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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 23, 2017 19:10:04 GMT
Anyone ever been to a fan convention? As a mere child decades ago, I used to go to wargaming conventions like GenCon and Origins, but that was decades ago. The biggest deal back then was meeting Gary Gygax, or someone similar. In 2011, a friend of mine talked me into going to Dragon*Con in Atlanta. At the time, something like 40-50,000 people attended. Now it's over 75,000. It's barely organized chaos, since it's spread over several downtown Atlanta hotels. You have to do some careful planning since a dozen events could be occurring at the same time. Lines for the major panels and actor appearances in the main halls start hours before the event, snake through the hotel, out the door and around the block. Not everyone will get in, so you have to show up early to gain entrance. (I didn't.) Beyond the forums and workshops, are the people in Cosplay. I knew what cosplay was, but wasn't prepared for how... into it people got. Turn around, and there's a ghostbuster or a storm trooper. It was... amusing. (You can get to my page on Dragon*con here, if you want to see a write up and more images, and images of the parade.) Some of the costumes were very well done like these:    |
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 23, 2017 19:11:41 GMT
Some were not so elaborate, but interesting none-the-less.  And some were downright... pleasant to look at.  And some were just simple in design. Looks like it might be uncomfortable taking this one off, though...  |
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 23, 2017 19:12:56 GMT
Here's the Marriot atrium, for those who've seen Spider-man: Homecoming...  |
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 23, 2017 19:17:01 GMT
And then, just the bizarre....  Darth Mickey. Gotta love it.  |
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Post by nillindeiel on Jul 25, 2017 13:04:35 GMT
Nope, I have not even though I've been offered the chance to go. One of my coworkers has been working as a photographer for Salt Lake Comic Con and as such, he usually ends up with free passes to the Con, he offered one to me last year but I declined. I just have a thing about large crowds. They give me the heebie jeebies and make me nervous. Life of an introvert.  |
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Post by Hari Seldon on Jul 25, 2017 15:18:00 GMT
It's been a while. Here's a couple from the Chicago Doctor Who Con in the late 80's. Unfortunately I didn't label them properly, so I don't know if they are the same year or not. I don't think they are.  Tom Baker  Jacqueline Pierce, Lalla Ward, Anthony Ainley, John Nathan Turner, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton, Louise Jameson, John Levene, Patrick Troughton, Janet Fielding, Colin Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney As I recall, the cons only had one Police Box, and these are definitely in different rooms. |
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Post by caseyrook AKA Mechelle on Jul 28, 2017 0:07:11 GMT
No, because the only 'good' Con i'd really fork over the money to go to, would have to have panels and celebrity appearances that i'd care about.
Unfortunately, the closest city that would have a con that fit those requirements would be Chicago.
To go there I'd have to:
1.) Be able to afford the tickets, hotel, and transportation expenses.
2.) Be able to get off work/school.
3.) Find someone willing to spend the money and take the time to go with me. Maybe possible but not likely.
It makes me mad because you'd think that with my city being literally in the middle of the country we'd be a popular con location. But my city scares the rest of the country too much.
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Post by haxemon on Jul 28, 2017 13:22:06 GMT
I would love to but there are so many shows/genres/movies that I want to watch some day that I haven't yet it would really just be spoiler-fest for me. If there were to be a con that was 100% about content I was already up to date on (or content I never plan to watch) then fine. But every time I've considered it there's usual some Game of Thrones, Arrow-verse or some other show that I'm not caught up on.
