100 things i love about pop culture - conventions

[orangerful]

omg it's only 73 more days until Dragon*Con! So close and yet so far away.

I have to say, conventions are amazing things. I've never been to a work-related convention because the idea just boggles my mind, but fandom related conventions are love.

As a fan of so many cult shows, even major cults like Buffy or Star Wars, it's not easy to know when you can bring up your fandoms and not get a weird look. I wear my geekiness with pride on a daily basis, but the days are few and far between when some one acknowledges their presence (like today, I had a young man ask me if there was a new Star Wars book out because he saw all my pins on my badge...and one of our teen volunteers complimented me on my Greendale Community College lanyard)

Conventions are different. They are gatherings of people who are like me - people who love one (or more) silly things so much and they want to express that love and talk about it with like-minded individuals. It doesn't matter who you are standing in line with, chances are they know at least a few Monty Python lines, will get a LOL CATS reference, and might even be able to sing along with you to a Weird Al song.

It's funny, you'd think that going to a convention would make someone feel less special because instead of being the odd geek out, they are one of many. But it is just not the case because of the wide range of people you meet at these events. I swear, no two people experience the same convention. It doesn't matter if it is D*C or SDCC - there is so much going on.

So, if you've ever said to yourself "I should go to such and such a Con someday" make that someday now. They are just so much fun. They are even more fun with friends but I explored a lot of SDCC and my first PAX totally solo and I had a wonderful time mingling with people from all over. I love the way that pop culture can bring so many people together. <3

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Comments

[juliet-demarcus.livejournal.com]

Aw, this is lovely!

I adore the idea of conventions. I have since ages ago. I've wanted to go to one since I was a kid. But I haven't made it yet. One reason, for a long time there weren't any I knew of near me. Though I know about some now, I haven't had the money to attend since I discovered them, or I haven't been able to make the time (one or the other). I would have loved to have gone to DragonCon this year, but considering the lateness of the date and the fact that I still don't have the money, it's probably not going to happen. It seems like the kind of thing you need to plan for (and get a room for) well in advance. But I am determined to go at my first opportunity! A chance to mingle with my own kind! How exciting!

Do you dress up when you go to Cons? How many have you been to?

Hopefully whenever I get the chance to go, we can meet and hang out in person there!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I dressed up last year in my piece-meal Starbuck outfit (http://flic.kr/p/akhYzp) and my Fray costume (http://flic.kr/p/akkzCq) which was a lot of fun but I'm not very good at making stuff so I spent more time people watching. :)

And, honestly, if you don't stay in a host hotel, you can get a room relatively easily for D*C. There are plenty of hotels in Atlanta, but I do recommend getting a group together so you can split the cost of the room. I do love staying at the Marriott though, if only for the late-night people watching from the balcony with maybedeadcat and I did a lot of last year.

SOME DAY! Don't put it off too long! It's too much fun to miss out on! :D

[juliet-demarcus.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, your Starbuck outfit is frakking awesome! What do you mean by piece-meal? A BSG costume like that is probably the costume I would most want to wear! I've already thought about it pretty extensively... Your Fray costume looks amazing too, though I'm not actually familiar with Fray (I know, that's really terrible).

I had a friend who went last year and she said that next time she would stay in a host hotel because of a, b, and c... So that was part of my reasoning. And yet another friend, who educated me on the ins and outs of DragonCon last year told me about all the perks of staying in a host hotel, so now I really want to do that... Also, considering I wouldn't want to drive in Atlanta, I'm not sure how much I would end up paying in public transit costs. And yeah, I need to get up some people to share a room. A couple friends and I, as well as some of their friends were going to go year before last, but we just couldn't get things together in time.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you :) The Starbuck costume is super comfy!

Well, I will keep you posted for next year, try to help you get a room. I mean, yeah it's def. awesome to stay in a host hotel BUT I wouldn't not go because I couldn't get in to one. You should just put it on your bucket list for 2013! WE WILL SEE YOU THERE! :)

[plumerri.livejournal.com]

I have never been to a convention but I totally get that thing about the being fannish in the real world -- I squee when people recognize my Community shirt, and I don't know, I think that I will feel at home at a con. It's kind of easier since I do have a group of fannish friends but the kind of geekery that are present at a con... for us overseas fans I think SDCC is the Holy Grail.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

You know, I was really excited to go to SDCC finally a couple years ago but ended up being disappointed. It was more like crashing someone else's party, someone else's BUSINESS party and you really were not wanted, unless you had cash. I recommend Dragon*Con over that. SDCC was fun but I don't think I'll ever go back. D*C is like one big giant party with lots of friends you didn't know you had.

[plumerri.livejournal.com]

:( I kinda get what you feel because as someone sitting behind the computer, SDCC videos always seem so commercialized and... I don't know, a little bit blown out of proportions? But man, I want to go for cons so badly. I just read about Vidcon and even though I don't do anything videos-related, it seems so COOL!!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

yeah, I used to watch ALL the SDCC coverage but when you get there...well, you're not a reporter or movie star so you don't actually get to take part in that coverage. Mostly it's about getting the exclusives (and then watching horrible people sell them on eBay 3 seconds later) And to get in to for ANY panel, you end up standing in line all day. D*C is more about the fun and the fans.

Is there any sort of Con within your reach?

[plumerri.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, I saw those SDCC posters and i kept going "I want 'em all!!" but to what point? :( I guess i shall just enjoy being at home, watching the panels in the comfort of my chair :)

none that I know of except for the Cosplay Convention (something like that) which I'm not into. I am kind of into D*Con kind of things? Fantasy, sci-fi, comic book. I'm glad that I have friends who would indulge in my fannish stuff though!

[lostacanthus.livejournal.com]

a;fkljasf I will get to one some day, Sam! I'll try and save up for Pax next year. If I actually plan for it this time, it shouldn't be too much of a problem haha.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

LOL START SAVING NOW!

Actually, of all the cons, PAX is probably the least expensive since we can crash with my friend bittertwee. So you just have to help pay for gas, have money for food, and some fun money. Not too bad. I will keep you posted when badges go on sale! YOU ARE COMING TO PAX 2013!!!!!!!

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

ALL THE CONS

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

SO SAY WE ALL!