Penguicon recap - much fun was had
May. 9th, 2014 11:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dionysus1999Went to Penguicon again this year. Was nice to see some of the same people we see most years in additional to lots of new people. There was a record amount of participants, apparently they had exceeded all time attendance by Friday afternoon. I can report lots of attractive women, some in amazing costumes.
The con didn't feel quite as crowded as in prior years, perhaps I just avoided the stampeded areas, or the hotel was a good choice for spreading people out. Other than the encounter with authority on Friday (it's a loading area, dude, relax) it was relaxing and fun.
I didn't attend many panels, I typically find them boring, even if it's a subject I'm interested in. Did poly speed dating on Friday with friend who had been a participant in my speed dating event about three years ago. It was fun, but two minutes is not enough time to get to know people. I liked that the organizer allowed people who were not hetero normative to choose which gender to meet, so the men got to talk to one gay man and the women encountered a Star Trek officer who was interested in other women. Discussed the Kinsey scale with the gay man.
Apparently moderately famous computer guy was miffed he did not get to meet Star Trek officer, was clueless to the fact she was on the "meeting women" side, introduced himself anyway. I'm going to do my best not to be the clueless old fart when I'm his age.
We made the mistake of not asking for a quiet floor. So instead we ended up just a few doors down and across the hall from the most jumping party room at the con. Decided to roll with it and stayed up until they were done partying at 2 am. I think staying up late allowed us to meet more people than we normally would. Sarah passed out around 1 am, I stayed up wandering and people watching in the lobby.
We also played games in the gaming area Friday and Saturday. Got to play a four person session of Pandemic, we saved the world and met a nice couple. I tried to play classic video games but they were popular, so I merely watched. Also was right on time for a Sherlock murder mystery, but the room was completely filled. The hostess for the mystery was sitting in front of us when we attended the Masquerade, which was held earlier than normal. There was a couple dressed up as Angel and Buffy as Whedon vampires. The hostess had a remarkable resemblance to Faith and a gravelly contralto smoker's voice, though she was dressed steampunk style with a lovely black corset, matched her male companion. Did not participate in the second session of the speed dating, however.
On Saturday I wore my prophet robe with a name badge that said "prophet for hire". Sarah remarked that this costume was pretty good at engaging people. I noted three main reactions. A stare followed by avoidance, avoidance, and engagement. Some people only felt safe enough talking at me as they walked by. Got several requests for pictures, which I was happy to provide, including a lovely female assassin. Her male companion remarked I would not approve of her profession, but prophets frequently hang out with society's outcasts, and her costume was wicked cool.
I was more moral support than assistant for speed dating on Saturday. Decided there were enough men and instead ended up talking to many of the male participants. The way D had set it up was two concentric circles, and there were more men than women, so there were empty chairs, so I entertained the men waiting to talk to other women.
It wasn't clear to some of them that I wasn't looking for a male companion, and one person asked me for my "letter", which all the other participants had. As soon as the Saturday speed date event started two couples started kissing, apparently there were several couples there that night. It made at least one guy miss his chance, he was paying attention to the couple kissing instead of talking to the woman in front of him.
Sarah had a costume malfunction which made her miss my rendition of Bad Reputation by Joan Jett at one of the karaoke rooms. She didn't miss much, no one would mistake me for a singer. She sang Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot. It was convenient to be only several floors away from the Con Suite. Tasty beer and cider as always, the con suite volunteers did a good job. The con suite always smells like stinky nerds by Sunday morning.
As usual, we didn't attend any of the Sunday events. I think we were both ready to have some quiet time after being surrounded in a sea of people. I didn't overindulge, so no hang overs or worshiping of the porcelain bowl. Sarah was lucky enough to have the con coincide with Aunt Flo, but she was a sport about it the whole weekend. I did drink a few Red Bull's on Saturday, but still managed to avoid the caffeine withdrawal headache. I did drink large amounts of water, I'm sure this helped.
Might have to make Sarah a Nun's habit for next year, though Sarah may have other plans. Disciples are welcome to apply. May be asking friends for help with constructing a new costume, to be determined at this point.
