Convention fever or just a bad cold?

04 May Convention fever or just a bad cold?

My First Convention Experience

I’m not traditionally a convention goer, well I wasn’t back in the day.

“What’s the point really? All those people, it’s all just stuff, like a big shop full of stuff and people dressing up and stuff.”

That was me about 8 years ago, boy was I wrong. So, so wrong. What you can see right there is my grumpy, “everything is bad and I need a sandwich”, showing. We all have one, right? Please tell me it’s not just me.

My first con was with a friend back in Brisbane. We both decided it would be a good idea to see what all the fuss was about and headed off, not knowing what to expect. We handed over our money, got our ticket then pushed our way into the Show Grounds to have a look around. It wasn’t long before we had weaved in and out of the stalls, checked out the merchandise and bought a cool t-shirt each. It was pretty great seeing some of the costumes, the crowd was mixed and some of the stalls were interesting but we still just didn’t get it. I don’t think we knew what to do with ourselves. I sometimes wonder if that is everyone’s first experience at a con. We were baffled.

It was then that we decided to head home. Grabbing my loot, I blindly turned around to leave and as I did, I bumped into someone, knocking them to the floor. What happened next was a bit of a blur. “Oh no, I’m sorry”, burst from my lips as several people rushed to the old gentleman’s aid. Stepping between us and the downed chap, we were ignored in favour of their charge. Still a little dazed, my friend grabbed my arm and we left as the tall man rose behind us.

”Dude, do you know who that was?”

“No”, I said.

“That was David Prowse, you just knocked over Darth Vader!”

So that was my first con experience. Conventions these days are larger, more shops, more movie stars to knock over and more people. As baffling as ever for the noob but I get it now. It’s all about the people. The people you go with, the people you know, the people you meet, the friends you make. I have attended cons, I exhibit at them and I have even run a couple but it is always, always the people that make the experience so great, your Con family. I have met so many people and some I only see at conventions. It’s never awkward, it’s always great to see them and I always look forward to the next time.

Whoosh to the present day and I am in the midst of prep for con season, which is just around the corner. Note: it doesn’t matter when you read this; con season is always just around the corner, #amirightoramiright?

So, if it is your first time or if you are a regular, always, always come and say hi. Join our con family, there is always room for one more. It’s totally ok if you are shy or don’t want to say much and just hang. It’s totally ok if you are wild and like all the attention. Everything is gonna be OK. Cons are a place where it is always ok and if it’s not, you have your family to support you. #notacult

See you at the next convention, until then, keep up the good work being awesome.

Next time; The Creative Process.

Allan, AKA “The TARDIS Guy”