2026 Panels
Here you have the chance to get a sneak peek at the panels that will be held at 2026 Cleveland ConCoction!!!

    Make and Take - Adventurer Accessories! (Rose Royce) ($5 fee)
          Tired of your flowing locks getting in your face when running away from peril on an adventure? Cloak always slipping off at inopportune times? Have no where to store your loot or Lembas bread?

    Join cosplayer Rose Royce in making your very own to Lorien Leaf Hair Pin/Brooch and Drawstring bag to take with you on your next adventure!!! $5 material fee to be paid to presenter.

    ​Panel - Does AI require an ethical framework? (D. Mark Haynes)
             Generative AI (gen AI) and large language models (LLMs) are revolutionizing personal and professional lives. From supercharged digital assistants that manage email to seemingly omniscient chatbots that can communicate with enterprise data across industries, languages, and specialties, these technologies are driving a new era of convenience, productivity, and connectivity. We have heard horror stories of AI chatbots lying and their Nazification. What is to stop them from turning evil or operating under bad actors, to the detriment of individuals and society? Do we require embedded control, similar to Isaac Asimov’s three laws of Robotics? Why not provide AI with a set of professional ethics?

    • What should those rules be?
    • Who should monitor and police them?
    • How can they fail?
    • And what can we do when they do fail?

    Gameshow Program - ​Hey You Guys! Quiz Time: 2nd Take (Big Girl Little World)
              It’s that time again to test your knowledge to “Infinity and Beyond" by proving your expertise in classics, modern favorites, obscure gems in movies, TV shows, anime, video games, cartoons, and more. Join us and show off your trivia skills across a variety of genres! Come to test your knowledge, share some laughs, come see who should be invited to trivia night next week, but above all, come for fun and to win some sweet or salty treats.

    Panel -  No one likes a Fascist: Things to avoid in your writing
    ​          Fascist themes and tips to avoid siding with the Empire. Don't do the Empire's work for them.

    Workshop - Pop the top on Soda Pop (Nerdy Dancers of CLE)
              Come learn a short combo from everybody's favorite demon boys taught by the Nerdy Dancers of CLE. This is a move your body and participate event! Everyone can dance- join us

    Panel - Cosplay Positivity and Self-Esteem: Beyond Standard Norms (LoRTH Cosplay)
              This interactive panel will help explore the ways you can become more confident in your cosplays. It touches on tips, tricks, and advice to feel more confident as well as some other topics like the current issues seen in the cosplay community today, how to go “beyond the norms”, and some words of wisdom from cosplayers who have been in the game for many years. Whether you're a new cosplayer starting out or a veteran cosplayer, there's something for you in this panel.     ​

    ​Panel - Minimalism in life and practice (D. Mark Haynes)
              Modern organizations require adaptability, yet spend most of their energy building fiefdoms. Embracing minimalism streamlines processes and fundamentally enhances value by prioritizing meaningful outcomes over irrelevant tasks. Minimalism has taken many forms in art, architecture, literature, science, and technology. To survive, grow, and flourish, we must embrace a minimalistic approach.

    ​Game Show - Cosplay Family Feud (Rose Royce)
              Cosplay Family Feud - Cosplay themed Family Feud Game where two teams compete to name the most popular answers to survey questions, based on real polls.

    Panel - Cosplay on a Budget 101 (LoRTH)
              This panel will go over ways to make some amazing cosplays without breaking the bank. We will discuss tips, trick, and techniques that will help you craft cosplays in a cost effective way. Come learn some new ways to make your cosplays on a budget! ​

    ​Panel - Cajun Sushi Hamsters: Cleveland's longest-running writers workshop (Geoffry Landis)
              Started in 1985 by writer Mary A. Turzillo, and running continuously now for over 40 years and counting, the Cajun Sushi Hamster from Hell is Cleveland's longest-running science fiction and fantasy writers' workshop. Members of the Cajun Sushi Hamsters will talk about the workshop and some of its successful authors, what the workshop does, and how we do it.

    ​Panel - Crafting Circle (Selena)
              A chance to relax and craft with other crafters. Bring your own craft and chat

    Panel - Technical Writing (D. Mark Haynes)
              So you want to become a technical writer. If you're in it for the money or the glowing admiration of your fans, might I suggest writing Urban Fantasy Porn instead? I would like this to be an open exchange about the journey and process.
    Here are a few topics we can discuss:
    • Types of technical writing
    • What’s your business model
    • Writing styles: Prancer vs Plotter, or now for something completely different
    • Finding a publisher
    • How to become “A speaker to publishers.”
    • Finding reviewers
    • When to Pivot, or what do you do with the review once you have it

    Panel - Games writer's play ( Clif Flynt)
              Games to help you spark your creative juices or break out of a block. These range from writer-oriented tarot decks to party games with a twist.

    Workshop - Career Navigation Strategies - taking charge of your life (D. Mark Haynes)
              What's your career navigation strategy? Work requires skills and experience. It’s all about gaming strategies. Are you contemplating your opening, middle, or endgame? You need to assess if you are going for opportunities, money, or security. Your strategy will dictate your tactics. What have you been focusing on: the job search, your skill set, or market demand? This will be the bulk of the conversation. Bring your stories and your issues. Maybe we can help you work out a strategy, or at least a few tactics.

    Don’t waste time experimenting with low-probability strategies. If you are established professionally consider how to augment your current skills. More importantly, how are you positioning yourself to make those difficult transition points? Recent graduates need to consider their entry strategy and how to maximize their career growth.

    Sing-a-long - Hazbin Hotel (After Dark programming 18+)(Ravenstar)
              Come and sing along to your favorite songs from Hazbin Hotel!!!

    Panel - What the U.S. Navy Taught Me About Starfleet(Chris Weuve)
              On the surface, Starfleet looks like a navy — the US Navy, to be specific. But looks can be deceiving. Come hear the similarities and differences between the two, from someone who works as a naval analyst in his day job.

    Panel - Science Fiction Poetry Reading (Geoffrey Landis)
              Science fiction, fantasy, and horror poetry reading. We'll start with some poetry from the featured guests, and then, if any of the audience writes poetry, we'll have an open mike for you to read some of your own poetry.

    Panel - Whatever Book Club: Book Goblin Mode (Selena)
              A book club with no assigned reading! Release your inner book goblin and discuss a book you're currently reading, recently read, or one you adore! Or come as a book goblin looking for recommendations :)

    Panel - The Fermi Paradox (D. Mark Haynes)
              If there is intelligent life, capable of contacting us then where are they? Let's explore several scenarios. This will be an open panel discussion. Generally, these scenarios will fall under three categories: one, they are or were already here; two, they exist, but we have yet to see or hear from them and three, they don’t exist. We will stick to science-based concepts. So that means inter-dimensional aliens who live in the sun are off the table. That’s for another panel.

    The Fermi paradox is the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life compared to the high likelihood of its existence. My source material is Stephen Webb’s book: If the Universe is Teeming with Aliens… Where is Everyone?

    Panel - Starship Troopers: What's All the Fuss? (Chris Weuve)
              "Starship Troopers" is one of Robert Heinlein's most popular -- and controversial -- books. This talk examines some of the controversies surrounding both the book and the movie.

    Sing-a-long - Showtunes Sing-a-long (Ravenstar)
              Come and sing along to your favorite Broadway or Disney songs!!!!

    Panel - Making or Buying, the Pros and Cons (Mogchelle)
              To make or buy your cosplay…that is the question!  Come discuss the pros and cons of making VS buying your cosplays with veteran award winning cosplayers.

More Programming and Panels to come so keep checking back!!!