by Maria
Another con weekend has ended, and I'm feeling the post-con blues. No cosplay to see, no celebrities to meet, no panels to attend. Regular life is so dull in comparison. Do I really have to wear a navy suit to work instead of my Wonder Woman outfit?
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As a thirteen-year veteran of Dragon Con, this is my takeaway for 2015.
THE GOOD
Many shows with a smaller ardent fan base were represented. Continuum, Defiance, Sleepy Hollow, and Lost Girl, for example, got some major love. Fans of these shows had great interaction with their favorites. I personally found Tom Mison of Sleepy Hollow (aka Sexy Jesus) to be hilarious in his panels and completely charming with his fans. Representation from these shows at Dragon Con is bound to cement their growing fan bases, and also win new fans to their shows. Smart move.
As usual, Dragon Con showcases the gold standard for cosplay. They outdid themselves this year. (Keep and eye out for our cosplay wrap-up article coming soon!)
Many shows with a smaller ardent fan base were represented. Continuum, Defiance, Sleepy Hollow, and Lost Girl, for example, got some major love. Fans of these shows had great interaction with their favorites. I personally found Tom Mison of Sleepy Hollow (aka Sexy Jesus) to be hilarious in his panels and completely charming with his fans. Representation from these shows at Dragon Con is bound to cement their growing fan bases, and also win new fans to their shows. Smart move.
As usual, Dragon Con showcases the gold standard for cosplay. They outdid themselves this year. (Keep and eye out for our cosplay wrap-up article coming soon!)
I wish we'd gotten more names of some of these cosplayers, but feel free to message if you know who they are (or if it's you) so we can credit your good work!
The lines for panels were capped early, so people knew they couldn't get in right away. Waiting an hour only to be told you can’t get in stinks, so way to go, DC.
It was a great year for Battlestar Galactica fans. These actors always offer thoughtful answers in their panels. As an added bonus, Grace Park finally joined the con’s guest list. On the Thursday night of the con, Aaron Douglas also hosted a successful charity pub crawl for the Lymphoma Foundation, along with Edward James Olmos and several BSG castmates.
It was a great year for Battlestar Galactica fans. These actors always offer thoughtful answers in their panels. As an added bonus, Grace Park finally joined the con’s guest list. On the Thursday night of the con, Aaron Douglas also hosted a successful charity pub crawl for the Lymphoma Foundation, along with Edward James Olmos and several BSG castmates.
Brooke and Ariyanna with some folks you might recognize...
THE BAD
The lines for panels were handled better than in the past, but the line to get in a panel on Saturday morning during the parade was a mess. I stood in line WITH the parade watchers, trampled by people (often wearing wings and accouterment) trying to walk past. Bad idea! Let the panel peeps into the room and get them out of the way of the crowd.
Speaking of the panel lines, isn’t it time Dragon Con execs put more volunteers on the job to manage the two thousand bodies waiting outside the Marriott Atrium ballroom? Three people walking down the queue would probably help control what always threatens to be an unruly mob.
The lines for panels were handled better than in the past, but the line to get in a panel on Saturday morning during the parade was a mess. I stood in line WITH the parade watchers, trampled by people (often wearing wings and accouterment) trying to walk past. Bad idea! Let the panel peeps into the room and get them out of the way of the crowd.
Speaking of the panel lines, isn’t it time Dragon Con execs put more volunteers on the job to manage the two thousand bodies waiting outside the Marriott Atrium ballroom? Three people walking down the queue would probably help control what always threatens to be an unruly mob.
THE UGLY
Several news sources reported a sexual assault of a cosplaying female. The alleged perp took her offsite; apparently, he himself was in costume. Safety needs to be paramount at Dragon Con. A few suggested changes would help con-goers have a safer, as well as more enjoyable, experience:
1. CAP THE NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD. There are now too many people to manage, and that’s a safety issue. Unless there is an option to expand the venue space, I’d say that 70,000 is reaching maximum capacity. Enough already.
2. ADD MORE SECURITY STAFF, especially in the overcrowded areas where cosplayers like to congregate. The Marriott lounges are barely passable on any given night.
Several news sources reported a sexual assault of a cosplaying female. The alleged perp took her offsite; apparently, he himself was in costume. Safety needs to be paramount at Dragon Con. A few suggested changes would help con-goers have a safer, as well as more enjoyable, experience:
1. CAP THE NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD. There are now too many people to manage, and that’s a safety issue. Unless there is an option to expand the venue space, I’d say that 70,000 is reaching maximum capacity. Enough already.
2. ADD MORE SECURITY STAFF, especially in the overcrowded areas where cosplayers like to congregate. The Marriott lounges are barely passable on any given night.
 The back of Annie's C2E2 badge | 3. Put the "Cosplay is Not Consent" message on PR blast. At many conventions, signs post that directive all over the venue. Some conventions like the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo even include a reminder on their badges. Putting a note on the Dragon Con site is not enough because new con-goers don’t know cosplay etiquette. Worse, predators see Dragon Con as an open invitation to creep on any female in a cute outfit. |
Overall, it was another wonderful Dragon Con. Costumes, celebrities, and so much fun with my Geek Girls!
What’s not to love? I already have plans for Dragon Con 2016.
