Originally cross-posted at Fan-To-Pro.

I love a good convention – SF, Anime, fantasy, games, etc.  They're
usually fun, stimulating, and often educational.  I know I try to
ensure all three in events I do at conventions (admittedly, I often
focus on the latter).

One of the major reasons people attend
conventions is to meet the guests.  It's fun to hear them speak, get
autographs, and even chat with them.  They're also often very
informative – hearing how someone's career came about, their
experiences, etc. can really be telling.  Guests may even host
workshops, career panels, etc.

I am of course always for the latter.

So,
progeek that I am, I began wondering: should conventions consider
inviting more guests who aren't on the front lines?  Yes Scott McNeil
is exciting, but what about a sound engineer from a studio that does
dubs?  I'm sure people would line up around the block to see Zachary
Quinto, but what about a special effects team who did the new Star
Trek?  For that matter, I'd love to hear, say, the head of accounting
at a video game company speak.

What if conventions started adding
guests that did geeky things or did things at geeky companies, and had
them speak on jobs and careers?  They could build sequences of panels
and workshops around them.

Yes, this would be educational, but it
wouldn't necessarily be a big draw, but the advantage in that is that
the "non-front line" people may also be cheaper to get than big name
guests.  Some of them might come for airfare and hotel fees being paid
since it gives them a chance to network, connect, and publicize.  Fans
get educated, some people who deserve more recognition get it, and a
con gets more events and draw cheaply.

Sounds win-win to me.

I'm
sure there are flaws, but someday it would be neat to see the publicity
head of Funimation signing autographs, a lawyer from Electronic Arts
speaking to a rapt crowd on the advantage of being in law, or a sound
studio tech guru surrounded by his or her own legion of fans.

In
fact, if you're working at a convention, steal this idea.  You may help
the convention, your fellow fans, and do a bit of networking in the
process.  Everyone wins, and you may make some unappreciated Project
Analyst very happy!

- Steve, aka X