Dead Dog Party

Synonyms:
See also:	Dead Dog Panel
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A Dead Dog Party is an informal gathering held on the last day of a con (usually a Sunday afternoon), after official functions are over. It is a time to hang out, unwind and rehash the weekend. It is often held at the con hotel, but sometimes in a different locale. The con committee members are the main participants, sometimes joined by other fans.

"I specifically remember two fans who joined us that summer of 1980 at the Shore Leave convention in July. Both joined us at the Dead Dog party on Sunday afternoon when the convention was over. Bev and I were hosting the party at Bev's house, with many of the tired, hot committee making use of the pool in the back yard." from Nancy Kippax/Reminisce With Me/1980

As more and more conventions were held over the years, the Dead Dog Party often took on a more serious tone with the convention organizers offering elaborate and lengthy thanks to fellow convention organizers and the volunteers and soliciting live feedback from the attendees.

Food

Refreshments usually consist of "whatever munchies the consuite hasn't finished," but sometimes the convention will contract for a cake decorated in a fannish theme, or depicting a dead dog made out of frosting.

Steampunk Cake for BayCon 2009