For most of these points, I wholeheartedly concur!
For #3, Children, though, I'm not exactly certain what you're saying. The old adage of children shoudl be seen and not heard can apply to a degree at cons. If you go to a convention, remember that many actors like to tell stories that might not be appropriate for children. The first part seems reasonable to me: if a child can't sit fairly quietly and enjoy a session, he or she probably shouldn't be there. But should I not bring my child who can sit quietly and enjoy a session because the actor might want to tell a story inappropriate for her? It seems to me that your comment that this is a job for the actor applies here: if the actor finds himself or herself facing a room that has children, then it's his or her job to adjust to the audience, the same way he or she adjusts if the audience doesn't find dirty jokes funny--or if they do. (Years ago, I saw John DeLancie at a con. He was filthy-mouthed; I was very turned off. I've since heard he's a lovely man and doesn't usually talk dirty. I can only assume he was playing to the audience, which mostly seemed to think he was uproariously funny, where I thought he was disgusting.) I do think daytime sessions are different than evening ones. But if the con is happy to sell my daughter a seat (and even offers some programming directed at children), and I know she can behave, I generally don't think I need to worry about cramping the actor's style. Obviously, though, I have a personal investment in this; we can maybe agree to disagree, but I'm curious to what extent you think children should be limited because an actor might not want them present--and, more importantly to me, whether there's any way for fen to know in advance.
Do you know if there are specific actors I should not let my daughter see? She has seen Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge; I can't remember if she was with me at Brent Spiner's panel or not, but his would have been fine for her, too. I've heard Dominic Keating is incredibly foul-mouthed (but see my one experience with John DeLancie above, which was years before we had Small Child).
I'd also add two more things, if I may?
1. Don't assume you know other fen, either. Funny you should mention showers: my husband had a friend with a skin condition that made him smell bad, and until they found the right medication, the more he showered, the worse he smelled. Guess where I met him? At a con! Probably 99% of the people you think should shower really ought to shower, but you can't assume that and go off on someone. Of course, you also shouldn't go off on a stranger for the zines or photos you see them buy ("Why are you getting that? That actor stinks, and she's ugly too!"), and so on.
2. Be courteous to hotel and restaurant staff. Don't trash your room. Tip well. If you are too poor to tip, you are too poor to stay in that hotel or to go to that restaurant.
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Date: 2009-07-17 01:18 pm (UTC)For #3, Children, though, I'm not exactly certain what you're saying.
The old adage of children shoudl be seen and not heard can apply to a degree at cons. If you go to a convention, remember that many actors like to tell stories that might not be appropriate for children.
The first part seems reasonable to me: if a child can't sit fairly quietly and enjoy a session, he or she probably shouldn't be there. But should I not bring my child who can sit quietly and enjoy a session because the actor might want to tell a story inappropriate for her? It seems to me that your comment that this is a job for the actor applies here: if the actor finds himself or herself facing a room that has children, then it's his or her job to adjust to the audience, the same way he or she adjusts if the audience doesn't find dirty jokes funny--or if they do. (Years ago, I saw John DeLancie at a con. He was filthy-mouthed; I was very turned off. I've since heard he's a lovely man and doesn't usually talk dirty. I can only assume he was playing to the audience, which mostly seemed to think he was uproariously funny, where I thought he was disgusting.) I do think daytime sessions are different than evening ones. But if the con is happy to sell my daughter a seat (and even offers some programming directed at children), and I know she can behave, I generally don't think I need to worry about cramping the actor's style. Obviously, though, I have a personal investment in this; we can maybe agree to disagree, but I'm curious to what extent you think children should be limited because an actor might not want them present--and, more importantly to me, whether there's any way for fen to know in advance.
Do you know if there are specific actors I should not let my daughter see? She has seen Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge; I can't remember if she was with me at Brent Spiner's panel or not, but his would have been fine for her, too. I've heard Dominic Keating is incredibly foul-mouthed (but see my one experience with John DeLancie above, which was years before we had Small Child).
I'd also add two more things, if I may?
1. Don't assume you know other fen, either. Funny you should mention showers: my husband had a friend with a skin condition that made him smell bad, and until they found the right medication, the more he showered, the worse he smelled. Guess where I met him? At a con! Probably 99% of the people you think should shower really ought to shower, but you can't assume that and go off on someone.
Of course, you also shouldn't go off on a stranger for the zines or photos you see them buy ("Why are you getting that? That actor stinks, and she's ugly too!"), and so on.
2. Be courteous to hotel and restaurant staff. Don't trash your room. Tip well. If you are too poor to tip, you are too poor to stay in that hotel or to go to that restaurant.