Podfication

Well folks, it's been another year and this pandemic thing is still going.

Although many conventions are returning to in person gatherings with safety precautions in place, unlike most of them Podfication is not tied to a hotel contract and thus under no obligation to do so. With variants and transmission rates rising, it's still not clear what October 2022 is going to look like. Out of an abundance of caution, we're giving 2022 a miss too.

It is still my intention to make sure that Podfication continues once it is safe for us to do so in person. Please continue following us here and on our social media channels and we'll let you know when we're planning to resume operations again.

Thanks for your understanding, and please do check out our friends over at europodfriends who are doing an online event if you need a podfic fix this October!

Dear Podfication,

Due to information that has recently come to light about bessyboo's personal conduct, I have asked her to step down from Podfication leadership. She has agreed and will not be in attendance at future events.

Podfication will continue and I hope to keep serving you all well as its chair. If you have questions or concerns about this change, I encourage you to contact me via any channel you feel comfortable with (reply, dm, email, etc.) I am the sole administrator Podfication's various accounts so your messages will not viewed by anyone else unless you make them publicly.

At this time I ask that you bear with us with regard to the scheduling of future events. Between organizational change and the ongoing pandemic, I'm assessing our options to determine what the best and safest path forward will be. Please look for an official statement in the coming months.

Thank you so much to everyone for making Podfication what it is. I truly appreciate it and will keep working hard to make it both a welcoming environment to all and the best event it possibly can be for our community.

Sincerely,
revolutionaryjo

Panel requests for 2019 are now open: Click here!

We're accepting submissions up through Saturday, September 7, 2019 @ 11:59pm CDT.

Never run a panel before? No problem! The stakes are low and the Podfication crowd is super chill. If you've got a topic you want to talk about with people for an hour, you can run a panel! Interested in running a demo, game, or event instead? No problem! Submit your idea through the same form and tell us all about it.

A few things to be aware of:

• You can submit more than one idea!


• If we run out of space and you've submitted more than one idea, we may have to choose between them. So if there's one topic you favor over others let us know!


• Have an idea but don't want to run it alone? Drop a comment on this thread asking for co-panelists! Or let us know and we can put the call out on social media for you.


• Would you like to help run a panel but don't have a good topic of your own? Check the comments!

Some more relevant info:

• We'll have a screen, projector, and speakers for the panel room, but you'll have to provide your own laptop or other device to connect up to it. It's a newish one so we're double checking on the inputs for it, but it will definitely take HDMI. All other formats are up in the air at the moment but reach out if you've got a question about a specific one. If all you need is audio, as long as your device has a standard 3.5mm audio jack you're good.

Any questions, just let us know!

Live performance sign-ups for 2018 are now open!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Please read the rules below as there's a minor change from last year to be aware of.

This event is a chance for anyone who'd like to do a reading for a live audience at the convention. It's a lot of fun!

You can do something new, something you've recorded before, an excerpt from a longer work (give us a heads up on that please), arrange or join a multi-voice performance, or whatever you like so long as it abides by the rules below.

While this is mostly an event that's performance for performance's sake, we'll be recording it. After the con, we'll post it to AO3 for everyone's enjoyment. There is an opt out if you'd rather not have your performance included and/or if you don't have author permission.

To make sure we can fit in everybody who wants to read:

• Performances should not run longer than 15 minutes total.


• 1 sign-up per individual.


• In addition to a solo performance, you can participate in up to 2 multi-voice performances.

The form will remain open through Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:59pm CST.

Any questions, just let us know! Drop us a comment, tweet (@podfication), ask (podfication.tumblr.com), or email (podfication at gmail).

REGISTER FOR PODFICATION 2018 HERE!


What is Podfication?
An informal convention for podfic creators and listeners! Join us in Minneapolis for our third year of hanging out, discussion, and recording.

When and where is this thing?
October 20th & 21st, 2018 at the Geek Partnership Society's Event Horizon community center. (1121 Jackson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)

So kind of like a convention?
Exactly like a convention! But our events take place at the Geek Partnership Society's community center rooms rather than in a conventional hotel.

Why Minneapolis? Isn't Minnesota COLD?
Because that's where Bess and Jo live. And look, it's PROBABLY not going to snow in October. Probably. (Also, more seriously, we have direct access to facilities and resources here, and autumn in the Midwest is actually very lovely.)

So where am I going to stay?
The Event Horizon center is a convenient bus ride from downtown Minneapolis, which has many hotels. There may also be some locals who can accommodate a few people, at their discretion. We encourage finding roommates and renting some local Airbnb's within walking distance of the venue, which has worked out wonderfully the last couple years! You can check the Lodgings Finder post to help find roommates for the weekend.

Geek Community Center, huh? That sounds kind of neat.
Yes! And it is! We have access to three rooms, one that has some comfy couch seating for hanging out and chatting, one for recording that's as sound isolated as we can manage, and one that can be used for panels. We also have access to a small kitchenette.

But let us manage your expectations a bit. There isn't much within walking distance of it. The ceilings are high, and it's right next to railroad tracks. The building is shared with other groups so sound can and will bleed between the rooms and from outside. It's not perfect, especially for recording, but it is a space we can all gather and talk about all things podfic for a reasonable cost!

I have a question about accessibility.
We want to accommodate any accessibility needs that we can! You can find our accessibility guide here. If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to us.

Are you gonna talk about the *whispers* fanfictions?
You bet we are. And since those discussions can be of a mature nature, we ask that attendees are 18 years of age or older. Children under age 1 are welcome in the con space as long as they are attended by their parent/guardian since they are unlikely to be adversely affected by discussions around the nuances of the omegaverse, MPREG, and the one where they're shrimp.

