Mary Lou Who?

It's Dragon*Con, Baby!

2013-03-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

I got to do some pretty incredible things at this year’s Dragon*Con. The most exciting of which is not going to mentioned in this post. It's an awesome interview, and I'm super excited to show it to you. Coming soon!! Because of the crazy scheduling inherent to the weekend, doing the interview meant I had to miss the annual parade. I had planned to wear Miss Martian from “Young Justice” with my cosplay group, TL;DR, and was sad I didn’t get to participate. But I’d say it was worth it! If you missed the parade too, I highly recommend you watch this great video by the guys at Bleeding Cool!

I was also really excited to participate in Dragon*Con in a new capacity. I’ve always attended this convention as a cosplayer and member of the press, but this year I was also a panelist! I sat on three discussion panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track and had a great time during all three! By Dragon*Con standards, they were pretty small panels, but we had great audiences. Team Dynamics, The Doctors of Stargate, Sexism in Stargate actually came to be highly debated topics. For each panel, the participants included highly knowledgeable members of the Stargate Multiverse Track staff who led quite interesting discussion. Ken Spivey of The Ken Spivey Band joined me as a panelist for the Sexism in Stargate panel as well. He brought a unique point of view as the only male member of that panel and though his interest in philosophy. If you missed it, here’s video from that panel:

Ken gave another great performance during his band’s concert on Sunday afternoon. The only thing I didn’t like about his show was that they needed to be in a bigger room! Quite a line had formed by the time the doors opened, and at least as many fans were turned away as got in. Next year I hope the Brit Track moves the concert so more attendees can experience the Doctor Who themed fun. If you haven’t heard The Ken Spivey Band’s music, you can hear their Celtic Time Lord Rock on Spotify and of course order their CD on Amazon. Here’s a peek at this year’s performance:

While attending panels isn’t generally my favorite thing about conventions (we all know I’m there for the costumes and the parties), two of my most beloved celebrities attended Dragon*Con this year and I got to see them both! As evidenced by my panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track, Stargate has been a big part of my life for a while now. It was the first show I owned on DVD in its entirety, and I’m a Stargate evangelist surprisingly to the delight of my non-geek friends. Richard Dean Anderson, or Colonel Jack O’Neill (also known as my favorite Stargate character), gave a great panel with several other members of the various multiverse casts. He doesn’t do conventions every often, which is why I was so excited to see him. He had some quite interesting points of view on the show’s direction and filming. Robert Picardo, most widely known as The Doctor on “Star Trek: Voyager,” was on that panel as well, and I had no clue how hilarious he was! He was full of quotes and one liners, and really livened up the panel in a way I had never seen before. Get a look at that romp here: http://spacegypsies.com/archives/7874

I also got to see “The X-Files’” Agent Dana Scully, Gillian Anderson! “The X-Files” was my first non-anime fandom, and the first time I learned about “shipping.” Let’s just say it opened a whole new world to my young eyes. For years Gillian Anderson has been a rarity at conventions, so this was not to be missed. She’s been doing mostly theatre since the end of “The X-Files,” but she was particularly excited about a great new project called “The Fall,” due to premiere on BBC Two in April! She told a few stories about her old “The X-Files” days too, which were incredibly interesting to hear. Catch a bit of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET2EmlJUrcA&playnext=1&list=PLuUL7WIBk69Vdcp0je-vNReNkpAV5qGeo&feature=results_main

As most of you know, I worked with Earth Station One for their Dragon*Khan Report leading up to the convention this year. We did one big group broadcast straight from the con. It was super cool finally meeting everyone in person! Those guys are really great, and totally know their stuff. Check out that episode here:

Disclaimer straight from ESO: Like the convention itself, this episode contains hard language, substance abuse, reports of nudity, and intense geekery.

http://erthstationone.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/earth-station-one-episode-127-eso-network-invades-dragoncon-2012/

Though I missed being Miss Martian in the parade, I did get to attend a Young Justice photoshoot! It was super fun to meet other lovers of the series and get some fantastic photos!! I also met another Miss Martian who did the comic version of her outfit. Here we are together:

And here’s a couple more sweet pics!

All three photos courtesy of Danny Hunter.

I’ll see if I can’t rustle up a few other photos from the con and share them with all of you.
All in all, Dragon*Con was a great convention. They always get the best guests and the best attendees. As always, I’ll encourage you to go, both new and old members of the con scene. Do it for the kittens.

Let the Insanity Begin!

2012-08-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

TODAY IS THE DAY, YOU GUYS!

