Chicago Con – The Rest Of It
Whew, I’m still tired! Wow, wow, wow, what a great but exhausting weekend. I came back from Chicago on Monday with my head in the clouds. I went there again with no expectations and came back with plenty of pleasant surprises. In the tizzy that came trying to transcribe panels to get as much information out as possible, I was distracted though from the real task that kept haunting me. How could I accurately summarize all that I experienced this weekend and not have it come out as incoherent babbling? With a simple battle cry of “suck it up Jester.” So here it goes!
Day One
I thought about sharing my adventures in playing “truck chicken” all the way from Columbus to Chicago. You know, a vivacious redhead hopped up on a venti Starbucks and armed with an iPod of 5000 songs is just the type of person to take on that challenge. As you can tell by the existence of the reports, I won, so I’ll spare the lengthy details.
I arrived at my destination around 7:30 Central Time. After getting into my room, which was a very nice king corner suite with windows taking up two large walls (yes, get Wyndham rewards. They’ll hook you up.), I met up with Angie, aka TeamPadalecki. Angie was the one nice enough to sell me her extra Sunday preferred ticket and had another bonus for me when I arrived, a ticket to the Steve Carlson concert. So, it was off to the bar for drinks before attending the concert.
Steve Carlson is your average working stiff musician. The lives these guys lead are fascinating to me. Here is a ballroom at a hotel in Chicago with about 1,000 seats, and I’d say 150 max were filled. Granted most in the crowd were diehard fans, including Angie, but to get up there at these cons every time to play for such a sparse crowd, that’s dedication to a craft.
I’d never seen Steve perform before. He had a great rapport with the crowd and his stories about life on the road made me wonder how one gets by doing that. These concerts itself are tame. Not that Steve wasn’t bad because he wasn’t. I didn’t know any of his songs, but he did a stunning rendition of U2’s “Running To Stand Still.” The problem is one dude with an acoustic guitar in front of a laid back crowd isn’t going to generate sparks. Judging by the same experience I got at the Jason Manns concert last year I’d say there’s got to be a better way to sell tickets.
After the concert was the infamous Karaoke party in the lounge. This as usual had its fun, including the Creation staff really cutting loose, but it was way too crowded and too loud to enjoy it. One woman sitting down was annoyed that people were blocking her view and kept trying to get people to move so she could see. In a crowded bar? Um yeah, it didn’t work.
The real bummer though was Traci Dinwiddie was at our table, but the place was too loud to have a conversation with her, especially since I missed her earlier panel. I did manage to at least get an intro for Angie who is a fan. Traci is so sweet and if you follow her on Twitter she considers you to be a pal. Eventually fans started to flock over to say Hi to Traci. The place just got too loud for my weary mind and fatigue set in. I was strangely done for the day but after all, I was still on Eastern time. I heard Jim Beaver showed up much later to Karaoke too, but other than that, it was your usual event of drunkenness and song. I liked the separate room we had in Cherry Hill better. More room to move and I could actually have conversations with people. Then again they didn’t serve drinks in that room in Cherry Hill, so I guess it was a draw.
Day Two
I slept in. You know how long that’s been? How long since I’ve had a morning of uninterrupted sleep without a dog, cat, or kid climbing on me? Yeah, that long. Anyway, it’s both a blessing and a curse that a Starbucks is across the street from the hotel. Nah, giving my need for caffeine on both mornings, we’ll just call it a blessing.
First panel of the day was Richard Speight Jr., a surprise emergency substitution for Jake Abel who had to cancel. It seems the kid actually found some work. Good for him, better for us, for as I said in my recap of Richard’s panel, this guy is extremely entertaining. He had the crowd rolling by the end. Richard’s panel was so good in fact I bailed out on the Aldis Hodge panel early and skipped the Steve Carlson panel entirely so I could type up the recap of Richard’s panel. Aldis Hodge was answering a lot of Leverage questions anyway, a show I’ve never seen. This was my first time seeing him in person though and he seemed very nice and genuine. I never liked Jake Talley though, so I’m glad he can find good work with something else.
