Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Justin Barba

MisCon 40 Attending Professional

Justin Barba came to his first MisCon as a freshman in high school in 1991 (it was MisCon 6!). It was held at what is now the Wren Missoula, just a block from the Holiday Inn. Little did he know that years later he would end up agreeing to help work the hospitality room for MisCon 21. Then he took on managing the writer’s workshop, then MisCon Operations, Vice Chair, then Chair. Now he spends a lot of time planning MisCon, trying to be a good person/husband/father.

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Thu 7:00 - 7:50 PM, Meet the Artists: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: John Barba, Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Michael Brugger, Echo Chernik, Jayel Draco, Dragon Dronet, Brian Grinnell (Belsac), Cheyenna Krone, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Randy Pepprock, Nikki Rossignol McCoy, Steven K Smith (SKS Props), Jeff Sturgeon, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's artists, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Thu 7:50 - Fri 1:00
• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Jessica Brawner, C E Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Laramie Dean, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears, D.L. Solum, Jeff Sturgeon, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's writers/editors, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Fri 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Satanic Panic, Monster Tent
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, MaryAlice Jones (Mistress Azira), Randy Pepprock, Jeff Sturgeon

  Let's discuss the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and today.

• Break Fri 2:50 - Fri 5:00
• Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM, Stonekettle Station Q&A, Rocket Tent
  Panelists: Justin Barba, Jim Wright (Stonekettle)

  Join us for a fun Q&A session with thinker/writer/artist/retired Navy intelligence officer Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station. We will discuss the state of the world today, including politics.

• Fri 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Opening Ceremonies, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Becky Cass, Dragon Dronet, Todd Lockwood, Steven L Sears, Steven K Smith (SKS Props), Jeff Sturgeon, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  Join our Guests of Honor and Featured Pros at MisCon 40's Opening Ceremonies and find out what's going on throughout the weekend. We'll talk about the 40 years of MisCon, the Upside Down theme, will give Golden Squid Awards to a few convention committee members who worked especially hard this year to make MisCon happen, and will highlight some fun things happening at the con. 

• Break Fri 6:50 - Fri 9:00
• Fri 9:00 - 10:50 PM, Mead Tasting!, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Clay Cooper (Ol Scratch), Mike Fowlkes, Lee Stahl (Onsite Operations (OOPS)), Gregory Swensrud (Elling Hrolleifson)

  Come join MisCon's Mead Lover's Club in their 7th annual Mead Tasting! We'll sample local meads and perhaps a few non-mead honey drinks. Membership is $35, while seats last.

• Break Fri 10:50 - Sat 10:00
• Sat 10:00 - 10:50 AM, 80s Commercials: Radical, Grody, or ... Clap On, Clap off, the Clapper., Dungeon
  Panelists: Justin Barba

  Where's the beef? Toys, gadgets, strange things from a bygone era. We're going to play a bunch of funny old 1980s commercials and see how they hold up to the test of time. Hint: they're pretty funny.

• Break Sat 10:50 - Sat 1:00
• Sat 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Skepticism, Imagination, & Fuzzy Thinking: Year 3, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Randy Pepprock, Gregory Swensrud (Elling Hrolleifson), Jim Wright (Stonekettle)

  Let's discuss skepticism in this modern age of propaganda, groupthink, and the end of the world. Is skepticism the best way to advance humanity? Is it the only way to resist propaganda? Does it kill creativity and imagination? How can we become more skeptical without losing creativity, dampening imaginations, and turning into cyborgs?

• Break Sat 1:50 - Sat 4:00
• Sat 4:00 - 5:50 PM, Story Time: 40 Years of MisCon, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Chris Blazer, Dragon Dronet, James Glass, Todd Lockwood

  For MisCon's 40th anniversary, we're going to gather and tell stories about MisCons past.  We'll reminisce about some good times, a Mis-Placed Con, people who helped make MisCon happen but are no longer here (that list is pretty long). If you'd like to come add to the discussion, please do.

• Break Sat 5:50 - Sat 8:00
• Sat 8:00 - 9:50 PM, Sake Tasting!, Dragon Pavilion
  Panelists: Justin Barba, Kyle Elliott (Big Kyle)

  Come and taste both local and international flavors and styles of this growing category of ancient and storied brew. More details to come.

• Break Sat 9:50 - Sun 6:00
• Sun 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Closing Ceremonies, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Becky Cass, Dragon Dronet, Steven L Sears, Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  Finish out MisCon 40 in style, and catch a sneak peek at what's in store for you next year at MisCon 41.