Balticon, Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention Web Page

While Balticon is not an anime conventiontion, we certainly recognize the importance of anime in sciencce fiction/fantasy community culture. The Balticon Anime Program Mini-Track offers 4 to 6 program hours of discussion panels and presentations. See Anime Panels Schedule on the Panels and Workshops page for panels and presentations details.

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ANIME ROOM

The Balticon 46 Anime Room, located in Salon E, is open from 6:00 PM Friday through the end of the last feature on Monday, with a one hour break each morning for hotel housekeeping service. The Anime Room shows feature length anime films as well as consecutive episodes of Anime Series films. Between 8 AM and episodes of many different anime series. Anime screenings between 9:00 pm at night and 8:00 am in the morning should be considered not approprate for children who are not accompanied by an adult. Screenings before Noon are geared to general audiences. Every effort is made to schedule content between noon and 9 PM which have age appropriateness equivalent to PG or PG-13.

BALTICON 46 ANIME ROOM SCHEDULE

Friday, May 25, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

8:00 AM

Room Closed for Housekeeping

(60 minutes)

Sunday, May 27, 2012

8:00 AM

Room Closed for Housekeeping

(60 minutes)

Monday, May 28, 2012

3:00 PM

Balticon 46 Anime Room Schedule Ends

See you next year!

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ARTISTS ALLEY

The Balticon Artist Alley, located in the hallway outside the ballrooms housing the “main tent” and Art Show brings you live media and web comics artists along with offerings of their work for sale. Artists, please contact Artists Alley manager Tristan Alexanader by April 20, 2012, to reserve a table.

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ART PROGRAM TRACK

ART PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION AVAILABLE.

Position responsibilities include attendance at Balticon meetings in person or via conference call, meeting deadlines for scheduling program items and corresponding with program participants and the Con Chair in the months prior to Balticon and monitoring and troubleshooting the program at-con. Interested persons please contact Balticon Chair as soon as possible.

The Art Program Track brings you 12 to 15 hours of presentations, demonstrations, workshops and discussion panels with our artist guest of honor, art show and artists alley exhibitors and other artists participating at Balticon. Attend a workshop to learn a new techinique. Watch artists, using the “ELMO” to project onto a screen, create work right in front of you. Listen to presentations about art history or about artist's personal experiences in the industry. Attend discussion panels about topics ranging from how to sell your art, to how to keep your head straight and still get the work done, to who's who in science fiction and fantasy art.

Artists who have a workshop, demonstration or lecture they would like to present, or an idea for a discussion panel they would like to moderate or be a panelist for, should contact the Art Program Coordinator to get the ball rolling on your participation.

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ART SHOW

The Balticon 46 Art Show is proud to exhibit the work of Artist Guest of Honor James Robin Odbert. We are also pleased to offer the work of many other artists in a wide variety of media, such as original works in pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, watercolor and oils, sculpture, and handmade crafts and jewelry, as well as limited edition prints.

Visit one of the biggest and best regional art shows on the East Coast featuring SF and fantasy original art and prints. Most of the works and prints are available for sale, although you will see some works marked “Not for sale - For Exhibit Only”. Artists must pre-register to be included in the art show. For moe information or special requests, send a request to artshow@balticon.org

or write:
          Balticon Art Show
          PO Box 686
          Baltimore, MD 21203-0686.
See the Art Show page for more information.

Art Show Rules and Registration Form are available as downloadable MS Word documents.

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AUTOGRAPHING

Balticon provides any scheduled program participant who wishes it with one hour of shared table space for signing autographs. Autograph sessions at Balticon are alway no-fee signings. We encourage participants to purchase authors and artists works at Balticon (the Dealers Room is adjacent to the Autograph Table in the Maryland Ballroom foyer) and have them autoghraphed right away! Most Balticon 46 Autograph Sessions will be held at the Autograph Table in the foyer outside the Maryland Ballroom. Autograph sessions for the Guests of Honor will be held in Parlor 1041 so that long lines do not interfere with access to other programming.

