MediaWest*Con/MediaWest*Con 1988

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Convention
Name:	MediaWest*Con 1988
Dates:	May 27-30, 1988
Frequency:
Location:	Lansing, Michigan
Type:
Focus:	multi-fandom
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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Some Facts About the 1988 Convention

cover of the 1988 program book

• The theme that year was: "MediaWest*Con: Across The 8th Convention"
• While door decoration awards officially began in 1990, 1988 was the first year a handful of doors were decorated. A TARDIS door, with part of the Fourth Doctor's scarf peeking out from under the threshold was one of that handful.

• There were seating charts at the Saturday banquet, Sunday lunch, and Monday breakfast -- each table sat 10 people, fans had to present their pre-paid tickets in order to "be allowed near the food."

• From the program book: "The computer system used in the Art Show and Auction is FURBALL, developed and programmed by Bill Hupe, with the aid of Keven Lewis, Gordon Carleton, and Karen River, using DBASE 3+ as a database. FURBALL is available for use at conventions. Contact Bill Hupe."
• this is the second year of the Blood Drive; it was organized by the Blue Blaze Irregulars -- Great Lakes Division
• From the program book, a video provided by a fan was shown: "Lois Magan has a 2-hour tape of MediaWest*Con 007."

• There were 47 dealers' tables, and, and of course, many room dealers

• Strangely, the program book does not include the programming schedule or topics.

Fan Q Awards

For specifics, see 1988 Fan Q Awards.

Party Suite and Other Gatherings

• there was a MacGyver party

Masquerade Winners

We are looking for any info or photos of the Masquerade contest and winners.

Door Decoration Awards

While door decoration awards officially began in 1990, 1988 was probably the first year a handful of doors were decorated. A TARDIS door, with part of the Fourth Doctor's scarf peeking out from under the threshold was one of that handful.

Art Show Awards

Art show winners were selected by popular vote.

We are looking for any info about the Art Show contest.

Vid Show

From the program book:

Music Videos: Descriptions & Running Times: (these will be scheduled apart from the regular videos" see posting at Waverly).

California Crew: two hours running time, no description provided; past efforts were off spy shows, "Simon & Simon," "Footloose," etc.

Fade To Black: two hours running time; segments are 1/2 hour each, titled "Take 4: MediaWest '88' Take 3: Pretty Good '87' Take 2: MediaWest '87; Take 1: MediaWest '86 (titles from each convention videos premiered at).

Jackie Edwards: 1/2 running time, "The Equalizer"

K.C. Henebry: 1/2 running time, "Dune"

Higher State Productions: 5 minutes running time, no theme provided

Acknowledgments

• Co-Chairs: Lori Chapek-Carleton & Gordon Carleton
• Fan Fund: Deborah Laymon
• Fan Quality Awards: Cindy Fairbanks
• Art Show and Auction: Gordon Carleton, Susan Perry-Lewis, Keven Lewis
• Programming: Lori Chapek-Carleton
• Masquerade Competition/Masquerade Ball: Jeanne Sullivan, Barbara Gompf

• Dealers: Lori Chapek-Carleton
• Fanzine Reading Room: Jan Gosnell
• Video Room: David Grono, Carole Grono
• Photography: Bill Dyer
• Security: David Manship, Bill Dyer, Seth Cutts
• Computerist: Bill Hupe, Marie Williams
• Gofers: Deborah Laymon, Jean Coleman
• Apocryphals: Gizmo

Convention Reports

• "The 1988 Fan Q Awards was the largest in the history of MediaWest. Following the trend of the Fan Q's, this year's participation level was greater than in previous years, with one international winner (Carolyn Golledge of Australia) and several international nominees on the ballot."
• "Hard to believe but MediaWest was even more fun this year than last! I didn't even find time out to go to any panels...and I would have loved to give some sage words of advice on the one concerning the use and misuse of medicine when you trash the hero! Anyhow, I don't think there was one night when I got to bed before 3 a.m. Do you have any idea how exhausting it can be to be the sole Corellian responsible for keeping a bunch of incorrigible Jedi under control? Yes, I can imagine the kind of lies they... will print about me in these pages. But TRUST ME...would I ever behave with anything less than absolute decorum? Those Jedi just have no manner to speak of!Especially when they're trying to impress their relatives. (Darth was shocked! I had to pass him the smelling salts!)... One thing you should learn from my painful experience ... never ever let a Jedi anywhere near an art auction! The things they use their hocus pocus for would make Obi-Wan turn in his grave (or wherever he is!)....During a five minute nervous breakdown, I bought a couple of zines which I real while enduring earth's version of carbon freeze--30 hours in a 747!"

• [the Miami Viceparty]: "Well here we are again, we find ourselves in this local town of Lansing, why on earth does it have to be in Lansing MI I will never know, but the good times did roll. It seems that a lot more Vicers ended up at this convention than last year which was great. We had our wonderful Vice Party on the sacred Friday night of the con. It's really hard to give a party when you don't have all the items you need. So we did the best we could. Mostly it's the people who come to the party that make it a fun place to be. There is nothing like watching Vice and talking [about it with[ a few dozen people. That's the best part. A con is a place to get away for the weekend plus a few extra days and spend that time with friends from all over the country. It's the one weekend of the year that the phone lines aren't in use since most of the fans are in one place. There was a great art show which the auction ran another 7 hours. You have to pack a sleeping bag for that almost. But I think that each person in the group got the art they wanted, I know I did. But the old checkbook is sure low. The dealers room will also bring those bucks down, I found a lot more than I really wanted, but gee it's so much fun spending it. I guess the one thing which is so great about MEDIAWEST is that no matter what type of fandom you are into, at least you can find someone to talk it with you.... If you haven't been to a Mediawest yet I would put it on my calendar for next. The people are great, the art show breathtaking, and a well rounded dealers room with lots of reading material, photos, and goodies. Hope to see you there next year."