Fourth Street, I done it

[lydy]

There's a fiddly bit of hotel bill to settle (the charges I got at the front desk this morning don't match the charges in the online bank statement), but other than that, it's done! It was a great convention, by all accounts. I spent too much time being glazed and worried, more time than was really required. It ran extremely smoothly. My department heads were great. Registration, which was Beth Friedman, ran like clockwork. Parties, by Martin Schafer, were great. There was enough beer. Mark Richards did a good job with Dealers. Steven Brust did a rocking job as Programming. And Elise Mattheson, Davey Snyder, Ishmael Williams, and Jules Mohr saved my ass in Hotel.

I even got a secret admirer. Someone left me a note complimenting my essay "Fourth Street Considered as a Whole Pomegranate" and left me some body lotion that was pomegranate scented. I've never had a secret admirer before, and I'm thrilled.

I gather from comments that I looked disturbingly glazed all weekend. Partly it was the stress of nothing going wrong, but partly it's just the drugs that I'm on. They keep me too flat, I think. There was music on Thursday night (thank you, Karen Cooper), and Friday and Saturday nights that I attended, and the music was wonderful. I noted, however, that I missed the transports of joy that music that good should engender. I didn't stay for the Sunday night music very late, I was tired and felt more like listening to people talk.

Because I kept on thinking of little things to do, I didn't sit through many whole panels. But the parts of ones that I was at were good. And the panels got great reviews. Which makes me grin.

So I'm done. And I don't even have to do it next year. Elise is going to take it on and be chair. So next year I can sit through all the panels I want. That'll be cool. I may end up doing something small and fiddly like Treasurer, but even that could change. I'm terribly proud of the job I've done, and I want to thank everyone who came and made it such a stellar convention.

Comments

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yes, you done it, and a damn' fine thing you done. You should be proud. And there will be more 4th Streets that you don't need to stress out over, and so more fun for you. Yay, Lydy! Well done.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

It has been many years since I went to any con but Minicon or a fall relaxicon, but the posts I've been reading make me think I missed a really good one here.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're terribly proud. You should be.

[joel-rosenberg.livejournal.com]

Cool.

[apostle-of-eris.livejournal.com]

. . . it's done! It was a great convention . . .
yes!

I spent too much time being glazed and worried, more time than was really required.
yes!

I gather from comments that I looked disturbingly glazed all weekend.
yes!

. . . the stress of nothing going wrong . . .
There's just no pleasing some people.

So I'm done.
yes!

I'm terribly proud of the job I've done
damn straight!

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Reviving a legendary convention is inherently hard, because there are expectations, and of course even the *same* people (a number of whom did come to the new 4th St.) have changed over time, and of course the members must (and did) include far more than just people from the old convention. And this one labored under the lack of a key player from the previous ones, who is no longer with us (Mike Ford).

It's clear to me, and from conversations it seems to be clear to a lot of other people, that this was a "real" Fourth Street; worthy of the name and the tradition.

Ya done good (not least in getting people who would do good themselves for your department heads).

[(Anonymous)]

Everything David said. Everything.

Congratulations. You brought back a treasure from the mists of time, gathering round the people and environment to help it live and shine once more. Your work, your effort, your sheer daring in attempting the matter at all was a gift that enriched the lives of hundreds of people's lives. The effects are rippling forth, the already-immense good from it growing from the reports, photos, recordings, and stories told by those who were there.

Yep, ya done good. Thank you, and I'm so very, very pleased not only that you did it but especially that you see what you did and are proud of it. That's one of the hardest parts of all for any convention chair.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

You should be terribly proud. IT ran smoothly and was great fun.

[sethb.livejournal.com]

You now have a second chance to attend some of the panels. Not to participate, unfortunately; you'll need to talk to Geri for that technology.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Oo neat. :) Those are going on my iPhone.

Who did the recording and what do you suppose are the odds SFOHA can get higher resolution copies for our archives?

[sethb.livejournal.com]

I did the recording, and what's posted is what exists. I didn't see any value in 96/24 for speech.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

I figured that might be the case. I will see if Steven is willing to forward a SFOHA release form to the participants. Thanks!

--Anne

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

yay! good job. I hope to make the next one. Is there a hotel signed on? meaning are there dates for next year?

[lydy.livejournal.com]

There isn't a hotel, yet. There is a date, June 19, 20, and 21, and a Guest of Honor, Cory Doctorow. For further information, watch the Fourth Street Webpage at www.4thstreetfantasy.com (http://www.4thstreetfantasy.com).

[timprov.livejournal.com]

You kicked ass. Thank you so much.

[aedifica]

Thank you again for providing the momentum to get this started! I never got to attend the first 4th Streets (I wasn't in the right places at the right times), and I'm very happy I got to go to this one.

[karenthology.livejournal.com]

We talked only once -- Saturday night at the music circle -- but I wanted to say thank you. It was my first convention, and quite unforgettable.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

It was the best con I've ever attended in my life. Thank you so much for bringing it back.

[todfox.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the work you did to make this happen. It was a great success and you made it a reality. The fact that you can sit back and enjoy next year is due to your hard work this one.