Friday, May 25, 2012

4:00 PM

TBA

5:00 PM

TBA

7:00 PM

TBA

8:00 PM

TBA

9:00 PM

TBA

Saturday, May 26, 2012

10:00 AM

TBA

11:00 AM

TBA

12:00 Noon

TBA

1:00 PM

TBA

2:00 PM

TBA

3:00 PM

TBA

4:00 PM

TBA

5:00 PM

TBA

6:00 PM

TBA

7:00 PM

TBA

8:00 PM

TBA

9:00 PM

TBA

Sunday, May 27, 2012

10:00 AM

TBA

11:00 AM

TBA

1:00 PM

TBA

2:00 PM

TBA

3:00 PM

TBA

4:00 PM

TBA

5:00 PM

TBA

6:00 PM

TBA

Monday, May 28, 2012

10:00 PM

TBA

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BSFS Books for Kids

For the 15th year in a row, a charity auction will be held during the halftime break of the Masquerade on Saturday night and continued in the Garden Room on Sunday evening. There will be SF&F collectibles, memorabilia and other exotic items put on the block. If you have something to donate to the auction bring it to the con. In past years BSFS sponsored a charity auction at Balticon to raise money for Reading is Fundamental program/programs at a school or schools in Maryland. In 2006 the auction was renamed the “Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Baltcon” in honor of BSFS member Bobby Gear to commemorate her years of service as a school teacher and BSFS volunteer.

Reading is Fundamental is no longer active in Maryland, but it is important to us to keep the work alive. Therefore we were pleased to introduce, in early 2010, the BSFS Books for Kids program, and are very happy to continue this literacy program in 2012.

BSFS Books for Kids will gift funds raised to the PTA of the selected school for the purchase of books ordered by students for personal recreational reading. The books will become the personal property of the students. In additon, BSFS Books for Kids collects book donations for local school libraries, as requested by their resident librarians.

The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon 46 will be raising money so that BSFS Books for Kids can provide book purchase funding for the students of Buck Lodge Middle School.

Items for the auction are donated by both individuals and companies and generally have a SF or fantasy theme. Author- and artist-signed copies of books, art work, games, and SF collectables are very popular donated items.

Friday, approximately 10:00 PM

The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon

(Valley Ballroom)

Sunday, approximately 4:00 PM

The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon, Part II

(Garden Room)

The auction at Balticon is held during the masquerade half-time while the judges deliberate and the audience waits to hear the winners. Part II of the auction is held on Sunday following the art auction. Items available for auction are displayed in the Art Show. To donate items for the auction throughout the year, or for other details about the auction in any given year, please contact “BooksForKids AT bsfs DOT org”.

If you would like to bring your donations for the Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction with you to Balticon, they can be dropped off at the Convention Operations desk at the end of the hallway on the lower level just past the Art Show.

BSFS Books for Kids is currently collecting new and used book donations for the libraries of seveal schools in Baltimore City. They are in need of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance and Poetry books, as well as less challenging books like Goosebumps, Sweet Valley High, etc. for reading competency levels from grade 3 on (ages 8 and up).

There will be several drop-off locations at Balticon for books donations for the schools - in the Con Suite, at the info desk and at Convention Operations.

Thank you for supporting youth literacy in Maryland!

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CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TRACK

Balticon, on Saturday, Sunday and on Monday morning, presents 18 hours of entertaining, educational, fun programming for children from toddlers to pre-teens. Program items include magic, music, dance, crafts projects, art, storytelling and costuming. If you would like to be a presenter or facilitator for a Balticon Childrens' Program hour, please contact coordinators Miriam and Eta about your idea.

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CONCERTS

The Music/Filk Program at Balticon offers many hours of musical and comedy entertainment. Look at the schedule below after the first of the year for scheduled concerts.

THE BALTICON 46 CONCERT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

10:00 PM

Open Filk Overnight

(Salons C and D)

SATURDAY

11:00 PM

Open Filk, Saturday/Sunday overnight

(Garden Room)

10:00 PM

Open Filk, Sunday/Monday Overnight

(Salons C and D)

MONDAY

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CON SUITE

Balticon offers its members a traditional convention hospitality suite with soda and snack foods in a congenial atmosphere designed to promote casual conversation. This year, since the space in Frankie and Vinnie's is so large, we're trying something new. We'll be blocking off a section of the space and putting in cafe tables and chairs for program items like Saturday and Sunday Kaffeeklatsches, Tea and Tarot, the Needleworkers Tea, and Regency Tea and Games. Check the special events and panels schedules for these and other events happening in the Con Suite.

