COVID-19 UPDATES
**Last updated: May 28, 2021**
One week to go! With the spectacular weekend schedule
now posted we cannot WAIT to get to Austin and see you all!
Today we sent the following email to confirmed in-person attendees. We are reposting it here as well in case anyone has trouble with our emails going to Spam.
In addition, a preview of our COVID-19 waiver is available. This is just for your review ahead of the event. Attendees will sign the waiver in person prior to receiving their badge. See you soon!
Dear Austin Attendee,
Over the last few weeks the COVID-19 guidance from nearly every level of government has changed dramatically.
While Texas has not required masks for some time, we’ve maintained our mask policy in accordance with the policies in place at the Fairmont Austin, our host hotel, and the CDC. Now those policies have also changed.
According to the latest CDC guidelines, those who are fully vaccinated (our survey indicates this will be over 80% of attendees) do not need to wear a mask, even indoors and even in crowded environments. In response, the Fairmont Austin has decided to eliminate the mask policy they’ve had in place and will now be recommending masks only for unvaccinated individuals.
As a result of these changes, we are now updating our policy for this year’s event to conform to the new CDC guidance. Masks will be optional for attendees, though the CDC continues to recommend that anyone not fully vaccinated, as well as those at higher risk, should continue wearing one for their own safety and the safety of others who are not vaccinated.
Our other COVID-related precautions are not changing. For those who prefer increased distancing we will continue to have “pod seating” with extra spacing in all of our ballrooms and our meet and greet room with speakers will ensure extra distancing and no direct contact. In addition, the total event capacity is still being kept to under 50% and we’ve reworked registration and VIP events to ensure more relaxed spacing and flow.
While this news brings us in line with the Fairmont, the city of Austin, the state of Texas, and CDC, we also hope that it will help making for a more relaxing and entertaining weekend while still creating a safe environment for everyone. Our highly trained Industrial Hygienist will be on-site in Austin to answer questions, provide PPE and cleaning supplies, or help with any other COVID-related issues among guests.
Thank you for your support,
Team CrimeCon
[*previous updates*]
**Last updated: April 27, 2021**
Everything is really starting to come together for Austin and we cannot wait to see many of you IRL very soon! We are so excited about the lineup for this unique year and we're going to continue to release new guests and pods
all the way up through the Con.
If you will be with us in Austin please be sure to bookmark the Austin Attendee page
and check it often. With emails so often going to spam this page is the best place to check weekly for updated information. We have lots to tell you about covid protocols, schedules, guests, VIP perks, and so much more.
For those not able to make it to Austin we highly recommend the Virtual Event experience. This is not a Zoom meeting! It's a robust weekend of programming from simultaneous stages, plus a virtual Podcast Row and expo hall and tons of surprises. Grab a friend to watch with and split the cost--you won't regret it!
Finally, for those hoping to be with us live we are still adding names to the Waitlist
for most badge types. We are increasingly optimistic that we will be able to clear most (or all) of the Waitlist as everything continues to evolve over the weeks ahead.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: April 6, 2021**
CrimeCon family,
We are beyond excited to let you know that we will hosting this summer’s event live in Austin…but with a few very important caveats to ensure a safe and fun experience for all.
Before we get to those,
a big thank you
to all of you who’ve been on this long and winding road with us. Your patience and support have
kept us going and we cannot wait to see many of you in person!
FOR CONFIRMED ATTENDEES: We will be in touch by email with lots more information over the coming weeks regarding Covid safety plans. The headlines are that we will be at approximately 50% capacity, chairs will be in distanced “pods” (you can select designated companions for the weekend and all sit together) and masks will be required at all times in the event space. Temperature checks and deep cleaning of the space will be performed by the Fairmont as part of their safety plan. We also urge you to book your room at the Fairmont as soon as possible as our room block is only held for a few more weeks. You can do that
HERE.
FOR VIRTUAL TICKET HOLDERS:
Your experience will include livestreams coming from all three programming stages in Austin! We’ll also have special interactive features, podcast row, and much more. This will be unlike any virtual event you’ve ever attended!
FOR THOSE ON THE WAITLIST:
We expect to be able to clear many of you in the next few weeks. We created a form so that you can look up your Waitlist position at any time:
HERE
DON’T HAVE A TICKET YET?:
We urge you to get on the Waitlist
(for in-person) or purchase your virtual badge
as soon as possible.
While everything was delayed as we worked through approval on our plans, we expect to start announcing guests, podcasters, and sessions next week. It will be a very different kind of year, but those who crave the smaller feel and love deep-dives into topics and cases with world-class speakers will absolutely love what is sure to be a very unique and memorable weekend.
If you have a confirmed badge for CC21 and do not see this email in your inbox please check your Spam/Filtered folder and move it to your inbox. It's very important that you add rsvp@crimecon.com to your safe senders list so that we can provide important attendee updates to you directly over the next two months.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: March 2, 2021**
Hello all, just a quick update from HQ on our ’21 event planning.