Today I am leaving for Dragon*Con. Because Wednesday is the new Thursday, and all the cool kids will be there. Yes, despite the fact that the convention doesn't technically start until Friday. But who cares?! There's so much to see and do before the con even begins! I'm really looking forward to tonight (ZOMG IT'S TONIGHT) and getting to see my con family for the first time in a while! I plan to stay up late, have lots of drinks, and have a grand old time!
Thursday evening I'll be hitting the sack a little earlier, because I will be appearing on TV on Friday morning!! And yes, I'll be in costume to help promote Dragon*Con. I'm really excited and super flattered that they would ask me to represent them, and I'll be on with some other really fantastic cosplayers, so I'm very much looking forward to it! If you're in the Atlanta area, watch 11 Alive WXIA Friday Mornings!!
My schedule gets a little crazier come Friday and Saturday, but rest assured I'll be out costuming in the day and partying at night! I'll be hitting a few panels, too, seeing as I'm attending as a reporter. :) I hope to get some really great stuff. I'm mostly excited about Richard Dean Anderson (McGyver and Jack O'Neill from Stargate SG-1) and Gillian Anderson (Scully from The X-Files)!!
I'll also be on three panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track! I'm pumped to get to be a panelist. Friday at 2:30, I'll be on "Team Dynamics," where we'll talk about the various parts of a Stargate team, Sunday at 1:00, I'll be on "The Doctors of Stargate," a discussion of the doctors and their fates, and on Monday at 11:30, I'll appear on "Sexism in Stargate," which is pretty much what it sounds like. I hope to see you guys there! :D
Sunday evening Earth Station One will be doing a live broadcast of the 6th episode of their Dragon*Khan Report, which I've been helping host. The location is yet to be determined, but that should be a pretty fun couple of hours! If I remember, I'll let you know where we are so you might be able to be on the podcast!
As a media professional, I have a couple of celebrity interviews lined up, but I don't want to give anything away! Surprises are fun, right?

This is the trip I plan for all year long, and it doesn't seem like it's here! I was up til 3am packing and finishing costumes...it should feel like Dragon*Con time. I think I've just been looking forward to it for so long I can't believe it's actually happening! I'll get excited when we pack the car, I think. Anyhow, I hope to see you guys at Dragon*Con!!!!

NINE DAYS TIL DRAGON*CON

2012-08-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

I wrote a post exactly 9 days before Dragon*Con last year, and here it is again this year. NINE DAYS, YOU GUISE. NINE. There's so much left to do! I got a few things finished this weekend - you know those small things that only take 30 minutes that you put off because they'll be so easy and you have more important things to do? And then before you know it you have 20 of those things and 10 hours worth of work on top of everything else? Yeah, I hate those. But I got several finished this weekend, and bought a couple of things I need. I've made a list of everything that needs to get done, and I think it's actually doable. It won't be easy, and I'll probably be working right down to the wire, but I think I can do it.

Finished costumes:
Captain Shortpants
Natasha Romanoff
Pinkie Pie

Costumes which still need work:
TARDIS
Cersei Lannister
Fleur Delacour
Minerva Mcgonagall
Stargate
Dana Scully
Miss Martian
Yeoman Rand

..............crap.

I'm not sure if I had more or less to do this time last year. GAH!
Plus I've got a mysterious surprise costume I'm considering making. If I have time.
But I'm superduper excited! It's going to be a fabulous time.
I've been working with the Earth Station One guys on a great Dragon*Con prep podcast! Go have a listen!!
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3

I've also got these awesome new business cards to give out at the con! Thanks a ton to Klout and Moo for the box of 50 free cards of my own design! I only had to pay for shipping. I'm really happy with how they turned out, despite my lack of graphic design know-how. The quality of the paper and printing is really fantastic. Definitely ordering from Moo in the future!!

Missing Alpha Gam

2012-07-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things that are most important to you start to fade, and you need a new experience to remind you why you loved them in the first place. I haven't participated with Alpha Gamma Delta in a significant way since I graduated from college in 2010, and I had sort of forgotten why I ever loved it. I think that can happen easily during your last years of college and early years of adult life, if you're not careful. In my case, on top of being burnt out from being on the organization's Executive Council, I had a bit of drama with some of the sisters around my age, and it was easier to stop being around than it was to try to deal with the drama. The last bit of college sorority life I experienced left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, and I had started to forget all the wonderful things the organization had done for me. But that's the great thing about a sorority - it's a lifetime commitment so there are women of every age group still actively involved.

