Below are the panels that are planned for Escapade 34.5! Note that some panel titles and descriptions may be revised between now and the convention.
Some panels need moderators, and may be dropped if they are not adopted.
If you’d like to adopt a NEEDS MOD panel, please email us at
info escapadecon.net
General/Meta Panels
Crackfic: Committing To The Bit
Have the standards shifted, and do we care when writing/drawing/vidding our own unhinged take? Doubling down on the bit and telling people you don’t care if it’s rarepair or crackship, you’re having fun writing it.
Mod(s): sprocket
Cross-generation relationships
Does your friend need more training to play with you online? What do you do when you realize the “kid” is ten years older than you? How do you meet and get to know someone who’s decades older or younger than you, and what value do those relationships have in fandom communities?
Mod(s): aaronantium, nev
Fic first into fandom: pimp your fav fic that got you into a fandom
Say there’s a fandom that you’re interested in but you can’t access the original material – this panel is for pimping a gateway fic (or vid) that got you into a fandom and signposting a path into the Cool Stuff for new fans. Let’s get together and share “entry points” into fic for some fandoms that people have heard about are cautious about getting into without a guide.
Mod(s): Gideon Marcus
Hands Up And Touch the Sky (Space Crossovers)
Bring your favorite spaceships, disaster humans, hypercompetent aliens, and threats to civilization. Which would be A+ crossovers and why is it always Farscape, Babylon 5, or the Expanse. :-)
Mod(s): sprocket
Is Romantasy for slash fans?
Romantasy, where in fantasy the romance is as integral to the story as the plot, is fast becoming a hot topic for the mainstream. Is it a genre that can satisfy slash fans?
Mod(s): fashes, sprocket
Late to the Party
Everyone was raving about this show five years ago. Now it’s gone quiet but you’ve finally watched it. You’re loving the fanfic and vids but it seems like everyone else has moved on. How do you join a community late?
Mod(s): glymr
Lesbians, Yuri, and Femmeslash, oh my!
From Willow’s “kiss” in Buffy to the main couple in Gundam Witch Mercury beating out Supernatural in a tumblr “best couple” poll, we’ve come a long way, baby. What’s the state of femmeslash today? Which shows feature ACTUAL lesbian couples, and which are just highly shippable? Bring recs, or just come to see what everyone else is watching!
Mod(s): glymr
MFers Recruitment Drive
How to you entice people into the monsterfucker community? What are good starting movies/series? If you’ve been side-eyeing the shifters-and-tentacles crowd and aren’t sure if it’s for you – this is the panel to attend; let people tell you what’s awesome about it and where to get started.
Mod(s): fashes
The New Taboos
When Escapade started, slash itself—M/M fanfic—was controversial. These days, age gaps get flak, even among adult characters. What else is getting strong negative reactions? What unexpected taboos have you run into in fanfic communities?
Mod(s): Charlotte
Paper Fanzines at AO3
The Fanzine Scan Hosting Project (FSHP) converts scans to text and uploads them to AO3 (with permission). Let’s look at fic from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that have a new home, and talk about what else you’d like to see there. https://www.transformativeworks.org/open-doors-announces-new-import-of-fanzine-works/
Mod(s): Elf
Sad Wet Blanket Fandoms
Your ’90s mecha anime with no subs, that novel that’s been out of print since 1990 and only you and one other people have read it… what to do when you want to cry into your blanket of comfort until it’s wet with your tears, and how to weaponize that wet blanket to get other people into into your cult – we mean, fandom of one.
Mod(s): aaronantium, nev
Still Not Tired of It
You loved this fandom when it was new. You loved it when others moved on; you were one of the old crowd that welcomed newcomers. Now it’s ancient, and you still love it, and there aren’t many newcomers. Can you build a community with people just discovering canon and meta that you explored years ago? What can you discuss after “we all agree this is awesome?”
Mod(s): Tayrin, Teresa
Stupid Sexy Robots
From Data to Optimus Prime, Robots come in all shapes and sizes. Androids, Mecha, Aliens. What’s the appeal? Why do we love them? Who’s your favorite?
Mod(s): Saphire-Dance
The “Strong Female Character”: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
What makes a “strong female character”? Is she a badass babe like Lara Croft, or someone more nuanced, like Evelyn Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”? Does Kate Beaton’s “Strong Female Character” comic still apply, or have we moved past those kinds of portrayals? From Ripley to Buffy to Furiosa, plenty of “strong female characters” are physically strong—but do they have to be?
Mod(s): Charlotte
We all agree: Season 3 doesn’t exist
It’s an amazing show with a terrific beginning—too bad it only got two seasons. (Or one.) Those other four are delusions. How do you deal with a fandom where the hardcore fans agree that canon stopped long before the showrunners ruined it?