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COSTUMING PROGRAM TRACK

Balticon offers 12 hours of costuming panels, workshops and presentations. We try to schedule quite a bit of that before the Masquerade so that novices can pick up some last minute coaching if they want it.

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DANCE

Balticon has worked hard to establish a tradition of offering dance and other music and movement events. Susan deGuardiola will again be offering her famous Steam Punk Ball as well as Martian Croquet and we hope to be offering Hoop dancing again. Check the Panels and Workshops page for the Dance Events Schedule.

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DEALERS ROOM

The Balticon DEALER'S ROOM:

Features 6500 square-foot of tables with everything a Fan might want, from hard-to-find books to ancient weapons, costumes, collectibles, models and more. This year, the room will be open late Sunday and until 2 pm Monday. See the Dealers Room page for a list of vendors.

Dealers in SF and Fantasy related merchandise can inquire about availability by writing:
     Balticon 46 Dealers Room
     c/o P.O. Box 70013
     Baltimore, MD. 21237

     or by e-mail to Dealers AT bsfs DOT org

Interested vendors can also find the appropriate application forms and instructions on the Dealers Room page.

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FAN PROGRAM TRACK

Balticon's Fan Program Track includes events such as the SF Trivia Contest, panel discussions on getting the most from your convention experience, examining lifestyle choices, looking at ways to be involved in fandom, and demonstrations of some of the hobbies fans get into.

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FILM AND TV PROGRAM TRACK

The Film and TV Program track offers opportunities to compare and contrast current and past film and television offerings, celebrate favorites with other fans and discuss the trends in SF entertainment.

For the 9th consecutive year, BSFS sponsors The Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF), held traditionally on (surprise!) Sunday night. Award ribbons are given for audience choice animated, live action and specialty film (science fact, music videos) favorites as well as director's choice. For entry guidelines, or more information about the Balticon Film Festival, download the Application and Permission to Screen forms or contact filmfestival AT balticon DOT org.

In addition, the BSNSFF seeks to support the work of independent filmmakers by premiering an independently produced feature-length film on Friday night and are open to considering a family-friendly premier for Saturday afternoon. We'll teaming up with the Video Program to bring you other independent feature-length and short films at the Balticon Friday, Saturday and Sunday Belmont Room Midnight Movies. We hope you will stay up late to see what we have to show you!

We're still accepting proposals for film premiers and other feature films.

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SUNDAY NIGHT SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Sunday, 6:30 PM

Doors open for seating for Balticon 45 Sunday Night Short Film Festival

(Valley Ballroom)

Sunday, 7:00 PM

Balticon 45 Sunday Night Short Film Festival

(Valley Ballroom)

Doors open at 6:30 PM. Come and make your opinion count! Please note that films shown after 9:30 pm may not be appropriate for children under 13 without an accompanying adult.

The focus of the Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF) is on independently produced science fact, science fiction, fantasy and horror live action and animation projects under 52 minutes run time, which have been completed no earlier than in the two years prior to the festival year. The BSNSFF is a competitive festival with winners in two (sometimes three) categories determined by audience rating. Please make sure you pick up a ballot on your way into the Valley Ballroom on Sunday night. See the Film Festival Schedule for this year's screening schedule.

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FILMMAKING PROGRAM TRACK

The Balticon Filmmaking program track was new at Balticon 46 and continues at Balticon 46 with the same two primary missions:

To provide a forum wherein talent, producers, directors, special effects technicians and others involved in making independent science fiction, science fact, fantasy, and horror films can meet each other and discuss their trade;

To provide opportunities for Balticon members to meet folks involved in independent filmmaking and learn about the filmmaking process from those who are doing it.

See the Filmmaking Track Schedule on the Panels and Workshops page for more information.

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GAMING PROGRAM TRACK

Last year, since so many fans are into gaming, we decided to expand our Gaming Program Track to 14 hours. That went so well that this year we are going to a 16-hour Gaming Program Track, with introductory presentations, explorations of old and new board games and card games, and various discussion formums.

