PRB's (obviously late) Bronycon writeup · 6:14pm Aug 8th, 2013
Yeah, I know, I’m late. But it’s basically an unspoken requirement that I do one of these write-ups, so here we go!
I’ve been to Bronycon before. It was last summer. Bronycon 2012. I knew literally no one. I met one fan of my stories there, and attended some panels, and that was it. The highlight of the 2012 con was getting the signatures of the EQD blogponies and one VA from DHX. And back then, I thought that con was just about the greatest thing ever.
That doesn’t hold a candle to this year. Not even close.
I want to try to keep this fairly concise, but I have a lot of people to name who hung out with me this time, so here we go.
Thursday:
I got to my hotel, where I was sharing a room with Scrooples, a long time friend of mine and editor on the Shipping and Handling audio project, which I co-manage. We went almost immediately to wait in line for our badges, which took over an hour for me, even though I was in the shorter line reserved for panelists, musicians, sponsors, and vendors. In the con center, I met up with a few other internet friends, including ABagOVicodin and EXOLIEF, who are both fellow writers.
After I got my badge, I finally met up with the other Equestria Daily pre-readers for the first time! I went to dinner with Couch Crusader, Aquaman, Noble Cause, Present Perfect, Benman, and Alexstrazsa, and the seven of us had what I can basically describe as a business meeting, discussing the issues with EQD’s fanfiction system and the upcoming changes that will be made to it.
Later that evening, I finally met the S&H audio project’s director, Silentmatten, face-to-face. With him was Gabe, another friend who unfortunately doesn’t have any account I know of for me to link to. That’s ten people, and the con hadn’t even started yet!
Friday:
Friday was a whirlwind of activity. I went shopping in the vendor hall soon after the con opened (and bought a bunch of Derpy related stuff, of course) and then attended the first Voice actor panel. At 1:30, it came time for one of the more exciting moments for me: being on the Equestria Daily pre-reader panel! Alex, Couch, Aqua, Benman, and I answered questions there about EQD’s system, and I think it may have been recorded, so keep an eye out for that.
After the panel, we retired to the Quills and Sofas room, which was basically a fanfiction lounge, open all con for the discussion of fanfics and just pony in general. The pre-readers were joined by a few other authors, including ABagOVicodin again, as well as everyone’s favorite raven-loving Fimfiction titan, The Descendant. The group of us hung out there throughout various parts of the con.
By the way, I owe some people some thanks for including me. I can be a little apprehensive about voicing my opinion sometimes, so as it turns out, although I’ve been working with Equestria Daily for 9 months now, I rarely get into friendly conversation with my fellow pre-readers. I stay out of the way, and so I didn’t expect to be very popular at the convention, because I’ve actually only rarely spoken with any of them except Couch Crusader until this weekend.
What I found instead was that I was immediately welcomed into the group just as easily as any other pre-reader. I went out to three dinners and one lunch with some or all of the pre-reader staff, and had a blast each time. Now I’m left feeling a little guilty that I even considered these guys might not be totally friendly.
If you other pre-readers are reading this, seriously guys, thanks for including me. I guess I really don’t have a reason to be as cautious about using the pre-reader skype chat as I am. I’ll try to drop in and say hi more often!
If you’ve read Couch Crusader’s blog on EQD, you already know the next part. On Friday night, while we were out to dinner, we met Lauren Echo, who turned out to be one of the original singers from the 1980’s version of MLP! (Yes, I was in that group who met her.) I’m not gonna go into detail on this, because a lot of people already have. Check out Couch Crusader’s writeup if you want the nitty-gritty details.
Saturday:
Saturday was an important day for me. Every now and then, our honorable bloglord Sethisto grants a few of the pre-readers a chance to be temporary EQD blog authors to help cover convention info. On Saturday, it was my turn to do a writeup (on the second voice actor panel), and, despite a few internet hiccups and a sudden, unexpected posting of the article, things went ok. Thanks, Seth, for swooping in and adding the stuff I hadn’t finished when the article magically went up without my permission.
Seth also told a few of us pre-readers to visit the panel by Enterplay, maker of the official trading cards, and that proved to be a good move. Enterplay unveiled the official trading card game, and EQD was there to take some pictures and gather info. Seth even arranged for us to have a short, private meeting with the president of Enterplay afterwards!
On Saturday night, I finally got a chance to spend some time with my good friend and pony analyst, BronyCurious. I wish I had a picture to prove that he literally collapsed on the convention center floor when I told him about the trading card game.
Speaking of BronyCurious, he and I are planning to start up our podcast, Golden Oaks Book Club, again. Anyone interested?
Sunday:
Sunday was a little less notable than Friday and Saturday, but I did get to do another writeup of panel coverage for EQD, so that was nice. One of the bigger highlights of the day came at the closing ceremonies of the con, when Lauren Echo, who was only there because of the discussion we pre-readers had had with her two days before, was brought up on stage as a special VIP to sing the theme song from the original MLP show.
After the con, more than thirty fanfiction authors gathered at an Irish pub nearby for one of the biggest dinner parties I have ever attended. (I feel so sorry for that restaurant, though. We didn’t even have a reservation!) Among the crowd were the pre-readers, ABagOVicodin, The Descendant, and a pile of other people I didn’t have the time to get better acquainted with, unfortunately. Regardless, it was a fantastic event.
The whole con was a fantastic event, actually. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had so much fun.
Once it was all over, there was one final event to really top of the whole experience. Seth talked to Couch Crusader and I on skype about how well we did with our panel write-ups, and then offered to let me keep my EQD blog privileges to help with reporting during heavy news times in the future!
Anyone who knows me knows I am a big fan of EQD. I said yes. And perhaps I appeared slightly calmer on skype than I actually was. Just a little. 
I think that about wraps it up. I know I met WAY more people than that, but I just can’t mention every single one. It was great meeting all of you though, and, if my wallet allows, I hope to see some of you at next year’s Bronycon!
~PRB
You did a great job at the convention this past weekend, Pabst! It was awesome getting to meet you, and I'm really glad you had fun covering the convention for EqD. You're one of us, man; own it!
The Tir na Nog invasion on Sunday night was a LOT of fun, and I was excited for the chance to meet you! Didn't even know you were going to be at the con
Darn my introvertedness for not permitting me to get up and shake your hand. :P
1271290
You were at that dinner, weren't you.
I said hello to a couple folks right before I left but I didn't get much time to talk to anyone besides the folks at my table.
So sorry we didn't get to chat, I had multiple places to be Sunday Night!
So, that was BronyCon. I've never been to a con. I'm a little scared, you know, of people and such. But I would go if Watt went...is that a thing that's happening next year? As long as he has his badge I should recognize him...you know, detective skills. I've had training. I mean, well. I was a boy scout. Knew a boy scout. Or that may have been a girl scout...
Also he's yellow and walks on four legs.
1271951
Watt himself wasn't there, but the Voice Actor who plays him in the official audio version of Shipping and Handling was!
1271743
No worries. Like I said, I didn't even know you were in the area till you were standing next to my chair and someone (I think GV maybe?) introduced you to Table 2.
1271985 VAs are demigod harbingers of the true character. Close enough! Also, you were there. Did I mention I really wanted to go because you were there?
But as it turns out...
Had my wisdom teeth out instead.