Convergence 20 - VIVA CONVERGENCE!

[theevilchemist]

I don't even know where to begin with this. C20 was an overwhelming success, far better than we had ever imagined. We had modest expectations, but we never could've predicted the outcome. We wanted to revitalize Convergence, and invested heavily into making it an event people wanted to come to, because we all believed it still has relevance even 20

Comments

[greylock]

For the 1st time since 2002, we are all under one roof again
All?
Hyperbole, sir.

The interface does not matter as long as we have connectivity, and now we have it.
It does matter to me.
I loathe FB with the fury of a million suns (the angry kind, not the cold dwarf stars), a public facing group moreso.

I predict the a.g FB group will go the way of all the replacement a.g interfaces of years past. I might be wrong, there might be something inherent in the FB DNA I'm not accounting for... but who knows?

I'm glad C20 went well by all accounts. I should like to see March Violets someday, and I have heard good things about Pretentious Moi for a few years.

[theevilchemist]

Hyperbole is goth and we have more than in any other medium since Usenet. Even on lj we were scattered, because of the friending and unfriending

[greylock]

You will dance on a crappy dancefloor if you are having fun dancing with your friends, but wont dance on an awesome dancefloor if you're the only one dancing. This is the nature of human socialization.

I guess your metaphor is apt. but I don't dance.

I do miss ag a lot, and I may even post on the group (assuming it is closed) if I am ever logged into FB, but I won't be joining (you know what they say about not wanting to be a member of clubs that will have me). If there is a great migration from FB I will watch with interest.

I agree with the usenet thing, it was good for its time.

[jola]

The FB group has made me come around a bit ... it's seriously fucking fun. And i'm a hardcore LJer.

[50_ft_queenie]

C20 was amazing! As I said on FB, it was a homecoming I didn't realize I was craving.

You guys did a stellar job with everything. I loved seeing Sunshine Blind and The March Violets. Getting turned on to Pretentious, Moi? was a huge highlight for me. Love their CD, loved their live show, chatted with Tim after the gig and he was incredibly fucking nice. I've been playing their CD nonstop ever since C20.

[theevilchemist]

Thanks! It was so worth all the time and effort just to see so many of my old friends.

Tim and Pretejvntious Moi? are great people and veterans of the Whitby Gothic Weekends, so we knew they would totally fit in to our Convergence clique. Tim is so nice and humble to the point of being self deprecating. I see him every year at WGT.

Gordon was also in Dream Disciples, btw.

We really need a second awesome convergence to really put this thing back on track. I am bugging people in Philly to put in a bid, mainly because of geography and cost. The largest number of old a.g. people will be able to get to Philly pretty easily.

The other alternative would have to be a west coast city, like SF or Seattle. The Barricks said they cant really put on C21 in Vancouver and the boarder would present some problems. SF would be a good choice. Very few people went to C3, maybe 300. The venue was so empty Me & the Seraphim Gothique crew were playing jump rope in front of the stage.

[rat_bastard]

I know a few people from Philly (or a stone's throw from Philly), who would definitely like to have a bid there. Of course, it takes a bit more than that in order to put together a successful bid. Baltimore might not be a bad location, either. Atlanta could probably work as well. None of these cities have hosted a C* before. I think the main issue is that, until C20 gave C* a good kick in the pants, the general decline in C* numbers has been whittling away at general enthusiasm for the event. If we're lucky, the success of C20 will re-ignite the idea that C* is an event of some significance again, and people will be more inclined to form committees and put forth some real effort

[theevilchemist]

If Patrick does, it and he gets someone like the Bella Morte guys who fit right in with us, that would be great. I have faith in Patrick as a Promoter, and someone who has been to several convergences. He's no dummy

[doggiesushi]

I don't think I had a chance to send a proper thank you, but quite seriously... thank you. The event was great, and others said the same thing I was feeling: it was the homecoming I didn't realize I needed. Hell, I even talked to new people this time around - after 10 convergences, I think that's the first time that's happened.

Great work to you and the entire team. I'm still a bit bummed to not be in Chicago...

[theevilchemist]

Thanks John. That really means a lot to us. All of on the committee still believe the idea behind Convergence is still relevant, even 20 years later. There is a reason we are friends on FB and other social media. Of all the 7 billion people on this planet, probably for the 1st time in human history we can choose whom we spend our time socializing with and it's a wondrous thing feeling to come together with all our internet friends each year for a weekend of fun.

In the future, I believe Convergence will turn into something where we have a big event and in the corner, we have our little reunion. I'm hoping this continues into the next decade. There is no reason why it shouldn't