We are honored to get an eyewitness account of the Rising Con Barelona from Yirabah, a frequent visitor to this site. This was her first con and it’s always interesting to hear how things go at a new con held for the first time in such a historic city. She has a great story to share about Jared among other things so enjoy the report!
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The World Wide Supernatural Fan Family at the Rising Con Barcelona 2010
Alright this is it. My report of the Rising Con in Barcelona Spain. Mind you this is the first time I am typing something like that. Only do it because Jasminka asked me to. So if you don’t like it blame it on her.
Unfortunately I don’t have any personal encounters with the guests since I only had an ordinary weekend pass. So no stories about photo ops, autographs or meeting rooms. But I met risenshine after the con and asked her if she could write a little something up about it. Which she thankfully did. You will find the link to it at the end of this. Here are now my impressions.
I arrived early on Friday 11, June 2010 in Barcelona. Went to drop my suitcase of at the bed-and-breakfast I stayed at. Did some sight seeing and early in the evening I went to the hotel where the con was to be held. I knew that the ticket I purchased was supposed to be given out on Saturday between 07:45 and 8:45 am but I thought maybe I can talk them into giving it to me the day before. What can I tell you it didn’t work.
So the next morning I got up early. At least that is what I thought. By the time I got there there was already an enormous line. While I was waiting I took a look around. This was my first con and I was just stunned. The whole place seemed to be buzzing with excitement. To my terrible dislike at day two I kept on being stunned the whole day. I was just sucking it all in. Didn’t talk to that many people that day. And normally I am a very talkative girl. So now I am a little bit disappointed since I very like missed out on meeting some interesting people.
Even before I got my ticket they already started to open the doors to the panel room. At this con they gave out numbered seats to the golden, silver and regular card holders. And the poor suckers like me, who had no numbered seats, sat in the very back. But thankfully they put up a few video screens and placed the speakers well so I didn’t miss out on anything. Except I didn’t see them close up. But it had its advantage to be that far back. I was aloud to stand up and watch what was going on on stage, while the others in front of me were asked by the KLZ girls to sit down again. So I usually had one eye on the screen and especially at the J2 panels the other one on stage so I wouldn’t miss out on anything.
(My seat was right back there in front of that mirror)
Before the welcome ceremony everybody was just talking. It sounded like a huge swarm of bees. And it kept on while the two hosts arrived. Those guys are doing the Spanish voiceover for Jensen and Jared. They tried to get everybody seated and quiet without much success at the beginning but when they finally said that everybody should be silent so we could welcome the guests it worked immediately.
After a short introduction of the guests by the hosts (not that we needed that) the five of them came on stage. Of course they were welcomed by a huge applause and lots of cheers.
And then Jensen and Jared tried to rush the others off of stage since their panel was first but then they where told that all of them should stay and watch a video made by fans first. It seemed they all enjoyed that very much. Afterwards everybody left the stage except Jensen and Jared. And the panels started.
They both seemed very relaxed talking about how their summer went so far and what they did since they quit filming season 5.
I will not do transcripts of the panels here since you can see and hear it much better on any of the videos.
The way it went at this con (heard it usually is different) they showed at the screen every now and then what was going on in the other rooms (you might see that on one or the other video). For example it started out at Mishas panel. He was in the midst of talking and then suddenly you saw on screen instead of Mishas face a notice that said “photo op Samantha Ferris 1 to 50”. So people got up and went to the other rooms. Mishas first reaction to it was “ No don’t leave”.
That whole process was very disturbing especially the further back you were seated. I was told by people who had a chance to talk to the guests at a meeting room that it irritated them too. Fans complained about it since this way they were missing out on panels.
During the break between the panel of J2 and Misha I had a chance to take a look at the stage. It was shaped like a T. The long part coming out towards the audience looked like a road. They even put those metal barriers you have on some interstates or highways there. The whole reason for that was that our babe the Impala was supposed to be there. Unfortunately the guy in charge of shipping her off didn’t do it in time I was told. Maybe someone should have shown him the following video which was posted in September last year as an ad for the con in Rom which was held during Easter.
I also found out that there where three con cameras. One at the front and one on each side and they kept changing between the cameras for what was shown on screen which kept the whole thing very interesting. Although there was a (I guess local) TV station there taking impressions of the con and doing interviews with some of the fans.
In the next break between panels I met two nice girls from Linz in Austria and I spent the breaks and lunchtime with them that day (After the con was finished I met another girl from Linz who was sorry to have missed them since she thought she is the only one from Austria and then I tell her there are two more and they are even from her town. But my buddies from the first day were already gone).
