[ACML] Panelist Reimbursement?

[Chaz Baden (Anime Los Angeles)]

> What do you all do for reimbursing panelists? Do you give them free badges?
> A discount off their registration price provided they show?

Panelists that we have chosen to invite: we write to them ahead of
time, offering them a free membership and an extra for an SO or
friend, green room access, and parking validation. (Gives them a
discount off of their parking at the hotel, or free parking, depending
on the hotel and the arrangements we've made there.)

It should be noted that all convention members get free access to the
con suite. The green room is a program participants-only space, and
sometimes has classier snacks -- think M&Ms in the con suite vs.
Belgian chocolates in the green room, that kind of thing.

Now, I've said "invite." If someone volunteers to be on our program,
it is up to our Program Department whether to include them at all.
Just volunteering to be on a panel or two doesn't automatically get
someone a free membership. If they participate in three panels, and
they've already paid for their membership, then they've qualified for
the "free membership next year" pass-on.

Sometimes we will invite someone because we want them on one
particular panel. Sometimes someone will volunteer to be on the
program and we will turn around and "invite" them, giving them the
full treatment.

The important thing is that the Live Program Department controls what
panels we have, and who's on them. Just because someone suggests a
panel idea doesn't mean that we'll use the panel idea, or that they'll
be used on that panel, or that they'll get in for free.

Chaz


-- 
Chair, Anime Los Angeles 5 * LAX Marriott
2-4 January 2009 * Friendly, bigger hotel