Balticon 2010 report
It struck me that I should do a Balticon report. So, here is one. I am tired, but mostly coherent. It will probably show, but oh, well.
I got out of school two hours early on Friday, and headed up to the con by way of angstnokami's place to pick her up. We had a fun ride up to the con, though concert nerves were starting up, at least for me.
Upon arrival at the con, we registered without too much difficulty as convention program guests, and then scouted the dealers' room. I immediately found an copy of the "Nordic Countries" version of Ticket to Ride, which I snapped up with glee, as I'd been looking for it for a couple of years without success. I also got a belt pouch to complete my Viking costume (more on those later), and spotted a nifty classroom toy that I completely forgot to actually buy until I got back from the con and spotted it again at a local game store: a large six-sided die (about 8" on a side) with padded corners and dry-erasable sides. I also found a watch necklace I coveted and eventually bought on a later run through the room.
Eventually, we settled down to eat and others began arriving. B and thespooniest arrived first, and we got some time to hang out and eat. B and I sat down to play Battle Lore, which I'd wanted to play for a long time, and which he'd brought to the con. It's excellent, though really long. In the middle of our game, Thrud turned up and there was more hanging out, though not too much before the panel she and I were on that night: "Gender in Manga and Anime." This was the first of three con panels for me, and like the others, I was not the main speaker, which made me happy and not-stressed. We had a small but rapt audience, which was satisfying, though the panel ran way, way over time and I missed open filk, as well as all of the concerts I'd been hoping to make.
angstnokami, thespooniest, and I went to stay with mobiuswolf. Next morning (Saturday) began with a trip to the nearby Amish market, to have wonderfully delicious food, along with B and Thrud. The day was spent in a mix of hanging out, gaming, rehearsing, and concert and filk circle singing, and was, for me at least, a day free of major con obligations. It was made of yay. The big game discovery of the day was Smallworld, which was another I'd been interested in for some time. We weren't able to pick up our own copy, and in fact still haven't managed it. Open filk went well, with Sassafrass contributing "Fall" and "Somebody Will" (though I sang way the hell too fast on "Fall"). I wasn't expecting people to sing along with "Somebody Will," and had some trouble holding it together. We also did "Hearthfire," with Thrud on melody, to preview and promote our concert. Saturday also saw me picking up the big purchase of the con, for me: $200 worth of Roman coins, which Darrell Schweitzer always sells at Balticon. The highlight of my haul this year was a set of four coins of Constantine I, all minted at different times in his reign, from before and after his conversion to Christianity, showing a really nifty progression.
Sunday started with the group splitting up some, because I was on two panels: "Women in Gaming," and "Games as a Teaching Aid." Both had the same moderator, who (I found this quite flattering) had specifically requested me for both panels. I was the only woman on the first panel, and the only classroom teacher in the second, with the result that, although I was up there with industry experts and publishers, people also turned to me for information and advice and perspective, which was a lot of fun. In the afternoon, weirdquark arrived, and there was much rejoicing, hanging out, rehearsing, and more gaming. We prepped for our concert before heading to the "Story Into Song" panel for which angstnokami, mobiuswolf, and weirdquark were reading. It's a fantastic concept for a panel: someone reads a passage from a book, then someone else sings a song based on it. It was awesome. The readings were beautifully done, the songs were fantastic.
We followed the panel with our concert. Set list: Hearthfire; Ice and Fire; Gift of Life; My Brother, My Enemy; Futhark Song; Sundown. I was a bundle of nerves by this time, and had something of a weak start on Hearthfire, but things picked up quickly, and the concert went really, really well. I continue to be impressed by the coordinating job that angstnokami did, and by how well we all were able to fit together having only practiced once or twice before the concert with the full group. We were startled to get a standing ovation in the middle of the concert, but then, Ice and Fire is definitely one of Thrud's best works so far, so it deserved it. We also had thespooniest drumming with us onstage for Hearthfire and Gift of Life, which was really special for me, and he did a wonderful job. I was worried about my ability to do Sundown, but somehow pulled it off. Concert video and pictures will be forthcoming.
Open filk started out fine, and angstnokami and I got to sing "Threadbare Dragon," but things turned into cat song after cat song, and then things got onto a dead pet kick, so she and I left (unfortunately, as it turned out; apparently things got better after we left).
Monday was mostly gaming, and was a good decompress after the concert. We discovered one more game, Ad Astra, which immediately became one of my favorite games, and ate my brain whole (hm, maybe that's why I haven't had a brain since coming back). We headed back to Thrud's place for some last gaming, and then I took angstnokami home and went home myself, along with thespooniest.
