MediaWest 2011

[przed]

I spent this past weekend in Lansing, Michigan at MediaWest, the one fan convention I try to get to every year. (I've only missed one year since 1996, and that was the year we brought Rosalind home.)

The con has changed a lot since I started going. It's a lot smaller for a start. The UNCLE contingent, except for st_crispins, has mostly stopped coming. But in spite of that, I still have a great time.

It helps to have fantastic roomies: FJBryan and m. butterfly. FJBryan and I have hosted the Pros party for the last few years, and that's always a highpoint. We put together a quiz, including a video portion, and sc_fossil provided fantastic prizes. krisserci5 couldn't come this year, but sent her fantastic bingo game, and was there in spirit.

I lost my mind and volunteered to mod six panels. Four were Pros, co-modded with , either FJBryan or sc_fossil, and they were all attended by a small but enthusiastic bunch of Pros fans. (The last panel, on Sunday, was interrupted by a tornado siren, which added some real life excitement to the proceedings. There was, fortunately, no actual tornado, but we did get one heck of a thunderstorm, complete with the eerie green sky that accompanies tornados, and everyone was scrambling to find places in the hotel with no windows, just in case.)

Along with sc_fossil, I did my usual Spies and Slash panel, which this year morphed into a discussion of which fandoms have lasted in the long term, and how some huge fandoms can burn out. And I solo modded a Human Target panel focused on Guerrero that turned into a wake for the show. I'm still irked the show won't be coming back, but it was nice to commiserate with a room of people who got it.

Apart from the organized bits of the con, there's also the joy of meeting up with people who get the whole fandom thing. It was lovely to spend time with silver_cyanne, and Sonya, and Flamingo, Kath Moonshine and Glo. To see sithdragn and her crew. To meet new people I haven't hung out with before. (Even with less people that there used to be, it seems there's never enough time to spend with everyone I'd like.)

This year, as I've done the last few years, I pick st_crispins up at the Detroit airport, and drop her off at the end, so the con is always bookended by our discussions of UNCLE and motherhood and academia and politics, and whatever catches our interest.

All in all, it was a really great time, and a nice way of renewing my fannish energy. (In celebration, I signed up as a vidder for the Pros Big Bang.)

Now if I could just convert a few more people North Americans to join in the Take That fandom madness. ;-)

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It was great hanging with you and S and the other gals. I had a fun time. Yeah, the con is smaller, but honestly, the past few years have been the best for me. I've had a good time and still met new folks. I also get to hang out with friends I only see once or twice a year, so for me MW is a definite destination.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd gotten to spend more time with you! At least had a meal together. But next year for sure, yeah?

Otherwise, yes, a smaller con definitely has some advantages.