That's what really hit me last week during International Convention. Alpha Gam provides opportunity to really get to know women of all ages, and you already have something in common to start you off. Not many girls I know are friends with women 10, 30, or even 50 years older than they are. And I, and every other Alpha Gamma Delta, have the chance to make those friendships. Some of the most meaningful relationships I have had in my life have been with non-family members who have significantly more life experience than I, and I don't think enough people have friendships like that. At International Convention, I ate dinner with the International Council, sang songs with women from all over the world, and even got to share my experiences with a few collegians. It was so neat to get to know them and their stories. The overwhelming sense of acceptance and sisterhood felt just like the very first time I attended an Alpha Gamma Delta event as a college freshman. I made some really great connections over the course of the week, including getting reacquainted with a few women from my own area. While I love my cosplay friends, sorority sisters are totally different, and it will be great to have women like that in my life again.

The whole point of going in the first place was that I got to sing! Aside from a few mishaps, everything went pretty smoothly. Supposedly someone filmed my songs during Feast of Roses, and I'll post the video as soon as I've got it! Getting to perform for 600 of my sisters really reminded me of how much I love to sing, and how decent I actually am at it! I had forgotten how good singing can make me feel about myself, and I never want to forget that again. Bringing half of International Council to tears just with a song was a really powerful moment. So if you know of any classical or musical theatre gigs in Nashville, send them my way!

I want to say thank you again to the ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta, and especially to the International Council, for welcoming me as the weekend's soloist. It was an amazing experience to participate in Convention at all, let alone the excitement of the Ritual. If you are inclined to ask me back in 2014, I would be honored to say yes.

Earth Station One Episode 118

2012-07-05T13:33:00.002-07:00

I'm on Earth Station One again this week! This time around I'm featured in The Geek Seat. Go hear my geeky answers by clicking the image!

Alpha Gamma Delta International Convention

2012-07-05T10:28:00.002-07:00

Some of you who didn't know me in college might not know that I'm in a sorority. Yes, even geek girls can join sororities. I'm a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, and joining was probably the best decision I made in college. I was pretty shy my freshman year, and I likely wouldn't have left my dorm room a whole lot without Alpha Gam there to get me out of my shell. A lot of you might think of that as "buying your friends," and that's fine. All that means is you don't actually understand what dues are used for, and I will not address that argument here. While it's not a huge part of my life anymore, I still occasionally attend alumnae dinners and parties, and just two weeks ago had a beach day with some of my sisters. Greek life helped teach me how to party, too, not gonna lie, which has come in super handy now that I attend conventions regularly. I even had to teach a few of my geek friends how to play beer pong back in March. (I know, right?!) I served as Ritual Coordinator and Vice President Scholarship while at my university, and those positions taught me a lot about respect and leadership; lessons that still prove valuable today.

In two weeks I'll be attending Alpha Gam's International Convention in St. Louis. International Convention is held in a different location every two years, and alumnae and collegiate members of the fraternity come together for training and sisterhood. I've always wanted to go but because of money and scheduling have never before had the opportunity. I've been asked to be the soloist for all ritual events over the course of the weekend. While some of our ritual is secret, some isn't, and most of it involves music. The pieces are beautiful and heartfelt, and they really remind me of college friendships. I'm very excited and deeply honored to have the opportunity to not only sing these songs again, but to sing them for so many of my Alpha Gam sisters. It's going to be an amazing opportunity.

If you're in college now, or will be soon, I encourage you to consider making Greek Life part of your experience. It's not for everybody, and each campus has a different atmosphere, but you might be surprised. I'd never considered going Greek before university, and now I can't imagine my collegiate experience any other way.

Lots of Alpha Gams blog - check them out here at the Alpha Gama Delta Blog Network!

Earth Station One Episode 116

2012-06-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

I'm on this week's episode of the Earth Station One Podcast! This one is all about Doctor Who companions. Go have a listen - they do great work!

Click the image! Do it!

Interview with the Green Ranger

2012-06-20T14:15:00.001-07:00

This year at MTAC, I got to sit in on a press conference with Jason David Frank, or the Green Ranger! I even asked a few questions...check me out being all awesome and stuff. Anyways, go get a look at the interview over on SpaceGypsies!

ConGlomeration 2012

2012-06-18T12:26:00.002-07:00

If you guys haven't seen it yet on SpaceGypsies, here's my review of ConGlomeration 2012!

MTAC and ConGlomeration were excellent back-to-back weekends. While MTAC was in Nashville, TN, ConGlomeration was held April 13-15 in Louisville, KY. You’ve already heard what I thought about MTAC, and ConGlom was a stark contrast. The average attendees’ age was probably twice what it was at MTAC and it definitely made for a different experience. The parties, for instance, were much cooler. Friday night I attended the Xerps party and got to try what they call “skippy,” a concoction of Keystone Light and who knows what else that’s sure to make your evening turn out either really well or really badly. Regardless of the manner of your night, you’re unlikely to remember much of the experience. Unfortunately for us, Friday evenings’ parties got shut down pretty early due to noise. We hit the hay in preparation for the following night.

