Dana, I'm a big nerd who wants to go to all the Firefly panels all the time. But ooh, Dean Stockwell. He's so cool!

My Platonic fan-party has fans who will still be happy even if they talk to other fans and never get face time with a Big Name.

If PBP had lasted one more year, I probably would have gone to LA for the weekend, but skipped the actual party (still would've gone to pre-party). It got to the point where I was paying a lot to do things like try to find my friends, get crushed if I managed to end up within spitting distance of a VIP, and hold Joss's beer. (Which I guess some people would pay a lot of money to do, but I myself would rather talk to the guy.) ETA: I do not fault PBP Inc for any of these. They are just true things.

I am going to Dragon*Con primarily because it is close enough to me that I can make the trip without going broke (new possibilities of me living with my parents from August to December mean maybe even MORE Dragon*Con money for me). I also hyperventilated because Joss + Southeast = So Unlikely. But I don't think Cons are really my scene - too many lines, not enough food that comes with the ticket.

I would not be lying if I said I had the most fun at the pre-parties for PBP. Plus, in my con-VIP experience, you get hassled by management even if the VIP would like to speak to you. (Or, in Allyson's case where she was just hanging out, ATTACKED by security.) I'd rather have the possibility but no guarantee of talking to a VIP in a real, human way, than the guarantee of standing in line for a long time for an autograph.

I am not completely over being starstruck, but it is so much more about the sharing of fandom for me than it was in the before time in the long long ago (though even then, fans were more fun).

I guess. I don't know fandom budgeting, but it'd seem to me that people who could never afford those fees would like to see each other around when the movie's actually coming out, even without the cast guarantee.

I am these people.

Were Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared Fox shows?

I'm weirded out that Wizard*Con has not announced the Firefly folks despite rampant rumors as to their attending.

It's sooo close, and much more likely for me to get to Philly, but I'm thinking Dragon*Con is the only real possibility for my first con experience. Plus? By then, the Firefly fever will be peaking.

Is anyone who has been to a Wizard*Con willing to recommend it?

But I don't think Cons are really my scene - too many lines, not enough food that comes with the ticket.

Er, not that I'm trying to discourage you from coming, but you know that Dragon*Con is, like, massive? Around 50,000 attendees. It can get cramped.

Plus, in my con-VIP experience, you get hassled by management even if the VIP would like to speak to you.

At Dragon*Con, VIPs will often wander around by themselves without getting hassled. They're very accessible, possibly because there are so many of them. (Some VIPs are, of course, more welcoming of the attention than others, like always.) The only time I can remember being hassled at Dragon*Con was as I was walking across the lobby of the Marriott and trying to get to the elevators and my hotel room, when suddenly some very large bodyguards appeared and shouted at me to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. And as the very large bodyguards boxed me in, James Marsters and his band walked by a moment later.

Since I wasn't planning on throwing myself on James and proclaiming myself his love bunnicula, I thought this was a little much. On the other hand, it wasn't too much because I knew just how scary his fangirls were acting at the convention.

Mostly it's a con where you find yourself eating dinner a table over from Lou Ferrigno, taking a smoke break with Robin Sachs, freaking out Walter Koenig because you have hotel rooms on the same floor and you always seem to be following him like a demented Chekov fangirl, and chatting with Peter David in the elevator a couple times a day. And if you're lucky, Anne McCaffrey almost runs you over with her motorized cart.

Dragon*Con's lines ain't got nothin' on Star Wars Celebration. IJS.

sigh, wish I could make D*C

All the best stories seem to happen on smoke breaks; it's enough to make me consider the Dread Weed.

it's enough to make me consider the Dread Weed.

Shrift was smoking a joint with Robin Sachs? How scandalous!

Also, if I was on the fence about doing the Serenity release party, I mean, this thing kills it altogether.

Can't compete.

I don't think it's competition at all, Allyson. At first, I was considering the Angel Booster Bash, but the money was a big turnoff. Then, D:LA only solidified my feelings that I'd rather spend (lesser) money and go to a relaxed fan gathering like that and meet up with other fans and celebrate the show.

Why should I spend oodles of money to go to an event where I have to feel like my money should "entitle" me to an autograph or photo that potentially involves a process akin to herding cattle through a line? No thanks.

Give me an event like D:LA or W&HAR where I can make new friends or renew acquaintances while sharing in the fandom love for a good cause, and then enjoy the icing on the cake if any VIPs happen to appear.

I don't think it's a matter of exclusivity because different events will draw a different audience, with some overlap.

Reasonably priced events like Dragon*Con do sound appealing. If I could find a good plane fare from Philly and hotel deal, I'd seriously consider it. I'm in the same boat as Beej, hoping that Wizard World Philly works out since that's only about 20-30 minutes away from me. (BTW, I know someone who had a bad experience waiting in line for an Eliza Dushku autograph last year at WW, but I'm not going to let that dissuade me.)

All the best stories seem to happen on smoke breaks

I've met so many people this way. I bummed cloves from Voltaire's roadie! Which isn't impressive at all, but there you go.

Shrift was smoking a joint with Robin Sachs?

Hush, you. This is how rumors get started.

Just forwarded to me by a non-Buffista Mutant Enemy fanatic:

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