Eastercon! Part 3! The bit that's actually about the con!

[lullula]

This Eastercon was an interesting experience for me, I spent a lot more time socialising than going to panels this year, which is pretty opposite to what I normally do. I also did my very first panel \o/ That was pretty exciting, if also slightly terrifying. As with all things, it wasn't quite perfect, and I'm gonna speak a little bit about that

Comments

[dougs]

I'm always delighted to be asked to conduct the Sunday service, it's a huge privilege and a real treat for me, and I'm so pleased it was well received (not just by you but by others).

Oh, and I don't think you're boring.

[lullula]

And you always do such a great job, so I'm glad you get the privilege! I think it's always so well received because you're so friendly and you make everyone feel welcome :) ♥

Haha, well I'm glad you don't! You might just think that because I gave away my ogling secrets...

[coth]

"Eastercon can seem pretty insular."? Well, maybe it can, and maybe it should be less so. But, insular compared to what? To modern business and academic conventions, maybe. But this is a con in a tradition which started in the UK when UK fans read US magazines, and travelled across the country to go to conventions when that was a rather peculiar thing to do. Whose history includes the creation of international fan funds and international conventions since the 1950s. With Samuel R. Delany, Angela Carter, Josef Nesvadba, Octavia Butler and Thomas Disch among past GoHs? Insular? I don't think so.

Glad you had a good time. Look forward to meeting you at some future Eastercon.

[lullula]

I guess I used insular in the wrong way - to someone that's new to the con (or even just quite shy and has been to a few already), it can be very difficult to see a way to break in to already formed social circles. It's easy to think that because a group of people are chatting together already, there is no place for you to introduce yourself and join in without it being unwelcome. I'm on my 7th Eastercon, and I've only just found out that actually, that impression is not true and very many Easterconners are welcoming and friendly - once you've taken the first step of saying hello. I know that a lot of newcomers do feel that it's hard to be social and make friends at Eastercon - because everyone's already talking to everyone else, and this gives a (sometimes false) impression that you're the only newbie and no one has any time for you

[pogodragon]

You were the person I spoke to in the Fan Lounge at one point - you were reading Halting State I think?

I'm the one with the purple hair, we discussed Directions shades :-)

[lullula]

Indeed I was! You've got a good memory! I don't think I remember what you were reading (a Kindle, maybe?), but I do remember your lovely dragon pendant. I still can't get over how clever I think the design was, haha.

Can I just say again how lovely your hair colour is, it's a really unique shade and it suits you very well! :)

[pogodragon]

Yes, a Kindle. I was actually reading Babylon Steel by Gaie Sebold (who was at the con and I managed to miss completely)

And, well, I remembered you/your hair when I saw your pictures here. Unnatural hair shades are a great idea. So long as not too many of us have them. I much prefer NOTICE ME! hair to the boring, faded brown that nature thinks I should have. Which is I suspect something that you can identify with.

[lullula]

I take it that it's good then? What's it about?

My Mum totally agrees on the bright hair being a good idea - she couldn't stop saying how easy it was to find me, haha (worrying that apparently hair is the only thing she recognises on her daughter, but oh well). I feel like my hair colour does make me more confident - it's no use pretending that green/turquoise isn't going to attract a lot of attention, so I have to be prepared for it. And yes, I do agree about the natural hair colour. Mine is actually quite a nice dark brown, but I just can't stand brown hair on myself! I think it makes me look mousey and super uninteresting. Not that I am interesting, but if I can fool the unwary into thinking I have something worth listening to, then that's always good...

[dev_iant]

It's always interesting to read conreps from people who have such different cons (apart from Cassini & YA Dystopia, which were both very good).

Re the panel parity comment, I tend to agree - I was on the Bringing Up Fannish Children panel as the gender-balance (being the only male), but in this case, what we actually needed was the parent of a boy on the panel rather than a male per se. This didn't undermine the panel in any way, which succeeded in its aims, I think, but that would have added more than I brought to the panel (although as the only parent on the panel that had brought a child up in fandom for their entire childhood, I was unique there - where do you stop?)

[lullula]

I think so too! Hopefully yours was just different because you did different things? And not different because it was a flaming wreck of a con that has forever tainted your view of Eastercon, Heathrow and British fandom as a whole

[dev_iant]

Yes, I enjoyed the con immensely and went to a huge range of activities, just mostly not the ones that you went to.

And yes, I'd better not seem as if I'm criticising the "programmers" - it's a hard job & I respect the job they do. To ask for extra criteria is pushing my luck to the extreme :)

[dev_iant]

And BTW, "does anyone else feel like they're instantly forgettable? ". I think this is a common reaction. My wife says that she identifies with that and she's run an Eastercon & been going for nearly 20 years. I can certainly identify with it, I've just given up caring :)

[deborah_c]

we also had a real organist! She was fabulous

Thank you! *blushes*

It was lovely to have the chance to play, actually -- it's been a long time since I've had an Easter service to play for.

It was good to get to meet you (in the Atrium) elsewhen in the con, too!