There isn’t much news I can find about the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, which is the site of next month’s Worldcon. The Zaha Hadid Architects website describes it as “under construction” and shows only drawings of it. However, my search turned up information on how memberships and related merchandise are being sold. I refer you to this article by Steve Davidson on the Amazing Stories website. It links to a File 770 article which I’d overlooked.
The news is that the Chengdu Worldcon is selling “tickets” through what is described as “a Ticketmaster-style service.” As Davidson notes, fan-run conventions don’t sell tickets; they sell memberships. The difference is that members have the opportunity to participate in large and small ways. Most aren’t listed on the program, but they can help with setup and breakdown, ask questions at panels, talk with pros at kaffeeklatsches, join discussions in the con suite, sing in the filksings, etc. That’s different from conventions such as the big comic cons, where the emphasis is more on hearing speakers in large halls, buying merchandise, getting photos and autographs, and so on. Both are legitimate activities, but trying to mix the models always turns out badly.
The Chengdu Worldcon already has two-tiered participation; people can get a membership with or without WSFS membership. That’s not unreasonable in itself. Many Chinese fans are legitimate, active fans but aren’t close enough to the global SF community to have an interest in the Hugos or site selection. But selling “tickets” through a third-party agency sounds like encouragement of the provider-consumer model. It suggests the fans have less control than the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum and the local authorities, who are trying to push the image of Chengdu as an SF-friendly city.
A recent announcement by the Chengdu Worldcon is peculiar and leaves an unpleasant taste.
The World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) is a grand gathering for global sci-fi fans. To foster greater participation from the fans in this significant event, the Committee of the 2023 Chengdu Worldcon is calling for global submissions for the mascot’s name, slogan, and collectibles for this convention.
Sci-fi fans whose submissions are selected will receive benefits, including walk-in reservation channels for the Worldcon opening ceremony and Hugo Awards ceremony, physical admissions, etc. For what are you waiting? Unleash your boundless imagination and join the call now!
…
Every sci-fi fan whose mascot’s name or slogan is selected will receive eight benefits, including three physical admissions, attending the Worldcon opening ceremony as a guest, a walk-in reservation channel for the Hugo Awards ceremony and the Worldcon closing ceremony, a mascot gift package, work to be introduced and preserved in prominent sections of the Worldcon publications, a commemorative certificate and a letter of gratitude presented by the Committee, a free Pidu-trip, and free pickup service from airports to the venue.
Normally someone who contributes to a Worldcon at this level gets sincere thanks, including a mention in the program book and perhaps acknowledgment at the opening ceremonies. Why would a con member need three additional “admissions”? What’s this about a “reservation channel” at the Hugo ceremony? And what concom has time to send a volunteer to the airport to pick up people who make minor contributions?
A site called Lujaba provides another perspective on the mascot. I don’t know whether it’s a reliable site, so take it for what it’s worth.
In this World Science Fiction Convention, a series of mascot peripheral products will be launched. includes toys, dolls, bags, stationery, etc. Next, the organizing committee will solicit opinions on official social media at home and abroad for the 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Convention to determine the final name for the mascot.
It’s normal for a con to offer some souvenirs, such as tote bags and T-shirts, but this seems to go well beyond that. Someone’s trying to make money off this, and I don’t think it’s the concom.