BronyCon – What a Journey · 4:52pm Aug 5th, 2014
So I went down to Baltimore over the weekend (I'm typing this in my hostel at the moment in fact), and I went to my first ever convention, BronyCon 2014. I knew that when heading out, what I would experience would be something that I wouldn't able to prepare for. So I decided to head down there after convincing a good friend of mine to join me, and we went to the Con. This friend of mine is someone who I've known as a good friend for twenty years now, and he has called himself a Part-time Brony, since I got him to watch all the episodes and read my stories. If it weren't for him agreeing to join me on a trip down to BronyCon, I would not have come.
I guess I'll give a brief summary of how the whole schtick went for me, I'll focus on the most prominent moments I guess. I have enough stuff to write about to fill more than just a few pages with text, however, I'll stick to the moving moments.
The Day Before: We arrived Thursday, mildly tired, yet quite excited. Once we checked in at our hostel, we decided that we should go and pick up our convention badges right away. It was just around 8:00 PM local time. My first impressions of Baltimore were that it seemed to be a city that has its fair share of run-down buildings. While that creates an atmosphere that might be off-putting to some, my friend and I found it more intriguing than anything else.
So anyway, we made our way to the Convention, about a twenty minute walk, and once we got within two blocks of the convention center, I saw something I had never seen before. I was beginning to walk past numerous groups of other bronies. The atmosphere they brought with them was welcoming and refreshing. As someone who had only ever met other bronies online, seeing a hundred or two enthusiastic bronies walking along in the evening was quite amazing.
We got into the registration hall to pick up our badges and convention maps/guides. When we got there, there were no real lines to speak of, so I went to the section for panelists, and gave them my information. The person helping me input all the information, however, when she went to print it, something must have messed up, and the name tag printed out blank. So I ended up with a fancy, handwritten con-badge.
After that we headed back to our hostel, feeling entirely enthusiastic about the day to come.
Day 1 of the Convention: We got up nice and early, got the free breakfast that's included in our hostel, and set out to the convention. Those few hundred bronies from the night before were only a small taste of the people we saw on the way to the lineup for the opening ceremonies.
We found ourselves in an ever-growing line of people. I looked about trying to spot any of the handful of others I was looking for, but to no luck. However, as we were waiting around in the line, I heard someone who was in the next row behind me call out. “Are you SilentBelle? Like the guy who wrote A Heart of Change?”
To which I nodded and said I was. Turns out this guy had read my work, he didn't have a fimfiction account, but he really enjoyed my story. So I decided to give him the first of my signed copies of Scion of Chaos, which I think amazed him because he had no idea I had brought those. He seemed to enjoy the gift, and I hope it made his convention even better than he had anticipated. What a way to start a convention; meeting someone who is a fan of my work is an utterly surreal experience.
After the opening ceremonies and getting a general feel for the atmosphere and crowds, we decided to see a panel then and go to the vendor hall. I got a plushie and a figurine, both of Sweetie Belle of course. We spent away the morning and early afternoon hours going all over the convention, seeing panels that we thought were pretty interesting. Partway through the day, I decided to stop by Quills and Sofas, hoping to spot a certain Wanderer, however, he wasn't there at the time, on the plus side, I finally got to meet someone else on my list of those I wished to meet up with: Rameslack. It was great to see him in person, and after exchanging a heartfelt greeting, giving him a specifically signed copy of SoC, and receiving a fine picture of the CMC from him, we went our separate ways for a bit. And then, shortly afterward, we ran into each other again, and we decided to join together and explore the convention. After a little while we found a place to have some supper, then got back to the evening portion of the convention.
(He gave me a print of this wonderful picture)
I got around to seeing Wanderer D's first panel and stuck around a little while after it was over to finally meet him in person. After that short meeting, my buddy, Rameslack and I had a few more things that we were aiming to see. I have to note though, that the atmosphere after about 8:00 PM in the Con was different. I felt as though the rhetoric of a few of the panels had changed a bit, and I was mildly irked by a few panelists' word choices, but overall, I enjoyed the more laid-back atmosphere of the evening.
We finished off the night by seeing the worst panel of our whole Con, which I think helped with my building nerves (At least my panel can't possibly be that bad).
Day 2 of the Con: Fully enthused by the amazingly fun time we had during the first day of the convention, we headed out for more of the same awesomeness. And we were not disappointed. There was so much to see, great panels to listen to, and a whole genuine experience to be a part of. Throughout the day, I did my best not to think of the panel I'd be a part of. As something of an introvert, the idea of a public presentation was something I knew I'd benefit from not dwelling upon. So partway through the day, I was watching another writing panel, (CyborgSamurai's IIRC, on fanfiction and its importance within the fandom), and as my friend and I got up to leave, I heard a voice call out from behind me. “SilentBelle?”
