Wicked Faire: overall opinion
Feb. 23rd, 2009 07:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elionwyrFirst off:
my con/trade show resume
I have been attending conventions since 1983...I think. It might be a wee bit earlier..the first thing I would classify as a 'convention' for me was a small gathering of Whovians at Rocketships and Accessories in Philadelphia.
Cons and trade shows I've attended and/or worked at (either for the event itself or for vendors in attendance): Creation, Blake's 7 cons, Doctor Who cons of varied types, Horrorfind, Chiller, Cinema Wasteland, Steel City Con, Hauntcon, Halloween Convergence, Philcon, Balticon, Arisia, Lunacon, IAAPA, TransWorld, Midwest Haunters Convention, a few women's music festivals, and a film festival.
..I'm sure I'm missing something in there.
But. Yes. Cons of varied sizes/shapes/flavours.
I'm experienced.
And verily I say unto you: Wicked Faire kicked ASS.
It's not a sci fi con.
IMNSHO, it doesn't need panel programming. There were some talks - the steampunks had some programming, and there were some 'adult' oriented talks. This is of the good. But early on, when I heard there might be panel programming, I was a little confused because there wasn't much information on the website or on Wicked Village about it..and now I understand why. Wicked really isn't That Kind Of Con.
Wicked is more like Horrorfind or Chiller, with a heavier kink factor.
That said, let me tell y'all something...
I found Arisia to be more kink-heavy than Wicked Faire.
Yes, there were vendors at Wicked selling adult toys, and yes there was a whipping station.
None of these were out in public view, and really, it was almost easy to forget this stuff was there, because of all the ren faire-ish vendors, and the musical performances, and the goths, and the steampunks.
Oh my gods, the steampunks. They were friggin' amazing. The costuming was so much fun. The steampunks themselves added so much to this convention with their programming and their presence.
I will be writing more about my actual experience at Wicked in other posts tonight.
This post? This is all about saying wow, did this convention work.
And I think it works because in many ways it's pretty dang unique.
No Masquerade. It didn't need one.
Not much panel programming.
Lots and lots of music, and dancing, and amazing costuming, and tons of vendors.
A mix of cultures that looks....improbable on paper...coupled with a con organizer that is damned good to his vendors and damned sensitive to the needs of his attendees. The last person I've seen with such a concern was Rochelle, from the Halloween Convergence - a con I only ever attended because she said, "You need to go to this," and then she figured out a way to make that happen.
Jeff created the Wicked Village so his attendees could network before the event. He helped people find rides to and from the con. He worked with vendors who had some last minute snafus with business. He organized con staff to actively patrol the hotel to be sure there was nothing hinky going on. At one point, for example, a woman who had been hypnotized was crying out loudly. Con security RAN to the room to make sure everything was ok. I have never experienced a con that had that strong a desire to take care of its attendees.
Room for growth and improvement? Yes indeedy.
And because of the kind of event Wicked Faire has become? Attendees and vendors alike told me over the course of the weekend that they want to pitch in and help Jeff make this event even better.
I think that alone speaks volumes about what kind of convention, what kind of community, we're talking about.
my con/trade show resume
I have been attending conventions since 1983...I think. It might be a wee bit earlier..the first thing I would classify as a 'convention' for me was a small gathering of Whovians at Rocketships and Accessories in Philadelphia.
Cons and trade shows I've attended and/or worked at (either for the event itself or for vendors in attendance): Creation, Blake's 7 cons, Doctor Who cons of varied types, Horrorfind, Chiller, Cinema Wasteland, Steel City Con, Hauntcon, Halloween Convergence, Philcon, Balticon, Arisia, Lunacon, IAAPA, TransWorld, Midwest Haunters Convention, a few women's music festivals, and a film festival.
..I'm sure I'm missing something in there.
But. Yes. Cons of varied sizes/shapes/flavours.
I'm experienced.
And verily I say unto you: Wicked Faire kicked ASS.
It's not a sci fi con.
IMNSHO, it doesn't need panel programming. There were some talks - the steampunks had some programming, and there were some 'adult' oriented talks. This is of the good. But early on, when I heard there might be panel programming, I was a little confused because there wasn't much information on the website or on Wicked Village about it..and now I understand why. Wicked really isn't That Kind Of Con.
Wicked is more like Horrorfind or Chiller, with a heavier kink factor.
That said, let me tell y'all something...
I found Arisia to be more kink-heavy than Wicked Faire.
Yes, there were vendors at Wicked selling adult toys, and yes there was a whipping station.
None of these were out in public view, and really, it was almost easy to forget this stuff was there, because of all the ren faire-ish vendors, and the musical performances, and the goths, and the steampunks.
Oh my gods, the steampunks. They were friggin' amazing. The costuming was so much fun. The steampunks themselves added so much to this convention with their programming and their presence.
I will be writing more about my actual experience at Wicked in other posts tonight.
This post? This is all about saying wow, did this convention work.
And I think it works because in many ways it's pretty dang unique.
No Masquerade. It didn't need one.
Not much panel programming.
Lots and lots of music, and dancing, and amazing costuming, and tons of vendors.
A mix of cultures that looks....improbable on paper...coupled with a con organizer that is damned good to his vendors and damned sensitive to the needs of his attendees. The last person I've seen with such a concern was Rochelle, from the Halloween Convergence - a con I only ever attended because she said, "You need to go to this," and then she figured out a way to make that happen.
Jeff created the Wicked Village so his attendees could network before the event. He helped people find rides to and from the con. He worked with vendors who had some last minute snafus with business. He organized con staff to actively patrol the hotel to be sure there was nothing hinky going on. At one point, for example, a woman who had been hypnotized was crying out loudly. Con security RAN to the room to make sure everything was ok. I have never experienced a con that had that strong a desire to take care of its attendees.
Room for growth and improvement? Yes indeedy.
And because of the kind of event Wicked Faire has become? Attendees and vendors alike told me over the course of the weekend that they want to pitch in and help Jeff make this event even better.
I think that alone speaks volumes about what kind of convention, what kind of community, we're talking about.