We returned from Austin last week after touring the venue and running through the complete list of safety protocols in place from the Fairmont hotel’s side.
You may have also seen the news today from the Texas Governor regarding the reopening of the state. While that is great for us in terms of flexibility please keep in mind that any requirements for attending the event will ultimately be decided by CrimeCon and the Fairmont.
In general we feel that things are trending in a very good direction: cases are down; vaccinations are up. We are very hopeful that this trend will continue throughout March and we’ll continue to watch it closely.
Based on what we saw firsthand in Austin we are prepared to host the live event in some capacity. We continue to target the beginning of April for a final announcement on exactly what that will look like as well as the protocols that will be mandatory should you choose to attend.
If you are an Austin badge holder and you already know that you uncomfortable being in Austin this year under any circumstance then we urge you to contact us to transition to an At Home/Virtual badge and/or move your registration to our ’22 or ’23 event.
Thanks, more very soon!
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: January 30, 2021**
Hello from CrimeCon HQ!
We are very happy to have 2020 in the rearview mirror and are looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normal this year. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and passion for this event—we miss you all!
We want to give you a quick update on what’s happening behind the scenes and how we see the next few months playing out.
Our team is actively planning for the Austin event (June 4-6) by putting together several different scenarios for protocols, floor plans, and schedules based on how things evolve with COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout over the next few months. We are also speaking with other large groups that will be hosting in Austin in May & June to share best practices.
In the beginning of April we will make a decision on what the event will look like this year based on guidance and advice from various health departments as well as whatever restrictions Austin has in place related to large gatherings. So, while we fully intend to be live in Austin this year in some form, there is an open question as to how many attendees and speakers we can safely accommodate in person without negatively impacting the experience.
For the time being we are waitlisting new badge sales and we’ve also introduced a streaming/virtual ticket option for this year that will allow attendees to view multiple stages and interact with each other and our speakers. In April we will know whether we can accept any waitlist registrations. If we can, we will confirm these in order of registration so we encourage you to get onto the waitlist if you do not have a ticket and are interested in being in Austin.
Austin badge holders who would like to preemptively switch their registration to a Virtual Badge (your balance can then be applied to ’22 or ’23 or to a voucher) or who want to move their registration to ’22 or ’23 should email us.
We will post additional updates in this space as we move through the spring.
Stay safe out there!
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: September 9, 2020**
In our July update we noted that our bar for hosting CrimeCon in person this year was whether we could do it safely and in a way that would not negatively impact the weekend experience. It’s clear to us that while our safety goals can be met, they would come at the expense of the experience we want to deliver. That’s a cost we cannot accept this year.
It’s with a heavy heart that we are cancelling CrimeCon Orlando and adding a new virtual experience with a very fitting title: CrimeCon 2020: House Arrest. This will stream live on November 21st and have all of the speakers, sessions, podcasters, and demos you’ve come to love. Tickets start at $89 and will go on sale publicly toward the end of the month.
Anyone who still holds an Orlando badge as of today was emailed directly with further information and details. If you did not receive this email and think you should have (please check your spam!) email us and we’ll resend.
We spent nearly two years planning for Orlando and this news is devastating. We also know, however, that our year pales in comparison to what so many of you have endured. We are grateful that we have each other for support and we cannot wait to see you all in person again.
Finally, we want to leave you with a bit of good news: we are officially announcing today that CrimeCon 2021 will be in Austin, Texas at the beautiful Fairmont from June 4-6th! While Orlando badge-holders get first crack at transferring into this event we expect to put any remaining badges on sale publicly by the end of September. Please be sure you’re on our email list to be among the first to be notified.
They say that everything is bigger in Texas and, after this insane year, you can be sure that CrimeCon 2021 will absolutely live up to that claim.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: August 30, 2020**
Hi all! With the end of August at hand we wanted to provide a quick update. Based on the many conversations we are having with all of the stakeholders involved (attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and the venue itself) we are on track to make a full announcement about this year's event on 9/9, just after Labor Day. If you currently hold a badge to Orlando you should expect to hear from us via your registered email address on 9/9. (We will also post an update here.) This announcement will include firm plans for the event as well as all options we'll be offering for those who would like to make other decisions. We appreciate everyone hanging in there with us.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: July 5, 2020**
First and foremost we hope everyone has been healthy and finding ways to enjoy what is undoubtedly a very unique summer.
We’d like to give you a sense for how we plan to approach the next four months leading up to CrimeCon 2020
(October 30th-November 1 in Orlando). Apologies in advance for the lengthy note, but,
TL;DR: The show will go on if we feel it can be done safely and in a way that does not negatively impact the weekend experience you’ve come to expect.
Here’s the longer version:
First, we’ve all seen how quickly things change and how no one really knows what will come next. Our takeaway from watching the last five months is that it pays to stay patient and adaptable.
Second, we know that “flexibility” and live events are usually at odds with each other. From us having to hire vendors weeks in advance, to speakers and attendees having to confirm travel plans—it’s difficult to take a completely laissez faire approach to convention planning.
