Convention follow-up

[selenay]

No, not the Peg 2 report - I'll start that tomorrow. Instead, it's a tiny bit of thought inspired by a conversation over the weekend.

I've been to both major types of con - big media cons focusing on guests and smaller, fan-run cons focusing on fan activities. Someone at the Peg 2 mentioned that they preferred the fan-run cons and it got me to thinking.

My conclusions is that I love both types of con and wouldn't want to choose between them. Cons like Peg 2 are crazy, fun and leave me fired up about the show(s) they're based around. I enjoy meeting the actors and other guests and it's great to see the fans, even if some of them are rather less sane than I'd like.

I also love cons like Redemption. I get to meet different types of fans, discuss all sorts of things, learn new things and get exposed to new ideas. They're fabulous fun because they're based around all the things that we, as fans, enjoy discussing and taking part in.

Choosing between them is difficult and I don't think that I actually prefer one over the other. Redemption probably stands out as the con that I've had the most fun at, but at the moment I'm still on a total high from Peg 2 and keep wanting to declare it as the Best Con Ever. Going to a couple of each type every year sounds like perfection to me :-)

Out of curiosity, what do the rest of my con-going friends think on the matter?

Speaking of Redemption, anyone on my f-list who might be still considering whether they'd like to go should check out the programme that's gone up. Booking in advance has now closed (I think) but you should still be able to pay at the door :-)

In slightly less cheerful news, it looks like our DVD recorder has died :-( Thankfully Tao of Rodney recorded while I was away, as did the rugby, but we may be recorder-less until Da gets it either fixed or exchanged under warranty. Damn. I'll have to make sure that I'm around to watch Atlantis this week and I'm now really, really hoping we have some recording facility available by Redemption so that I can catch the Oscars ceremony

Comments

[feather-autant.livejournal.com]

I've only been to one media-based con, Creation in Van, and it was a positively ghastly experience. In fact, I swore I'd never to to another con, EVER! It was only because I wanted to fly over to see Cats, and her vehement assurances that I'd have fun, that I ended up at Wolf.

I might, possibly, go to a big con again. I dunno. I'll definitely be going to the fan-based ones, though. :)

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

I've only ever been to big media cons but I just checked out Redemption and it looks fantastic! I might just see if a mate can come and look after the girls so I can go. The B5 and slash panels (not to mention yours!) sound like terrific fun, plus the vieo rooms. I'm very impressed.

I'll see what I can do :)

[paranoidangel]

Yay! Redemption is really fun. And full of slashers :) It would be great if you can make it, even if just for a bit so we can catch up more than at Peg2.

[paranoidangel]

I do still get excited about actors (Ryan Robbins!) but the part of Peg2 I enjoyed the most was Sunday night when we were sat around chatting to various people. And you don't really need the rest of the con for that.

Although I think the main problem is probably that I'm just not that excited about Stargate & Atlantis (despite quite happily still reading & writing in the latter. And the former, occasionally, if Elizabeth/Jack counts :))

[selenay]

I've been hearing bad reports from Creation cons for years, in multiple fandoms, so I have no intention of going to their cons. It's a shame if someone's first experience of a media con is like that :-( Wolf cons, though, are probably some of the best around and the organisers really do work to make them a great experience for everyone.

I'll definitely be going to the fan-based ones, though. :)

*g*

[selenay]

I'm backing up paranoidangel42 on this - it would be very cool if you can some :-) You can get a day pass on the door if you can't make the entire weekend and it would be fabulous to actually have time to sit and catch up. Plus it's a con with lots of slashers around and plenty of fannish activities to see and take part in.

I'm in no way trying to influence you here, of course ;-)

[danamaree.livejournal.com]

This French keyboard is challenging.

I really had a fantastic time at the con, and it is one of the few I get to go to, so I am declaring it the best ever OMG.

And also, the Notre Dame is whiter then I thought it would be.

[selenay]

Sunday and Saturday nights were a lot of fun and I think they'll be one of the bits that really stand out. Maybe we should be trying to organise some kind of get together where we can do that kind of thing away from a con?

I think the reason I enjoyed Peg 2 so much was because I'm still excited about Atlantis. If it was a con for something that I'm not really into or had lost the excitement, though, I think that I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I still enjoy meeting the actors and hearing the talks (even with the sillier questions...) so I don't think I'm done with Peg 2-like cons yet :-)

Elizabeth/Jack does count as Stargate, I think :-)

[selenay]

*g* Any keyboard that's not got your usual layout tends to be...interesting!

It was a terrific con :-)

I think they cleaned Notre Dame at some stage in the last few years. Possibly that's why it's so white :-) Glad you're having a good time in France.

I'll text you to make sure you get this, but we're still not sure where we are on the cat front and whether my sister will be down at the weekend. However, paranoidangel42 is unexpectedly at home this weekend and should be texting you today to offer you a place to stay. And she's also near Oxford :-))

[paranoidangel]

Maybe we should be trying to organise some kind of get together where we can do that kind of thing away from a con?

That would be a good idea. We actually do that sort of thing with one some people from uni, which is really fun. It helps that one of the people's parents own a windmill we can stay in for the weekend, though.

(even with the sillier questions...)

Some of the questions really drove me mad, I just wanted them to shut up. And quite a few I just didn't care about. When the actors were telling stories that was good though. Specially Dan's ones with him being an idiot.

Elizabeth/Jack does count as Stargate, I think :-)

I've only written them in the context of Atlantis episodes (ie the ones he's been in) but then I've read some with the context of Stargate episodes, so I think that probably counts as both.