Cos-Free is A-OK

by Lauren

Alright everyone, this is it. GG Inc. is heading down to Dragon Con tomorrow!
OMG - HAVE SO MUCH TO DO STILL, SNACKS TO BUY, THINGS TO PACK, A COSTUME TO FINISH (AND 5 MEETINGS AT WORK TODAY BEFORE I CAN GO!) AAAAAAHHH /mental break down...

Let me take it down a notch before I hyperventilate.

I've had a crazy/goodish year. I got an awesome promotion, which comes with new stress and responsibilities. My husband and I bought our first house. My parents (whose health isn't great) have come to live with us. I've had pneumonia.  AND I have this website we are trying to make a real 'thing' - in our spare time... It's a lot. I'm sure everyone has had some life drama this year they want a break from.

I look forward to Dragon Con as my one guaranteed 'vacation' just for me each year. Even though I live in the Atlanta area, my girlfriends and I get a room downtown and go to 'nerd sleep over camp' every Labor Day weekend and party down. As you can tell from the previous Con articles, many of them are VERY SERIOUS COSPLAYERS - and Dragon Con is very serious about its cosplay. The people watching is fantastic. I envy the artistry and dedication and time everyone puts into amazing costumes, both subtle and intricate, to demonstrate their love of something 'nerdy' in a place where everyone loves that stuff too.

There is No Wrong Way to do Dragon Con

This year, with the exception of one group costume I am doing with my meetup group Geek Girls of North Atlanta, I am going costume free this Dragon Con. I've been stressed about it - intimidated by the creativity and enthusiasm of my friends and their projects. My cosplaying friends, I salute you...

But, I realized something. There is no wrong way to do Dragon Con (as long as you aren't a douche canoe to other people.) This weekend is about the people and the geeky things I love. I have the right to have fun on my terms. I have the right to be comfortable. I have the right to cosplay or not. Lots of people don't cosplay, actually. You don't have to either!

I'll be rockin' my nerdy t-shirt collection and Chuck Taylors (with insoles for support, I'm not stupid!) This year I supported a bunch of celebrity charity efforts with represent t-shirt campaigns, which I will wear proudly. (I'm bummed Felicia's anti-bullying shirt isn't shipping in time for Con, or I'd be wearing that too!)

For Stand for the Silent and Paws and Stripes

For KUSEWERA (which I hope ships in time)

For TWLOHA

I also have a killer Tina Belcher shirt, and my 2014 GGNA shirt I designed which ultimately inspired me to start Geek Girls Inc. with my friends.

Thanks Elaina, this shirt rocks!

Getting Down to Some Business...

The other thing I am doing at Con this year is promoting the crap out of this website. I was inspired by Felicia Day's book where she talks about hustling book marks at cons to drum up an audience in the early days of The Guild. So, we are going to be talking to people, interviewing cosplayers, taking pictures, reviewing panels, and tweeting and instagraming until our phones die (which they always do - seriously pack a rapid charger and/or your cables and carry them with you!!) I hope you follow us! Tell your friends!

We have shirts for most of the GG staff to wear over the weekend - if you see one of us say hi - we just might have a surprise for you!

So dear reader, enjoy your Dragon Con. It is yours. That's the great thing about Dragon Con over other big conventions. It's not corporate. It's about the people. It's about the love. It's the best time you can have with 63,000 of your best friends you've maybe never met yet.

Almost there...

This will be be after my last meeting today.