Gambit (convention)

Gambit was a 1989 fan run Blake's 7 convention that also featured actors and writers from the TV show. 
By December 1988, membership climbed to over 400 people (454 in the first progress report, 52 in the second, 54 in the third -- for a total of 560 names). The membership was capped at 600, and according to the first progress report, the con com expected the con to sell out. "Gambit's membership is limited to 600. To date we have sold over 360, and more are coming in daily. We expect to be sold out before the con. If by chance there are any memberships available for sale at the door, the cost of these will be $20 per day." 
Like most fan conventions, it featured fan run panels, an art show, a charity auction, a dealer's room, a masquerade, a video room, a con suite and panels with the featured guests. The convention also offered a scavenger hunt, a banner design contest and a talent show which they called "The Big Wheel Revue." 
The Blake's 7 War had formally erupted in fandom a month or so before this con took place, and was on the minds of many fans.
==Celebrity Guests of Honor==
As of fall 1988, David Jackson was also a confirmed guest As per Aspects v.1 n.1. , but he did not attend.
There were many rumors and uncertainty about Paul Darrow, Janet Darrow, Michael Keating, and other's possible attendance, but they did not attend. While "professional commitments" were cited, this was very likely due in part to the discourse and politics of the The Blake's 7 Wars.
From the first progress report: 
From the second progress report: 
From the third progress report: From the third progress report: 
==Con Com==
* "Con-Mommy - Guest Relations" was Jude Wilson (second in command was Pat Ames)
* "Con-Mommy - Administrative Last Vegas Night" was Marsha Quinn (second in command by Jean Airey)
* Art Show and Auction was Karen River (second in command were Susan Perry-Lewis, Keven Lewis)
* Autographs, Presentations, Charity Auction Donations, Scavenger Hung was Heather Nachman
* Big Wheel Revue was Leah Rosenthal
* Dearlers' Room, Fan Programming was Ann Wortham (second in command was Laura Virgil who resigned to be with Helpers instead; Cathy Boudreau took her place)
* EmCee/Mistress of Ceremonies was Liz Sharpe
* Helpers was Pat Nussman (second in command was Debra June Laymon who was listed later on; Laura Virgil was also on a later list)
* Merchandising was Lois Indelicato (second in command was Hazel Indelicato)
* Photographer was Laura Peck
* Registration, Information was Elena Schuldes (second in command was Beth Treckman)
* Video Room Programming was Michele Rosenberg (second in command was Jean Curley)
* Videotaping was Karlene Hartel (second in command was Louis Hartel)
==Progress Reports: Gam-Bits==
===Gam-Bits 1 (September 1, 1988)===
454 names are listed as attending in this progress report. 
 
Image:gam-bits1-2.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-3.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-4.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-5.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-6.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-7.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:gam-bits1-8.jpg|from the first progress report
 
===Gam-Bits 2 (November 1, 1988)===
52 additional attendee names are listed.
 
 
Image:gam-bits2-2.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-3.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-4.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-5.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-6.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-7.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-8.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-9.jpg|from the second progress report
Image:gam-bits2-10.jpg|from the second progress report
===Gam-Bits 3 (January 1, 1989)===
54 additional fan names are listed as planning to attend. 
 
 
Image:gam-bits3-2.jpg|from the third progress report
Image:gam-bits3-3.jpg|from the third progress report
Image:gam-bits3-4.jpg|from the third progress report
 
==Panels==
Proposed panels from the second progress report:
*AVON, THIS IS STUPID I (Revolution and Strategy in B7)
*LAWMAKERS, LAWBREAKERS - LET US FIGHT THEM ALL (Morality in B7)
*NOW COMES THE HARD PART (How to do a zine)
*I'M LEAVING -- TO BE SICK (Angst Panel)
*I'D BE DEAD IN A WEEK (Avon and Servalen)
*IT'S A PENCIL, TARRANT -- AN ANCIENT WRITING DEVICE (Fan Writing Panel)
*OOPS - DOPEY ME (5th Season Speculations)
*THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE (Chasing your favorite character)
*IT MUST BE LOVE - IT HURTS! (The lure of B7)
*I'VE BEEN DYING TO MEET YOU (Avon's slight problem with the rest of humanity)
*A THOUSAND YEARS OF LAUNDRY (Everyday life on the LIBERATOR end Xenon)
*FUNNY MEETING YOU HERE - (Humor in B7--intentional or not)
==Big Wheel Revue==
From the Big Wheel Revue flyer in the first progress report: 
As described in the program guide:
==Panel Footage==
Videotape footage from the convention can be found as part of the "S. Hereld Collection of Blake's 7 Fanzines and Fan Fiction" located at the University of Iowa fanzine archives. 
In February 1993, Sandy Hereld posted the following review of the convention videotape to Lysator: 
In March 1993, a fan wrote: 
==Convention Logo==
The convention logo has been attributed to both Karen River and Leah Rosenthal. From the 2012 Blake's 7 Merchandise Guide:
==A Topic Heavy on Many Minds: The Blake's 7 War==
The Blake's 7 War had formally erupted in fandom a month or so before this con took place, and was on the minds of many fans. 
 
The convention organizer Liz S. weighed in on the topic in the program book:
A fan who was at this con wrote: 
==A Poem==
Gareth Thomas read aloud a poem by a fan named Mary G.T. Webber. A fan recalls this: "[Gareth] said it was the best Blake poem he had ever read and then didn't he call the lady out and hug her or something? Lucky girl! No, I wasn't there. I just saw the vid." from a fan in Rallying Call #16 (January 1996) 
The poem was printed in Panning for Pyrites (1989), then in Powerplay #6 (1996), and then in Rallying Call #16 (1996).
==Charities==
From the program guide: 
The charity auction: 
== The Program Guide: Programming==
From an ad in Aspects v.1 n.1: 
 
==Gallery==
File:Gambitpr1_cover.jpg|cover of Progress Report #1 with programming, click to read
File:Gambitpr2 cover.jpg|cover of Progress report #2 with geographic breakdown of attendees, click to read
File:Gambitbannerflyer.jpg|flyer inviting fan clubs to participate in a banner contest
File:Gambit inside page.JPG|title page of the program guide, click to read
==Con Reports==
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Conventions
Category:1989 Conventions
Category:Blake's 7 WarsCategory:Conventions in United States