Rec: Article About LA Con by Jasminka

[hells_half_acre]

Jasminka has a great three part article up at The Winchester Family Business about the LA Convention. Check it out at these links: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

It basically confirms what I suspected: I cannot go to conventions. I just don't have the right personality for it.

I like the articles because unlike most convention reports, Jasminka does not get carried away by fangirlism -  she never loses sight of the fact that the person on stage is a PERSON, not just an object placed there for our amusement.

Anyway, I don't know if any of you are planning to come up here at the end of the summer for the next Vancouver Convention - but if you are, I hope you read this article to gain some insight into how to be respectful. (Unless you are respectful already, in which case, read the article to sympathize with Jasminka's bouts of vicarious embarrassment.)

Also, if any of you are planning to come up here for the Vancouver Con. I will not be seeing you there - but if you wanted to meet for coffee or something, keep me in mind. (Assuming I've been able to find another job and can still afford to live in this city by the end of August.)

Comments

[write-light.livejournal.com]

I met Jasminka in LA - she's charming! I think you can't avoid the occasional bizarre personalities in any big crowd, especially when people get a microphone and a blast of celebrity charisma. But this con was, on balance, as respectful or more so than some others I've been to (both SPN and Trek). My partner is more similar to you, I think; he couldn't take it after the first day, being so "vicariously embarrassed" :D so he went and laid by the pool.

Personally, being of the "normal and respectful" category, I think we need to be there and represent, lest the crazies give the wrong overall impression of fandom. Some of us know well enough not ask Jensen if he'd like to read my Sam/Dean NC-17 fic. ;) In the private panel with J2, everyone was quite sane and polite and asked great questions; the boys seemed genuinely interested and pleased.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Personally, being of the "normal and respectful" category, I think we need to be there and represent,

Yes, that's my only argument for ever attempting a Con (if I had the money)...that I would be adding another to the "normal and respectful" number of fans. That being said, I probably wouldn't ever say much, so it'd just be like I wasn't there. :-P

But yeah, not only do I suffer from vicarious embarrassment easily, but I'm also not very good with crowds - especially loud crowds. I mean, I suppose I enjoy rock concerts so there are scenarios that I'm fine with...I don't know, it's tricky.

To top it off, I have a very distinctive laugh - and I laugh when I'm nervous - and...yeah. I'd have to be careful not to sit beside anyone trying to video/record the Con, that's for sure.

Anyway, it's a moot point - seeing as how I'm probably never going to be able to afford a Con, anyway.

Nice that you got to meet Jasminka. I really enjoy her articles over at Winchester Family Business. That's another argument for attending a Con, I guess...I'd actually get to meet some of my "online friends" - or, if I attended the Vancouver Con, maybe some other Vancouver Supernatural Fans.

Wow...uh...didn't mean to write so much in response to your comment. :-P

[write-light.livejournal.com]

Well if you're around town at the end of August and you know folks who are coming, just drop by the Wall Centre any time -it's free except for the actual auditorium. :)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Maybe I will! :)