WisCon 2023: Online Components

Alongside our in-person events for WisCon 2023, we are once again having an online component to the convention. This page describes how online aspects of the convention will work in 2023.

For information about how the WisCon Discord server works this year, including instructions on how to contact the server moderation team, see Discord for WisCon 2023.

What will be available online?

The following aspects of the convention will definitely be accessible online:

  • Opening Ceremonies
  • Otherwise Auction
  • Guest of Honor speeches
  • At least two full tracks of all-online programming
  • Some (not all) sessions on the Readings track
  • Some (not all) workshops

There will also once again be a WisCon Discord server, which all members will have access to. For more information about how the Discord server at the con works this year, see Discord for WisCon 2023.

All online programming appears on this year’s program in numbered Zoom “rooms”.

This is the minimum content that will be available to anyone with an Online Membership. (Anyone with an In-Person Membership will also have access to all online content.)

Will any in-person panels be broadcast to online members?

While the in-person Guest of Honor speeches will be broadcast, we have no definite plans at this time to broadcast any in-person panels. This is due to logistical constraints: every online panel needs a volunteer who will monitor the technical side of the Zoom call, and we can’t commit to broadcasting in-person panels unless we’re sure we have all online panels covered.

If you would like to help make broadcasting in-person panels a reality, you can volunteer as a Production Assistant! If you have ever hosted a Zoom call (or a call on any other virtual platform), you have the skills needed for this role; we’ll also be running training sessions for all production assistants in advance of the con. To learn more about upcoming training sessions for this role, email onlinecon@wiscon.net.

How will I access online content?

Online content will be available on:
  • the WisCon Discord server
  • video-based conference calls (via Zoom)
  • YouTube streaming (large events only)

Live virtual panels will be held as video conference calls, with both the panelists and the audience present on the call. Virtual panelists will need to have access to a working webcam, but audience members can participate with video turned off or unavailable.

Larger events, including the Opening Ceremonies and the Guest of Honor speeches, will be available as streaming video.

We are not currently planning to record online content for viewing after the convention, aside from the Guest of Honor speeches (which we have recorded in the past, with the permission of the guest of honor themselves).
Accessing virtual panels will require reasonably robust internet access, while accessing Discord is less bandwidth intensive.
You can purchase either an In-Person or Online Membership; Online Memberships can later be upgraded to attend In-Person, by paying the difference in cost. (Note that In-Person Memberships may run out!) To learn more, see: Register for WisCon.

Is captioning (CART) or ASL interpretation available?

CART will be provided during the Opening Ceremonies, at the Otherwise Auction, and for the Guest of Honor speeches. To request request captioning and/or ASL interpretation for other programming (either in-person or online), please use this Google form.

If you have any questions about the virtual aspects of WisCon 2023, you can email onlinecon@wiscon.net.