The Con-Going Experience :: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
I'm very leery of making posts that touch on subjects that might be emotionally charged. And if I do so, I usually flock them (but I rarely make these kinds of posts anyway.)
However, I've been thinking a LOT about my recent and past SPN con experiences and those I've heard from others. I feel the need to express my thoughts. I'm leaving this post unlocked for now. If it generates ugliness, it will be locked. Debate and discussion and differences of opinion are fine. Ugliness/rudeness is not.
I've had a couple of conversations this morning about the differences in con experiences. I feel so fortunate that I'm lucky enough to be able to attend these conventions. When my friend and I first decided to "act silly" and sign up for one, we really never thought we'd be doing more than one. I'm so fortunate that I've had the funds and the time and the support of my family to attend my first and then more conventions.
I'd never been to any convention before LA Con 2008. The experience was mind-blowing for me. All my family, friends, and coworkers were amazed by the joyfulness they saw me express in the days following the convention. Life had been weighing me down for a couple years (work, not family) and I'd become a VERY SERIOUS PERSON.
I've been thinking so much about the photo ops we experienced at VanCon 2009 and the stories I heard first-hand while standing in line--from people who attended the last Asylum. So many of the folks who attend these conventions invest such emotion and funds in what may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. Many of us may be shy and/or reserved and/or socially awkward (I am.) We take a leap of faith based on what we've read online about other people's experiences--a leap that we will enjoy ourselves. A leap that we won't feel like a fool. That we won't be wasting our money. That we will be accepted by the other fans. That we will enjoy ourselves and not be overwhelmed by the crowd of people. That we won't embarrass ourselves when we come face-to-face with either of the Js. That they will smile at us. That we won't be disappointed.
Yes, it's only a show. But it's a show with such heart that generates such joy for and from it's fans (despite all the angst!) And it's a show that provides a group of people a community to share their experiences and get to know each other.
And for those of us who take that leap--what happens at the first con we go to can shoot us into joyfull giddiness or bleak disappointment. (And yes, again, it's ONLY a show...I know.)
I sat next to someone during the Chicago 2008 Con who had traveled to attend her first and only convention. She was a HUGE Jensen fan. The highlight of that trip was going to be her photo op with Jensen. But Jensen didn't touch her or smile during her photo op. She was so disappointed. It just made me ache for her. Overall the ChiCon 2008 was a good experience. Of the four SPN cons I've attended, it's my least favorite. And now that I think about it--part of that was the photo op experience. The face-to-face experience of meeting/seeing the boys.
On the other side of the spectrum is a woman I met at this con. This was her first ever con experience. She's a huge fan of SPN. She was just glowing with the excitement of the experience. Luckily she was one who had her expectations met and exceeded. I remember how I felt after my first one--I was on Cloud 9 for days.
At past conventions it was kinda like a lottery about how your photo ops would turn out. Would you get Jensen smiling? Would you get Jensen showing teeth? Would you get a full-on Jared smile? Or just a partial smile? Would you look good yourself? There were good photos and just okay photos.
I have to say that it was MORE common for this convention to see great photo ops. The boys were almost always smiling (including Jensen!) The fans were beaming. And there were more antics/props than I've seen in the past.
While standing in line at this recent convention, I heard some first-hand stories about Asylum that just made me want to slap those organizers upside the head. I'd previously heard stories online of course and was so disappointed for those who had to experience all those lines and the chaos. And the photo ops that looked like you could have been standing next to a cardboard cutout of the boys.
There was a part of me that was worried that perhaps this fandom had finally gotten to be too much for the boys and they were pulling back. So my experiences at this recent con was very reassuring. I was very glad to know that it wasn't the boys who were purposely being so standoffish during Asylum.
I read that Jensen is putting is foot down about future conventions ( source). I am SO proud of him for that. I'm guessing that's why he hasn't yet signed on the dotted line for any of the upcoming conventions. And I truly believe it's to give the fans a better experience. I could feel the difference in the boys during these photo ops. And the fans that were able to experience them were just so happy.
The negative part of that was that we didn't get a Jared panel and the con ran way over Sunday night (2am for Jim's autographing!) If I were someone who did not have photo ops and/or had never seen a Jared panel before, I would be very disappointed with that. Again, I'm very fortunate because I've had both--so for me the biggest impact was having to wait a lot longer than normal for an autograph. Despite my complaining to my friend at the time, I DO recognize that I was very fortunate.
I really felt that the boys and the crew were very sincere about their appreciation for the fans. And I think that the boys (especially Jensen) putting their foot down about expectations made them more relaxed during this con. They, perhaps, felt more in control.
I'm rambling here. But I've been thinking so much about this this morning. So many fans invest so much emotion and funds into a once-in-a-lifetime event for them--they deserve to get a great experience. And there are those fans who never even get to go at all. I feel very, very fortunate.
There will always be some things that don't work out at a large event like these--believe me my friend heard me complain about a few things from this con. But they can and should be run so that the good outweighs any disappointments.
Everyone should get that "Cloud 9" high from these conventions. The boys are magic (as we all know.) Everyone who takes that leap of faith and invests their emotions and money to go, should be able to experience that. I wish more people could.
*steps off soapbox*
Oh and btw, a shout-out to an awesome convention coordinator/volunteer--Valerie. She rocks. I'm so impressed by someone who can basically tell people to shut up and have those people walk away smiling and laughing.
