An alternative way to program a SwanCon

[tommo]

I was going to post this as a reply on someone else's journal, but I think it's an interesting enough point to be a post of it's own.

I've been wondering whether the job of programmer should really be divided up further than it currently is. Have a head programmer to run and timetable the whole thing and generally be in charge, but then have sub-programmers responsible for different streams. You could have a media fan organising some TV and movie panels, a lit fan organising some book panels, avid gamer for gaming panels, anime buff for anime panels, and so on. And the head programmer gives them each a certain number of panel slots they have to fill up. I think that could result in a much more well-balanced programme.

What do people think? It'd swell the numbers in a committee somewhat, but I think if it was done well and everyone involved put in the required effort, you'd probably end up with a stellar programme. And it'd take some of the burden away from the head programmer, who tends to do a hell of a lot of work putting it all together.

Comments

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

This is a type of project management.

I think if you do this you effectively need a bit more ahead of time commitment, i.e. all the sub-programmers agreeing to finalise the panels they're organising and the majority of the panellists by some date in advance of the con, say a month. At this time all the work not done and responsibilities are transferred to the main programmer, without necessarily needing a guilt factor or what have you.

That way you get what you can out of the process without having to rely on flaky people at the last minute.

The uber-programmer would need that time remaining to rebalance the varying efforts of the volunteer minions. And they would vary.

[tommmo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you'd definitely want a very reliable, driven person running the project, who was happy to pick up all the slack on the home stretch. And I'd recommend 2 months in advance :)