• Member Since 22nd Nov, 2014
  • offline last seen March 16th

TheDizzyDan


I'm CreepyPastaSalad and Sensuous Sonority on YouTube, and I perform audio readings.

More Blog Posts493

  • 134 weeks
    Some major personal updates

    I'll get right to the point: I got a new job! :pinkiehappy:

    While I enjoyed my previous work, it was mostly thoughtless data entry and wasn't even close to full-time. I have clawed my way out of the welfare trap.

    Read More

    5 comments · 356 views
  • 158 weeks
    Progress Report #2, and a Question

    Question first: Does anybody know what happened to Swift Blade Productions? I could've sworn when I trailed off that they were a rising audio reading channel. Now I can't even find them on YouTube. :rainbowderp:


    Progress Report

    Read More

    3 comments · 362 views
  • 158 weeks
    Progress Report #1

    Read over fic for consideration of next project. Time 0:34.

    Request permission to voice above. Time: 0:05.

    Seek image for above. Time: 0:15

    Read More

    0 comments · 255 views
  • 169 weeks
    Merry Christmas and Happy Holliday

    I wish there was more I could say that I haven't said fifty times previously. I miss this place and wish I could be back to work on here. I hope you're all well.

    18 comments · 272 views
  • 178 weeks
    Howdy, all!

    I'm curious if anyone has plans for this Hallow's Eve. I don't have much worked out for it yet myself.

    6 comments · 238 views
Aug
5th
2019

TheDizzyDan's Adventures at (the Last) BronyCon 2019 · 10:55pm Aug 5th, 2019

The story of my adventures at BronyCon 2019, which occurred over the past few days, is, in truth, a tale intersecting those of many people besides myself. However, other than for those I attended the convention with ( ), my place is no more prominent than in a footnote on a seldom-frequented page.

We stayed at a La Quinta hotel, outside the city. Wednesday evening, we pre-registered for the event and were literally one of the last groups permitted to enter the line --somewhere around 9 PM or so-- while the end of the registration window was 10. We didn't get pre-registered until about 10:20 or so. That evening, we ate at the Irish pub Tir Na Nog, where I had some delicious shepherd's pie that scalded my mouth.

The long line for pre-registration was a prelude. Due to this being the last iteration of BronyCon, more people attended. Lines were lengthy. Getting in line 50 minutes early was actually just getting into line in any real sense. As there were only a few events I desired to attend and there's only so much standing in line I can withstand in a few days, I made some choices.

In all, I attended two panels across the four days. The first day, I attended the Mad Libs panel. It was amusing and they took one of my words (saucy); however, their selections from the audience were a little heavy on the memes, yet, despite the fact, when they asked for a period of time, they overlooked my suggestion of the word "fortnight."

On Friday, I attended Hooves Line Is It Anyway? with and a blue-haired acquaintance named Siri I'd made earlier that day. After spotting a person wearing a Shrek head, I broke out into "All Star" by Smashmouth and ended up getting the lobby of the building to sing along.

This event was a little funnier but with much less audience participation and a lot more cringing as the improv inexperience of the performers showed through at moments. There was also a couple cosplaying as Maud Pie and Bulk Biceps that proposed on stage. Kinda shoehorned in, and when the cameras shifted back to the "hosts," you could still see them kissing and hugging behind the stage because the camera people apparently couldn't get them out of the shot without it being obvious. :rainbowlaugh: :rainbowlaugh: :twilightblush:

So! How the hell else did I spend my time? There was very little room for more players in the video games area, and the tabletop games area was also crowded. My companions were mostly interested in the writing-related panels, and I respectfully declined to wait in line with them for those events. The Quills and Sofas room, which had a few writers in it, from what I could gather, was probably where I should've hung out, but I had no interest in the crafts going on there.

Instead, I engaged in a horrifying set of activities: walking around, standing around, sitting down, and mingling with people.

I learned my lesson Thursday: I needed to bring something to do and have a place I could ensnare people. The first day, I had some luck interacting with strangers I saw standing around or waiting in lines. However, it quickly exhausted my inner introvert to initiate several of these conversations, and I brought my business cards with me, so I didn't want to seem like a scummy self-promoter there.

So, for Friday and Saturday, I brought a game I brought to play with my companions at the hotel: Dungeon Roll.

I did not get to play it with my companions at all, or with anyone else at the convention. However, I did play it by myself.

My strategy wasn't foolproof. Most people were inside; that's where the action, the people, and the air conditioning were. Outside on the upper floor balcony were occasional emergency vehicle sirens, fewer people (although among them many smokers), warm breezes, and occupied tables.