I provided detailed recaps of the four panels I thought provided the most information and entertainment. As much as I adore Jim Beaver and was thrilled to see his panel, not a lot was said or revealed in his. He certainly didn’t mess with the audience like Misha did or share a fandom classic story like Richard did. So here’s a mention of some of the highlights.
· Jim has been sick this week with vertigo. He was doing better but didn’t seem like he was at 100%.
· The t-shirts that Bobby wears usually have the front washed out so to avoid copyright issues. He had a very old shirt on that hadn’t washed with a saying that seemed perfect for the show these days. ”Kill them all, Let God sort it out.”
· Is Bobby’s injury due to the stab wound or Zachariah? ”I don’t know. The writers have never told me.” His gut feel is that it is the actual injury. ”Eric Kripke, you heard of him? He created the show. He sometimes does things without telling us why. Some of those is because he’s keeping secrets and some is because he forgot.”
· He talked a bit about Harper’s Island which considering I didn’t watch it I’ll skip. He did have this quote though. ”I’ve done two series in a row now where I’ve only had one scene with Katie Cassidy.”
· Is he coming to Australia for a convention? Yes, May, Sydney and Melbourne.
· His sister loves Jeffrey Dean Morgan…on Grey’s Anatomy. She didn’t know he was on Supernatural. She didn’t know her brother was either.
· Jim can’t wait to see how the show goes. Kripke has really written himself into a corner.
· Jim is really torn by the idea of Bobby getting out of the wheelchair. Many fans think it will happen, but Jim recognizes that there are so many people out there that are in wheelchairs and don’t have the option of a supernatural fix. Yes, it leaves Bobby out of a lot, including action sequences, but getting out of that chair doesn’t seem fair.
· The feedback he’s gotten over his book justifies his decision to compile his emails and publish.
· Would he ever want to direct an episode of Supernatural? It’s a very challenging job but if they asked him, he would.
· Someone interrupts with a question and it’s Misha! Crowd goes nuts. He’s chastising Jim for coming all this way and not putting on a tie. ”You steal focus even when we’re not filming,” Jim tells him. He calls him the “not very angelic Misha Collins who up to a few minutes ago was a friend of mine.”
· What is his favorite Bobby episode? He normally says “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” but now he’s saying “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester.” ”Being on the set with Chad Everett playing Dean as an older man is very much like being on the set with Jensen as a younger man.” He had nothing but praise for Chad Everett and called him the world’s hottest 72 year old man and the world’s oldest 16 year old. He really enjoyed doing that episode.
I’m not exactly sure in between what panel it was, but I met Clarice! She walked right by me and she was the only one in the room with the bright pink highlights in her hair. She was also wearing these purple striped tights and purple shoes so she did succeed in bringing attention to herself. I’m glad she did for I went over and talked with her. She came in just for the con. From South America? I hope next time she’ll get to see the city. I told her how Chicago is one of the best cities in the US to see. I didn’t get a chance to see her anymore for the rest of the weekend, so I hope you had a great trip back Clarice!
I met a lot of fans that day, some I knew, some I didn’t. It was all in between the panels too since I avoided autograph lines with my ticket. The last panel of the day was Misha’s. You’ve read the recap, right? That panel was completely nuts! Of all the panels this weekend, this one was my favorite. It certainly stood out.
My Temporary Fit Of Insanity
I don’t know why I did it. I can’t possibly explain what came over me while passing by the registration table, stopping when I saw the availability of tickets. I resisted it for three cons, the logic strong. No photo ops. Ever. I hate being photographed. I’ll pay $60 for something to sit in a drawer. Yet still, I found myself stopping, my brain disconnected from my body and pulled out the credit card. Yes, me, the one person in the world that hates being photographed…bought a photo op. ”Why not?” My crazed inner voice said. ”You gotta try everything once.” After finally seeing what that experience was like, once is enough. So, sitting somewhere in a drawer in Columbus in a picture of an over-smiling redhead with Jim and Misha.
