[Bloo09]

We've managed to make the schedule for the first group of panelists! It's bouncing around the other programming departments of ACen to check for conflicts before we release it publicly so it should be posted very soon! We are now reviewing the 2nd group of panelists which are those who applied after the initial deadline of October 31st until now. For the first group we managed to schedule every panel according to the requested time and restrictions as long as they filled out that part of the application.

Panel Programming is now added to the Contact Us form on the website. http://www.acen.org/contact This has specific fields that we need filled in to be able to properly address your questions, such as your panel name which unfortunately most don't tell us when they email us with questions. When you email us give us as much information as you can, it helps us help you.

You can now check the status of your panels in the registration system! Just log in and go to your profile page where you will see the status of the panels that you applied with. If you see that you applied twice with the same panel please notify us so we can delete the 2nd application. Those who want to run their panel twice have two applications on purpose so we don't want to accidentally schedule your panel twice.

Extremely Important, do not skim the next paragraph, read it clearly!

If you are fully approved you should go into our reg system and complete your badge! Go in and pay for your 50% discount if you only have 1 panel approved. If you have 2 or more panels approved you still need to check out as if you were paying but no money will be asked for since it's a 100% discount. You still need to complete your badge registration. This is so everyone will go in and make sure their information in our system is correct. We have over 200 panelists right now and only 50 have completed their badges! So if you're the head panelist you need to contact your other panelists and have them complete their badge registration. If you do not pay your for your 50% discount online you will need to pay for it at con in the registration hall with everyone else trying to register for ACen. If your badge is complete and paid for BEFORE THE CONVENTION you will be picking it up in the Panel Programming Office which is in the Hyatt Basement in the Gatwick room which is open on Thursday and throughout the weekend for pickup. Everyone 16 and over will need a photo ID, school ID is fine or other picture form, just something with your name and picture. Each panelist needs to pick up their own badge. After the panelist musical chair games, and drama that happened last year we cannot allow head panelists to pick up their co panelist badges.

Remember! You have until March 1st to request panelist changes or schedule changes for your panel. After that we cannot change it! This is so your panel will be properly listed in our program book, mobile application, and on our website! If your panel needs to move we can't do it after that date. So confirm it's scheduled time with your co panelists once the schedule is posted!

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

[Zerox20]

Wanted to add to this, if your Panel is "Pending" status we are still reviewing these Panels that were submitted after the deadline we are looking over finalized roomspace to ensure we can get as many scheduled as possible. Please sit tight if your panel is in "Pending" status on your profile. We will be sending communication out on this ASAP.

Thanks!

This post has been edited by Zerox20: 25 January 2012 - 12:31 AM

[Dark Spellmaster]

So where exactly is the list for the first group of times exactly?

Edit: Can you give us a rough guess of when the schedule will be released publiclly?

This post has been edited by Dark Spellmaster: 01 February 2012 - 10:14 AM

[linlindesu]

I'm not sure if I should PM somebody or if a lot of people have this question but my head panelist swore he had me added by contacting one of the panel staff yet every time I try to check out it does not have the discount or say anything different than if I was just getting a regular badge. Is it supposed to be this way?

[Bloo09]

Please email us with your registration system user name and what panel you belong in. Thank you

[linlindesu]

I sent an email wednesday and still no reply :/

[Bloo09]

I just looked at all of our emails from Weds and we have none unanswered. Please try emailing me directly at PanelProgramming-Departmenthead@ACen.org

[linlindesu]

sent , I put the hyphen in there. I hope the address includes the hyphen >__<;;; sorry for taking up your time

[Bloo09]

yep it has the dash it's no problem, that's what I'm here for.

Hm.. your email went straight to my spam folder. Probably what happened in our other email I'll add you to our friendly list XD sorry about that

[linlindesu]

it's ok XD no one uses aim or aol anymore xD

[myrla]

Is there a legitimate reason panelist badges can't be mailed? I got mine mailed last year and I was a panelist... I really don't want to have to deal with trying to make it to the con Thursday when I'm flying in that day and staying further away. the point is to not have to deal with standing in line. (just registered for my badge and am very unhappy at this development. I might not be getting in until midnight from the airport, which makes it impossible to pick it up Thursday.)

This post has been edited by myrla: 29 February 2012 - 12:36 AM

[Bloo09]

Since panelists played musical chairs so much with their badges last year and discounts couldn't be withdrawn from those who got mailed badges who withdrew as panelists we are no longer mailing panelist badges. It was strongly abused by people getting free badges then canceling their panels.