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 28, 2017 15:52:40 GMT
Nope, I have not even though I've been offered the chance to go. One of my coworkers has been working as a photographer for Salt Lake Comic Con and as such, he usually ends up with free passes to the Con, he offered one to me last year but I declined. I just have a thing about large crowds. They give me the heebie jeebies and make me nervous. Life of an introvert. Yeah, if you don't like crowds, a con is probably not a good idea, though you can stay rather anonymous if you want. But if you ever get the nerve to go, I guarantee you'll think differently about D23 Expo, SDCC or any other large con the same way... |
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 28, 2017 16:05:26 GMT
No, because the only 'good' Con i'd really fork over the money to go to, would have to have panels and celebrity appearances that i'd care about. Unfortunately, the closest city that would have a con that fit those requirements would be Chicago. To go there I'd have to: 1.) Be able to afford the tickets, hotel, and transportation expenses. 2.) Be able to get off work/school. 3.) Find someone willing to spend the money and take the time to go with me. Maybe possible but not likely. It makes me mad because you'd think that with my city being literally in the middle of the country we'd be a popular con location. But my city scares the rest of the country too much. Well, there will be a con in Chicago at the end of August. Not as big as something like ComicCon or DragonCon, since Chicago just doesn't have the space for a con that big. (They could hold it at someplace like the McCormick Place and surrounding hotels, but there's a reason conventions are leaving Chicago for places like Vegas and Orlando.) Jemma will be at Wizard World, Chicago. (Elizabeth Hestridge, not our Jemma here, unless she's not telling us something...  ) |
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Post by backroadjunkie on Jul 28, 2017 16:10:41 GMT
I would love to but there are so many shows/genres/movies that I want to watch some day that I haven't yet it would really just be spoiler-fest for me. If there were to be a con that was 100% about content I was already up to date on (or content I never plan to watch) then fine. But every time I've considered it there's usual some Game of Thrones, Arrow-verse or some other show that I'm not caught up on. A Con isn't a one-auditorium, all inclusive event. All the panels, talent appearances, etc. are behind closed doors and easily avoidable if you don't want to see 'em... |
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Post by beren44 on Jul 28, 2017 16:21:12 GMT
No, because the only 'good' Con i'd really fork over the money to go to, would have to have panels and celebrity appearances that i'd care about. Unfortunately, the closest city that would have a con that fit those requirements would be Chicago. To go there I'd have to: 1.) Be able to afford the tickets, hotel, and transportation expenses. 2.) Be able to get off work/school. 3.) Find someone willing to spend the money and take the time to go with me. Maybe possible but not likely. It makes me mad because you'd think that with my city being literally in the middle of the country we'd be a popular con location. But my city scares the rest of the country too much. Well, there will be a con in Chicago at the end of August. Not as big as something like ComicCon or DragonCon, since Chicago just doesn't have the space for a con that big. (They could hold it at someplace like the McCormick Place and surrounding hotels, but there's a reason conventions are leaving Chicago for places like Vegas and Orlando.) Jemma will be at Wizard World, Chicago. (Elizabeth Hestridge, not our Jemma here, unless she's not telling us something... ) I've been tempted to go to one, here in Austin, just to meet Summer Glau. I just adore her, and I lived in the same city she grew up in...Would not be surprised if we visited the same restaurants. Sigh..... lost unknown loves.... |
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Post by ayanami on Jul 28, 2017 17:01:16 GMT
I've been to a Star Trek con as a kid and to a general Roleplaying convention a few years back. SDCC is definitely on my bucket list!
I have to say, though, that I'm not really interested in the panels and absolutely not in the autograph/picture lines for the actors. I don't want anyone's autograph and pictures I can find on the internet. Sure there are a couple of people I'd love the chance to be stuck in an elevator with and have an actual conversation, but I'm not gonna stand in line for hours just to exchange a couple of nervous words with another human being.
I love the crowds, though! All the geeks, cosplayers, merchandise shops, etc. That's what I want to go to cons for!
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Post by beren44 on Jul 28, 2017 17:53:00 GMT
I've been to a Star Trek con as a kid and to a general Roleplaying convention a few years back. SDCC is definitely on my bucket list! I have to say, though, that I'm not really interested in the panels and absolutely not in the autograph/picture lines for the actors. I don't want anyone's autograph and pictures I can find on the internet. Sure there are a couple of people I'd love the chance to be stuck in an elevator with and have an actual conversation, but I'm not gonna stand in line for hours just to exchange a couple of nervous words with another human being. I love the crowds, though! All the geeks, cosplayers, merchandise shops, etc. That's what I want to go to cons for! OH, ayanami I just have to relate a story now! My favorite band in the whole world is YES. in 1978 I got to see them for the first time. We ended up on the same floor of the hotel where they were staying. I was talking about the guitarist, Steve Howe, and as the elevator door opened, there he was! Also got to sit by the pool and visit with the drummer and bassist that afternoon (Alan White and Chris Squire). A day that will forever live in my memories.. |
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Post by haxemon on Jul 28, 2017 18:08:59 GMT
I've been to a Star Trek con as a kid and to a general Roleplaying convention a few years back. SDCC is definitely on my bucket list! I have to say, though, that I'm not really interested in the panels and absolutely not in the autograph/picture lines for the actors. I don't want anyone's autograph and pictures I can find on the internet. Sure there are a couple of people I'd love the chance to be stuck in an elevator with and have an actual conversation, but I'm not gonna stand in line for hours just to exchange a couple of nervous words with another human being. I love the crowds, though! All the geeks, cosplayers, merchandise shops, etc. That's what I want to go to cons for! I did meet Stan Lee once at a book signing in LA. He was signing his book of political humor. It would have been 2007 or maybe 2006. It was not a HUGE line and most in line were cool people who discussed comics etc. while we waited. Being Canadian, I asked him if there were plans for an Alpha Flight movie (this was when the X-films were all we really had). He said something like "that's a good idea, we'll have to consider that" which I'm sure he's said 1,000,000 times over the years but he at least made it sound genuine enough. He impressed me with his energy since even then he was an old man. He seemed to actually enjoy being there and meeting fans. |
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