I did meet some great people in that photo op line though. Since I was at the back of the line because I got there late after participating in a fandom discussion with Maureen Ryan (more coming on that) and I had plenty of time to talk with a mom and her two teenage daughters from the Cleveland area. Yep, us buckeyes were bonding. This was their very first con and they went Gold Ticket. They were having a great time and really nervous over meeting Jim and Misha. I told them about the blog, being at the con last year and my Jensen and Jared story. They loved hearing it, but that story wasn’t really what got the teenage girls. I also brought up meeting Misha and Jim at the Comic Con in the press room so that’s why I’m getting the photo op. I missed out there. Somehow I mentioned meeting everyone from the Vampire Diaries too and these girls went nuts. They love Supernatural, but they really love The Vampire Diaries. So, I won them over.
Fandom Roundtable
If anyone read my Cherry Hill reports on day two, I mentioned how I met two college professors, Lynn and Kathy, who are doing a study on the Supernatural fandom and planning on publishing a book. I’ve become friends with them since then and ran into them at both Comic Con and the Chicago Con this weekend. Their book is now a near reality and as soon as it’s realized, you know this site will be pimping it.
Anyway, they had a scheduled interview with Chicago Tribune TV Critic Maureen Ryan. I’ve been in contact with Maureen a couple of times by email ever since she had some nastiness with the fandom a little while ago. I also missed my chance to meet her at the Comic Con because I had to leave. As I’ve said before, Maureen has been a huge friend to the show and the only mainstream critic I know that does regular Supernatural coverage. Her conversation with Lynn and Kathy was just getting started when I came over to finally introduce myself in person. She is so nice! She knows her TV too, especially Sci-fi. I was allowed to participate in their little session. This was the most thrilling moment of my weekend.
For thirty minutes or so, we had an intense discussion about fandom in Supernatural and in TV in general. It was incredible! I’m saving the discussion points for another article about fandom, but one thing she did say in her article about the Con rings so true. Most of you out there are lurkers. You aren’t going to be commenting on this, and rarely anything else. I have a feeling that part of the growing success for this site is the welcoming atmosphere for lurkers. I’m not always successful in expunging the negativity and fan fighting, but I’m proud of my 96% track record. I always want this to be an intelligent site that goes with our intelligent fandom and is welcoming to everyone. There’s no requirement for commenting. As long as you like what you see and enjoy coming back, my mission is accomplished. So lurk on lurkers. I know you’re out there and I appreciate your support.
I closed out the day with dinner in the bar with some of my close fandom friends. It’s so nice to catch up like this. We talked about so much, or maybe it was just me. Once you get me started about the show, the fandom, and my sick amount of knowledge I just don’t shut up. Of course no one left either (okay one person did) so maybe I was interesting. I can’t tell. We last saw each other in Cherry Hill, so there was plenty to share. Then I spent the rest of the evening drinking microbrew from the nearby RAM brewery and tried like mad to transcribe the Misha panel. Yes, that only worked by drinking. I worked until 2 am and I still didn’t finish.
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Alice, you have done an amazing job writing all these reports!! This sounded such a great weekend… busy, but great. And you got a photo-op!! YAY!! Never say never 🙂 *waiting for the pic*
That Maureen, Lynn and Kathy conversation sounded really cool, can’t wait for the piece on that. And get the whole “lurker” -thing. It took me over a year before I was comfortable to publish a comment of my own anywhere (which was here btw), allthough I don’t really comment a lo. I dunno, I’m shy… or paranoid lol Your site really is one of the few sites where the characters are both treated equally and I love that… And sadly haven’t found that many places that do that. And you also treat your commenters with respect too, and even let us post our own articles, that’s just awesome, you let us share in the fun. There’s always a good atmosphere here, we don’t bicker (seriously anyways *g*) and everyone always has interesting points and views. And I haven’t even started about the work you put here or the amazing articles you pour out from somewhere in the ingenious depths of your brain 🙂 Man I wish for your writing skills, but I feel just as good reading something thought provoking and fun, so it’s a win-win for me. I know I say this a lot but: Thank you for this site, these stories and articles and polls, all of it. It’s all good 😎
What, so we’re not allowed to be stupid and belligerent any longer? Pshaw.
