going to VanCon

[snick_backup]

The roommate and I have decided to go to VanCon, the SPN convention, this summer. I have just ordered tickets (+ an autograph from Julie McNiven).

I actually have rather mixed feelings about this. On the one hand:

• Vancouver's a reasonable drive for us, and it'll be a fun road trip
  
• the show's been renewed, so there should be plenty of positive energy from everyone (as opposed to nostalgic "remember when" panels, when the actors mostly haven't even thought about those roles in years)
  
• from what I've seen, I like this particular set of actors as people a lot more than most celebrities, about whom the less said the better
  
• when's the next time I have have an event this close related to a show I care about this much?
  
• the tiny little people from my TV screen in real life. o.O

OTOH, I'm actually very uncomfortable with the idea of celebrity, especially as it usually manifests in the TV/movie world. I fangirl Neil Gaiman like mad, but I think I could still carry on a semi-coherent conversation with him. I could at least ask intelligent questions! I'd have no such expectations for my interactions with most actors. (Except hopefully Julie McNiven, aka the only woman there on Saturday or Sunday, which is part of why she's the one I want an autograph from.) Partly that's because of, for example, Jensen Ackles' ridiculously pretty face, but partly it has to do with this whole adoring-public aspect. It's a very peculiar dynamic, and kind of degrading to everyone involved, it seems to me.

This discomfort on my part is not helped by, oh heavens, the ugliest, most soul-crushing website known to man, from which one must purchase one's tickets. Honestly, if I didn't know people have successfully attended this convention for years, I would be so put off that I quite possibly wouldn't be willing to go. The site radiates incompetence. And in addition to the painful graphic design and the bizarre navigation (and have I mentioned the ugly?), the tone of the thing pretty much makes me want to dive into bed and hide under the covers. In case I ever had any doubts about the sad little peon I am in relation to the actor guests, the website clears it right up for me.

However! We are going for reasons stated above, regardless of the fact that I am possibly not quite the standard sort of person to go to this sort of thing. (The roommate's going because she's a great sport.) Vancouver or bust! Possibly we might also see if we have any chance of catching some filming one day? I know that people have managed to do this in the past, based on Twitter clues and, uh, stuff. Or we might just tool around Vancouver; I've never been before.

We're planning to skip Friday, though. The only people scheduled to be there that day are Julian Richings (Death), Kim Rhodes (Jodi Mills), and Matt Cohen and Richard Speight for their Friday night karaoke... thing, none of which seemed worth hanging out a whole extra day for.

Original entry posted at Dreamwidth. Feel free to reply here or there. ( DW replies)

Comments

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I'm just like you. Neil Gaiman? Probably be able to have a respectable conversation with. James Marsters? I have no intention of ever meeting him because I am reduced to a blushing, blathering, incomprehensible idiot at the mere thought of him.

And cons are fun! Okay, so the only ones I've ever been to have been anime cons, a subject which I have little knowledge of but have friends whose knowledge is encyclopedic in nature. But you'll enjoy being around other fans - at the anime con I made a comment in a line about wanting to meet Julie Chen because of the Buffy comics, and immediately two high school age guys turned around and started asking me what I thought of the Twilight arc (I wasn't complimentary). So you'll be around hundreds of people with whom you have an automatic connection because of the mere mention of something fannish.

BTW, what do Supernatural fans call themselves? I recently witnessed a debate between Buffy academics about whether they're Whedonians or Whedonites, so it got me wondering about other fandom nomenclature.

[snickfic]

I suspect there might be a big difference in atmosphere between fan-run cons and commercial cons. I think having actors there would tend to introduce an element of competition between fans? Also, the internet has not given me a wonderful impression of greater SPN fandom. OTOH, yes, I will definitely have something to talk about with people! Also, VERY PRETTY ACTORS. IN PERSON.

I have no idea what SPN fen call themselves. I mean, I wouldn't call myself a Whedonite, either (much less a Whedonian); I think the only fannish label I've ever attached to myself was 'Spuffyite,' and obviously that's less than comprehensive. So I don't know!

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

Given the stories I've heard about Supernatural fandom, mostly I'd be nervous about the other fans. Always remember, fan is short for fanatic. ;-)

[snickfic]

There is a small intimidation factor there, yes. OTOH, even should I not find any congenial fans to talk to, I'll have the roommate for moral support, and she's always good entertainment. :)

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

There are wackadoos in every fandom. Just don't be That Fan, and you're all good.

I'm really uncomfortable with celebrity too, in that I kinda hate how celebrities are often treated. It can vascilate between wanton worship and trained monkey (and all the stages in-between.) I just want them to be people. Like you, like me. Okay, maybe substantially better looking than me, but you know what I mean.

The Creation website? Egads, don't get me started. It is butt-ugly and feels like total marketing abuse. I'm very much like you: Chicon will be my first (and probably only) SPN con. I just wanna say I've done it. I fully intend to have one helluva time, wallowing in my lone fandom, and meeting some of the people from LJ. If I were in the Northwest, I would totally hit Vancon, for many of the reasons you've stated. I've always been fascinated by the way a TV show gets made. Grabbing a little insight into that would be all kinds of awesome.

But I understand the 'degrading' aspect. I do. Just try to be the 'glass half full' kinda person and enjoy yourself!

[snickfic]

I kinda hate how celebrities are often treated.