I sat alone at a table on a shaded balcony on the third floor of the convention center. My seat at the table faced a set of automatic sliding doors to and from the building and was near a path to another part of the balcony. I could entertain myself with my game and look out for anyone seeking to sit down, for tables and chairs were often occupied outside. I was but one young man playing a dice game. I stayed off my phone whenever possible so as not to look like I was avoiding people by being out there. I was but one man at an eight-person table, approachable, with a friendly voice. I would only go back inside if my companions needed me, or I needed to get some water or use the facilities.

It was surprisingly effective. I easily bored myself tired of my Dungeon Roll game, and several times I had to move when a crowd came outside and made my base less than attractive to fellow escapists, but I remained vigilant. It would take a genius's capacity to recall the names and Pony-nyms people who "found" me out there, but I got some business cards and met a lot of really nice people that way. Some people did just want to smoke in peace, and my chairs were there for their seating, but it really worked out well. My game itself was a talking piece. I only found two people who'd played it before.

Before I discuss some of the highlights of those interactions and those that occurred aside from being out there, I should mention something else.

Friday, I had the pleasure of encountering , for whom I've done an audio reading. It was nice to meet at least one author in the flesh for whom I've voiced something. In addition, I met WishyWish just before I got to sign up for the first Hold 'Em tournament of the convention.

I was one of the people originally seated at the tables, and I did surprisingly well for myself, having never played an actual hand. In fact, I was one who remained among the last few tables (when lines were 1400/700 while the original buy-in was 3000). I, and a gentleman known as "TACOCAT," defeated everyone at our table, including some experienced players, after having learned the game's mechanics from Red Dead Redemption (me) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (TACOCAT). After moving to another table with obviously more experience players, he and I both went out on the same hand, oddly enough. However, I had been so utterly surprised and satisfied with my play that I was uncontrollably shaking. There was a point where I think I had at least five times my original buy-in. :rainbowderp: Didn't get far enough to win anything, but I wouldn't have trade the exhilaration for any prize. :rainbowlaugh:

Afterward, I was a bit dazed and dehydrated. I found that the Hampton attached to the convention center had a meeting floor on its third level, where I could get water from the fountains unhindered by crowds. I then realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I stood on the bridge attaching the hotel to the convention center, searching my phone for restaurants still open. There were only a few, fewer still within my taste and budget. As I searched, I was approached (spooked at first) by two gentlemen who talked to me cryptically. They were assassins.

No, there was a game of Assassins going on, and I extremely closely resembled their mark! They had a photo of the guy and his nametag name (BlueBlaze or something). I'd never seen a photo of someone who looked so much like me but wasn't me. If I didn't have a recent buzzcut, slightly different glasses, and a different nametag (and business cards to attest to it), I don't think I could've proven to them that it, indeed, was not me. They took my business card and also took a picture of me in front of the picture, holding my tag up. I hope they found him. :trixieshiftright: I should've told them to pass him my card so I could assassinate him myself...there can only be one!

No, instead, I watched from the bridge as they put off fireworks at the Orioles stadium. I also believe this evening I met a gentleman who hadn't heard of me but was interested in possibly having me voice his work. Got his card, and I got his. We talked a good while, but I was pulled away. I later Uber'd back to the Denny's across the street from the hotel. I had a Santa Fe Skillet with egg whites, and it was exceptional! I scalded my mouth again on the food because the potatoes hold their heat when you blow on them. My Uber shielded me from the scare my companions got when they found that the parking garage we'd been parked at closed at 11:30. Fortunately, security was pleasant and permitted them to leave despite arriving 11 minutes late for the car.

Saturday was the last day I attended, even though I was there for the four days. It passed slower. More people, more events, too long lines for my patience. I met more people, which was nice, and was revisited by some, also nice. I grew tireder of my game. My bowels gave me trouble.

However, my time that day was again saved in the evening. Outside at my table, I ensnared a group of four people, all very friendly, one of whom knew of me through my channel beforehand. It was becoming the later evening, and my companions happened to stop by, too, before heading off to do something after some schedule coordination. The original four of us continued to talk, but they were mostly interested in starting up a game they had, called "Root" (plus its expansion). Thus, we attempted play. We later joined by a lady known as Silver, or Sil, who spectated. This game was very much up my alley, and once we were familiar enough to play our own turns, it turned out to be extremely engrossing. However, as fate would have, a storm was blowing in, and we were forced to pack up and retreat inside.

Silver volunteered to let us play with her Cards Against Humanity set, and it was an uproariously good time! If we'd played those two games for the entire trip, I'd say it'd been well worth it! :rainbowlaugh: I Uber'd back to the Denny's around 2:30 Sunday morning and had another Santa Fe Skillet. And scalded my mouth again.

