MLP-MSP 2014 - Con Report and LOTS of Pictures

Best con ever? BEST CON EVER!

Jake, Draft, Chase, and xArcaneSoulx did a fantastic job putting everything together. If you missed MLP-MSP, you missed out, and I really hope you can make it out to Minneapolis next year! We'd love to have you!

Activities started on Thursday night with a security pre-meeting with Jake, Colin, Ian, Levi, and the one and only Spike Firemane. Hectic, but we got everything in place. After that, I met DJ Jack and Chickadee, the registration superstar. Great people, and we got all the badges alphabetized in time. WHOOO!!!!

The con proper started on Friday morning, bright and early. I'd taken the day off to attend (because ponies > work), aaaaaaaaand I ended up doing security for about 9 hours. Enthusiasm continued unimpeded. I was outside the vendor hall most of the day, where Pinkie Pie opened it all up with songs and a shot from her party canon (really!). Lots of standing, but I managed to snap a few pictures with some awesome cosplayers and costumers. I also met Aquatic Neon, and we ended up chatting for a looooong time about background ponies. Got a break Friday night to go to the 21+ cocktail party with Andrea Libman and MA Larson. Best part, though, was getting some time to just shoot the breeze with Chase and talk about the con and the real world outside it. Finished the night with more hanging out and the Aurora Borealis concert, where I go tot see dBPony perform my favorite pony song, Wonderbolt.

Saturday saw two major events. First, I gave my panel, "Making the Most of Minor Characters." Originally, I was told it would be streamed and/or recorded, but that ended up not being the case. Eh, what can you do? I was nervous that nopony would show, but there were LIKE 50 PEOPLE THERE!!! I felt great about the conversation we had, and Tic Tac was there, too, with his awesome Lyra plush. I'd love to refine the topic some more and give it at another con. Let's see if I can make it to one before next year's MLP-MSP.

I had a friend's wedding on Saturday afternoon, but that died down at around 10:15, so I was able to make it back for Aurora Australis! HOLY BUCK YOU GUYS, this was the best con concert I've ever been to. ArtAttack, Automatic Jack, Odyssey Eurobeat, and of course The Living Tombstone. I even got to go onstage for part of his set. It really pays to volunteer (NUDGE NUDGE).

Sunday was the last day of the con (that was only yesterday!?) and the atmosphere was very, very chill, which made the security work a lot easier. Everypony was exhausted, but man, we powered through. Got a signature and picture with Pinkie herself, and the charity auction was a wonder to behold. $8,000 for a charity from a first-year con??? I won a few posters that were signed by the musical artists, and the closing ceremonies were short and bittersweet. I went to dinner with the always amazing Final Draft and a bunch of other staff and volunteers at TGI Friday's, which was a great way to close out the night.

Best part of the con, though? After the closing ceremonies and a little tear-down, Jake invited me down to the bar for a couple beers, where I got to hear the story of how you don't have to be a brony to run a brony convention that bring smiles to hundreds of people. It was great just to chill and reflect on a con well done. I've been involved in fandoms since waaaaay back when Lion King was still the big thing, and the brony community is far and away the most supportive, most positive, and most energetic group of fans I've had the pleasure of associating with. The con staff are brilliant, brilliant people, and I can't wait to help out with MLP-MSP 2015. It's going to be one hell of a con.

Peace,
Vivid

((Other shout-outs, thoughts, and fun times))
*Con Staff: THANK YOU!!!!! Now how can I help with 2015?
*Andrea Libman thinks I smell like a coconut, and she likes coconuts.
*I was a Sapphire-level sponsor. If you've got some extra cash, I highly recommend ponying up. This con is absolutely worth it.
*Aquatic, Babs, and Pepper Sass: Keep in touch. Talking with people like you makes the convention what it is.
*Psycho Dragon Cat: Two Brothers *bro-hoof* TLK panel at next year's con is totes happening.
*The Iron Pony: Why can't I remember your real name????? Cars, mosquitoes, Cali, ponies.... but no name! XD
*Calligraphy: You really made me feel like my contributions were appreciated. Hope I get to work with you again soon!
*White people dancing
*F3nning: "...30 people at the concert." Were those words as delicious as you'd hoped? Thanks for the music lesson!
*Thanks to all that came out to "Making the Most of Minor Characters" and chatted after. I'd never done a solo panel before, and it meant the world that so many people stuck around. If you ever need a reader for your stories, let me know.