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Panels are fun, but they can be stressful for panelists, and the stress can come from some strange directions.  I wanted to run down some of the more common thoughts and observations I've had, on the off chance they are useful to someone about to be on their first convention panel.

1. So you're going to be on a panel…GREAT! They are fun! REMEMBER THAT! In any setting you can enjoy the atmosphere or you can BE part of the atmosphere.  If you've been asked to be on a panel (or Q&A session, or to speak) it means, first and foremost, the panel organizer (track director or whoever) trusts you to contribute positively to the panel/track/convention. Heady times, my friend!  
2. Either you are an authority on a subject, were directly involved, have a unique perspective, or are really entertaining in front of a crowd.  Or all of the above.  Let that be your armor against self-consciousness and doubt; the organizer trusts you.  Try and relax and remember that you are there in  front of the crowd to be you; to bring your knowledge and experience and personality to the panel.
3. Don't let the organizer down.  Here's a handy dandy sub-list that will help you out.

  Party Like a Cephalopod! "Beware the Alumni, for they have squids in their heads" is a phrase you'll hear if you hang around me long enough.  (I'll explain some other time).  Well, the squid in the head of my friend Mr. Kleef is fond of math. And rum.  And he wanted to throw a party for all his friends who bought the Horror In Clay.  Logistically, there were a few things to consider: How to scale the recipe for the signature cocktail up to monster-sized?     How to tell one mug from another?   We decided to share...

I recently had the pleasure of introducing one of our customers, a lifetime horror fan, to tropical mixed drinks.  He wanted to know where to start.   This was my advice, presented here with footnotes:   The first Beachbum Berry book (the Grog Log) is what got me started on historic mixology, because we wanted tropical drinks for our wedding.  It is a fun damn hobby.  We often have a buncha folks bring parts of a new or favorite recipe and have an evening of it (like having folks over for original Pat O'Brian recipe Hurricanes for Fat Tuesday *1).     So, first thing if you...

Anachrocon 2013 was only our second time out vending as Horror In Clay.  Most of our "booth" is repurposed gear from our basement tike bar.  Our adventure began loading up the minivan to the roof with mugs, shirts, jiggers, stickers, and fezzes (for this con we were an official reseller for Fez-O-Rama fezzes. Made in America, by folks who know fine haberdashery. www.fezorama.com).   Load in and setup in went smoothly Thursday night, aided by our friends and minions (frinions?) Lucky and Tang.  Thanks guys!  Those lovely stalwarts also opened the booth for us and vended on Friday.  (Tang even...

SEO and vanity tells me I need a blog to help support the doings of www.HorrorInClay.com so here it is; my random ramblings, appearance info, and opinions from my little corner of my own little imaginary tiki bar and virtual store.   I. The Manifesto By now everyone knows we sell a Cthulhu inspired tiki mug. Yay!  The world just got more awesome! (At least we think so) We have a little more going on that that, and still more in the pipeline, so here's our manifesto.  We at Horror In Clay want the world to be a more magical...