However, I've been thinking a LOT about my recent and past SPN con experiences and those I've heard from others. I feel the need to express my thoughts. I'm leaving this post unlocked for now. If it generates ugliness, it will be locked. Debate and discussion and differences of opinion are fine. Ugliness/rudeness is not.
I've had a couple of conversations this morning about the differences in con experiences. I feel so fortunate that I'm lucky enough to be able to attend these conventions. When my friend and I first decided to "act silly" and sign up for one, we really never thought we'd be doing more than one. I'm so fortunate that I've had the funds and the time and the support of my family to attend my first and then more conventions.
I'd never been to any convention before LA Con 2008. The experience was mind-blowing for me. All my family, friends, and coworkers were amazed by the joyfulness they saw me express in the days following the convention. Life had been weighing me down for a couple years (work, not family) and I'd become a VERY SERIOUS PERSON.
I've been thinking so much about the photo ops we experienced at VanCon 2009 and the stories I heard first-hand while standing in line--from people who attended the last Asylum. So many of the folks who attend these conventions invest such emotion and funds in what may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. Many of us may be shy and/or reserved and/or socially awkward (I am.) We take a leap of faith based on what we've read online about other people's experiences--a leap that we will enjoy ourselves. A leap that we won't feel like a fool. That we won't be wasting our money. That we will be accepted by the other fans. That we will enjoy ourselves and not be overwhelmed by the crowd of people. That we won't embarrass ourselves when we come face-to-face with either of the Js. That they will smile at us. That we won't be disappointed.
Yes, it's only a show. But it's a show with such heart that generates such joy for and from it's fans (despite all the angst!) And it's a show that provides a group of people a community to share their experiences and get to know each other.
And for those of us who take that leap--what happens at the first con we go to can shoot us into joyfull giddiness or bleak disappointment. (And yes, again, it's ONLY a show...I know.)
I sat next to someone during the Chicago 2008 Con who had traveled to attend her first and only convention. She was a HUGE Jensen fan. The highlight of that trip was going to be her photo op with Jensen. But Jensen didn't touch her or smile during her photo op. She was so disappointed. It just made me ache for her. Overall the ChiCon 2008 was a good experience. Of the four SPN cons I've attended, it's my least favorite. And now that I think about it--part of that was the photo op experience. The face-to-face experience of meeting/seeing the boys.
On the other side of the spectrum is a woman I met at this con. This was her first ever con experience. She's a huge fan of SPN. She was just glowing with the excitement of the experience. Luckily she was one who had her expectations met and exceeded. I remember how I felt after my first one--I was on Cloud 9 for days.
At past conventions it was kinda like a lottery about how your photo ops would turn out. Would you get Jensen smiling? Would you get Jensen showing teeth? Would you get a full-on Jared smile? Or just a partial smile? Would you look good yourself? There were good photos and just okay photos.
I have to say that it was MORE common for this convention to see great photo ops. The boys were almost always smiling (including Jensen!) The fans were beaming. And there were more antics/props than I've seen in the past.
While standing in line at this recent convention, I heard some first-hand stories about Asylum that just made me want to slap those organizers upside the head. I'd previously heard stories online of course and was so disappointed for those who had to experience all those lines and the chaos. And the photo ops that looked like you could have been standing next to a cardboard cutout of the boys.
There was a part of me that was worried that perhaps this fandom had finally gotten to be too much for the boys and they were pulling back. So my experiences at this recent con was very reassuring. I was very glad to know that it wasn't the boys who were purposely being so standoffish during Asylum.
I read that Jensen is putting is foot down about future conventions ( source). I am SO proud of him for that. I'm guessing that's why he hasn't yet signed on the dotted line for any of the upcoming conventions. And I truly believe it's to give the fans a better experience. I could feel the difference in the boys during these photo ops. And the fans that were able to experience them were just so happy.
The negative part of that was that we didn't get a Jared panel and the con ran way over Sunday night (2am for Jim's autographing!) If I were someone who did not have photo ops and/or had never seen a Jared panel before, I would be very disappointed with that. Again, I'm very fortunate because I've had both--so for me the biggest impact was having to wait a lot longer than normal for an autograph. Despite my complaining to my friend at the time, I DO recognize that I was very fortunate.
I really felt that the boys and the crew were very sincere about their appreciation for the fans. And I think that the boys (especially Jensen) putting their foot down about expectations made them more relaxed during this con. They, perhaps, felt more in control.
I'm rambling here. But I've been thinking so much about this this morning. So many fans invest so much emotion and funds into a once-in-a-lifetime event for them--they deserve to get a great experience. And there are those fans who never even get to go at all. I feel very, very fortunate.
There will always be some things that don't work out at a large event like these--believe me my friend heard me complain about a few things from this con. But they can and should be run so that the good outweighs any disappointments.
Everyone should get that "Cloud 9" high from these conventions. The boys are magic (as we all know.) Everyone who takes that leap of faith and invests their emotions and money to go, should be able to experience that. I wish more people could.
*steps off soapbox*
Oh and btw, a shout-out to an awesome convention coordinator/volunteer--Valerie. She rocks. I'm so impressed by someone who can basically tell people to shut up and have those people walk away smiling and laughing.