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GAME ROOM

Balticon 46 marks the 2-year anniversary of the renaming of our game room as the Hal Haag Memorial Game Room in honor of fan and gamer Hal Haag, who passed away in 2009. Bring your own game or play one of ours - we'll be open round the clock, except for a 1 or 2-hour housecleaning break each morning.

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HALL COSTUME CONTEST

While you are enjoying Balticon dressed to the nines, stop by the Volunteer Desk at the bottom of the escalator and have Brian take your photo for the Hall Costume Contest. Then tell everyone you see to go vote for you! The winner gets a complimentary membership to Balticon 47.

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KAFFEEKLATSCHES

Kaffeeklatshes offer an opportunity to chat with Guests in a more intimate setting. Sign-up sheets are located at the Information Desk near the top of the escalators. This year for the first time we are going to be offering these opportunites on Saturday and Sunday mornings as well as on Monday.

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LARP (Live Action Role Playing)

Check back with us in February for details about the 2012 LARP at Balticon 46.

LARP Schedule

All Weekend

Live Action Role Playing (LARP)

(Various Locations)

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LITERARY PROGRAM: READERS TRACK

Balticon Literary Program Track participants with qualifications as authors, editors, publishers, and reviewers will explore varied themes in SF literature through panel debates, author readings and personal autograph session interaction. Multiple literary program tracks (Readers, Writers, Fan, Young Fan, Teen) make this the core of Balticon programming.

In the Readers sub-track, everything from philosophical debates, story telling, book reviews, science speculation and historical perspectives will flow. Reviewers and Fan group members will review and discuss work and its place in the genre to help you find new literature suited to your taste. Audiences will have opportunities to cheer panelists on as they produce story ideas on the spot and panelists will evaluate audience efforts to do the same. Whether your personal fascination is with hard SF, fantasy or horror, there will be a panel for you to attend.

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LITERARY PROGRAM: READINGS

Author and editor program participants are invited to give readings of their work. Check the Readings Schedule to find out when your favorites will be presenting their work.

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LITERARY PROGRAM: SMALL PRESS PUBLISHING TRACK

We are trying very hard to provide programming for small press publishers at Balticon. Through our Small Press Publisher Presents items, we hope to be able to offer small press publishers the opportunity to present their "line-up" to fans at Baltcon the way the big houses do at WorldCons. Fans will have chances to win prizes, get first glimpses of cover art and hear about the publishers' upcoming books before they're released.

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LITERARY PROGRAM: TEEN TRACK

The Teen Program Track includes workshops, panels and round table discussions for fans, readers and writers aged 13 to 19. Professional artists and writers will offer information and coaching as well as act as moderators for panels and round tables.

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LITERARY PROGRAM: WRITERS TRACK

In the WRITERS TRACK, professional instructors will offer lectures and workshops on developing and enhancing writing skills. Panels of professional and aspiring writers will discuss how they got where they are, where they want to go, and share tips and tricks and experiences.

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MASQUERADE

On Saturday night Balticon hosts one of the oldest masquerades on the East Coast. Marvel at the participants crafting of fabric and other materials into imaginative and extraordinary costumes. The Masquerade is not just for experienced costumers either -- Hall Costumes and first-timers are encouraged to get up on stage and share their work. The masquerade competition will be judged on the experience skills division system to give beginners a chance to go home winners. Info: e-mail masq@balticon.org or check “Masquerade” on the registration form. Check the Baltimore Science Fiction Society website for the Masquerade rules.

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MUSIC/FILK PROGRAM TRACK

In addition to a fantastic schedule of concerts, the Music Program Track offers workshops, jam sessions, panel discussions and 3 nights of Open Filk.

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NEW MEDIA PROGRAM TRACK

There's a whole wonderful world of non-traditional media available and, as we did last year, we're bringing you more than just podcasting. Come and meet local artists and writers from the world of web comics and many other fascinating people leading the new media explosion. Learn more about what's available in independent new media and how to turn it to your advantage. Dont let your work be lost in the shadows: find your audience! Balticon was the first con to run new media programming and have its own dedicated podcast, which makes ours the longest running new media track.

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PARTIES

PARTIES:

NOTE: The first TEN open party signups we receive will get their cleaning fee paid by the con! This is a first come, first serve deal, so don't wait!

