Diversicon report
This weekend, I attended Diversicon for the very first time. (It usually falls on the weekend we're setting up our campsite for Renfest, so I don't usually have the entire weekend free for it.)
It was one of the smaller, more intimate conventions with two programming tracks. Much like 4th Street, this allows participants to really get to know each other, and continue conversations beyond the panels themselves. It's much more laid-back this way, and you don't feel pulled in several directions.
Diversicon also had an added bonus of a good layout at the Best Western in Bandanna square. Everything was in one place (two rooms for panels with the dealer's room in between, and Krushenko's and consuite at one end), and all of it was right next to a central seating area where you could hang out in between panels. This helped keep the contact and energy going. It was also nice to see that almost everyone stopped in the dealer's room at least once, since it was in the middle of the action.
The only bummer for me was on Sunday. Around 2:00pm, I inexplicably got a headache, which is pretty rare for me. I'm chalking it up to sinus pressure, since it is my hayfever/allergy season, but it was severe enough to send me home, even after taking decongestants and ibuprophen. So, I ended up missing some panels I realy wanted to see, and didn't really get a chance to say goodbyes.
Despite that, Diversicon itself was pretty cool. The panels were lively and thoughtful. I got to meet some great peole and participate in some fun, interesting discussions. I will definitely make an effort to attend it again in some form next year.
It was one of the smaller, more intimate conventions with two programming tracks. Much like 4th Street, this allows participants to really get to know each other, and continue conversations beyond the panels themselves. It's much more laid-back this way, and you don't feel pulled in several directions.
Diversicon also had an added bonus of a good layout at the Best Western in Bandanna square. Everything was in one place (two rooms for panels with the dealer's room in between, and Krushenko's and consuite at one end), and all of it was right next to a central seating area where you could hang out in between panels. This helped keep the contact and energy going. It was also nice to see that almost everyone stopped in the dealer's room at least once, since it was in the middle of the action.
The only bummer for me was on Sunday. Around 2:00pm, I inexplicably got a headache, which is pretty rare for me. I'm chalking it up to sinus pressure, since it is my hayfever/allergy season, but it was severe enough to send me home, even after taking decongestants and ibuprophen. So, I ended up missing some panels I realy wanted to see, and didn't really get a chance to say goodbyes.
Despite that, Diversicon itself was pretty cool. The panels were lively and thoughtful. I got to meet some great peole and participate in some fun, interesting discussions. I will definitely make an effort to attend it again in some form next year.