I am going to say some things about DragonCon that a lot of my friends may disagree with, but they are things that I think and feel.
You remember the first time you went to DragonCon? The size of the convention outweighed anything you had ever seen. The costumes were amazing, the friends you made there lasted forever. The wonder and awe of it all was so much to take in that you ended up talking about it for months on end after it was done. You came home and told all your friends about this magical place where you had so much fun.
The next time you went, it was still a blast, but you started to see a bit more of the tarnish. The room rates were a bit more than the year before. You got to hang out with friends, but a few of them were stuck in a line for a panel. You really wanted to pick up something at this booth in the dealers room, but it was a bit crowded each time you tried, and by the time you got in, it was sold out. But you still had a blast, and maybe the next few weeks after the con, you talked about it and went over your pictures.
Then, a few years of going down the road, more and more tarnish appears. Rooms sell out instantly. errors plague the system. Hotels handle the convention badly because it doesn’t matter, they still get their money. DudeBros invade the system because it’s an endless fountain of cheap rooms and entertainment for them.
I love DragonCon, but only as a memory. That first, second, even the third versions in my head are what I love.
Now. I have been to other big events. PAXEast and JoCoCruiseCrazy. Both are amazing events. I met amazing people at them, and I had experiences that rank up there with what I felt at that first DragonCon. When I got back from them, I wanted to do the same thing that I (and many others) had done after DragonCon which was spread the word. What I was met with was statements like “It’s not DragonCon” or “We are already spending our vacation at DragonCon”
No, they aren’t DragonCon. I won’t say they are better or worse than DragonCon. They are just something else. It’s something new. A chance to feel that magic and wonder again. To try something different.
I am not going to say that I won’t go back to DragonCon again. I would like to again. I had fun, despite the issues that surround it. But I am also going to try out other things. I would love to visit San Diego Comic Con, even though I have heard bad stories about them as well. There is Baltimore comic Con, NY comic con, Megacon, PAX Prime, etc.
Please don’t take this as a rant to get everyone to stop going to DragonCon, or even as an advertisement for any other convention. I realize that the cruise may be to expensive, or Video games aren’t your thing, or you don’t like comics. What I am saying is that there are LOTS of great events that offer up much the same experience that DragonCon does.
I know that we all have lots of friends that we like to meet up with at DragonCon, but remember how you met those friends. Think of the new friends that are waiting at a new event. All your DragonCon friends won’t desert you just for trying something new.
I would encourage everyone to try something new. You never know, you may like it!
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