Third, we’ve all seen how localized the issues caused by this virus can be. A couple of months ago Florida wanted New Yorkers to stay out… and now it’s the opposite. We understand that some areas of the country may seem to be in recovery while others are headed in the wrong direction—and that two weeks from now it could all change again.
So, what does it all mean for CrimeCon?
As organizers and producers it is our responsibility to deliver the best experience we can in a safe and fun environment. There is no doubt that this year, assuming we can host CrimeCon live, will be different. That’s okay, so long as we feel that we can still create a dynamic and educational experience worthy of your time and money.
That’s our bar, and, after discussions with key stakeholders, we’ve identified late August/early September as the target time period for us to make a decision on whether to proceed in person or pivot to an in-home experience. [Note: A digital event, if necessary, would not simply replace your badge. We will communicate all details and options if that pivot has to be made, but we understand that an online experience and a live experience are two very different things.] Once that decision is made — which will largely be dependent on what the host venue (the World Center Marriott) and public health officials tell us, as well as how other events and attractions in the Orlando-area are handling crowds, we will communicate our plan as well all of your options.
We are incredibly thankful for the patience everyone has shown as we all work through what will likely go down as the most challenging year in our careers. With so much going on in the world there has never been a more important time for the education, entertainment, and advocacy that CrimeCon delivers. We will do our absolute best to ensure that continues.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: March 25, 2020**
Hello! We are excited to announce that we’ve secured new fall dates for CrimeCon at the same amazing venue. CrimeCon 2020 will no longer be held May 1st-3rd and will instead take
place October 30th-November 1st. All badges will automatically transfer over to the new dates, there’s nothing you need to do. If you cannot make the new dates, or you have a current hotel reservation in our group, please see our full COVID FAQ page HERE
and follow the instructions.
Given the circumstances we are extremely excited about these new dates and that we’ll have plenty of time to produce our best event yet. By October we will definitely all be in need of a good long weekend of true crime...
Thanks to everyone for your patience. We’ve already heard from tons of speakers and pods who are excited about getting together this fall and we hope to see you there as well!
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: March 24, 2020**
Hi all, just a note that we are here working as hard and fast as possible. Obviously, if it were just up to us we would've had an announcement a week ago, but there are a lot of third parties involved, all of whom are overwhelmed both personally and professionally and are doing the best they can given the circumstances. Our small business is based in New York City, the epicenter of this outbreak domestically, so in addition to taking on this Herculean task we are also adapting to remote work and trying hard to take care of our employees and keep our staff together.
We will send our official announcement no later than 8p ET on Wednesday March 25th. This will be posted on our website (we'll include a link here) as well as on our social accounts. We'll also send it to all registered email addresses (please check your spam filters).
We are very excited about the path forward. Thanks so much for your notes of encouragement as well as your patience over the past couple of weeks, we believe it has paid off with a great result given the impossible circumstances we are all dealing with.
-Team CrimeCon
**Last updated: March 20, 2020**
It's been an extremely productive week working with our partners (most notably the World Center Marriott) and sponsors to determine our options. There are a couple more boxes that need to be checked by all of the various parties involved but we are aiming to have a firm announcement out to attendees early next week (the week of March 23rd). We are doing our absolute best to move quickly toward a resolution while also ensuring that once we communicate with you it will be with a complete and clear overview of the actions we are taking.
**Last updated: March 18, 2020**
Hi all! We hope you and your families and loved ones are all in safe place--that's what matters most right now.
We are working through all of the logistics on our end with all of our partners and are happy to report that we are nearing an announcement sooner than anticipated. It is our objective that when we communicate with you it will be with a complete and clear announcement containing definitive answers rather than something that creates more confusion.
As mentioned before, we will post the announcement on our website and social channels and will also send it to all attendees by email. Thanks for hanging in there with us...we are working hard to make sure that CrimeCon 2020 can still be the perfect respite and distraction for all of us who are in for a difficult year.
**Last updated: March 16, 2020**
We are aware of the latest statement from the CDC regarding events. This health emergency is affecting everyone, at every level of life, and obviously CrimeCon is a part of that. We are working hard to do our best for our attendees, speakers, podcasters, sponsors, exhibitors, and others--and that includes ensuring that we can provide a safe environment, not just for those on site but also for the community at large. That ability is now in serious jeopardy given how this outbreak has progressed.
We are still targeting no later than April 1st to make an official announcement that includes options for all attendees. Our attendees have been there for us since day one and we want to be there for all of you now--providing as many good options as possible. If we can announce something sooner we will, but obviously our planning incorporates many other third-parties over which we do not have control, most notably our host venue at the World Center Marriott in Orlando.
So many of you continue to reach out with words of support and encouragement for our small team. It means the world to us. We love what we do and no one ever thought we (or anyone else) would face a crisis as severe as this. Thank you for your patience as we all work through this unprecedented situation together.
-Team CrimeCon