so that they can remove it and still have the convention name and the web and email addresses. Don't forget to include the address to mail it to and an indication of who checks should be made payable to. A call for Volunteers. Information on how to sign up for the Art Show, Dealers room, Programming, Masquerade, Writer's Workshop, Room Parties or any other space, contest or event that requires pre-registration. Often the registration form itself includes check boxes for requesting more information about these things, as well as volunteering. Mention of any special functions or services, such as Childcare

Departments There is no One True Way to organize your committee into departments. Often times a convention will run for a few years one way, and then combine departments that share a lot of the same resources or purpose into a single department. Or a department may split, as the needs of the convention grow. Do what works for you, and recruit reliable department heads. Create, publish, and maintain a clear set of objectives and methods to document continuity of what works, what doesn't, and why. Check on the senior staff regularly to make sure they're getting whatever support they need from you and the rest of the committee, pre-con and at-con. Department heads then recruit what staff and at-con volunteers they need to accomplish the goals of the department. Have your department heads document the procedures of running their department, and train people under them so that you have a pool of people ready to be future department heads, and you are capturing knowledge from one year to the next. A common way to split a science fiction convention into departments is like so: Convention Committee Chair Vice Chair Executive Committee Communications Hotel Liaisons Hotel List of Lists Blocking Rooms Hotel Food (Catering) Parking Resume Resume Wrangler (Meeting Specs) Guest Liaisons Interpreters: see Anime convention. Green Room: as distinct from consuite. Party Maven Access Programming: sometimes divided into Tracks MAIN Panels Receptions and meals Opening, Closing, and Award Ceremonies Business Meetings Dance Masquerade CosPlay Hall Costume Concert Children's Programming Literature Media Video Programming Karaoke Short Films Science Filk Art Art Show Art Auction Artist Alley Gaming Table-Top LARP Video and Computer Gaming Contests: Young writers contest Anime Music Video Original Animation Fan Art Student Art Dealers room Clubs Operations Information Desk Logistics Transportation Route Planning Move Team Program Operations Tech Crew Room setup (see also Hotel Liaison) Security Emergency response Treasury Registration Pre-Registration At the Door Reg Hospitality Green Room ConSuite Staff Lounge Publications Web site Progress Reports Program Book Pocket Program At-con newsletter Advertising Publicity Newspaper Television Special Events Blood Drive Special Displays Workshops Volunteers You can easily see how Volunteers might also go under Operations, Masquerade and Dance under Programming, etc. A small enough convention may not have a person dedicated to publicity separate from their publications head, or an information desk, or whatever. And of course, some conventions don't have Art Shows, or Charity Auctions, or whatever. Try to pick a structure that best supports what you do and how you want to do it.

Wiki User's Guide

Please see documentation on customizing the interface and the User's Guide for usage and configuration help.