Let's keep the fun going into the night! If you are interested in throwing a room party at Balticon 46, to support your convention, your Worldcon bid, or just because you want to invite people in to have some fun, we'd love to have you. Please email party@balticon.org for details.

Open parties will be registered and grouped in one area easily accessible to everyone. Registering your open party will ensure that you are covered by Balticon's corkage agreement (allowing you to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks), and that your neighbors don't mind the noise generated. Parties will be open until 3:00 am. Alcohol is not permitted at open room parties.

There is a $50.00 for the weekend party cleaning fee that the hotel will add to your bill for hosting open room parties. This one time fee is $50.00 for one, two or three nights of hosting an open party.

If you plan on holding a private party you should let us know at party@balticon.org; we will put you with the other parties so you can stay up all night talking and laughing without worrying about potential noise complaints. If your room is in the party area, but you are not throwing an open party, you will not be charged the additional cleaning fee. The hotel will take a deposit for open party rooms which will be returned when they confirm the room is not damaged. Open party rooms must be confirmed with hotel before May 3, 2012, or the hotel may reject the request for such a room. Please check the box on the registration form if you would like to receive the open-party information packet or send mail to party@balticon.org. Following these rules means we can continue holding open room parties at Balticon.

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PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM TRACK

The Performing Arts Program is a new mini-track experiment at Baltifcon 46. This first year we'll be offering 4 to 6 hours of workshops and performance opportunities.

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SCIENCE PROGRAM TRACK

Balticon 46 offers over 30 hours of original science programming. Meet the scientists and attend fascinating presentations and panel discussions.

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VIDEO ROOM

Balticon 46 offers an expanded Video Room schedule. In addition to the Salon F video schedule, Video and the Film Festival will be teaming up to provide midnight movies in the Belmont room, and Video will continue to offer movies in the Belmont through morning in addition to those offered in Salon F. Look for the Video Schedule below sometime in April. Please Note: All Start Times are APPROXIMATE

Balticon 46 Video Room Schedule

Friday, May 25,2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Sunday, May 2, 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

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BALTICON VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM

Balticon is an all-volunteer managed convention and we can always use more help. Show your SF community spirit by volunteering a few hours at the con. Volunteers who work more than 10 hours receive our exclusive volunteer T-shirt. Work more than 20 hours and next year's Balticon membership is comped. Sign up via email, at the convention or check the Volunteering box on the registration form. And if you decide not to volunteer, take a moment to say thank you to those who do! This convention wouldn't exist without them.

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WORKSHOPS

Balticon brings you a variety of workshops in several program tracks. See the Panels and Workshops page for the Workshops Schedule.

Poetry Workshop

Enter the Annual Balticon Poetry Contest! Here's your chance to win cash prizes, a convention membership, and have your work published in the BSFAN, the souvenir book of Balticon. Entries should address the themes of science fiction/fantasy/horror/science. Limit: 3 poems/person, maximum 50 lines each. Email/postmark deadline: April 1. No entry fee. Complete information is available on the Baltimore Science Fiction Society Poetry Workshop page.

Writers' Workshop

For those who want to improve your writing skills in the areas of science fiction and fantasy, the workshop is a place and time to discuss ideas, debate styles and comment on each others' work. We look at various aspects of writing:

Opening lines

Outlines

Themes

Character development

Story structure

Dialogue

In addition, we also discuss and debate those things that make SF&F different from 'mainsteam' literature: story ideas ranging from the dawn of time through the future, parallel worlds, civilizations human and non-human, technology advancing and threatening; settings near and far, on this planet and others, running across dimensions, travelling through the past and future; characters that are human, non-human, organic, inorgranic, physical and spiritual; settings ranging from worlds the size of a microbe to civilizations spanning galaxies. Yet all these connecting to us as people.

Having trouble with your short stories? We can work with you. Not sure how to write a novel? Talk to others who have done one or two. Wondering how to approach an editor, or how to write a cover letter? Let us help you. We don't guarantee story sales, but we do what we can to help you. If you have questions, write to writersworkshop AT bsfs DOT org. Coordinator Steve Lubbs looks forward to hearing from you.

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