Post Pantheacon - #1

Well, we got back from Pantheacon last night and here is the first installment of my thoughts:

1. Your Odor Preceedeth You. Holy cow, being "pagan" doesn't mean you should smell like you've lived without the benefit of soap or clean underwear for a decade! I can't speak for other traditions, but as a Wiccan and an Isian, I know ensuring your cleanliness before you enter ritual is a requirement - to be respectful toward the Gods and for common decency. Some people who attended the 'con seem to have missed out on these basic hygiene lessons. Even though these uh, funky people were in a small minority, their presence was known to all of us. Especially in things like Friday night's PombaGira Devotional, where the crowd was so thick you couldn't help but share a little body contact with your neighbors. The Pantheacon program has several admonitions regarding ritual and convention etiquette, but a suggestion to bathe regularly is not among them. Maybe the organizers thought basic hygiene is just plain common sense. So did I...

2. Was Anyone Good There? This is a question I was asked and the answer is... YES! From the perspective of Moonrise, Pantheacon was a gold mine of networking and contact. In attendance were (in no particular order) Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Amber K, Azrael, Raven Grimassi, Chris Penczak, Gavin and Yvonne Frost, Lon Milo DuQuette, Macha Nightmare, Z Budapest, Jason Augustus Newcomb, T. Thorn Coyle, Don Michael Kraig, John Michael Greer, and many, many more.

3. Photos, Photos, Photos... Another thing NOT in the Pantheacon program guide is a proscription on photos. Now, I saw LOTS of cameras at Pantheacon, but the organizer, Glenn Turner, had already told me my own cameras would not be permitted (see my article entitled Pagans, Paranoia and Pantheacon). When a friend tried to take pix of her buddies, she was quickly informed by security that photos were not permitted because "people attending could lose their jobs". Now, that's just plain stupid, especially given that this publicly accessible and high profile convention took place at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, while the hotel was doing its regular business. For four days, Pantheacon attendees paraded through the hotel lobby, and out onto public streets, while businesspeople and tourists watched curiously (and some took pictures). If Pantheacon really wants to remain secret, it should stop advertising, and consider a quiet little gathering in an undisclosed location inaccessible to anyone but invitees. And maybe insist on passwords, masks, pseudonyms, and cash only so as to prevent the disclosure of the real identities of participants. Glenn's outdated and paranoid attitude did not prevent photos from being taken, but it did prevent many people from getting photographic memories with their friends at an otherwise enjoyable weekend. Memories are important, and it was unfair on of Pantheacon to interfere with this. I hope this changes in the future.

4. Pagan Public Speakers Need Work. Personally, I really enjoyed most of the seminars and rituals I attended at Pantheacon. And some speakers are incredible. For instance, if you ever get a chance to attend anything by noted authors Chris Penczak or Lon Milo DuQuette, do so; they're both amiable, charismatic and lots of fun to listen to. Having said that, many of the presenters I saw could benefit from a good public speaking course. My message to presenters in this and other public situations (myself included): the Goddess may have touched you with a message or talent, but don't expect her to do everything - get some training so you can get her message across effectively.

5. Pantheacon's PR and (Dis)Organization. Generally, I thought the 'con went pretty smoothly (some of my compatriots differ with me). Most events went off without a hitch. As indicated above, the quality of presentations varied widely. There were, however, numerous cancellations with no alternates to fill in the time slots. And there were several instances of cancellations where no cancellation was posted. And most disappointingly for me personally and a great many other attendees, Sunday's event by Meryw nyw Bast (you figure it out) entitled Bast - A Celebration of Life closed its doors before the posted time and refused to admit anyone once doors were closed, even though the program indicated this would not be the case. Everyone understood this was a ritual, and that people might not be admitted after a certain time. However the mix-up in the program and at the time - which a festival organizer indicated to me was known to them - could have been resolved by delaying the start by 15 minutes or so. Pantheacon ought to have insisted on that, and the ritual organizers ought to have thought of it on their own. As it was, they denied themselves the attendance of a large number of eager participants, and disappointed many of us (and perhaps Bast as well?). Incidentally, our group received not the slightest hint of apology from an organizer who said she herself was responsible for the error in the program. In fact, she was quite rude about it and seemed to imply it was our fault for merely arriving on time. Way to work the P.R. machine, Pantheacon!