"The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword"

We spent the majority of Saturday evening atBarfleet’s party. They’re a pretty awesome organization which uses Starfleet’s organizational structure in an effort to throw awesome convention parties around the Midwest. I must say they accomplished their mission at ConGlom! They served four different colors of punch (I went to bed with an entirely blue mouth…) and kept the music going to late into the night. Because of a friend’s connection to the group we were allowed to stay for the after party. It’s a good thing, too, because I wasn’t ready to go to sleep! We also stopped by a Ghostbuster themed party, which didn’t have as many people, but definitely provided some fantastic drink options. While I didn’t try a sample of each (though that was actually on the poster-sized menu), I had something made with root beer and cinnamon whiskey, which changed my life. A.MA.ZING.

As I expected, the Masquerade was the prime event of the weekend. For such a small convention, there were some surprisingly excellent costumes! Three members of my cosplay group, TL;DR Cosplay, actually won Best in Show! Dorian, Courtney, and Cy dressed as characters from the most recent Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Other winners included Arwen from The Lord of the Rings and Codex from The Guild. After the costumes had been presented, the judges began to rate each costume. Meanwhile, Mystic Hips Belly Dance performed for the audience. I especially enjoyed their use of comedy and geek items, including severed heads, a bottle of rum, and a bat’leth. One woman even performed with a live snake!

Codex from "The Guild"

I found only a few negatives to this convention, the most prominent of which was its people-to-space ratio. The Louisville Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center was far too large for the number of attendees. We had to walk almost the full length of the hotel just to get to the conference center and panel rooms, usually passing attendees of the two other conferences being held at the same time. The hotel has a very strange layout and made our first hours there pretty confusing. I wasn’t a big fan of the location, but the convention staff were great. Apparently physically obtaining a media badge is just always going to be a hiccup in my convention weekends, because the folks at the registration table looked at me like I was from Mars, just like the volunteers at MTAC did. They called the woman in charge of registration though, and she knew exactly who I was from our e-mail correspondence. She gave some instructions and I was soon given my badge, which ended up saying “program participant,” rather than “press.” Despite all that, they had great attitudes and were happy to help with anything we needed the rest of the weekend.

Belly dancing with a bat'leth? Suprisingly graceful!

While ConGlom featured a wide range of panels, some of the things I found most interesting were ongoing. First of all, the game room was really great. It was probably better attended than anything else at ConGlom and hosted every analog game I could think of. There was also a surprising number of young children at the convention, due in part, I’m sure, to KidCon, a room completely dedicated to entertaining ConGlom’s youngest guests. It featured everything from visits by the convention’s guests of honor, to storytelling games, to crafts. I think more conventions should feature not only child-friendly programming, but child-intended programming, and I applaud ConGlom for rising to the challenge.

This convention also featured a fantastic dealer room. There were all sorts of items I’d never seen before, and a wide variety of fandoms represented. In the middle of the room was ConGlom’s art show and silent auction, which had some lovely pieces. I almost caved and bought a TARDIS light switch cover, but decided my TARDIS dress, phone cover, and tattoo were probably enough. I was surprised, though, by the level of craftsmanship and talent present at such a small convention. Were I a collector, I would have been delighted.

All around, ConGlom was a great small convention. It had awesome parties, cool people, quality costumes, and beautiful art. I’d definitely recommend it as a low key geek-away-from-home.

Costuming Photos

2012-05-31T07:46:00.003-07:00

Hey guys! Just thought I'd post a few pics of my favorite costumes. For more details on my costume shenanigans, "like" my Facebook page!

Miss Martian from "Young Justice"

Ceremonial Princess Leia from "Star Wars Episode IV"

Fem!Malcolm Reynolds from "Firefly"

Minako from "Sailor Moon"

Sailor Venus from "Sailor Moon"

The TARDIS from "Doctor Who"

The TARDIS v.2 from "Doctor Who"

The TARDIS v.3 from "Doctor Who"

The SUV from "Torchwood"

Also, this is officially my 100th post! So yay me! :D

MTAC Review

2012-05-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

as seen on SpaceGypsies

This year’s MTAC theme was Omega, or the end of the world. Though many of us did party hardy while attending theconvention, we all seemed to have survived. That’s no doubt, in part at least, to MTAC’s new home, the Renaissance Nashville Hotel and the Nashville Convention Center! While their sister convention, Geek Media Expo did themselves a disservice in their most recent hotel selection, MTAC hit the nail on the head. The Nashville Convention Center was a fantastic location for the ever growing event. A convention center? Who knew!

Shoppers in Artist Alley

Regular attendees of MTAC know and have nightmares about its trademark crowded hallways and teenager infested corridors. It was always a drag for cosplayers because pictures weren’t allowed to be taken in hallways because of bottlenecking. Too much room, however, can be just as awkward. The Nashville Convention Center was just the right size for MTAC Omega.

