Hyper-focused content on topics both obscure and mainstream, hosted by fans just like you!
METROCON has a HUGE assortment of panels, classes, workshops, and more!
Featuring Q&A’s with your favorite characters, how-to instructionals on make-up or costuming, trivia contests, and fandom meet-ups, our panels and workshops are run by METROCON fans just like you! You can expect fans from every corner of geek-dom coming together, and even the most niche topics will see representation in the panel schedule. Want to host a panel of your own? See below!
The METROCON Panel Team is always looking for more hosts and participants – be sure to sign up and submit to host a panel if you’re interested. Remember – if you host FOUR hours of unique panel content, you get reimbursed for your badge!
You’ll want to get in early though – even though we have a ridiculous amount of time for content in 600,000 square feet of event space, slots on the schedule fills up fast!
Anyone! While we have panels hosted by our Special Guests, METROCON also sports tons of panels hosted by volunteers and regular con-goers – like you! – every year. Visiting guest groups have also hosted panels on special topics.
If you would like to host your own panel, it’s real easy! Under the “Get Involved” section on our menu, there is a link to “Host a Panel”. There, you can submit the title, description, requested time slots, and all of your information. You’ll receive a notice on whether it is approved or denied by our Panel Staff.
If you’re asking if it costs anything to rent the room for the panel, then no. METROCON does not charge to host a panel. In fact, host enough panels, and you can get your badge cost reimbursed! If you host 4 (FOUR) hours of unique panel content, make sure to get a panel sign-off sheet from the staff to take to registration to get reimbursed! Have questions about panels or reimbursement? Reach out to panels@metroconventions.com for more information!
Your panel will join a list of panels that our Panel Staff will go through and approve on a case-by-case basis. If our staff has any questions or concerns, they will contact you directly to work with you on getting your panel approved. Please be patient as it can take our staff a couple of weeks to get through all of the panels.
When submitting your panel information, you’ll be prompted to submit a category and a preferred day/time. Our panel staff will do their best to place your panel on the schedule at your preferred time (Friday Afternoon, Saturday Late Night, Thursday Evening, etc. – they’re generalized) and in the tracked room that corresponds to the category of your panel.
Whoa there partner! While we’re glad for your enthusiasm, we hate to inform you that our Main Events room is not available for panel placement. Only regular panel rooms will be on the option list when submitting and only METROCON Staff can place a panel/event into certain other rooms, such as Main Events, Guest Track, etc. If you think your group or panel deserves to be in one of those spaces, we’re certainly willing to hear you out and you should contact us, but we want to preface that the schedules for those rooms are usually very full of content provided by invited industry guests and professionally produced entertainment.
All panels are one (1) hour in length minimum on paper. However, we ask that you be ready to only run 45-50 minutes in order to give that last 10 minutes for room changeover.
Panels are typically limited to this one (1) hour time limit, to incorporate variety in our panel schedule. Certain panels may get an exception to this rule. Please do not plan on running the same panel multiple times throughout the weekend – the schedule gets packed, and other people have panels they want to run as well.
presented by Clockwork Carousel Creations!
We’re excited to bring Clockwork Carousel Creations back into their own DEDICATED workshop room for METROCON 2024!
Clockwork Carousel has been a guest panelist presenter and teaching group for many years at METROCON, and this year we’ve partnered with them again to ensure that their frequently standing-room-only classes and panels are available to as many attendees as possible!
Clockwork will be running several different make-and-take workshops throughout the weekend – topics are TBA but past workshops have focused on working with resin, silicone molds, advanced curing techniques, etc. – be sure to sign up for one or all of these workshops in advance, as they have filled up quickly in the past!
Each workshop has a separate associated cost. Sign-up and pricing info is coming soon!
In addition to these make-and-take workshops, Clockwork will also be doing maker-focused panels, behind-the-scenes looks at prop-making and practical fx, and a whole lot more throughout the weekend. They’ve got a full schedule planned for each day in their craft-focused room, so even if you can’t make the workshops, there will be tons to learn in their room throughout the weekend!
