This is so important, we've bumped this to the top!

Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback, the team at ICON Science Fiction, Inc has been working full steam ahead on our plans for LI-CON 1 on March 29th and 30th, 2014. Join ICON at the Best Western Mill River Manor in Rockville Centre for a concentrated version of what makes I-CON so great. Literature, Science, Technology, Anime, Gaming, Dealers and more - all in one easy location.

We have the venue, we have some great guests including Jody Lynn Nye, John Rennie, Bill Fawcett and more - all we need is you! Make sure to pre-register now to guarantee your membership for LI-CON. Read more information and get up to the minute news and updates at http://LI-CON.org. The last generation of dreamers gave us things like personal computers, mobile phones, and electric cars. Come help imagine and inspire the next generation of dreamers as we reach for the stars. Be a part of history and say "I was there" for the very first LI-CON.

Menu
So, What's this campaign about, you ask?
But why Indiegogo?
Wait, Two conventions? What is this “LI-CON” that you speak of?
I-CON in the Summer? Why?
So, what are these goals?
So, what do I get for my pledge?
That's great, What can I do to help?
Risks
Frequently Asked Questions

Attended by more than 6,000 people each year, I-CON is a three day event designed to encourage literacy, creativity and interest in science and technology through science fiction, fact and related genres. Programming at I-CON spans a wide range of topics and interests including science fiction, fantasy, horror, comics, anime, medieval reenactment, science and technology. I-CON is organized by ICON Science Fiction, Inc, a certified 501(c)(3) educational charity. We are a convention with deep roots in the community and a 30+ year history. Every staff member, from the recruit checking your membership badge to the Event Chair is a volunteer. We do this because we're fans, for the fans.

To us, I-CON is more than a three day festival of fun. It is an opportunity to gather, collaborate, and learn something new, meet someone new, and share our passion for all things science fiction, fact, and fantasy.

Every year, we work hard to give back to the community through our scholarship program, charity auction, donations and community efforts. We are a convention born and bred on Long Island, and care about our local community which continues to support us year after year.

So, What's this campaign about, you ask?^{Back to Menu}

It's been a rough couple of years for ICON. While we had stellar attendance at I-CON 31 in 2012, there were many challenges in our last 18 months. Between construction at Stony Brook University – our home for 30 of those 31 years, adjustments in badge age regulations and security, and a little storm named Sandy, we had to pause, take a breath, and regroup. This meant that with heavy hearts we had to postpone our plans for holding I-CON 32 in 2013.

Like a dragon shaking the dust off its wings, it's hard to keep a thing like I-CON down. We've been working hard every day of the last 18 months to get ourselves back into shape for a triumphant rebirth in 2014. With a new show-runner and a new breath of life from our members, we hope to rise from the debris – bigger, stronger, better.

But why Indiegogo?^{Back to Menu}

We understand that we have a lot of ground to make back in the community, to restore your faith in the promise of a 32 in 2014. We are launching this campaign on Indiegogo for a few reasons:

• Transparency. As a certified 501(c)(3), ICON's finances are a matter of public record. We want more than that. It's time to outline exactly what it takes to put on an event like I-CON, and to make you an active participant in it's creation and potential for success.

• Faith. We know we need to make strides to build on the community's faith in I-CON, since you are what makes I-CON successful. We hope that with the transparency this campaign brings, you will have a better understanding of and faith in the convention, the volunteers that staff it, its processes, and more.

• Flexibility. Not only do we want to bring back I-CON 32 in 2014 bigger and better than ever, we want to do more.  Indiegogo gives us the flexibility to start small, and grow big. We have big dreams for 2014, and hope that with your help, we will be able to bring you two great conventions next year.

Wait, Two conventions? What is this “LI-CON” that you speak of?^{Back to Menu}

LI-CON is the product of that team asking the question - “What if we tried to hold a convention in one smaller location, like a hotel?” The answer was pretty much “That could work, that could work pretty well.” We took a handful of the tracks that have made I-CON great, scaled them down just a little, and put them all together in a single venue. No more having to trek across campus on the now-famous I-CON rainy Saturday. No having to drive between venues. LI-CON will be like the action packed preview trailer for I-CON. Literature, SciTech, Anime, Dealers and more, just in a little more intimate an environment. We know some people like to schedule their springs around I-CON, and with the changes in I-CON’s dates, we wanted to fill that gap with LI-CON as a tasty appetizer in the spring, followed by I-CON 32 in the Summer.

