People of earth! I went to my first comic con over the weekend, and I’ve got to say that I had a blast! Now, I eased myself into it by going to a local one and I only attended one of the three days, but I think I got quite a lot out of it.
I attended Steel City Con in Monroeville, Pennsylvania on Saturday, and it was quite an experience. This convention center was packed with all walks of life, many of whom were dressed as their favorite characters from basically anything. A lot of them were pretty impressive! I went as myself and was just taking it all in with curiosity and confusion at times. One of the things I noticed was just how nice everyone was – how refreshing!
While this was a smaller convention, there was still a ton of talent in attendance, like Tony Danza, Cary Elwes, Carmen Electra, and Neve Campbell! On the day I attended, I had the opportunity to sit in and listen to several Q&A panels. I started the day catching the tail end of Wallace Shawn’s, followed up by Denise Richards who spoke for a bit about her turn on Wild Things and Real Housewives. Next up was a big hit in the Scream panel with Neve Campbell, Jamie Kennedy, and Chris Durand. Kennedy was definitely the hit of the panel with him cracking jokes and most of the questions directed at him.
After a quick food break I headed back to the main hall to catch Carmen Electra’s interactive Q&A. She was down in the audience wielding the microphone for eager fans (and I mean eager). She was followed by The Princess Bride panel which consisted of Cary Elwes and Chris Sarandon. The hall was packed for this Q&A and it was so cool to see the massive cult following and lasting impact this film has had on people. Also, Elwes and Saradon’s responses to the questions were well thought-out, lengthy, and endearing. They seem to love the legacy this film has created as much as anyone else.
Aside from the celebrities in attendance, there were also over 750 vendors! Lots of comics, Funko Pops, and artwork. I saw so many people with purchases, so it’s a really fruitful event for artists and businesses. I myself bought a few magnets to commemorate the day.
Also to commemorate the day, I splurged and bought two photo ops. The first was with Neve Campbell because I am a huge fan of the Scream franchise, and also secretly because one of my best friends look just like her (it’s crazy!). The second I got was with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, aka Zack Morris, from Saved by the Bell! I loved that show growing up, so it was a surreal moment for sure. While the process was quick, it was a very fun opportunity and I’ve got a professional photo to ogle at for the rest of my life.
This whole day’s experience has me excited for the next con I can attend!