Help, please. Need Flanvention tips, or friends.

POSTED BY: History
UPDATED: Friday, December 8, 2006 01:37
VIEWED: 16466
PAGE 1 of 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT PAGE

HISTORY

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:24 AM

This is how it is.
I'm a "Simon".
A New England "proper" physician.
The only conventions I have attended have been, well, medical.
Lecturing to hundreds of medical colleagues does not bother me, nor does performing medical procedures many people would cringe at.
However, I'm nervous about attending a fan convention.
I humbly admit I'll be out of my element, like Simon out on the Border planets of the Rim. Mal might say, I would look "like a sheep walking on hind legs."

I have a true desire to make the most of the experience. And for that I need tips, a guide, or friends. Otherwise I'll shyly be more of an observer than a participant.
It's just my way.

Respectfully,
History

FLORALBUNNY

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 4:14 AM

How intriguing.
Wish I were going to be there.
May be able to scrounge up some
help for you, however.
Hope it doesn't have to be male
assistance -- somebody else will
have to deal with that one -- heh.

bun, loving the Simon type
~Bastards singed my turtle~

SHINYTRINKET

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 4:50 AM

This will be my first con as well (other than a game show con I attended a little of with my hubby earlier this year, and some business conventions). I'm pretty sure I'll be one of the older fans there, too. So I can't really offer tips from one who's been there, but...I can be a Flan Friend

*************************************************
The 3 rules of aging:
1. Never bypass a bathroom
2. Never waste an erection
3. Never trust a fart

DONCOAT

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 1:19 PM

History, have no fear. I was in your very situation last year. I went to Flan-I without knowing a soul who'd be there. And I'm not the most gregarious of souls, to put it mildly.

Within the first half hour I'd met and made a half-dozen new Browncoat friends, all of whom were as nice and friendly as you please. (I'm still in touch with several of them and am looking forward to seeing them again in December.) In short, I had as much companionship as I cared for throughout the weekend, but could always retreat to my room when fatigue set in. (While I was retreating, I wrote up con reports and posted them here, as some may recall.)

The Browncoat community is every bit as open and inclusive "in person" as it is here on FFF.net. So not to fret, everything's shiny.

And I'll be there again this year. You're welcome to hang out with me if there's nobody more interesting around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

HISTORY

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:09 PM

Thank you all for your moral support and advice.

Dear Floral Bunny, I have no aversion to lady Browncoat friends, and perhaps a predeliction--though, being out of my normal controlled environment, I'll likely be as awkward and stupid as Simon with Kaylee.

Dear Shiny Trinket, I'm in my 40's, so I'm no spring gosling either. I welcome and appreciate any prospective Flan friends, thank you. [Your signature is definitely not from the Central planets , and reminds me of the words of Lazarus Long in Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love." Close?]

Dear DonCoat, thank you for sharing your experience from last year. It was very encouraging. I would welcome the company, I'll be the one looking like his pants are too tight (though they will not be).

I may be the only Browncoat from Maine attending It is a bit of a trek (pardon the choice of words), but I fear there may not be a Flan III, so I cleared my schedule and got call coverage, and booked everything yesterday. Unfortunately, I did not make this commitment last Spring, so no Banquet for me. Though I'll be going from the plane to the cocktail reception--briefly, I suspect I'll wish to rest up.

How do internet friends/acquaintances find each other at a convention? Or is the Flan intimate enough (no more than 500), that this is not a problem?

Thank you all again for your replies.
The stick up my pigo is loosening.

Respectfully,
History

P.S. I just discovered Ms. Morena Baccarin will be a guest at a "Megafest" convention in Framingham, MA November 18 and 19th [ http://www.supermegafest.com/ ]. I see she will not be at Flan II. I may go down and back on one day, meet her (or at least get an autograph). I suspect the event will be such a shock [based on the promotional web page], that Flan II will be like coming home.

CHINDI

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 6:38 PM

Hell History.. you will love it! MANY of the fans are older...(who else has the $$$) and all are friendly.

You can be your shy self and just sit at the Q&As and LAUGH yourself silly.. or you can come in costume and still feel right at home. The spectrum of involvement is like the rainbow.

You have nothing to worry about.. nothing at all. The coats are all good folks.

As for how to meet up.. it is intimate (about 500). You can just meet ppl as you go, or set up a predetermined time to hook up with ppl you know. there is a nice bar at the Daily Grill (restaurant attached to the hotel) or just in the lobby... you will find your way (happily)

Chindi

GRIZWALD

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 6:41 PM

Watch History come home from Flan II married or something.

___________________________________________________
High Priestess of Pork and Ag-Related Activities of the MYTHICAL LAND OF IOWA

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

LEIASKY

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 6:46 PM

Most of the Firefly fans I've met are really open and friendly.

I'm going to the Cocktail party but not the Banquet. Friends and I have a suite for Sat night and are having a room party. Step in and have some food, booze and fun!

Tammy

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

MINIME

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:57 PM

Hey, History! Another Doc!
I think I know exactly what you're going through; I occasionally admit to being a medical practitioner, and I went to my first convention about a month ago. I was a bit... hesitant at first... but I went, met some wonderful people and got to see 3 of our BDHs up close. I confess that I made an idiot of myself when I met Sean Maher - I won't tell you what I said, except that it wasn't as bad as the sentence I managed to catch before it left my mouth, which was: "Hey, I stitch faster than you!"
Being an introspective Simon-type, I ended up with severe post-convention depression - of the Jaynestown-only-a-hamster selfish type as well as the saying-goodbye type.
I'm very very glad I went, I don't know if I'd go again... but that could be because I actually live in Australia and only got to Serenity 3 because of visiting friends in the UK.

Enjoy!
Minime

TERRI

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 2:19 AM

Here's a tip: Put me in a suitcase and TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! Ahem, other than that just remember that they're all Browncoats just like you, and that's the one thing that binds everybody together. Whatever happens, just keep that in mind, because it'll make all the difference in you getting embarrased and all that.

1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT PAGE