Conventions

[rusty_halo]

Mostly for my own benefit... I'm trying to sort out which conventions I'll be attending this year.

Last year was "the year of Buffy conventions" for me. This year isn't going to be the same, but I'd still like to do some cons.

So, here's the list of cons I'm thinking about, listed chronologically. If you're going to be at one of these, let me know. :)

March 20-21; Secaucus, NJ; Creation
Guests: Nicholas Brendon, Stephanie Romanov, Iyari Limon, Robia LaMorte, Robin Atkin Downes
Why go: It's nearby. rockgoddes will be there, and I want to see her. I'd like to see Stephanie Romanov.
Why not go: Money. I don't really care about any of the guests. I'm not sure how to get there. Creation cons are well-known for offering as little as possible. Also, it's in New Jersey. (I had to live there for eight years; I'm not particularly keen on going back).
Likelihood that I'll go: 95% to hang out with rockgoddes, 40% that I'll do actual con stuff for more than one day.

April 23-25, Cleveland, Vulkon
Guests: Robia LaMorte, Mercedes McNab, George Hertzberg, Anthony Stewart Head, Nicholas Brendon
Why go: I ordered my tickets way, way in advance, and have one of the best seats in the house (front row, near the center--which means I'll be able to see everything and be at the front of the lines). I'd like to see Mercedes McNab and Robia LaMorte. And I could get Nick Brendon's autograph for one of my Xander-loving friends. Plus, if I try to get a refund I'll only get 90% of my money back (a rule I'm pretty sure they instituted after I bought the ticket, but that's Vulkon for you).
Why not go: Money. I don't know anyone who is going. Also, Vulkon is a repulsive organization and I don't want to give money to them or be around them and their little cronies.
Likilihood that I'll go: 15%? Maybe.

June 4-6; Lake Harmony, PA; Moonlight Rising
Guests: James Marsters (and his pathetic excuse for a band), Anthony Stewart Head, Andy Hallett, Danny Strong, Tom Lenk, Adam Busch (and his very good band, Common Rotation), James Leary, Iyari Limon
Why go: It might be nice to see JM one last time (as long as I, y'know, cover my ears while he speaks). And I wouldn't mind seeing the Trio; I've never seen them all together. I like Common Rotation. soulmate815 and thefangirl will be there. If it sucks, I can bring a book, sit by the pool, and pretend it's a vacation.
Why not go: Money. I don't know anyone other than soulmate815 and thefangirl, who will both be busy with con stuff, and I can see them here anyway. The location is weird and inconvenient. Last time the hotel was old and gross and moldy, but maybe they'll have chosen a better one this year. It's doubtful that I'll have an opportunity to speak to JM other than the 10-second autograph signing. Other stuff.
Likelihood that I'll go: 99%, since I already have my ticket and all.

July 2 -4, Toronto, Toronto Trek
Guests: Have they announced guests yet? I don't know.
Why go: To see some Canadian friends. To see the city of Toronto. Because I have a ticket from last year. Because stuff is supposed to be cheaper in Canada.
Why not go: Money. Nothing I'm terribly interested in.
Likelihood that I'll go: Totally depends on whether anyone from here wants to go with me.

July 30-August 1, Las Vegas, WriterCon
Guests: No celebrity guests, but some writing guests
Why go: This is the Whedonverse fanfic convention. It's everything that I'm actually still interested in about this fandom. Tons of really cool people are going to go and I can't wait to see them. I trust the organizers to run the con in an ethical way and to the best job they possibly can to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Why not go: Money, but I decided I'm using my Christmas bonus for this, so if you look at it that way, nothing's stopping me. :)
Likelihood that I'll go: 99.999999%. Barring, y'know, natural disaster or whatever.

September 3rd-6th, Atlanta, DragonCon
Guests: I don't know
Why go: I had a fun time last year. The costumes are so interesting, and there's so much to do that it's pretty much impossible to be bored. Last year I missed a lot of events because I was in line waiting to see James Marsters, so, since he won't be here this year, I'll have the chance to focus on everything else that I wanted to do before. They've got different tracks for so many different things, and there's bound to be one or two guests that I'd like to see. drujan, jaydk, and soulmate815 have all expressed an interest in attending this con, and it would be so fun to go hang out in Atlanta with my three best friends.
Why not go: Nothing I really care passionately about at this con. And money, of course.
Likelihood that I'll go: 85%

Comments

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Moonlight Rising sounds tempting, but it's a month before a con room party I'm throwing at a non-Buffy-related con (read = LOTS of prep work to do). So I probably can't take the time to go.

I'll be at Writercon, babe. Wouldn't miss the chance to meet all you fine folk for anything in the world.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

WriterCon is going to be the best. Glad to hear that you're coming. :)

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

I'm going to DragonCon definitely because I'm on staff for the Buffy track again. I'm planning on Writercon but am just trying to figure out the logistics of flights and costs and such. Just had a look at the flights to Vegas last night and they were $610. Eeeek. Three weeks after Toronto Trek and four weeks before DragonCon that's a lot and then there's hotel and other stuff so I have to do some creative thinking on that one. A friend and I are also taking a cottage for a week sometime in July or August too so that's another thing that is making that such a bad time.

So DragonCon definitely and I hope you'll be free to hang out in New York when I'm there weekend before Easter.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh. Dude. I totally forgot to put Toronto Trek on the list. Oops.

Added it. That's definitely one that I'm also thinking about attending.

