Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "conventions"
Gen Con 2013! Part Two
Well, Gen Con 2013 in Indy has come and gone - but not before I had an amazing time - making new friends, discussing fantasy and role playing with some wonderful people, reaching out to new Forging of a Knight readers such as Leighann Pittman (many thanks, Leighann, by the by!) and connecting with supporters of Forging of a Knight such as James Buckhorn (thanks, James, it was a blast meeting you face to face!)!
I added a photo album on my Forging of a Knight Facebook page of just a few of the great cos-players, fellow authors, and fans I met. If you are on Facebook, take a quick look! From evil wizards to evil knights, comic book heroes to role-playing villains, you will see some fantastic costumes. The person in the ape spaceman costume from Escape from the Planet of the Apes was utterly awesome!
Lesson learned #1 - next year my 14 month old son will be staying with the in-laws. Both he and my wife (who got sick while we were at the 'Con) soldiered through, but he could only handle being in a stroller for so long in a crowd of people, the poor guy. Despite some activities offered for children at the event, he was having none of it and was pretty much insistent on calling it a day after day one! When the boss speaks, you better listen...
Lesson learned #2 - bring a partner! There were so many events, vendors, authors, and gaming going on it was impossible to see the majority of it from behind a booth. Luckily, I was positioned near a signature area, so I was able to glance over from time to time to see Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame and Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor Who) mingling with fans. Usually I would sneak through some of the convention floor at closing time, begging vendors not to tarp up their tables, or taking a quick walk through various aisles during morning setup or on the way to grab a quick lunch. I did bag a mini-Cthulhu plush, though, that will now sit at my writing desk to inspire Those That Stand in Shadow in their nefarious plans... 8 )
Lesson learned #3 - bring some treats! You get awfully hungry standing for 8 hours each day (its the manning the job fair booth thing in me from my day job), and you hate missing out on talking to some great people if you happen to leave your table for breaks and quick snacks...
We will definitely be there again next year. I was thinking of dressing up as a knight - I do have actual real armor from a costume I wore at a comic-con the weekend prior - but I think there wouldn't be anything left of me inside it if I tried.
If anyone went, would love to hear your thoughts on your experience at the 'Con!
I added a photo album on my Forging of a Knight Facebook page of just a few of the great cos-players, fellow authors, and fans I met. If you are on Facebook, take a quick look! From evil wizards to evil knights, comic book heroes to role-playing villains, you will see some fantastic costumes. The person in the ape spaceman costume from Escape from the Planet of the Apes was utterly awesome!
Lesson learned #1 - next year my 14 month old son will be staying with the in-laws. Both he and my wife (who got sick while we were at the 'Con) soldiered through, but he could only handle being in a stroller for so long in a crowd of people, the poor guy. Despite some activities offered for children at the event, he was having none of it and was pretty much insistent on calling it a day after day one! When the boss speaks, you better listen...
Lesson learned #2 - bring a partner! There were so many events, vendors, authors, and gaming going on it was impossible to see the majority of it from behind a booth. Luckily, I was positioned near a signature area, so I was able to glance over from time to time to see Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame and Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor Who) mingling with fans. Usually I would sneak through some of the convention floor at closing time, begging vendors not to tarp up their tables, or taking a quick walk through various aisles during morning setup or on the way to grab a quick lunch. I did bag a mini-Cthulhu plush, though, that will now sit at my writing desk to inspire Those That Stand in Shadow in their nefarious plans... 8 )
Lesson learned #3 - bring some treats! You get awfully hungry standing for 8 hours each day (its the manning the job fair booth thing in me from my day job), and you hate missing out on talking to some great people if you happen to leave your table for breaks and quick snacks...
We will definitely be there again next year. I was thinking of dressing up as a knight - I do have actual real armor from a costume I wore at a comic-con the weekend prior - but I think there wouldn't be anything left of me inside it if I tried.
If anyone went, would love to hear your thoughts on your experience at the 'Con!
Gen Con
Well, Gen Con 2015 has come and gone - but nevertheless a wonderful experience with amazing authors, artists, cosplayers, musicians, and more! I had a great time meeting both current and new Forging of a Knight readers, and also a chance to witness some amazing costume work! Check out the pictures at www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a.Knight. Gen Con - where else can you see a Klingon and a Wookie on stage playing musical instruments together??
CODCON
Sponsored by the College of DuPage Sci-Fi/Fantasy & Gaming Club!
April 13-15th! College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Gaming, costumes, fantastical art, LARP dungeon, video game tourney, and did we say more gaming? AND of course Forging of a Knight will be there too, so you gotta go!
https://www.codcon.com/
April 13-15th! College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Gaming, costumes, fantastical art, LARP dungeon, video game tourney, and did we say more gaming? AND of course Forging of a Knight will be there too, so you gotta go!
https://www.codcon.com/
CODCON...!