Mod(s): feochadn
When is a Cultivator not a Cultivator?
Asian fantasy genres are taking off among fans who were never into them before. Untamed references pop up in fic of unrelated canons. But wait, why does this one guy have pokemon, and why can’t these other guys fly on swords? Let’s talk Asian fantasy genres and how you know which one is which.
Mod(s): Franzeska
Fandom-Specific Panels
BtVS: Not BTS
Time to revisit the seven seasons, virtual season 8, Angel, and that one novel with an OT3.
Mod(s): Gideon Marcus Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Like A Dead Married Couple On Acid
Thoughts after the first season? Is the TV show living up to the comic book source material? What’s some ride-or-die desires for season two?
Mod(s): Airawyn Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives
Deadpool & Wolverine: the RomCom MCU Never Delivered
Deadpool & Wolverine appears to follow a traditional rom-com storyline, from enemies to… let’s decide what!
Mod(s): fashes Fandom: Deadpool & Wolverine
New Doctor Who
What’s new with Who?
Mod(s): Oracle Fandom: Doctor Who
I Came To Chicago On the Trail of the Killers Of My Father…
It’s only been 30 years since due South premiered, and the fandom’s going strong. Bring your Frasier, RayV, and RayK feels!
Mod(s): Greenygal, sprocket Fandom: due South Track: Chalk & Cheese (tentative)
Spice World (Spice Up Your Life!)
Dune has so much amazing worldbuilding and it holds nothing back; neither should fandom. Join us in a celebration of Dune fandom. Bring moisture.
Mod(s): fashes Fandom: Dune
Guardian: Cops and Dixingan Getting It Done
What are you writing, drawing, recommending, and loving about Guardian in 2024?
Mod(s): glymr Fandom: Guardian
They Say In Heaven Love Comes First
The official panel for the official fangirling!
Mod(s): Airawyn, Elf Fandom: Heaven Official’s Blessing
New Orleans Vampire Soiree
Season one ended with a shocking twist and Season two rapidly approaches. What are some of the things we’re excited for? What do you think they’ll keep from the novels? What do you think they’ll change? What are you most excited to make for fandom?
Mod(s): Airawyn, killa Fandom: Interview with the Vampire
Kinnporsche: Chemistry 101 Was Never This Hot
We love Kinnporsche and you should love it too! Squee away.
Mod(s): nev Fandom: Kinnporsche
The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon
Murderbot says: go away, I’m watching my media.
Mod(s): Saphire-Dance, sprocket Fandom: Murderbot
Happily Ever After?
Obligatory Our Flag Means Death Panel! Come have feelings about Izzy, Ed, Stede, Lucius, and the rest of the crew.
Mod(s): Megan A Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Pitbabe: Fuck around and Find out the Fandom
Pitbabe is officially confirmed for a season two after one wild season one! This show has everything! This fandom has fics! The actors have clothing lines! The vids have production value!!!!!! What more could anyone ask for?
Mod(s): nev Fandom: Pitbabe
Mr. Sandman, Bring Me A Dream…
…make him the slashiest, that I’ve ever seen… what are you jonesing to see in S2? What’s missing so far from the OG comics fandom?
Mod(s): feochadn Fandom: The Sandman
I Never Get Bored Of Looking At You
Obligatory Sentinel panel! Maybe someone will show up with hints about how to ahem Sentinel for this streaming generation.
Mod(s): Jen/syncock Fandom: The Sentinel Track: Chalk & Cheese (tentative)
Deep Space 69
One of the coolest parts of Star Trek is the amazing art of Star Trek. Hop into the panel to share and admire some gorgeous fanart.
Mod(s): NEEDS MOD Fandom: Star Trek Track: Chalk & Cheese (tentative)
Trek old-style: Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the gang
Let’s share fan art, links, and recs, and talk about why we return to the well for classic Trek in all its combinations.
Mod(s): Gideon Marcus Fandom: Star Trek
And the Game You’d Play You Would Always Win
Obligatory Untamed panel! Come be horny on main about your blorbos!
Mod(s): glymr Fandom: The Untamed
Xena 2024
Would the costuming be similar? Would the cheese be the same flavor? Would the gay be on screen? Here we’ll discuss what we think Xena would realistically look like today and what could still be missing.
Mod(s): fashes Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
X-Men ’97: The Mutants Are Back In Town
The classic X-Men cartoon has a sequel! What do we think?
Mod(s): aaronantium, Greenygal Fandom: X-Men
Alternative, Tech, and Workshop Panels
AO3 Searches: Tips & Tricks
What filters do you use to find the fic you want to read? What do you exclude? Which of the Hidden Search Operators are you familiar with? (https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/10851) Let’s swap advice and suggestions.
