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.

[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.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

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

[knotted-rose.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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.

[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. 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. :)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

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

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

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

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to it. :)

[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. :)

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

Excellent. So glad to hear you're still considering Toronto Trek. I've got two hotel rooms right now and 3 confirmed persons with a possible two more right now, not counting you, so there's a spot for you if you come. Hell, you know that you're always welcome in my room at any conventions I go to. You're my little kitty cat. LOL.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

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

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

::bounces:: I so excited about Writercon. And I'm looking forward to hanging out with you again, chica. :)

Well, and with soundingsea, and carolyn_claire, and...hell, everybody. :)

[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?

[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.

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

Oh good Leslie,
I was hoping you were hoping for Toronto Trek. Well, as I told Laura, I've got two rooms right now so I've got a spot for you. Unless you want to go into the suite with Sharon and Teep which you're welcome to do because at TT you only see your room to sleep (when you sleep). This one will be different from past years because it's a different hotel but there'll be just as many parties. Like at DragonCon there are some people who do not sleep all weekend.

At DragonCon there was one girl I was on staff with who only slept five hours from Thursday night to Monday night. She was wrecked but had a fabulous time.

[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.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

Harm! You have to go! We were gonna be drunken roomies!! ;)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! Thanks so much. :)

I'll have to let you know later what I'm doing for sure. Is there a date that you need a confirmation by? I'm definitely interested.

[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.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Uuugh, they're so creepy. I figured they might cancel the Houston con, so I waited to ask for my refund until they actually cancelled it.

I wouldn't go to the San Francisco Vulkon, just 'cause I'm so disgusted with the JM-related price gouging. I really don't want to be in that kind of atmosphere or support those people. I can understand wanting to go to see friends, though.

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

No, don't worry. I'll keep a spot for you just in case. I won't finalize it until probably a few weeks before. I know so many local people going that we're all just booking rooms and then filling them up as needed and cancelling the extras as needed.

You just let me know when you know. No worries. I don't care if I have four people in a room anyway.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Awww. I hope you can make it! *thinks purchasing thoughts at Phobos Books*