I turned to see the other person I really had wanted to meet during this convention: TailsFox88. We welcomed each other and I gave him an autographed copy of Scion, as I had been planning, and he gave me a rather fantastic shirt—You know that image I use for Scion of Chaos? Imagine that image on a T-Shirt. It was great to finally meet him. Shortly after, we headed out of the Convention Center and toward our respective hostels/hotels. We'd be sure to talk again tomorrow, after my panel.
Day 3: I woke up early for the last day of the Con. Shaved, showered, and made myself as presentable as I am able to. After that, I skipped breakfast, so the nerves could do as little damage as they could. About a half hour before my panel, I met up with the rest of our panelists and we touched bases on what we were going to do. As we did so, I met someone who said he enjoyed both SoC and AhoC, so I decided to give him a copy of my book.
Then we arrived at our panel's room where I got to finally meet BikerDash, who I had decided to keep the final copy of SoC for, as he had been trying to find me all through the convention (but it can be really hard to find me at a convention, especially because I don't have a cellphone). It was very moving to see just how much it meant to him in person, not only that, but it calmed my nerves a lot as we waited for our panel to start. I did my best to overcome my nerves, and I think our panel went pretty swimmingly, all in all.
Afterward, I hung out for a bit in Quills and Sofas, and talked to a few people who swung by: Keragon Sharp, it was quite nice to meet you in person, and I wish you the best of luck in your newest writing project. I said goodbye to Rameslack, as he had to leave a little early in order to catch his plane out of America.
Then we played some TSSSF, which is just a very hilarious card game for the open-minded, with TailsFox88. As we played, we laid down some plans to see Washington DC the day afterward, as my buddy and I, as well as TailsFox had never been there.
After that, the day seemed to wrap up all too quickly, and the closing ceremonies were upon us all too soon. With a feeling of awe, wonderment, and sadness, we made our way out of the convention center to find some supper.
Once we got back to the hostel, the bronies who were also staying at our hostel decided to watch a brony documentary, followed by a series of MLP episodes in a row, then we played some more TSSSF. It was a great way to end the convention.
All in all, the Con was more than I could have imagined, mere words cannot do it justice. It's something you really have to experience. I am forever grateful that I ended up coming this year. While being a part of a panel pulled me very effectively out of my comfort zone, I feel that much better for having faced my inherent stage fright and having been able to share even a small bit of my passion with those who were there.
Already looking into what convention I might be going to next year.
Awestruck, tired, and content. Thanks to everyone I met while I was here, and thanks to all who have read this. I'll be keeping an eye for when the panel I was a part of ends up on youtube.
~SilentBelle
BABSCon, obvi.
I'm glad you had such a great time despite being a little out of your comfort zone. Have a great day!
It was awesome to meet you, bro! Next time you should bring a phone, though! We really wanted you on the author dinner and pictures!
Glad to hear you had fun and managed to work out the nerves issue n__n
I'm glad to hear your first convention experience was such a good one.
Man... it was an honor for me as well to have finally met you in person. And I am reading SoC again, this time,in print, which is how I wish EVERY great fanfic could be read.
Someday, I too shall have to have a story printed as a book. I just have a long road ahead to get to the point where I'll have a story worthy of doing so. But you are one of my inspirations to help keep that goal in my mind.
Thank you for that, and I hope to be able to meet you again next year.
It was very nice meeting you there and Im happy that I could tag along with you and your friend for most of the con, it really made the experiance better. Also thanks alot again for the book, (its my favorite thing I got at the con) I hope we meet again someday.
I really enjoyed meeting you and watching your panel. And while I did notice that you didn't say as much as some if the others in the panel, you didn't seem to be nervous up there. So you did a great job, and I hope to see you at Bronycon again next year.
Dagnabit! I didn't find you! Er, not that I noticed anyways. Let me know if you saw me, I was the Solaris with white fur, red hair, white feathery wings and gold accessories. I'm not on like, any social media though and I have no idea what you look like so... you know. But I'm glad to hear you had a good time!
I don't think we actually interacted at all, but I followed you during the panel you were on. :V
Damn, I KNOW we saw each other at some point. Ah well, 10,000 people and you don't even think to check every single name XD
It was a pleasure meeting you at the con, good sir. Now if you will excuse me, I need to catch up on AHoC.
Glad you had a good time.
2345496 Yeah... the day when I have to buy a phone is fast approaching, I think. I'm glad to have been able to hang out with you for the short while that we did though.
AMAZING con! Definitely worth the trip. Way to show those nerves who's boss Silentbelle!