Frequently asked questions
There are occasional workshops that require paid tickets, and ones that are free but have limited capacity or require sign-up. We'll notify attendees of these via mailout, and open online bookings until they sell out.
So, there's lots of amazing stuff going on and you want to capture it and show the world? Well, you can take photographs, but you need to ask the person you're photographing beforehand. If they're wearing a yellow no-photo lanyard, you should assume they will not give permission. You can take pictures of most panels and sessions provided you don't disrupt them, but some sessions may not allow photographs. Videoing is much the same, but you must obtain permission from the moderator or track organiser before a session if you wish to film it. Please be aware that photographing people without permission contravenes our anti-harassment policy, which applies to all ticket holders and attendees.
We only announce guests once we've agreed with them that they're coming, and they're happy to be announced. However, guests have lives, and we can't guarantee that a particular guest won't run into issues that prevent them from turning up. If that happens, we'll update the site and programme as soon as reasonably possible. Given the number of other guests that would still be left, we think that people will have a pretty awesome time regardless.
Yup. It's not a primary focus, but there will be a mix of both paid and free signings by authors, actors and other guests. All the information on this will be in the final programme.
The difference in pricing between your local friendly expo and Nine Worlds is because of a major difference in content and business model. MCM and similar expo-style events focus primarily on vendors and paid autographs. While there may be some workshops and guests, they're a small fraction of what you'd find at a residential convention such as Nine Worlds.
We've got a large number of simultaneous content tracks with their own curators, each putting together a set of panels, workshops and activities that reflect their fandom or area of interest. Additionally, guests at residential conventions are expected to take a fuller part in the programme, and ideally to be a *part* of the convention rather than being whisked on-stage and then off again after their panel. We've got a film festival, gaming tables, social gaming with nerf guns, and a full evening entertainment programme with music, parties, and more gaming and discussions.
This focus puts us more in line with residential conventions such as Eastercon, Worldcon, Redemption, Starfury and Massive Events, all of which cost a similar amount.
TL;DR Geek festival, not geek market.