MageTV Interviewing a convention attendee

While a major event for me is usually the Cosplay Contest, this year I attended the Cosplay Sit-Out. This event is for those either uninterested in the Cosplay Contest, or perhaps simply uninterested in waiting in line for 3 hours in order to get a seat. Regardless, I actually helped present this panel, led by amazing cosplayer Dorian Bugg. Dorian, myself, and several other panelists discussed the ins and outs of American cosplay vs Japanese cosplay, our costuming pet peeves, and anything else cosplay related. I admit I learned more than I taught! Dorian has a wealth of knowledge about Japanese tradition, fashion, and fandom in general and it was really eye opening to hear how my favorite hobby works in other countries.

Our panel room, however, presented a bit of a problem. For whatever reason the Cosplay Sit-Out was scheduled in an area open to the rest of the convention. This location made it very difficult to have discussions with audience members,

Part of the Cosplay Sit-Out Audience

since all the noise from the entire convention flooded in. This panel is traditionally held in a closed in space where it’s easy to pull up YouTube videos, show pictures, and generally horse around without interruptions. We were, however, not provided with a projector, or internet access, despite having requested both in writing long in advance. We never found out if this was an oversight or perhaps something else, but despite our requests to the guy in charge of the microphones, our two hour panel was left for its duration with none of the materials its presenters had requested. Taking care of panel participants may be a place which could use some improvement at this convention. Regardless of the difficulties, the Cosplay Sit-Out was a success! Everyone we talked to enjoyed the event and hoped to skip the Cosplay Contest with us again next year.

Speaking of difficulties, getting my Press Pass was a major undertaking. I was instructed to pick up my badge Friday evening from the Registration Table. I arrived a little later than I had intended, but well before Registration closed. No

Me looking all official in my hard-earned Press Badge

one at the table seemed to know what I was talking about, and once someone arrived who did, she didn’t have the materials she needed to check me in. The Press Passes were somewhere else, as was the list of expected Media Guests. If not for a kind friend of a friend who happened to be a higher up on staff and was willing to provide me with a Visitor Pass for Friday evening, a 20 minute ordeal could have kept me waiting all night. I got my badge with ease the next morning from someone well equipped and informed. I haven’t heard of any other problems with Registration; mine may have been an isolated incident.

I would like to say, however, MTAC’s Director of Media Relations, Tara Ptacek, handled herself and her job extremely well. She gave members of the Press clear instructions and kept us well informed on the weekend’s happenings. She set up interviews and press conferences with available guests, and I was impressed with her ability to handle so many things and people at once.

Other than the Cosplay Sit-Out, highlights for me included the Japanese Fashion Show and a press conference with Jason David Frank. The Fashion Show featured men and women modeling various styles from Japan, and told a little bit about each look. I modeled my favorite Japanese fashion style, Dolly Kei. The press conference was certainly an interesting experience. I never really watched Power Rangers, but I am a casual martial artist, so I was interested to see what the Green/White Power Ranger MMA Fighter Extraordinaire had to say about that. Highlights from the hour long press conference will be posted soon.

Overall, the convention was great. The rave was just as crazy and jam packed as usual, and Artist Alley brought a whole new level of talent. And the new location made it that much easier to see it all! I’m absolutely looking forward to next year’s event, and you should too!

Yeah, we dressed up as My Little Pony. Wanna fight about it?

Harry Potter Land, MTAC, and ConGlom!

2012-04-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

You might remember about a year ago my friend Krystal went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and I dragged about every bit of info about it from her. Well guess what?? I WENT TOO.
Just two months ago I was there! At Hogwarts! It as one of the most amazing things ever. For reals.
Anyhow, I wrote an article about it for SpaceGypsies, so you should totally go check it out!
You'll find it here.

Two weeks ago was MTAC (review coming soon), and the weekend after that was ConGlomeration. This was my 7th MTAC (when did I get so old?????), but my first time at ConGlom! And I'm super excited about both!
At MTAC we cosplayed Young Justice, Ouran High School Host Club, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. ConGlom was MLP and Doctor Who. Gotta get back to your roots sometime!

I'm still writing my review of ConGlom, but it was definitely a relaxacon. Parties and little to no panel time. Which, to be honest, is fine with me. Here's a few pics from my recent adventures...

MTAC Omega

Lookin' official in my Press Pass, courtesy of SpaceGypsies

Yeah, we dressed up as My Little Pony. I don't care what you say, that show kicks ass.

Ouran High School Host Club!

Rockin' the Cosplay Sit Out!

Miss Martian has a new wig! What do you think??

Whoville!