The next day I skipped out due to my need for sleep. I awoke at 1:15 PM, well after anything of interest to me happened at the convention center. I got back home today around the same time.


On Thursday, I got some items from the vending hall. A purple flask that says "You've been poisoned," a couple freebie cards for Twilight's Shipfic Folder game (which I don't actually have), and a poster version of this work by assassinmonkey.

Overall, I should say that I was disappointed with the convention itself but happy with the experiences I was able to forge from the unique circumstances. I should have expected to feel like my time and money was being misspent every moment I stood in line for the events. I should have expected all the cosplayers to have dead looks in their eyes after posing with people all day. I should have expected to witness superb vindication of a lot of the negative stereotypes associated with Bronies at this event. I should have expected all these problems to be exacerbated by the fact that this would be the last one. :unsuresweetie:

In the end, however, I am glad I attended. I know I would have deeply remorsed if I had not.

Report TheDizzyDan · 192 views ·
Comments ( 10 )

I haven't gone to a convention since Confurence 1995, so I'm a bit jealous. However, since I'm seriously introverted and have no interest in gaming of any kind, I probably would not have had as much fun as you did.
I'm glad you wrote this travel journal. I'm also glad that you enjoyed yourself, what with the difficult year you've had.

Well, glad you’re at least not remorseful for not being able to go. I sure am :fluttershbad:, but it is what it is. Glad you still had some positive experiences however, and that overall you felt it was worth your time in money despite the setbacks and the rough year you’ve been having. Was your last chance to attend and you took it and that’s what matters. :ajsmug:

So glad you shared your experience. It confirms my sense that this particular event was too big. I think your approach was a good one under the circumstances: try to connect with people rather than immerse yourself in the official proceedings, which could only be impersonal with such crowds.

Had I been there, though, I would have invited you to try the crab cakes by the waterfront, which are delicious (assuming you like seafood). Perhaps I should have mentioned this beforehand.

Sad to see you are disappointed

5100330
My enthusiasm, though, hasn't waned for the subject of the convention, though, at least. :pinkiesmile: Far from it. I also picked up that board game Root on eBay and will, in the coming weeks, try to get some people together to play it, so all was not lost.

5100243

since I'm seriously introverted and have no interest in gaming of any kind, I probably would not have had as much fun as you did

I don't think so. There were a lot of introverted people there, and my main frustration was having such difficulty trying to chat with people. In fact, I had hoped I could converse in the lines, but too many people were on their GameBoys, Nintendo DS's, and Switches. :rainbowlaugh:

My dice game at my table was partly a distraction for me and partly an invitation for the geeky among the con-goers. The tabletop room and the gaming rooms were by no means the main attractions or activities, but they were pretty much all that remained if for me, who decided the panels weren't for me. They had a lot of events, and I think you may very well have enjoyed them. Plus, there was a ton of vending in the market hall, if you enjoy consumerism.

Also, thank you, and you're welcome. :twilightsmile: My funny brain has a tendency to forget the good times I have, so I write about them when I can so that I have a reminder of what all happened. It honestly hadn't registered that this hasn't exactly been my best year, but you make a good point. Perhaps this was something I needed, and my frustrations are but vestiges of baggage I needed to rinse off.

5100288

I sure am [remorseful]

:twilightsheepish: Oof. At least there will be more conventions. cdn-img.fimfiction.net/user/34wm-1431820014-17804-64 is former staff for BronyCon and actually has a mind to continue it under a different name and administration, so you may still have your day.

that’s what matters

Given my propensity for regretting missing out, I know that this is what really matters. The rest of the good that came of it is cream.

5100306

your approach

Right. There are only so many occasions to mingle with such a large group of similarly interested people under such mingling conditions. Rather than just leave the building to explore the area, I still got to make use out of the reason I was there and what I paid for.

Had you been there, it would have been I trapped in the web of conversation, instead of setting the web. Unfortunately, I loathe seafood; however, the local opportunities for eats were attractive. I remember spotting a few Indian restaurants up my alley, and that Irish pub was nice. Best shepherd's pie I've ever had.

5100306
Also, I noticed cdn-img.fimfiction.net/user/l3qi-1431820706-27555-64 has been out of action on here for over a year and a half. :raritydespair:

Hahah, you're the guy who we were trying to assasinate
Was awesome to meet you, I still have the photo I took
(not sure if you want your face on FiMFic, so let me know if I should post the photo)

5101554
You could send it to me in a private message. :twilightsmile: I kind of regret it not having you guys take a picture on my phone, as well. :twilightsheepish:

5101061

Yes, and more's the pity. The last time I talked with him (around the time of the release of his final story) he seemed a bit despondent.

5101706
:ajsleepy: Oh, that really is a shame.

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