mikailborg: I can't even remember what event I was attending, but I must have been taking it seriously. (orbiting)
mikailborg ([personal profile] mikailborg) wrote2009-03-30 02:17 am

Turning Out the Lights

I'm staying up too long again tonight, but I really want to write down my weekend impressions while they are fresh.

The clock read quarter-to-eleven before I could drag my carcass out of bed, which meant that Closing Ceremonies were only three hours away. No panels, no costuming, just time spent with friends today. I wandered the halls, trading hugs and saying hellos and goodbyes, until noon when the con auctions were to begin. My interest this year remained solely academic, as I'd vowed to spend no money at the con: the budget this spring wouldn't support it.

The White Elephant auction at 1:00 contained many fascinating items, including Shadowrun gaming materials that almost tempted me. (I looked carefully, finding none of the books that my group has specifically mentioned searching for.) Soon enough, though, the Closing Ceremonies began, dragging on for almost three hours before everyone could tear themselves away. I joined [livejournal.com profile] jsciv and [livejournal.com profile] candidevoltaire for an evening of gaming that lasted until 11 with a dinner break; we played the new Battlestar Galactica board game for two hours, and I judged it worth playing but not one I'll be purchasing soon, if for no other reason that it plays best with exactly five players. Now, I'm back in my hotel room, bleary and typing away.

Was the con a success? Indeed so, from my perspective. Rumor has it that attendance numbers reached average Technicon levels, which must be a good thing. I had a lovely time, as did anyone else I got to ask. Should there be one next year? I'm not as sure. I think this must be the last Technicon in its current form: future versions with or without the same name will need much new blood, and perhaps new ways of doing things, to attract college students jaded by DVD players and online gaming. I'll always be available for the panels and performances I'm good at, but I have no interest in a strenuous staff position, and I doubt many other of the con's veterans do either anymore.

I'd like there to be another T-Con; but I feel that forcing the issue would cause more harm than good. I'm comfortable biding my time and letting things take their natural course. And until I learn what that course is, staff members of SheVaCon expressed strong interest in having me present my late-night insanity at their event, which will give me something to do while waiting for Technicon 27 or Technicon Next Generation #1.

[identity profile] madwriter.livejournal.com 2009-03-31 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] clar1ssa and I were trying to figure out ways to get folks to Blacksburg every spring regardless of whether or not there is a T-Con...something that could just get us together for a few panels of just hanging out and chatting for 2-3 hours. We should try to come up with something between now and then. :)

[identity profile] kathleenroberts.livejournal.com 2009-03-31 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
John Franklin has been talking about "Plan B" for a couple of years. I can probably dig up contact info for him if you want it and don't have it already.

[identity profile] madwriter.livejournal.com 2009-03-31 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Ironically I don't think I do have contact info for him, although he apparently sees a couple of my best friends in NoVA on a semi-regular basis. (And I saw him myself one of my last visits up there.)

[identity profile] jsciv.livejournal.com 2009-03-31 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
The Spielers and I have talked about something, but Spiel planning is "get a room, bring games, play." So not really the same scale at all (though we would show up to someone else's event I'm sure).