Balticon Anywhere

Balticon Anywhere Hub logo - person wearing a virtual headset against a blue cosmic background
Enjoy Balticon from Anywhere! From your hotel room or the consuite. In your living room or your friend’s living room. In a mountain cabin, or on a beach (just don’t let your books get wet!). Not just at home.

Can’t Make It to Baltimore? Enjoy Balticon Anywhere.

We understand all the challenges of going to a con. That’s why we’re dedicated to bringing a great con experience to you, wherever you are. Virtual members have access to live broadcast streams and virtual panels. This includes replays of all recorded panels on our YouTube channel. All memberships include access to Balticon Anywhere, even our in-person attendees!

Streaming

With more than 120 hours of streamed content, there’s something for everyone. From our Main Tent enjoy Opening Ceremonies, Guest of Honor events, and our amazing Masquerade. Whether you love hard science, want to learn about building your fantasy village, or are interested in post-apocalyptic fiction, we’ve got you covered with four program rooms, streamed live and recorded to watch later.

Virtual

With panelists from all over the world, our virtual panels open the door to authors, creators, and scientists who can’t make the trip to Baltimore. We have three virtual rooms: two dedicated to exclusive virtual-only panels and workshops, and a third as our Virtual Consuite where you will find author readings, discussions, and filkers.

On-Line Platforms

Balticon Anywhere uses multiple platforms to make the magic happen. All platforms are free to use and most can be used in a web browser. Some platforms require you to create a free account or download an app. (Click the triangles to expand and collapse the platform descriptions.)

All Virtual Programming is accessed through the Balticon Anywhere Hub. You will be emailed a unique password-free login link to the email address you provided at Registration.

Streamed program items are broadcast via Zoom from meeting rooms in the hotel. Whenever possible, we will have someone in the room to relay questions and comments from remote viewers.

There is no physical location for our virtual programming! Our participants join from their own locations, and the program is hosted either through a Zoom webinar or meeting. Each event is its own session, with 2 or 3 simultaneous events scheduled during most of the weekend. Attendees will be able to watch and listen to program participants and ask questions via Zoom’s built-in Q&A feature.

Zoom is free to use. It is accessed in a web browser or through the free app. A Zoom account is not required to be able to view a session in Zoom.

Most Zoom events will have automatic closed-captioning. To enable, click the Closed Captioning button in the meeting controls toolbar. See Zoom help.

Zoom links are at the bottom of the program description within the Balticon Anywhere Hub after you’ve logged in.

Join us on our Discord server, ‘BSFS & Balticon’, to interact via text chat and voice chat. Discord is the place to go to talk with Dealers and Fan Tables, after panel discussions, technical help, and general socializing. Each Programming room, both virtual and in-person, has an associated channel with the same name that can be used for continued discussions after the panel. Video watch parties, scavenger hunt, and similar events may also be organized over Discord channels.

Discord is a free voice, video, and text chat app that’s used by tens of millions of people aged 13+ to talk and hang out with their communities and friends. Apps are available on Google Play and the Apple Store.  If you prefer to use a computer, there is a desktop app, or you can use it from a web browser.

Use our invite link to go to our server https://discord.gg/5U3s2YzPzQ and create an account. You can also choose to use the web browser or download the app, if desired. This is a good beginner’s guide for using Discord.

Replays of panels and presentations will be available on YouTube through the Balticon Anywhere Hub within two weeks after the con has ended (or sooner, if volunteer time allows!) Sign up for our email newsletter and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re up! YouTube can be used in a web browser with or without logging in, or you can download the YouTube app for your device.
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