2012-02-29T14:11:00.001-08:00

I recently went to Islands of Adventure, and believe it or not this is the only replica if Whoville I could find! Mary Lou Who? Cindy Lou Who? Get it? Yeah I'm a dork...

It's 2012!

2012-02-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

Guess what, guys? It's 2012! And I haven't posted yet. Bad Mary.
I'd like to invite you to friend me on facebook, where I post most of my costuming photos and such. Yay!

I'd also like to let you know what I've got coming up. I recently attended MegaCon in Orlando, FL. It was a great convention, though a long drive! Next up will be MTAC, right here in Nashville. I can't believe I'm going over a month without attending a convention! It's going to be weird. Anyhow, I've got lots going on and am hoping to update you soon! I love and miss you guys! Here's to getting the blog going strong again. :)

Team Rory!

2011-12-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, so, I love Rory Williams.
There. I said it.

I may not love Steven Moffat era Doctor Who, but I love Rory.
So....my amazing friends over at Geekcetera have designed a T-Shirt at my suggestion! Introducing the new "Team Rory" t-shirt!

They've got some other awesome Doctor Who stuff, just in time for Christmas.
For 10% off any item now through Christmas, use the discount code MaryLouWho!

Go buy a t-shirt or Rory will kick your ass.

Rory Williams is the new Chuck Norris

Geek Media Expo, Volume 3

2011-11-30T10:06:00.001-08:00

Ok, guys! This is my last convention review of the year! Then I promise I’ll write about other things besides how much fun I have geeking out with other nerds.

Geek Media Expo is here in Nashville, TN and I’ve been attending since it began in October 2009. It’s your basic sci-fi, gaming, fantasy and general geek convention, but it has a special place in my heart as it was not only my first non-anime convention, but it was also the place I found my people. If you haven’t read my Speak Out With Your Geek Out post over on Space Gypsies, check that out here.

So it’s all come full circle for me – my first year in the convention circuit. But before I get all sentimental and off track, let’s get back to GMX.

This year’s convention featured a wide array of programming including a steampunk exhibition, gaming stars, and even 80’s icons. What The Cast, a popular geek comedy podcast hosted by the folks behind Dragon*ConTV, recorded its 100th show live at the event. Check that out here.

The weekend was saddened, however, by the recent passing of one of its most well known members, Ryan Jones. Ryan was an active member of the 501st Legion and the spitting image of David Tennant when dressed as the Tenth Doctor. Ryan’s Army, an organization helping raise money for his medical treatment, hosted a memorial service Saturday afternoon. People from all over attended to celebrate the life of this amazing young man and remember his impact on the geek community.


The TARDIS ships it, and so do you.

The room where the service was held was the meeting place for Whovians throughout the weekend, as it housed a locally built TARDIS; the same one you might have seen at Dragon*Con. It certainly added flavor to my favorite event of the weekend which was the Rift Rapture Waltz, a 1940s themed dance featuring a live swing band. All kinds of geek media happens in the 40s – Call of Duty, Bioshock, even episodes of Torchwood and Doctor Who. Classic World War II posters decorated the walls and contestants from GMX’s Miss Pin Up Contest swung their way across the floor. There was even a combined performance by Samantha Newark of Jem and the Holograms and 80’s pop idol Tiffany. I almost thought the boys really might be going to war!

Bob and Carl: Sci-Fi Janitors made an appearance, as did Ellen McLain, (voice of GLaDOS in the video games Portal and Portal 2), and the Apparition Abolishers, a group of steampunk costumers and prop makers. They’re sort of a steampunk version of the Ghostbusters, if you couldn’t already tell. The Apparition Abolishers hosted a steampunk exhibition, featuring “curious contraptions and fantastical oddities,” and the “Clocktease Burlesque Show.” For more on the Apparition Abolishers and all the steampunk sights they have to offer, go here.

Don't think you guys have seen the finished Leia gown...

As with Dragon*Con, GMX is definitely a party convention. The 501st hosted their usual amazing shindig, as did Momocon. If you missed the parties, you simply weren’t looking hard enough!

Finding some of the panels, though, was another story. This was GMX’s first year at the Milennium Maxwell House Hotel, and I pray it’s their last. It’s a ten story hotel, with the main ballroom on the tenth floor. That’s all well and good, except all other panels are split between the first and second floors, making the elevator experience reminiscent of the Hyatt at Dragon*Con. Well, maybe it wasn’t all that bad, but it certainly wasn’t pleasant, especially with the stairs only allowing entry to the 3rd and 5th floors. Those arriving early to events in the 10th floor ballroom were forced to wait in the tiny 10th floor lobby, and were soon backed into the elevators, making the line for that event continue all the way down on the 1st floor. It was…chaos, to say the least.

