A Fan-Operated Science Fiction and Fantasy Literary and Filk Convention in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area

FenCon Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is FenCon?

A: FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with quite a lot of filk programming, some science programming, an outstanding collection of guests, an art show, a charity auction, a short story contest, a writers workshop, and members like you. FenCon is a production of the Dallas Future Society.

Q: What exactly is a "Fen"?

A: Fen has several meanings including "a low-lying wetland with grassy vegetation" and "one one-hundredth of a yuan" but we mean it in the fannish context where "fen" is the plural of "fan" in the same way that "men" is the plural of "man."

Q: So what about "Con"?

A: Con is short for convention.

Q: Why "FenCon IX"?

A: The first FenCon was held in 2004 with Larry Niven as our guest of honor. FenCon II was held in 2005 with S.M. Stirling as our guest of honor. FenCon III was held in 2006 with Alan Dean Foster as our guest of honor. FenCon IV was held in 2007 with Connie Willis as our guest of honor. FenCon V was held in 2008 with Gregory Benford as our guest of honor. FenCon VI was held in 2009 with Lois McMaster Bujold as our guest of honor. FenCon VII was held in 2010 with Spider Robinson as our guest of honor. FenCon VIII was held in 2011 with Gail Carriger as our guest of honor. 2012 will be the ninth FenCon and we just love those Roman numerals so we're FenCon IX.

Q: So who's coming to FenCon IX?

A: FenCon will once again welcome a diverse group of Hugo, Pegasus, Nebula, Stoker, and Chesley winners and other top names in their fields to Dallas. We've got folks like C.J. Cherryh, John Anealio, Teresa Patterson, Donato Giancola, Dr. David Hanson, Peter David, Karl Schroeder and many more coming this September. If previous years are any guide, we'll wind up with about 85 to 90 guests and program participants in total. Check out the guests page for the complete and updated list.

Q: What is a Friend of the Fen?

A: These are the folks who support us early and buy their memberships anywhere from one to twelve months before FenCon IX. These "Friend" memberships allow us to put together our amazing guest lineup and other things that make us who we are. We reward our Friends with a free FenCon t-shirt or tote bag plus other free stuff and a few special privileges. Maybe you can be our friend! Join FenCon today!

Q: What is filk?

A: Filk is folksinging, often with a science fiction and/or fantasy theme. The songs can be original, parodies, or based on other songs. Tom Smith says, "There is fan fiction. There is fan art. Filk is fan music. Period." The term 'filk' is alleged to derive from a typo in a convention program book. Filk was typed instead of folk, and the singers took the term as their own. (Experts dispute this story but the precise origins are murky.)

Q: Will there be a costume contest or masquerade?

A: Yes, and we hold it as part of the FenCon Cabaret. Our costume contest can involve much more than dressing up as your favorite Timelord and/or Browncoat. You can do a skit or perform or do much more than a simple catwalk strut-spin-gone costume contest. Along with the costumes we schedule some fascinating acts plus a special musical project we call the All-Star Git-Down Filk Sing Hootenanny™, now in its eighth exciting year. Prizes are awarded.

Q: Will there be an art show?

A: Yes, after FenCon I in 2004 the biggest demand from the fen was for an art show and we're all about that "of the fen, by the fen, for the fen" motto. We had a great time with amazing artists at FenCon II and our first art show and auction so now every year we put together another array of outstanding art and artists including an Artist Guest of Honor.

Q: Why should I stay at the con hotel?

A: The long answer is on the hotel page. The short answer is that it's safer, more convenient, and helps the con keep function space costs down.

Q: What is the Dallas Future Society?

A: The Dallas Future Society is a Texas-based, Federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization informally organized in 2002 and formally created in Feburary 2003. The DFS is dedicated to promoting the advancement of science, literature, and music. FenCon is our main outlet for these goals and the one time each year we bring top people in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, filk music, science, art, and more together. The Dallas Future Society is open to all and membership dues are paid annually.

Q: Are you the same group that does ConDFW?

A: No. We love those folks but the TSFA is a whole different group. A bunch of us attend their convention and a bunch of them attend ours but there's no connection beyond the fact that we're all fans in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Q: Are you the same group that does FedCon or FedConUSA?

A: No. FedCon is a long-running German Star Trek convention and they licensed their name to a commercial promoter who tried to create an American version called FedConUSA and who picked Dallas to host it. While FedConUSA failed, FedCon is still going strong in Germany.

Q: Are you the same group that does All-Con? Or Sci-Fi Expo? Or Anime Fest? Or A-Kon?

A: No, to all of those and any others you might wonder about. We stay busy enough running one convention a year and FenCon is that one convention. You'll see us throwing room parties or running information tables at some of these events and you'll see us enjoying all that Texas fandom has to offer but other organizations work very hard to put on those events.

Q: Will you throw a room party at (name of convention)?

A: In 2011 we threw room parties at conventions all over the region including cons in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, and other places to promote FenCon VIII. To find out when and where we'll be in 2012 for FenCon IX, keep an eye on our home page.

Q: Can my group throw a room party at FenCon?

A: Heck yes! We welcomed quite a number of other conventions, fan groups, a bevy of Worldcon bid parties, and more in 2011 and all systems are "go" for 2012. We do have a few simple rules/requests and you get all that info by e-mailing FenCon's hotel liaison.

Q: What if I buy a membership but can't make it to FenCon this year?

A: If you notify us (members@fencon.org) at least two weeks before FenCon starts then we will directly transfer your membership to the following year.

If you don't notify us and you had a Regular attending membership then we're sorry but there are no refunds or rollovers.

If you don't notify us and you had a Friend of the Fen membership then we will rollover your membership to the following year at the Regular level. (Any Regular member may upgrade to Friend of the Fen before September 1st for the standard conversion rate, currently $15.) Why does a Friend of the Fen get the automatic rollover? It's one of the extra benefits of that level of membership. If you have any more questions about memberships, please ask us.

Q: What is the FenCon press policy?

A: Members of the professional press are entitled to a press pass. Members of the fan press may be provided credentials, but will also be required to purchase a membership. Professional press is defined as credentialed, working members of a news organization, publication, or other media outlet on assignment from an editor or producer.

Fan press includes fanzines and fan-related web sites. If you're unsure as to your organization's status, please contact us at pr AT fencon DOT org. We may request you provide us with clips or links to same.

A good rule of thumb is that if you were planning to attend anyway, you should buy a membership. Passes may be time-limited depending on the availability of space. We love the press, but we also have to consider the Fire Marshal.

Interviews with our guests may be scheduled in advance with Public Relations (pr AT fencon DOT org). During the convention, please ask at ConOps for assistance. They'll find someone who can assist you in arranging an interview. We request that you do not stop guests in the hallways for interviews as they may be on their way to a panel.

We would appreciate a copy of your coverage - or a link to the copy - for our files, and will respect your copyrights.

Q: Why haven't you answered my question?

A: Only because you haven't asked us yet. As people ask us stuff, we will keep adding to this page. So ask us questions and we'll answer them.

Last updated 16 September 2012