The Vorlon Perspective #2

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Oct. 31, 1998 A VORlon perspective on VOR: Bottom line - the Voice of Resistance (VOR) convention in Pomona, California, was a disappointment.  The VORcon was, IMHO, doomed from the beginning.  I was initially insulted that VOR was being advertised as the big con with all the B5 stars and that my name was not included in the impressive list. (I have a fragile ego, ya know!) After mentioning the omission to the promoter, suddenly my name was added in small print to the list which was also confusing as I had not been asked to attend and certainly no "deal" had been made. Just prior to the con I was offered a very low, but acceptable "deal" and all done on a handshake, rather than contract - not my normal way of doing business.  Upon my arrival, I discovered that I was the only guest that had no write up or photo in the official program guide. Ouch! For clarity, allow me to explain that conventions are strictly business opportunities for most all the "stars or guests" that attend. The fans largely attend to have fun with friends with common interests.  Not to say that I don't have a lot of fun, once the business affairs are completed. By the midpoint of the convention on Saturday afternoon, it was obvious the promoter was under significant financial strain.  Most of the actors had not been paid the agreed amounts in full, in part, or at all.  Further, each attempt to communicate with the promoter was a maze of double talk and babble that discussed everything but the real subject at hand. Conventions are not easy to pull off successfully.  VOR was certainly not the first or last con to suffer financial woes.  In my experience, each con promoter has always shot straight with me about the status of their business efforts. VOR needed this simple level of honesty. It would have kept all the guests in far better moods, and perhaps made for much better long term relations. Much more important than my whining about a business deal gone bad...the saddest part about the VORcon was that the fans got the short end of the stick.   The fans are what the cons are about.  Not how the stars got screwed or how JMS pressured the promoter. Rather, did the fans get a fair value for the investment and did they have fun? From my perspective they did not and deserve much more. Hopefully, the fans that did attend had a high level of patience and tolerance for the lack of organization and communication - enough to have had a great time at VOR. -- Jeffrey