INTENSITY²
Start here => Free For ALL => Topic started by: garmonbozia on June 08, 2008, 10:08:46 AM
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I thought we could use a thread for talking about these events. Mainly, because many of you have special interests that include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and so on. At these events, you can meet others with the same interests, and also the writers, editors, actors, directors, scientists, etc. that make it all happen. If you can handle the crowds, that is. So I guess what I'd like to focus on with this thread is, how to enjoy such an event despite limited social skills, problems with crowds, noise, financial issues, etc. (If you went, it's not like you'd be the only one there dealing with such things.)
On a few other threads, I've already mentioned DragonCon ( www.dragoncon.org ). I'm there every year if at all possible. A typical convention draws maybe 500 to 1,000 into a medium-sized suburban hotel with some convention space. DragonCon brings in 30,000 people (all of them delightfully weird, myself included) and requires three large hotels and all their convention space, right smack in the center of a large city. This year, they're adding a fourth big hotel. It just gets bigger every year.
(http://www.legionxxiv.org/dragoncon/dc03grouplrg.jpg) (http://www.evilkeg.com/images/dragoncon/100_3996.jpg)
(http://www.scifistudios.com/myscifi/images/stories/conventions/016.jpg)
(just a few random Google Image search results for "dragoncon")
I've never been to one of these yet, but there's also the WorldCon ( www.worldcon.org ). This is the one where they give out the Hugo awards. It's in a different place every year. This year, it will be in Denver. Next year, Montreal, and the year after that, Melbourne. I'd love to use the 2009 and 2010 WorldCons as an excuse to travel outside the US, and if I can afford it, I will. People who have been to a WorldCon have warned me never to say "sci-fi" there. It's either "S.F." or "science fiction".
I'm sure you've heard of these types of events before, but the ones you've probably heard of are Star Trek conventions. Yes, those exist, and I've been to quite a few, but they are not the core of science fiction. I've already made it known here how I feel about the Trekkie subculture, so all I can say to these is "Pfffffffft!"
There has been science fiction and gatherings of its fans since long before Gene Roddenberry dreamed up Star Trek. (I wonder what he was doing when he thought of it. It'd be funny if he was taking a dump when he thought of it, and even funnier to see the look on Trekkies' faces when they find that out. >:D ) Check out fanac.org to see an illustrated history of science fiction conventions all the way back to 1939 ( http://fanac.org/worldcon/NYcon/w39-p00.html ).
(http://fanac.org/worldcon/NYcon/w39-030.jpeg)
(an image from the 1939 WorldCon)
Anyway, who here attends these types of events or has considered attending them?
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It's in a different place every year. This year, it will be in Denver. Next year, Montreal, and the year after that, Melbourne.
Melbourne! I shall have to plan to go to that one. ;D
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It's in a different place every year. This year, it will be in Denver. Next year, Montreal, and the year after that, Melbourne.
Melbourne! I shall have to plan to go to that one. ;D
If you do, you'll have to come visit me of course.
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If you do, you'll have to come visit me of course.
Certainly. The Melbourne bid is not final, however, last time I checked, there are no competing bids. Here's the bid page: http://www.australia2010.org/
That's two years out. Hopefully, this year, I can replace my shitty government job with one that pays some real money so I can afford the trip.
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Yay, lets all have an awkward party at my house!
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Sweet, I'm there. Well I will be there...in 2 years...
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Sweet, I'm there. Well I will be there...in 2 years...
Then we can spend time at your beloved Geelong. :green:
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Indeed.
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Nah, South East Suburbs baby!!!
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Any conventions in Europe?
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There are some in Europe. I just don't have any specifics on any of them at this time.
Scotland has even hosted the WorldCon a couple of times. I believe the last time was in 2005. I wanted to go, but couldn't afford it at the time. :( When reading about it, I had found that there was also going to be a Lord of the Rings anniversary event a few days later at some university in England. That would have been a hell of a trip.
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Never been to a big one but a few small ones I went to were fun
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Any conventions in Europe?
Wasn't there one called "London Expo"?
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Any conventions in Europe?
Wasn't there one called "London Expo"?
Yes (http://www.londonexpo.com/), but it was in May.
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I'd love to go to a medieval fair. I'd wear a Mages robe and hood and everything.
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I live in Georgia, and I still haven't been to DragonCon yet.
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Is anyone interested in having a meet-up at DragonCon or other conventions?
(DragonCon is almost a definite for me, barring some unexpected stroke of bad luck. There are a couple more a little further south in Florida that I might go to, also. Not sure about those, yet.)