[Spotlight] SoonerCon 2015 Recap
So many things going on, and I totally missed my Wednesday blog post day – and now it’s Friday – but that makes this both a “spotlight” and a “writing” post, because this is my SoonerCon wrap up post. (So it’s way long) I know it’s been a week since SoonerCon began, but it’s been that week. Today is a day off from the Day Job so I can finally relax after about three weeks of heavy movement, I need some down time. I do have a deadline of late tomorrow (I said end of this week), but it’s pretty much reading, so yay.
I don’t know what I can add to what other people have said about SoonerCon. Aislinn Burrows, who does programming and promotional stuff, actually asked why I bust my behind for SoonerCon when they work me like a dog. (Seriously, they’re trying to find the “Just don’t kill me” line in how much programming they can put me on. This year came close but didn’t succeed.) And it’s because of what so many other people have commented on through Social Media.
SoonerCon 1) doesn’t take itself too seriously (unlike some literary fan-run cons can); 2) actually is able to blend some of the best elements of Media Conventions and Literary Conventions to appeal to a wide age group; and 3) treats all elements of programming with equal amounts of respect and programming elements. This is why I say SoonerCon rocks, and if conventions want to grow and expand, check out what they’re doing and figure out how best to integrate some of their practices. Also, they’re all around good people who know how to throw a good party.
My programming was… extensive. Even the programming on Friday had at least as many audience members as panelist… well, the Screenwriting 101 was a bit light, and it was one of the few panel where I ended up saying, “I’m on this panel to be pretty.” Only because I was THE LEAST QUALIFIED on the panel, and was enjoying listening to the other panelists tell stories about their experiences. It was awesome, I just didn’t have as much to contribute as the other panelists, so I shut the heck up and LISTENED or asked my own questions – which is what a pro does in this position.
The Yard Dog Press Road Show melded with the Art Show Reception at 8 pm – which was awesome. The reception had alcohol. We’re all a lot funnier when our audience is imbibing. And we had an unwitting audience, even if some of them were trying not to be entertained by grown adults acting completely insane. But a good time was had by all.
Saturday was a marathon. The “Club” level of the Sheraton has a small breakfast buffet. Ever since we started rooming with Lys and Shado Wiley (Aislinn, you’ve met them. We need to get them on programming… they do all kinds of things aside from writing. They’ve been on cast of a ren fair and haunted house park – so acting/dialect/costuming.) we’ve gotten rooms there. This time we couldn’t, but worked out having access – go Lys. We pay a bit more, but it’s totally worth it for BACON in the morning. I took off running with the Koffeeklatch, then panels and readings followed by the Art Auction.
I had way too much fun on the “Build a SYFY Saturday Night” though our team was, I’ll admit it, thoroughly trounced by Team Bland Lemon. We came up with a kick butt trailer. They did the whole dang movie. But we raised some money for charity, and I’m told there will be video.
There were some early miscommunications with the auction, resulting in me ticking off a couple of people, but it all worked out. All feathers are now unruffled. Art was sold. Money was raised for charity. But when that many people run tired for that long a period it happens. The fact that it all blew over relatively quickly with no long-term recriminations… that’s a sign of pros, even if they’re all volunteers and fans.
Sunday was two great panels and hanging out with actors. The two writing panels I was on had twice the number of panelists (and one was at 11 am). The last one was great until the very end when we hit a hot button topic and the last few minutes was a debate on that (but it was civil just…passionate). And then in my “Whirlwind Goodbye Tour” took an hour fifteen minutes.
Among the lovely people I met along the way: Haileigh Todd – a discovery of Rachel Caine. She plays “Eve” in the Morganville Vampire Webseries. She’s adorable. I gave her some books (because she wanted to know what I wrote – and technically she’s a “college kid”). She’s awesome support whatever she’s in.
Got to spend time with Larry Nemecek – and a very last minute Double Star Trek Continues Doctor photo with him and Chuck Huber (who’s also a voice actor/actor) in his penguin onesie. SO MUCH FUN. Chuck is an interesting guy. Ian Sinclair is a voice actor I made a point of meeting because he was a plot point in our “Build a Better SYFY Saturday Night”, and I introduced him to Haileigh for networking – met his and Jamie Marchi’s dogs (being walked by Marchi…so met her by accident). And then there was the lovely and talented Robert Picardo – who let us mob him for a photo op (unintentional) on Saturday night during our traditional “LobbyCon” – ask me about that some time – and again on Sunday morning at breakfast when he inadvertently locked himself out of his room and had nowhere else to wait for a new key than with us.
THIS is why I love SoonerCon. Not only do I get worked a lot. I get to hang with amazing people from different aspects of creative endeavors. I’m treated like a friend and a professional. AND we get to meet new and crazy people. It has everything. And now I’ve rambled on for a lot longer than I intended, too. Time to work on the galley read for the book some more.