We're considering exploring other Midwestern cons so we have a home base to explore other areas. Madison and Minnepolis both have interesting conventions, might have to check them out next year. There needs to be a good fan run con in Florida in February, that would be sweet.
The con didn't feel quite as crowded as in prior years, perhaps I just avoided the stampeded areas, or the hotel was a good choice for spreading people out. Other than the encounter with authority on Friday (it's a loading area, dude, relax) it was relaxing and fun.
I didn't attend many panels, I typically find them boring, even if it's a subject I'm interested in. Did poly speed dating on Friday with friend who had been a participant in my speed dating event about three years ago. It was fun, but two minutes is not enough time to get to know people. I liked that the organizer allowed people who were not hetero normative to choose which gender to meet, so the men got to talk to one gay man and the women encountered a Star Trek officer who was interested in other women. Discussed the Kinsey scale with the gay man.
Apparently moderately famous computer guy was miffed he did not get to meet Star Trek officer, was clueless to the fact she was on the "meeting women" side, introduced himself anyway. I'm going to do my best not to be the clueless old fart when I'm his age.
We made the mistake of not asking for a quiet floor. So instead we ended up just a few doors down and across the hall from the most jumping party room at the con. Decided to roll with it and stayed up until they were done partying at 2 am. I think staying up late allowed us to meet more people than we normally would. Sarah passed out around 1 am, I stayed up wandering and people watching in the lobby.
We also played games in the gaming area Friday and Saturday. Got to play a four person session of Pandemic, we saved the world and met a nice couple. I tried to play classic video games but they were popular, so I merely watched. Also was right on time for a Sherlock murder mystery, but the room was completely filled. The hostess for the mystery was sitting in front of us when we attended the Masquerade, which was held earlier than normal. There was a couple dressed up as Angel and Buffy as Whedon vampires. The hostess had a remarkable resemblance to Faith and a gravelly contralto smoker's voice, though she was dressed steampunk style with a lovely black corset, matched her male companion. Did not participate in the second session of the speed dating, however.
On Saturday I wore my prophet robe with a name badge that said "prophet for hire". Sarah remarked that this costume was pretty good at engaging people. I noted three main reactions. A stare followed by avoidance, avoidance, and engagement. Some people only felt safe enough talking at me as they walked by. Got several requests for pictures, which I was happy to provide, including a lovely female assassin. Her male companion remarked I would not approve of her profession, but prophets frequently hang out with society's outcasts, and her costume was wicked cool.
I was more moral support than assistant for speed dating on Saturday. Decided there were enough men and instead ended up talking to many of the male participants. The way D had set it up was two concentric circles, and there were more men than women, so there were empty chairs, so I entertained the men waiting to talk to other women.
It wasn't clear to some of them that I wasn't looking for a male companion, and one person asked me for my "letter", which all the other participants had. As soon as the Saturday speed date event started two couples started kissing, apparently there were several couples there that night. It made at least one guy miss his chance, he was paying attention to the couple kissing instead of talking to the woman in front of him.
Sarah had a costume malfunction which made her miss my rendition of Bad Reputation by Joan Jett at one of the karaoke rooms. She didn't miss much, no one would mistake me for a singer. She sang Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot. It was convenient to be only several floors away from the Con Suite. Tasty beer and cider as always, the con suite volunteers did a good job. The con suite always smells like stinky nerds by Sunday morning.
As usual, we didn't attend any of the Sunday events. I think we were both ready to have some quiet time after being surrounded in a sea of people. I didn't overindulge, so no hang overs or worshiping of the porcelain bowl. Sarah was lucky enough to have the con coincide with Aunt Flo, but she was a sport about it the whole weekend. I did drink a few Red Bull's on Saturday, but still managed to avoid the caffeine withdrawal headache. I did drink large amounts of water, I'm sure this helped.
Might have to make Sarah a Nun's habit for next year, though Sarah may have other plans. Disciples are welcome to apply. May be asking friends for help with constructing a new costume, to be determined at this point.
We're considering exploring other Midwestern cons so we have a home base to explore other areas. Madison and Minnepolis both have interesting conventions, might have to check them out next year. There needs to be a good fan run con in Florida in February, that would be sweet.