I love Buffy, and I’m glad that it has gotten taken seriously enough to where there’s a periodical devoted to the thing (good thing ’tis electronic, for my employer would never subscribe to the thing), but given how much Americana and folklore and urban legends and mythic hero stuff is in Supernatural, I don’t see how this show can’t end up in the same realm. It’s worth study and it’s great to hear that there’s a book coming out that will hopefully get the ball rolling.
Almost forgot, ha ha, absolutely cool recap. You make these things sound even more enjoyable than I had assumed despite the intermittent periods of lunacy and the too-loud bar. When I want loud, I prefer to be listening to a string of power chords. 😎
If Bobby does stay in the wheelchair, get that sucker souped up, a holy water-thrower or something.
Alice, thanks again for great coverage of the Con. You do a great job of it and it’s appreciated.
If you decide to do the General Admin thing for the Vancouver Con, please let me know. I’d be more than happy to be host and chauffeur and roomie if you want to come. I’ve got my Gold ticket for next year (since Vancouver is the only one I can attend so I’m willing to splurg) so I’m good to go. GRIN
Thanks for the picks on the rest of the Con. I can see why you had so much fun.
So a photo op? take it out of the draw and show it! Common Alice, you know we’re all itching to see it! Pretty please?
I like Steve Carlson loads better than Jason Manns. I think creation should stop putting Jason Manns on the bill. I don’t like the idea that i’m paying for him to be there. I don’t even know why he has a panel. He has nothing to do with Supernatural. He also came up conceited to me and that is a major turn off. Steven Carlson on the other hand was a wonderful musician. He brought his game. And his panel was more about his music than anything to do with Supernatural. Whereas Jason Manns panel was mostly about his connections to Jensen. That to me is a sign that you didn’t impress much. Although, i don’t think the musicians should have a panel.
Anyways, I’m glad you had a good time a the con Alice.
I didn’t comment on your other Chicago Con coverage articles, saved it for this one. I loved reading them all. Thank you so much for writing them up. I’m waiting for hellatus to actually watch the ChiCon vids, so this has been great to both tide me over and whet my appetite!
Cheers! Candy
I’ve met Lynn and Kathy too at the LA con they were kind enough to show me some of the photo’s they have for the book and I had a chat about the problems they were having publishing it because WB had some problems with the content – i’m so glad it’s becoming a reality because I, in all seriousness, want to read that book.
Post the piccy! Come on, Alice, we’re going to nag and nag until you do … 😀
I lurked for ages before I posted so hurrah for the silent majority, although I do second Randal, SPN commentary without a spot of snark is like chips without salt ( that’s french fries to you lot … )
Looking forward to the hiatus as I have serious catching up issues … Bloody technology 👿
I enjoyed reading this because it rang so true for me as well, and I can’t complain when I get an internet mention! lol
Yes, I was the volunteer/fan that was checking wristbands, and I do not want to see another event bracelet for awhile.. or wrists for that matter.
However, I truly enjoyed this experience so much more than even I had expected. I was fairly focused on trying to get to meet the talent or watching the panels, but over the course of the con, I learned the fellow fans were what made the experience truly worth it. Like Clarice said, its a wonderful experience to be able to talk to someone about something you are so passionate about without having to explain, “it’s this show on the cw about these brothers that travel the US fighting supernatural things.” I pretty much boil it down to that just so that I can share anything with friends and coworkers, but it really is so much more, and getting to meet the fellow fans, I got the experience to delve into that a bit more.
I look forward to going to next year’s Chicago con not so much for the talent anymore, though a plus indeed, but more to get to meet more fans and see some of the ppl I got to meet, such as yourself. Looking forward to what the next year brings!