Look at that Badassery!
Photo by MageTV

One of the things I’ve enjoyed best about GMX in recent years is that it is a small convention. It has, until this year, been held in the Opryland Radisson, a three story hotel with the main ballroom as a central lobby area. All rooms opened onto the main space. This made for easy access to panels and parties, because all one had to do was look around the walls and see where people were congregating. I don’t know all the details about why GMX left the Opryland Radisson, but I ask them to remember that the layout of the convention hotel matters. Some hotels are simply ill equipped to host a science fiction convention, and the Milennium Maxwell House is one of them.

Besides that point, GMX was a great convention. I wouldn’t call it strictly a “relaxicon,” but it certainly won’t tire you out like

Dragon*Con will. It’s a good way to round out the convention season because it’s really what you make it. You can treat it as a relaxicon and have just as much fun as someone who attends panels all weekend. This year’s convention had some super guests, awesome events, and up-all-night parties, with attendance increased dramatically from last year. If you live anywhere near Nashville, definitely add it to your list for next year, because I only see it growing. I’ll be there, and so will all the cool kids!

Also, check out this great video footage my friend Gregg took at GMX!

Dragon*Con vs Comic-Con

2011-10-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

So, apparently I'm a little behind. I haven't posted about Dragon*Con yet.

Well here it is. The Dragon*Con post.
Well, the Dragon*Con vs Comic-Con post.

I've also got a few other things coming up concerning Dragon*Con, so get excited! These include:
Awesome photos
More Fatshirt Kirk funtimes
And best of all........my interview with Mark Sheppard! That's right, sci-fi guest star extraordinaire. So yeah. There you go. Read on!

I told you earlier this year I was planning to write a comparison piece as a first time attendee to both Comic-Con and Dragon*Con. Now that I’ve been, I’m hesitant to write it. They’re so different, I don’t really feel a comparison is possible!

I think the main difference is people’s purpose for attending. Both have loyal fans and followers who have attended their respective event for years, even decades. I felt the purpose of Comic-Con was to see your favorite celebrities in action, secure autograph opportunities, and take part in a little bit of stardom. It’s like a geek’s portal into Hollywood. If you read my article about Comic-Con, you know how exciting this was for me, and all the amazing stars I got to see in person. But because it’s a portal into Hollywood, there’s a substantial “industry” presence. There are a lot of non-geeks in attendance, who are looking to network and otherwise advance their careers. Of course I saw this at Dragon*Con as well, but from what I could tell, most of the industry people were geeks too. I found that the attendees at that convention were all geeky, rather than the distinct nerd/non-nerd distinction I saw at Comic-Con. Dragon*Con is really a convention run by fans for fans. The purpose of Dragon*Con seemed to be fun in all capacities, from meeting fellow geeks to taking part in interesting panels, not solely the thrill of meeting a favorite celebrity.

Because of the differences in purpose, the dynamic at each convention varies greatly, as do the actual activities. At Comic-Con, I waited in line. A lot. And I got used to it. Hanging around doing nothing is just part of the experience. After waiting in line, every panel is very similar to every other panel, with the subject matter and guests simply changed. At Dragon*Con, however, if someone is doing nothing, it was because that’s what they feel like doing. Waiting in line comprised a surprisingly small percentage of my time. What panels I did attend were all very different; some were led by celebrities in a question/answer format, others were moderated by fans who wanted to discuss their ideas and theories about a particular subject.

When there wasn’t a panel I wanted to attend, there was a lot more opportunity for meeting geeks than I experienced at Comic-Con. The presence of several bars in close proximity to one another probably helped a lot. Alcohol has a major presence at Dragon*Con. While I’m sure there are big parties and other events at Comic-Con, they aren’t really a part of the daytime festivities. At Dragon*Con, people are drinking all day long. And they’re sleeping in the very same hotel where they’re doing their drinking, so why not?

One of my favorite aspects of conventions is seeing other people’s costumes and showing off my own. While there were a few great costumes at Comic-Con, I must say I was underwhelmed. I guess I figured the biggest convention in the world = the best cosplay in the world, but I was wrong. There were more cosplayers at Dragon*Con, and they were significantly better costumers than most of those I saw at Comic-Con. If you costume, or if you want to costume, Dragon*Con is your destination.

I suppose I’d say Comic-Con is business event, and Dragon*Con is a party. Both were intensely enjoyable in their own way and had a plethora of activities. You definitely have to make choices though – there simply isn’t enough time to do everything. Having been to both events now, I know better what to expect for next year and can definitely manage my time better. Both were amazing, and I’ll definitely be attending Dragon*Con every year for the foreseeable future. If I get another opportunity to make the trip out to California for Comic-Con, consider it done!