During the breaks I also discovered something. There were various groups of people who knew each other. Some of those groups were large. Seemed to me that the largest one was a group of German girls (close to 30 people). For a lot of people it wasn’t the first con. So they already met other fans there and during break it was a huge hello meeting each other again. Just like a huge family reunion. And that’s basically what a con is I think. We Supernatural fans are all a huge family. We literally had fans from all over the world there. The most came from Spain of course and then I believe the next largest group from another country was us Germans. There were of course fans from all over Europe as well as from Asia, Australia and the States.
Once a panel was over some girls were running towards the merchandise room trying to buy raffle tickets for the meeting rooms. Those girls who wanted to be first in line were not very polite. They were running everybody over who was in their way. And that was the only incident that actually involved something rude during those two days. Tried myself for a meeting room but I had no luck my ticket was not drawn.
There was no chance to talk to any of the guests outside there very busy schedule. Since the rooms for the photo ops, autographs and meeting room were right across the hallway from the panel room. The guest didn’t even stay in the hotel were the con was held in the middle of Barcelona. Heard they were staying in a hotel near the beach. And Jim twittered to one of the German girls that they didn’t like that very much.
Yeah Yirabah! Thanks so much for sharing and for drawing Jared’s attention to the Hollywood Reporter ad. Your efforts and success are appriciated. Sounds like you met some good folk and had some good times. 🙂
Hi Yirabah
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’m glad you had a wonderful time. Someday I hope to be in the position to go to a Con and be able to have that magical experience.
Yirabah,
I was most impressed with two parts of this delightful article, first, your determination to get that article posted and into either Jensen’s or Jared’s hands. Wonderful on your part to miss parts of panels and catch trains and ask for assistance, and you say you’re shy?
Secondly, I love your comment in this article about that’s what Supernatural Cons are all about anyway, fans, friends who have become family coming together and sharing…what an amazing way to meet people and share in cultures and diversity and backgrounds that Eric and all involved have created and we the fans have embraced.
Thank you for sharing this experience.
Yvonne, Danny thanks so much for appreciating this so much.
Karen thank you for enjoying this. And if you ever have the chance to go to a con – do it. It most definatly is magical.
Elle2 I am not shy on a one on one basis. But I don’t like talking in front of a crowd and most definatly dislike talking into a mic. But normally I have no problems to start talking to people unknown.
But you are right Elle2 I am still surprised at my determination to get the crew to know about that article.
Cons are wonderful and as Jensen stated it there – especially if you have to travel far to get there. And is there anybody who doesn’t think we SPN fans kind of family? When I come in here to read an article it kind of feels like one family member writting a letter about the rest of the family.
Thank you Eric for giving all of that to us – it’s more than just a TV show.
Congratulations on the posting of this article, Yirabah! I know how important this was for you – sorry for not commenting earlier, had some trouble logging in the other day.
You had some great experiences in Barcelona, and some weird ones, and I want to thank you for sharing them with us in this manner!!!!
Love Jas
P.S.: Don’t worry about the standing-at-the-mike thing… you did a great job!
Thank you for sharing and posting your Rising Con experience, it’s always a pleasure reading the experiences of other SPN fans, 🙂 I attended the JIB Con in Rome and it was my first time too, hehe…Traveled all the way from Puerto Rico to Rome to see our boys, lol..I too was nervous when I first stepped up to the mic to ask my question, my first panel Q and A was with Jared, we had traveled to Rome out of Philadelphia on the same flight 🙂 of course, I didn’t even know about it until we had landed in Rome and I saw him standing in the First Class aisle waiting to deplane, hehehe…I gave both Jensen and Jared bracelets as gifts and had the opportunity, MORE THAN ONCE, hehe, to step up to the mic to ask questions, and each time it got easier….so, I totally understand your nervousness, and like everyone here has mentioned you did an AMAZING job handing the letter to Jared…thanks for sharing your experience with us…Hugs from a SPN fan in Puerto Rico 🙂
Jas thanks again for your help with this and your input really wish we could do the next con together.
Jensenbabe42 I love hearing other peoples experiences at a con and by now I know that I am not the only one who has problems up there at the mic. And thank you so much for your support. That you liked Jareds reaction to it was worth everything.
Yirabah, dear, I did nothing, really, the work was entirely your own and you have every right to be proud ot it. Love Jas
jensenbabe de que parte de pr eres?? yo soy de alla?!