Brian
Hey Alice,
did I just read that you’re waiting for the GA-tickets for Los Angeles??!! You can’t see it, but I’m grinning like a fool right now – so, I’ll be happy to say hello!! (I do hope we’ll get the chance to chat a bit – even though I’ll be one of those autograph and photo ops gals?, and I’m already scared to death just thinking of it. Am I? Yep, somehow, although it defies reason, I am)
😆 :roll:: 😆
This was a great recap, in particular as you stressed the efforts of the people in the wings – going to a Con will be a first for me, but beforehand I’ve already had the nicest contacts with the Creation people, especially Sharon, a most gracious lady who always finds time to answer any question that might pop to my mind, thereby keeping my confusion concerning some issues to a minimum – should you read this, Sharon – a person couldn’t be nicer! Thanks again!!
Can’t wait to read this book by Lynn and Kathy – I’m sure you’ll inform us when it’s published.
So happy for you that you have enjoyed your time in Chicago. Perhaps, if I should have any money left (not likely for the time being), I’ll do the same thing next year, get a GA ticket, and stay a while longer to visit friends and sightsee Chicago.. Again you’ve inspired me.
Oh, well, a girl can dream… slight delusions of grandeur included…
😮
I just thought of a moment I’d like to share with you and everyone here, as it is really sweet. Once I had hoped to tell Jared of it, but that is also most unlikely…
Not long ago I had a Polish patient, a lovely man in his fifties who had experienced some terrible abuse as a child and was seeking therapy because he wasn’t able to cope with it even after all those years.
Now, what I usually do when meeting a patient – I ask about things they like before getting to the hard stuff, you know, favourite books, films, music (which is always useful, as I can use that as resources during trauma therapy). And the guy goes ‘You know, there is one show I like to watch: Superrrrnaturrrral (now please imagine a heavy Polish accent), but they don’t show it anymore.’ (which is true, over here it’s not on air at present). I smile, as he goes on about how he likes the story of the two brothers. And I keep thinking: here’s one fan talking to another.
Then he says ‘you know, Sam is a Polish boy – you see how handsome he is? That’s what Polish boys are… I was handsome once, too (actually, he still was).’
What touched me, though, was how proud he was of Jared. He pronounced his last name the way it is done in Poland (different from American) and said he was immensely proud that Jared didn’t change his name when entering show business. For that patient Jared’s keeping his name was an acknowledgement of his roots and the country my patient came from, which made him proud. He cried as he told me about it, beaming at the same time as if he was talking about his own son.
Eventually, as therapy came to an end and he was getting better, I admitted to him that I was a fan, also, and we spent the last session talking about the show at his request, which was a unique experience, as it was so different a setting and manner. It was very moving, too.
So, best wishes to y’all, Jas
Jasminka, I wanted to thank you for sharing this wonderful story about the Polish gentleman and his feelings for Jared. I bet Jared would love to hear this story, and would most likely be humbled by it. Our boys appreciate their work and their fans so much, and I’m sure Jared would be touched that he and his work meant so much to this gentleman. Thanks again for sharing this beautiful story.
Jasminka, I thought I was all cried out after Abandon All Hope, but obviously not. What a lovely story.
I have now tears in my eyes, Jasminka.
Of joy, I believe.
Thank you for taking all the time to write everything down, Alice. Your reports are so great, even for us who were there!!!! “Con exhaustion” sets in and I don’t remember as much as I should after a convention.
It was so nice to see you again. I’m in the “This was my last con” category, so I really look forward to reading your reports in the future and living vicariously through you.
P.S. I want to see your photo op! 🙂
I did read it! I did! lolol
Thank you for the kind comments Clarice! Unfortunately most of it seems to becoming a blur, guess its time to work on going to another one huh? lolol But I think when it comes to Supernatural, I’ll be attending as a guest only from now on, haha, don’t want to miss any of the good stuff.
Hope all is well!
Brian
Loved your con-recap, Alice, thanks for doing it! I don’t think I’ll ever be attending a con, so I enjoy reports like yours. Thanks for sharing your time and effort