Mod(s): Elf
Archivers of the Lost Art
Annual update on project related to preserving fannish history and nostalgia. This includes a Livejournal Archivr, Vid Archivr, Fanzines, Oral History Project and more. Also updates on the general state of archiving past and present.
Mod(s): ViddersAdmin
Cook With Me: Hand Pulled Noodles
I’m going to teach all of you my preferred recipe and technique for hand pulled noodles. Get a kitchen scale, a pot, some room temperature water, fresh nutritional yeast, salt, bread flour, and vegetable oil. You’ll need two bowls to work with, and be ready to move because once the recipe starts, we can’t stop. Fresh noodles will be ready to eat by the end. Follow along or just watch. :)
Mod(s): nev
Craft Hour
Come hang out, do crafts, and show off your latest creations!
Mod(s): Umber
Fandom Friends & Passions
Had good intentions of making friends at a panel and nothing ever develops? How about a server dedicated to connected with like-minded fans whether your interests are fannish or otherwise? We’ll make a concerted effort to find friends who share your passions. Who knows where this can lead. There is only one way to find out.
Mod(s): ViddersAdmin
Fandoms of the Vid Show
Let’s go over the fandoms from the vidshow – what are they, how can you watch them, which ones are relevant to your interests?
Mod(s): aaronantium
Fannish Matchmaking
Are you looking for a new fandom, or a new fan friend? Our expert matchmakers will hook you up.
Mod(s): NEEDS MOD!
Getting It Written
Let’s swap advice for getting from “I have a cool idea” and “here’s a link to my story.” Overcoming writer’s block; how to get/stay inspired; how to meet deadlines; how to find a beta (and what a beta can help with)–everything that has to do with getting the ideas on paper. (Or, in pixels. Whatever.)
Mod(s): Charlotte
Hilarious AI Fuckups
AI is everywhere now, and it’s not going away. We can bemoan the state of capitalism – or we can share links & screencaps of the most egregious AI errors, both text and art. (Or we can do both. bothisgood.gif)
Mod(s): Elf
Pegging and Butt Stuff! A Delightfully In-Depth Intro
Have you ever wanted to bend over your boyfriend and have your way with his sweet ass? Come learn how! Are you new to butt stuff and want to learn some basics? Do you want butt sex info for your fic? Come join us! (Panel will feature in depth info on anatomy & techniques plus how to entice nervous first timers.)
Mod(s): fashes
Swash your Buckles and Private your Teers
Ahoy, land lovers! We hear some of ye are in need of some education on piracy. Safe harbors, the best rigs to steer through the storm, the rigging you need for the work, and aye, the harvesting and storage of bounty. Come to the panel to learn what you need for the ways of the modern pirate.
Mod(s): feochadn
Vid Review
If watching the Escapade Songvid Show isn’t enough, and you want to dig into why a vid did or didn’t work, analyze technique, and basically geek out over vids, this is the panel for you!
Mod(s): feochadn (?), aaronantium (?)
Vidding 101 for Newbs
Want to learn how to make fanvids? Let’s start with the basics: software (DaVinci Resolve) and some very beginner exercises (10-20 seconds of music + a few video clips). We’ll muddle through the beginnings together. Let’s do this where we can share screens and ask each other clueless newbie questions.
Mod(s): aaronantium
Video Game Recs
Tell each other what you’ve been playing and why they should be playing it too. Bring links, esp to games with free demos. Tell us if it’s slashy, or good vidding material, or just fun.
Mod(s): aaronantium
Vids Vids Vids: Mega Multi-Fandom Vids
It’s got a list of sources a mile long. Maybe it’s social commentary, maybe it’s humor, but it’s always got something to say about a subject that stretches across a multitude of fandoms. So come watch with us!
Mod(s): Airawyn
Additional Programming
Welcome Panel
Opening ceremonies! Join us in welcoming back old friends and new attendees!
Mod(s): The ConCom Staff
BIPOC Meetup
A casual meetup of BIPOC Escapade members.
Host(s): nev (?)
Songvid Show
Saturday night wouldn’t be complete without the songvid show!
Organizer: feochadn
LGBTQIA2S+ Meetup
A casual meetup of LGBTQIA2S+ Escapade members.
Host(s): TBD
Closing Panel (Escapade Review)
Closing Ceremonies, and your chance to discuss what we did well and what we could do better next time. Come and say goodbye!
Mod(s): The ConCom Staff
Dead Dog Party
Once the closing ceremonies are over, take a load off and relax!
Mod(s): The ConCom Staff