I-CON in the Summer? Why?^{Back to Menu}

When we started putting our heads together on a venue and this campaign to bring I-CON back, we decided to take a very close look at when in the year might be the best opportunity to hold I-CON. While we have a great relationship with Stony Brook University, their ongoing construction makes their facilities unavailable for 2014. Looking at all the options on the table, we found that a Summer date - we are in active negotiations for a venue in late June,  would actually work in I-CON's favor in many ways:

• Location. Because of the sheer size of I-CON, we are limited in our venue options for a convention on Long Island. We need a space big enough to hold all of our dealers, rooms for programming, space for membership and general use, and more. Universities Like Stony Brook and Hofstra are a good fit since they offer all of that and more. The only problem is, Those spaces are usually full of students during the school year. This is the primary reason I-CON is usually held in conjunction with a holiday or break in classes such as spring break – the students go home, opening up space in classrooms, areas for recreation or dealer space, and parking.

• Lodging. We know that some of our long time supporters travel to come to us every year for I-CON, and we work hard to try to negotiate reasonable discounted rates for lodging. As we have been negotiating with accommodations near potential venues, we have found that the average cost of a hotel room is increasing every year. With our member's bottom line in mind, we are working on an option to offer discounted accommodations on the campus itself in the dorm facilities, since they will be vacant over the Summer months. Guests and members would have a broader choice of options for where to stay during their time at I-CON, thus making it easier to get around without having to drive from a hotel to campus and back.

• Timing. To put it frankly, we want to put together the best I-CON 32 possible. And that takes time. Once this campaign wraps up on December 18th, we will have a very clear picture of exactly what we can accomplish, and 6 full months to get it done in. We don't want to shortchange I-CON or you, the members, by trying to throw together a convention in three months. You give us the time, we will work to put together a convention you can be proud of.

• Weather. This item is more for comfort's sake, but is worth mentioning. I-CON, as held in March or April, has a long running tradition of colder, often rainy weather. We know how bad it was as a kid when your mom made you wear a jacket over your awesome costume to go trick-or-treating, and we know that the cold and rain can put a damper on people's spirits. Warmer months mean the possibility of more outdoor programming, demonstrations, and more fun.

So, what are these goals?^{Back to Menu}

In a nutshell, we are giving you, our supporters full control over how we proceed in 2014. The goals met in this campaign will dictate what we can do. We've set a series of goals to outline exactly what we need to have to accomplish everything we want – LI-CON, I-CON, and beyond.

• The $16,000 mark. After lengthy negotiations by the LI-CON staff, this is the remainder of the funds we need to raise to make LI-CON happen. This covers the costs to us to put on an event of that size – venue, guests, travel, materials, and more. There is a lot that goes into a convention of any size, but we know we can put together a great LI-CON if we hit this goal. 

• The $40,000 mark. This target helps ICON Science Fiction Inc on an administrative level. It gives us the necessary funding to expand our web presence and tools, including a better, more engaging online presence, mobile interactivity, and more. We have been working with ICON veterans and outside folks to streamline our processes so we can better serve you, but that doesn't always come for free. This goal helps us unite and solidify all of our framework to support LI-CON, I-CON and other future events.

• Our $120,000 Goal. Here it is, the lug-nut. People have asked, “How much money does it take to put together an event like I-CON? This $120,000 goal makes I-CON 32 in June 2014 a reality. This is the start-up we need to be able to sign contracts and get I-CON moving. Above and beyond this $120,000, any additional pre-registration and dealer reservations would help to supplement our budget for 32, making it a bigger and better convention.

• And Beyond! If we pass our $120,000 goal, we’ll be adding some amazing stretch goals and features for I-CON. Everyone has a dream guest they would love to see at I-CON, and these stretch goals will make that and more a reality. For a variety of reasons, we have to be a bit quiet about potential stretch goals for now, but as far as we're concerned, the sky's the limit!

So, what do I get for my pledge?^{Back to Menu}