CODCON was an amazing experience and one I can't wait to return to.
In terms of size, it was small when placed against a Gen Con, but in terms of engagement, quality, and fun, on equal ground! Despite the wind, snow, and rain that has been dumping on IL lately (hey its only April, who would expect anything else around here?), daring visitors still made the trek and like me found it was well worth the effort.
Dan the Bard was there - and that name will ring a bell to many con-goers and medieval fair attendees. Gaming, video gaming, cosplaying, and more, all in the wonderful student resource center atmosphere of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Tip of the helmet to Dr. James Allen who has been orchestrating this event.
The small things always stand out - the new friends you meet, like readers who have gone to Gen Con and could share similar stories of events/experiences, or the old friends you bump into. One in particular stood out for me - back in the early 90's when I was working on my undergrad, I was employed as an office clerk at a company known as Barton Incorporated (a beer/wine distributor - corona, peroni, anyone?). One of the managers I would occasionally do projects for was a guy by the name of Tim. 20+ years later (I still cant believe I'm saying that), I bump into him again as an adjunct faculty member at where else but at CODCON! Small world or what?! It was great catching up with him, and reliving all of those Barton memories. Who woulda thought...
And a shout out to Mike, a manager from Suparossa, who was dishing out the pizzas and the pastas at his own stand right across from mine. Friendly, gregarious, and as professional as they come. Rigatoni with vodka sauce? I wasn't able to resist that for long...
...the countdown to next year's CODCON begins.
In terms of size, it was small when placed against a Gen Con, but in terms of engagement, quality, and fun, on equal ground! Despite the wind, snow, and rain that has been dumping on IL lately (hey its only April, who would expect anything else around here?), daring visitors still made the trek and like me found it was well worth the effort.
Dan the Bard was there - and that name will ring a bell to many con-goers and medieval fair attendees. Gaming, video gaming, cosplaying, and more, all in the wonderful student resource center atmosphere of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Tip of the helmet to Dr. James Allen who has been orchestrating this event.
The small things always stand out - the new friends you meet, like readers who have gone to Gen Con and could share similar stories of events/experiences, or the old friends you bump into. One in particular stood out for me - back in the early 90's when I was working on my undergrad, I was employed as an office clerk at a company known as Barton Incorporated (a beer/wine distributor - corona, peroni, anyone?). One of the managers I would occasionally do projects for was a guy by the name of Tim. 20+ years later (I still cant believe I'm saying that), I bump into him again as an adjunct faculty member at where else but at CODCON! Small world or what?! It was great catching up with him, and reliving all of those Barton memories. Who woulda thought...
And a shout out to Mike, a manager from Suparossa, who was dishing out the pizzas and the pastas at his own stand right across from mine. Friendly, gregarious, and as professional as they come. Rigatoni with vodka sauce? I wasn't able to resist that for long...
...the countdown to next year's CODCON begins.
CodCon!
Huzzah! CodCon starts this Friday - can't wait! Stop by ye ole Forging of a Knight booth to say well met!!
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted...
This will be my second time in attendance - wonderful campus, atmosphere, staff, and with expanded events, this coming Friday-Sunday will be an awesome time!
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted...
This will be my second time in attendance - wonderful campus, atmosphere, staff, and with expanded events, this coming Friday-Sunday will be an awesome time!
Peoria Con this Saturday!
Dont miss it!!
https://peoriacon.com
Gaming, cosplay, art, and more! Come check out the awesome event...and stop by my booth to say hello!!
https://peoriacon.com
Gaming, cosplay, art, and more! Come check out the awesome event...and stop by my booth to say hello!!
PeoriaCon is back and better than ever!
PeoriaCon returns - and this time it's been expanded to two days!
Saturday, March 5th-Sunday March 6th, 2022 at the Expo Gardens, 1601 W Northmoor Road, Peoria IL! Forging of a Knight will be there - will you?! https://www.peoriacon.com
Saturday, March 5th-Sunday March 6th, 2022 at the Expo Gardens, 1601 W Northmoor Road, Peoria IL! Forging of a Knight will be there - will you?! https://www.peoriacon.com
The Ettin - The Evanston IL Tabletop initiative!
A rather cool gaming event I’ve come across. Still growing and not looking for vendors just yet, but another local noteworthy opportunity to, as their website says:
“…grab your dice, your character sheets, and your sense of adventure! Let’s embark on this epic journey together and make memories that’ll last longer than a wizard’s beard!”
And that’s even if you don’t have two heads (get it - an ettin has two heads…ahem)!
https://theettin.com
“…grab your dice, your character sheets, and your sense of adventure! Let’s embark on this epic journey together and make memories that’ll last longer than a wizard’s beard!”
And that’s even if you don’t have two heads (get it - an ettin has two heads…ahem)!
https://theettin.com