Absolutely. Yes. The sense of entitlement some fans have is really ugly. If you like these people, then you should want them to enjoy themselves!

I just want them to be people. Like you, like me. Okay, maybe substantially better looking than me, but you know what I mean

And this is why I'm pretty sure I will never do a photo op. Me next to Jensen Ackles? Not a flattering comparison. :D

I fully intend to have one helluva time, wallowing in my lone fandom, and meeting some of the people from LJ.

*nod* That's the plan for us, too. I'm excited someone else on my flist is going to one of these for the first time! I look forward to comparing notes later. :)

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I caught a video of a paparazzi assault on Shane West the other day and one particular pap was so incredibly insulting I wanted to hit the guy (and I'm not a fan of Shane's, per say.) It's no wonder celebrities get cranky in public.

I'm not doing any photo-ops; it triggers my embarrassment squick! An autograph is perfectly fine. :D

[silverusagi]

Wow, have fun!

Though I kind of share your con feelings. I would love to meet the actors, but there's this whole weird atmosphere about about cons. It still just seems weird to me, in one way.

It's a very peculiar dynamic, and kind of degrading to everyone involved, it seems to me.

Kind of this. I really can't figure out my con feelings. I love watching the videos on youtube, but most of the time, I wouldn't actually want to be there? Though I'd like to see the actors. But, con. There's duality, lol.

I would probably not be able to have a conversation with Neil Gaiman, because I fail at conversation in general, and I have no idea what I'd ask that hasn't been asked 100 times before.

I can't remember if Creation is 'good' or 'bad', lol. After every convention, you hear about con complaints, but there's some con organization that seems to get more complaints about how things were run than others do. I just wonder because of what you mentioned about the website.

I'm not sure how Matt and Richard's karaoke thing took off, but it seems to be a Thing now, lol. But it's free, and you never know who might crash it. But then, I'd probably go just for Richard.

[snickfic]

I'm not sure how Matt and Richard's karaoke thing took off, but it seems to be a Thing now, lol.

I think all it takes is energy, willing, and some charisma, and you're off to the races. However, it doesn't sound like my sort of thing. I don't think.

It all does just seem very weird. SF literary cons don't seem like they'd be nearly as weird, because even though you've got these famous writers, at some level they're really only famous to us, and when they sit on panels, they're just the leads on basically a full-room discussion. It's much nearer to being a gathering of equals.

I haven't heard much of anything about any of the cons. I went and read a bunch of con reports from last year to get a sense of whether Creation was, you know, totally incompetent from an event-running standpoint, and although they didn't sound wonderful, they didn't sound horrible, either.

But then, I'd probably go just for Richard.

Somehow I'm not surprised. Not even a little!

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

Oh that's so neat! I hope I get to go to a con someday. That's even nicer than you can do it with a friend and make a Thing out of it (so even if the con itself isn't great, the experience won't be awful because of the company).

I completely understand the mixed feelings. I always feel a little strange when reading about autograph/photo-op experiences. It feels a bit like the actors are "whoring" themselves out, especially the ones who have little career to speak of and spend most of their time at cons. And I feel terrible for thinking that, but when you see the jacked-up prices for things like a signature, it just makes me uncomfortable. OTOH, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to get photos and autographs from some of my favorite actors- I would shell out for those things; even as it weirds me out, I'm grateful that they're willing to talk to fans about these shows and experiences we obsess over. Plus, some of the actors, like JM, are genuinely kind and friendly to their fans and go out of their way to make them feel welcome, and I think that can diminish the awkwardness. It's just a very strange dynamic, where both sides are using each other- the actors charging obscene amounts and earning their living by allowing fans to project fantasies onto them and the fans projecting fantasies and sometimes-creepy-obsessions onto these normal human beings.

So this, "It's a very peculiar dynamic, and kind of degrading to everyone involved, it seems to me," makes total sense to me.

I'm terrible at dealing with celebrity. I went to two book events last summers with author who weren't anywhere like Neil Gaiman status, and I could barely speak when I was getting their autographs. I think I actually came across as a mentally challenged twelve-year-old, which was disheartening.

Can't wait to hear what it's like, especially the other fans. There were definitely a few oddballs at the James Marsters concert I attended, which is the only fandom thing I've done.

[snickfic]

OTOH, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to get photos and autographs from some of my favorite actors- I would shell out for those things; even as it weirds me out, I'm grateful that they're willing to talk to fans about these shows and experiences we obsess over.

Yeah. It's a weird thing - we're inclined to criticize them for doing something that we're paying them to do!

But then on the flip side, there are stories like this, which are pretty much the darlingest thing ever. (Note: it helps to realize from the get-go that the author of the post is ~12.) We all wish that would happen to us (even while realizing that probably only adorable 12-year-olds could get away with it).

I am possibly overly optimistic about my ability to deal with any kind of celebrity. When I get excited, my brain goes faster than my mouth, and I stutter a little. Also I tend to turn bright red.

I will definitely be telling all about the con during/after! There will be photos and anecdotes! I may even collect possible panel questions from the flist, in case I should get a chance to ask one at some point.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

But then on the flip side, there are stories like

OMG, THAT IS SO CUTE!

Awwwwwwwww. I would LOVE to have an experience like that. Except I'm not sure I would be half as brave or articulate as that girl... He sounds so nice and adorable!