Who's behind the curtain?
revolutionaryjo and bessyboo primarily, but it takes a village! If you're interested in helping us staff this thing believe us we're interested in your help. Get in touch. If you're not up for that much responsibility, but still want to help we'll be calling for volunteers closer to October. Keep an eye out!

Sounds great, I'm in!
Awesome! You can register using a variety of payment types here for $42.00 + $2.71 Eventbrite fee (USD).

I can't make it, but I think what you guys are doing is rad as heck and I want to contribute!
*through tears* Bro. BRO. Get in touch with us using one of the options below and we'll figure out how to make that happen. You're a superstar.

I have so many more questions.
So do I, friend. So do I. We'll be periodically updating this community as time goes on with more information. In the meantime, if you want to ask us a question directly, shoot us an email (podfication at gmail), send us a tweet (@podfication), an ask at podfication.tumblr.com, or drop us a comment here. We look forward to hearing from you!

Live performance sign-ups for 2017 are now open!

This event is a chance for anyone who'd like to do a reading for a live audience at the convention. We should have enough time for 10-11 performances. It's a lot of fun!

You can do something new, something you've recorded before, an excerpt from a longer work (give us a heads up on that please), arrange or join a multi-voice performance, or whatever you like so long as it abides by the rules below!

While this is mostly an event that's performance for performance's sake, we'll be recording it. After the con, we'll post it to AO3 for everyone's enjoyment. There is an opt out if you'd rather not have your performance included and/or if you don't have author permission.

To make sure we can fit in everybody who wants to read:

• Performances should not run longer than 20 minutes total.


• 1 sign-up per individual.


• In addition to a solo performance, you can participate in up to 2 multi-voice performances.

The form will remain open through September 23 30*, 2017 at 11:59pm CST.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Any questions, just let us know! Drop us a comment, tweet (@podfication), or email us (podfication at gmail).

*Belated realization that the submission form was listing a cutoff date of Sep. 30th while this post had the 23rd. Going with the later of the two in case anyone was banking on that. Sorry for the mixup!

We strive to be an accessible and welcoming environment to all who attend. In some cases we're limited by our venue and resources, but if you see an opportunity to make Podfication a more accessible place, please don't hesitate to let us know! If you have any questions not covered here we'd be happy to answer them as well. Send us an email (podfication at gmail), tweet (@podfication), or comment.

Food & Food Allergies
Cost permitting, we will have snacks and food available on a first come first serve basis throughout the weekend. If you have any food allergies, we're happy to accommodate them.

If you need some help locating a restaurant in the area that will meet your dietary needs, we'll have a restaurant guide in the programming book and quite a few locals on hand if you need a personalized recommendation! There's information directing to local pharmacies and grocery stores included as well.

Geek Partnership Society Center
Our venue, the Geek Partnership Society Center, is located in the Waterbury Building in Minneapolis. It's a ground floor only level building with wide hallways. All rooms for our event, including the restrooms, are accessible via wheelchair. Handicapped parking is also available at the building. You can see a map of the building here.

Note: There is a small 1-inch step at the doorway between room 107 and the kitchenette area. The venue should have a ramp provided, but both rooms are also accessible with no step via the outer hallway. Map showing available doors here.

Gender Identity
Expression of gender identity is embraced at Podfication and we ask everyone to respect that and the preferred pronouns of all attendees. We'll have optional pronoun stickers available for badges this year. We regret that the building's restrooms are not under our direct control and shared with other groups using the building. If you would feel more comfortable having someone accompany you to the restroom of your choice let a staffer know.

Lights
For those attendees with light sensitivities, overhead lights in the rooms can be dimmed on request.

Overstimulation
We regret that our current venue doesn't allow us enough space for a dedicated quiet room. If you're feeling overwhelmed, we recommend stepping out into the hallway which tends to be quieter. There are some outdoor picnic tables available in the parking lot as well away from the building, weather permitting. You can always flag down one of our staff and we'll do our best to help as well.

Panels
Panelists should keep their lips visible at all times for those who speech read. We do not have microphones available for panelists, but encourage them to please speak up to ensure everyone in the room is able to hear clearly. If using video or an animation via a presentation, please avoid any flashing/strobing lights.

Print Materials
If you anticipate needing a large print copy of our Programming Guide, just let us know! We'll make sure one's available for you.

Service Animals
Service animals are welcome. Please leave pets at home in deference to any attendees with allergies.

Smoking
Minneapolis does not allow indoor smoking, so the entire Waterbury Building is smoke-free. If you need to smoke, please do so in the building's parking lot and away from the doors.

Anything you or someone else needs that we didn't cover?
Please contact us! We're figuring this thing out as we go, so we're sure there are things that haven't been addressed out of oversight. Updates to this post are likely so please check in again.

Last Updated: 5/23/2017

Hey folks, we have a little poll for you over on Twitter that's open for the next week. Stop by and let us know your thoughts!

The long story that doesn't fit into 140 characters is that we had high hopes of finding an alternate venue to run another year of Podfication due to the noise issues we had last year, but life and things got in the way. It seemed like most everyone had a good time despite the youth ministry's highly enthusiastic drummer though, so we're gauging interest. Would you like if we had another Podfication this year in the GPS rooms again? Or would you prefer to wait until a future year when we can find a more appropriate venue? Dates have yet to be arranged, but if we go for it with GPS, we'd aim for mid-October again.

If you can't do Twitter polls for whatever reason feel free to reply here, via tweet, or whatever channel you're comfortable with! We're looking forward to hearing from you. :D