Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Now that I'm seeing just a little bit better, I can sit down and write about last weekend.
This was the first year for
OctopodiCon, and it was a small, but enthusiastic convention. I know they're learning from their hiccups.
My traveling companion (thanks for driving, Robyn!) and I got there a little before 2:00 on Friday and got checked in and I was able to get my items up in the art show in time for my first panel at 3:00, which was Steampunk Clothing Construction. It was better attended than I expected.
Then we checked into the hotel and discovered we were on the second story and there were no elevators. Not the best situation for two women with bad knees, but we survived. That night my Fitbit showed 20 flights of stairs.
Next panel was at 5:00, and it was Melodramatic Acting. This was one of those situations where having some guidance from the con in the form of a panel manifest would have been a good idea. But hey, we muddled through and had a good time. I had a reading at 6:00 and read from the Sherlock Holmes story I recently turned in. I think it went well.
Saturday I was only scheduled for one panel about Women in Steampunk. And then an hour later, one of the concom caught me in the hall and asked why I wasn't on my panel. Huh? My preliminary schedule showed it, and then my name wasn't on it on any of the published schedules. Hey, that happens. Conventions move people around and I didn't think anything of it. I went flying in half an hour late and it was an interesting panel, at least the part I was there for.
Sunday morning was Steampunk on a Budget, and that was very well attended. I wore my new leather jacket and took along a few bargains I'd picked up. Then at the end I mentioned that if people are going to go to conventions and do costuming, they may need a small sewing machine for repairs. Then I pulled my Featherweight out of its box. Lots of oohs and ahs. We checked out of the hotel then I went on to the Required Steampunk Reading panel. I even picked up a few reccies to check out!
Then we were going to leave, but decided to stick around through the Last Huzzah, which ran from 2-3. I was glad because I'd been on panels every time Professor Elemental and Lord Montague Jaque Frommage (love the name) were on stage, so it was great to see them. I'd also missed Vernoique Chevalier, though we were on a panel together. I'd seen Tom Smith three times already, and he's always loads of fun. Three times, you say? Well, I never get to see him when he's at FenCon, so I had to make up for lost time.
There were lots of lovely costumes, and everyone seemed to be having a grand time. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the kids - and their parents. Lots of children and teenagers in costume, and they were all well-behaved. Kids, be proud of yourselves, and parents, be proud of your kids. You're obviously doing something right.
I'm looking forward to next year's convention. The concom is looking for a new venue, and should have some news soon. The main reason, I'm told, is that there will be a lot of construction around that area next year. The conference center was a good venue. Everything was in one place and there was plenty of room. Oh, one thing I neglected to mention was that Edge Books was set up in the Reading Room. It made for an interesting area. People could listen to authors and go buy books. Kinda cool.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to next year, and had a great time this year. And maybe next year I'll be seeing a LOT better!