If I had to choose a favorite, though, I’d probably say it was Dragon*Con. But that’s ONLY because the socializing and costuming aspects of conventions are the most attractive to me. Both definitely had strongsuits, and areas in which they out did the other. And both will certainly appeal more strongly to different types of people. But all in all, they were both amazing experiences and I’m extremely lucky to have been able to attend.

Two Best Friends

2011-08-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

You all know Fatshirt Kirk from such adventures as...

Comic-Con 2011

and

the HP7 Premiere

Well now...

He's got a friend!

Meet Admiral Ackbar. Kirk's newest companion!

Follow their adventures on their Tumblr!

Dragon*Con shenanigans will soon ensue, along with Ackbar's lady, The Patchwork Pirate!

Leia's Dress Update

2011-08-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last night I got a lot done on Leia's dress! I still have to put in the bodice lining and attaching the bodice to the skirt, and then I'll be done! Well, except a ton of hemming....

I've also chosen what spray paint I'm going to use for the belt. So that's good!! haha.

My friend Allan helped me make four new chevrons for my Stargate costume. I've got to texture and seal them, and then put them on the outfit!

Whew. Still so much left to do. But tonight I hope to finish Leia's hairpiece and put the closures on Cersei's bodice. And start on the boning. omg.

Plates are done!

2011-08-23T12:17:00.001-07:00

The metal plates for Leia's belt are finished!!

Prototype for Leia's metal belt plates

2011-08-23T08:31:00.001-07:00

Now to make 5 more...

Nine days 'til Dragon*Con

2011-08-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

That's right. NINE DAYS.
I am so not ready.

I might have been ready, but my parents suddenly decided to come into town this weekend. So my sewing time is basically cut in half.
Yeah.

I love them and want to see them, but gah!!!

So, I'm going to post my costume progress to help me keep track of what I still need to do. *hopefully* this will help, and not actually make me take more time....

Hopefully you're interested, too! :P

Most of the remaining work is on the Ceremonial Leia and Cersei costumes.

Cersei's underdress, corset, and overdress are constructed, but not hemmed. I also need to add boning and closures to the bodice. Pics soon, I hope. :)

The pieces for Leia's dress are cut and serged. I just need to do the actual construction, and hem everything. Hemming is such a bitch.

Basically, Leia's dress is three dresses in one. Which makes it so you can't see through the whole thing, but is also SUPER annoying.

Today I'm working on Leia's belt. I've tested four different silver spray paints on the leather, and I think I've chosen one. I have to wait for it all to finish drying, but I think I know which I'm going to use. So that's yay! But I still need to cut out all the metal plates, draft and cut the actual belt, and construct everything. Need to get my butt in gear!!!! Rawr.

Pics soon. I'll have to post them from my phone, so they'll be in smaller posts. But they'll be here soon.

Wish me luck!!!

Comic-Con Review!

2011-08-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

Just a few thoughts from Comic-Con. For a more detailed analysis...http://www.spacegypsies.com

&amp;lt;3

Comic-Con Wrap-Up

2011-08-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! So I don't have a Comic-Con video up yet.....and I can't do anything but apologize for that. I will make one. Soon. I have, however, written an article about Comic-Con for Space Gypsies! Go check it out, and let me know what you think!

Also, last weekend I attended Whedonfest, put on by Whedonites United. I had a great time and won 1st place in my category in the costume contest! Check out my Lady Mal AKA "Captain Short Pants" costume over on my twitter - tab at the top of the page! I had a great time at Whedonfest, and encourage you to attend next year! We played Whedon trivia games, watched Serenity and Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog, and lots of other awesome stuff! It was part of Can't Stop The Serenity charity events benefiting Equality Now, Kids Need to Read, and our local charity, New Leash on Life. We had a great time and helped make the world better, too! So all around a good weekend. <3 and miss you guys!!

Time to Wake Up

2011-07-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm home from Comic-Con. The dream is over.

I'll be doing a piece for Space Gypsies and a wrap-up video as soon as I can, but for now there's just this.

I feel like I've been gone for ages! It's weird to be back to real life.
The trip certainly had its ups and downs, but it was truly amazing. Comic-Con was...I guess as I expected it. Though I really didn't know what to expect at all.

I don't even know what to say! haha. I'll tell you all as soon as I can make a video. Though that may be a few days because of my schedule:

Thurs:
8-5 Work
5-6:30 Errands
6:30-8 Taiji
8-10 Errands/Finish Costume for Sat

Fri:
8-5 Work
6-10 Work (other job)

Sat:
8-5 Work
6-10 Work (other job)
10-2 Cosplay Party!

Sun
8-5 Work
6-8 Make Video???

BLAH, THINGS ARE CRAZY!
I admit, I did not miss this!! Haha.