You don't have to wait in the registration hall line though. We are holding the badges in our panel office in the Hyatt basement, the room name is Gatwick. They will be available for pickup Thursday, Friday, Sat, and even Sunday. Our office opens around 8am on Friday, 3 hours before any panels begin so there will be plenty of time for you to pick up your badge before your panel. As always a photo ID is needed for all panelists who are 17 and older. A school Id will be accepted. If you are hosting an 18+ panel a Gov't ID must be used.

Gatwick Panels Office Hours Of Operation
All hours are subject to change without notice
Thursday 4pm-10pm
Friday 8am-2am
Saturday 3am-2am
Sunday 8am-4pm

[Zerox20]

myria, I am not sure how you got a panelist badge mailed last year, as we have NEVER mailed badges. Unless you purchased a badge and it was mailed to you. We have always printed badges for panelist at the convention for pickup.

[therobd]

I sent an e-mail to panelprogramming@acen.org yesterday about a panel issue that's been unresolved for a little while now. Could I please have some confirmation that it's been received in light of the impending deadline? Thanks in advance, and I appreciate the work you guys have been doing. The early schedules and advance preparation are very helpful.

[myrla]

Bloo09, on 29 February 2012 - 09:20 AM, said:

Since panelists played musical chairs so much with their badges last year and discounts couldn't be withdrawn from those who got mailed badges who withdrew as panelists we are no longer mailing panelist badges. It was strongly abused by people getting free badges then canceling their panels.

You don't have to wait in the registration hall line though. We are holding the badges in our panel office in the Hyatt basement, the room name is Gatwick. They will be available for pickup Thursday, Friday, Sat, and even Sunday. Our office opens around 8am on Friday, 3 hours before any panels begin so there will be plenty of time for you to pick up your badge before your panel. As always a photo ID is needed for all panelists who are 17 and older. A school Id will be accepted. If you are hosting an 18+ panel a Gov't ID must be used.

It's more dealing with the crowds and the unnecessary bs. it's such a small percentage of registrants vis-a-vis the entire total, i'd say it'd be much easier if someone cancelled their panel to just cancel their badge and refund them their money up to about 3 weeks before the con, if they cancel after the fact you keep their money, and give us the opportunity to have it shipped after that date (like i said i'd have no problems paying for priority shipping or whatever, $6 to have it in my hand versus an extra mile+ walk to pick it up is really irritating). it's very disappointing i'm going to have to jump through hoops just to get my badge. (i rarely go to any panels except the one I'm in, and I try to never go in the 2 con hotels.) I also don't carry my ID to the con, I lock it in the hotel safe, so that's just another annoying thing...

In short, I understand why, but I don't understand why there isn't an alternative, and I'm trying to be constructive rather than just irritated. =]

Zero: that's right, i paid full price for my badge last year because there wasn't a way for me to get a panelist badge.

This post has been edited by myrla: 29 February 2012 - 01:57 PM

[chainedbyroses]

Possibly stupid question here, but I'll shoot anyways.

How do we request panel/name changes? Is there a particular person to PM/email, or can we just call the Panel Prog number and talk live what we need done? Would I also be right in assuming you guys would be able to make a panel name & its respective forum thread match, or would I have to post to the tech support section for that?

One of our group's panels might need a slight time shift if it's swingable, and the other needing a renaming to a Title That Does Not Totally Suck (which we already have picked out & scribbled down - just need to relay it to whoever handles that).

Thanks in advance!

[Bloo09]

You can email us at panelprogramming@ACen.org or call our number 630-442-0008 which I answer between noon and 10pm. Just let us know which panel needs changing, I can also fix it's topic title in our forum. Also to get a time change you need a good reason. If a panelist won't be there, etc. We have NOT been changing panels because "that's not the day I'm doing that cosplay". Our schedule is very tight this year but we can still manage some changes.

[therobd]

therobd, on 29 February 2012 - 01:42 PM, said:

I sent an e-mail to panelprogramming@acen.org yesterday about a panel issue that's been unresolved for a little while now. Could I please have some confirmation that it's been received in light of the impending deadline? Thanks in advance, and I appreciate the work you guys have been doing. The early schedules and advance preparation are very helpful.

Last-ditch bump to get a reply before the deadline...

[Bloo09]

We've been looking through for unanswered emails, I just cleaned up the inbox yesterday. Check your spam folder and please send me a pm with your email so I can search for it. It may have gotten archived by accident

[Bloo09]

I've gone through the entire email account. Everyone should have replies now, if you don't then we don't have your email, please resend it.