I should be here to hang out around Easter. Looking forward to it. :)

[kellyhk.livejournal.com]

Uh oh, Kelly, Elizabeth, Las Vegas.

No, that doesn't automatically mean we need to bring bail money. Move along. There is nothing to see here.

But Woot Woot!!! We're all going!

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

Dude. Dragoncon. Let's all do it again. Fuck the tracks, let's just hang out :)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Hee. Sounds good to me. :) Last year was awesome.

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Wah! You can't go, if I don't go. And I can't go unless I sell "Three Moons" to that editor I met at the last one. So think purchasing thoughts really hard at Phobos Books, 'k?

[knotted-rose.livejournal.com]

Will see you at Writercon. . .should be tremendous fun.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to it. :)

[10zlaine.livejournal.com]

I'll be at MR, helping out Ingrid, and my sister will be there as well (not sure if you remember her from Tampa or not.) Ingrid and I were hoping to check the place out over my spring break and check logistics for her auction, but it is supposed to be a decent venue.

I've also got her talked into D*C, as well--although I may only go if I can work again.

I'm such a con-ho for volunteering.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, neat. Glad to hear that I'll know someone else at MR.

I hope you can make it to DragonCon again. That's such a fun con. :)

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

I'll be at the one in Jersey and will probably see you since rockgoddes is my roommie. *g* I'm also going to Moonlight Rising and WriterCon for sure. I might be going to Toronto Trek, depending on if I find a job in the meantime.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Cool. So I should see you a lot this year. :)

[gloss]

If anyone interesting gets booked for Toronto, I'll be there (here. whatever.) and I've got a futon if you need somewhere to crash.

And! Writercon - I'm dying to go, but still need to see about the, you know, actually being able to pay for it.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, neat. I do hope that Toronto Trek gets some good Buffyverse guests so that more people from this fandom will be there. :)

I hope you can make it to WriterCon. You're such an amazing writer; it would be wonderful to see you there.

[buffyx.livejournal.com]

Plus, if I try to get a refund I'll only get 90% of my money back (a rule I'm pretty sure they instituted after I bought the ticket, but that's Vulkon for you).

I had to get a refund for Vulkon Houston, and they kept 10%, even though the entire convention was ultimately *cancelled.* They don't say that you don't get full refunds, either, so I was pretty pissed.

I might be going to San Franscisco Vulkon, because James will be there and even though I hate to support the creeps at Vulkon, a ton of my friends that I'm dying to meet will be going also.

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

You should have gotten a full refund for Houston. They said that they'd either transfer or give full refunds since they cancelled it. If you only got 90% back you should contact them. The only way I could see them keeping the 10% is if you got the refund before they cancelled.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to go to Writercon.
But I really need to get myself sorted out with going back to work first,

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on! We need you on the dialog panel! We need a "Brits don't talk like that, Mr. Fury" representative. ;)

::wheedles::

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

You're going to Writercon!

Bounce bounce!

Yay!

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

::grin:: I can't wait. This is going to be so much damn fun.

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

I'll be at Writercon. Looking forward to finally meeting you. :-)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that you're coming. It should be fun. :)

[carolyn-claire.livejournal.com]

Likelihood that I'll go: 99.999999%. Barring, y'know, natural disaster or whatever.

Oh, thank goodness. I was holding my breath, there. :)

(You'll be in NY over Easter? So will I! Chaparoning, though, so I probably won't have time to get with anyone. ::sigh::)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear that you're coming to WriterCon. I'm looking forward to it. :)

I'll be in NY ... um, all the time, since I live here. :) If you're ever in town and want to hang out, let me know.

[abbagirl.livejournal.com]

I don't know anyone who is going.

I'm going!! :) (to Cleveland Vulkon...) I'm also front row centerish...

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Cool! What seat number are you?

I probably won't end up going to that one, but it's, y'know, slightly possible.

[rockgoddes.livejournal.com]

soulmate815 is coming to NJ, from what I understand...you should talk to her about getting there with her. thefangirl is also going, as are Monduane and Callie...and Bobbie! Remember, we have room in our room if you want to come hang...

TT is going to be whole hoards of fun, regardless of what Buffy guests are there. There's SO MUCH to do, you're bound to find topics for panels to talk about the entire time...plus, the pool has a slide! :oD

Sooo looking forward to seeing you, first drink's on me!

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow ... that's a lot of people. I'm sure I can manage to figure out transportation with someone. :)

It's a Saturday and Sunday convention, right? So I could, say, come down on Saturday morning, sleep over Saturday night, stay for Sunday activities, then go home Sunday night? Is that what other people are doing?

I'm totally looking forward to seeing you too. :)

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I'll be at Toronto Trek, and Writercon. Writercon is THE con this year :)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Yup, Writercon is definitely the place to be. I'll definitely see you there, and hopefully Toronto Trek, too. :)

[rubywisp.livejournal.com]

*waves hand*

Going to WriterCon.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Awesome. :)

[zyrya]

I would kill to go to WriterCon, but I live in Australia and can't justify the expense.

So far.

But I'm working on it!

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

It would be so cool if you could. I hope you can make it! :)

[spikewriter]

Writercon, definitely. Now that I'm gainfully employed again, it's an easy con for me, with cheap flights to Vegas for LA.

Other than that, I really stopped doing cons years ago. Get the urge every once in a while, but then look at the Vulkon and Creation prices or the cost of flying across the country and decide against it.