All in all, one of the best con experiences I've had. Many thanks to gorgeousgary for making it possible and doing an awesome job as filk programming chair.
I got out of school two hours early on Friday, and headed up to the con by way of angstnokami's place to pick her up. We had a fun ride up to the con, though concert nerves were starting up, at least for me.
Upon arrival at the con, we registered without too much difficulty as convention program guests, and then scouted the dealers' room. I immediately found an copy of the "Nordic Countries" version of Ticket to Ride, which I snapped up with glee, as I'd been looking for it for a couple of years without success. I also got a belt pouch to complete my Viking costume (more on those later), and spotted a nifty classroom toy that I completely forgot to actually buy until I got back from the con and spotted it again at a local game store: a large six-sided die (about 8" on a side) with padded corners and dry-erasable sides. I also found a watch necklace I coveted and eventually bought on a later run through the room.
Eventually, we settled down to eat and others began arriving. B and thespooniest arrived first, and we got some time to hang out and eat. B and I sat down to play Battle Lore, which I'd wanted to play for a long time, and which he'd brought to the con. It's excellent, though really long. In the middle of our game, Thrud turned up and there was more hanging out, though not too much before the panel she and I were on that night: "Gender in Manga and Anime." This was the first of three con panels for me, and like the others, I was not the main speaker, which made me happy and not-stressed. We had a small but rapt audience, which was satisfying, though the panel ran way, way over time and I missed open filk, as well as all of the concerts I'd been hoping to make.
angstnokami, thespooniest, and I went to stay with mobiuswolf. Next morning (Saturday) began with a trip to the nearby Amish market, to have wonderfully delicious food, along with B and Thrud. The day was spent in a mix of hanging out, gaming, rehearsing, and concert and filk circle singing, and was, for me at least, a day free of major con obligations. It was made of yay. The big game discovery of the day was Smallworld, which was another I'd been interested in for some time. We weren't able to pick up our own copy, and in fact still haven't managed it. Open filk went well, with Sassafrass contributing "Fall" and "Somebody Will" (though I sang way the hell too fast on "Fall"). I wasn't expecting people to sing along with "Somebody Will," and had some trouble holding it together. We also did "Hearthfire," with Thrud on melody, to preview and promote our concert. Saturday also saw me picking up the big purchase of the con, for me: $200 worth of Roman coins, which Darrell Schweitzer always sells at Balticon. The highlight of my haul this year was a set of four coins of Constantine I, all minted at different times in his reign, from before and after his conversion to Christianity, showing a really nifty progression.
Sunday started with the group splitting up some, because I was on two panels: "Women in Gaming," and "Games as a Teaching Aid." Both had the same moderator, who (I found this quite flattering) had specifically requested me for both panels. I was the only woman on the first panel, and the only classroom teacher in the second, with the result that, although I was up there with industry experts and publishers, people also turned to me for information and advice and perspective, which was a lot of fun. In the afternoon, weirdquark arrived, and there was much rejoicing, hanging out, rehearsing, and more gaming. We prepped for our concert before heading to the "Story Into Song" panel for which angstnokami, mobiuswolf, and weirdquark were reading. It's a fantastic concept for a panel: someone reads a passage from a book, then someone else sings a song based on it. It was awesome. The readings were beautifully done, the songs were fantastic.
We followed the panel with our concert. Set list: Hearthfire; Ice and Fire; Gift of Life; My Brother, My Enemy; Futhark Song; Sundown. I was a bundle of nerves by this time, and had something of a weak start on Hearthfire, but things picked up quickly, and the concert went really, really well. I continue to be impressed by the coordinating job that angstnokami did, and by how well we all were able to fit together having only practiced once or twice before the concert with the full group. We were startled to get a standing ovation in the middle of the concert, but then, Ice and Fire is definitely one of Thrud's best works so far, so it deserved it. We also had thespooniest drumming with us onstage for Hearthfire and Gift of Life, which was really special for me, and he did a wonderful job. I was worried about my ability to do Sundown, but somehow pulled it off. Concert video and pictures will be forthcoming.
Open filk started out fine, and angstnokami and I got to sing "Threadbare Dragon," but things turned into cat song after cat song, and then things got onto a dead pet kick, so she and I left (unfortunately, as it turned out; apparently things got better after we left).
Monday was mostly gaming, and was a good decompress after the concert. We discovered one more game, Ad Astra, which immediately became one of my favorite games, and ate my brain whole (hm, maybe that's why I haven't had a brain since coming back). We headed back to Thrud's place for some last gaming, and then I took angstnokami home and went home myself, along with thespooniest.
All in all, one of the best con experiences I've had. Many thanks to gorgeousgary for making it possible and doing an awesome job as filk programming chair.