Thursday, June 19, 2014

Denver Comic Con

Last weekend, we attended & volunteered at our first comic convention!!!
 
On Friday afternoon, we picked up our badges and tshirts for our Saturday morning shifts.  We stuck around the convention center to people watch....some awesome cosplay was happening!  The place was a hive of activity ~~ there was, literally, a buzz in the air! 
 
We were up & out the door early Saturday morning b/c my shift started at 7:30 (and we have a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from Longmont to Denver).  Chris didn't begin until 8:30, so he dropped me off and left to find some free street parking many blocks east. 
 
I was assigned Information Booth, of which there were two, one on the first floor and one on the second, just outside of an entry to the Exhibitors' Hall.  I was stationed on the second floor.  The Con didn't open until 10, so we had time to peruse the Hall to orient ourselves and be prepared to give directions.  We also made several trips to the Volunteer Break room (im)patiently awaiting some coffee!!! 
 
I have one complaint:  when you require arrivals as early as 7:30AM, you need to have the coffee brewing!  We are volunteering our time and without us, the Con could not exist as the cost of paying all of the people would make it a financial disaster!  Apparently, the Staff, who are paid employees, had coffee (maybe snacks) in their private break room!  The Volunteers had no water, no coffee, no snacks until about 9:45!!!  TWO HOURS after we had arrived!!!!  And 15 minutes before the doors open and the flood of people waiting in line, inside and out, come pouring in!!!  I was actually told by a Crew member that this was not a priority!  Um, Wow, really?!?  That's a piss-poor attitude!!
 
I also have one suggestion: stagger the volunteer schedules.  We had 6 volunteers on the second floor all scheduled the same....and we all hung out for 2 hours!  Other than the odd question from an exhibitor, there wasn't anyone to seek out our help until 10AM!  I say, bring in two at 8, two more at 9 and another couple at 9:30.  That way, you have better coverage later in the day, with staggered schedules for the later arrivals. 
 
I did have a good time!  It was cool to see the costumes!  I met some fun people!  It was awesome to have the chance to roam around before the throngs of people descended!  And.....I had my own geek freak out moment:  on one of my unsuccessful coffee runs, as I was returning to the Info Booth, from across the way, I see Rashad, the most recent winner of Syfy's Face Off!!!  He was headed into the Exhibitors' Hall and was on the phone, but he saw that I recognized him and graciously waited for me to approach and hug him!!!  Totally awesome!!
 
Chris was stationed as a line attendant for one of the "celebrities".  He was a bit bored b/c she didn't get many visitors!  However, Lou Ferrigno (THE Incredible Hulk) was at the Con and Chris got the chance to speak with him prior to his shift!! 
 
We walked around the Hall after our shifts ended.  We watched three of the Face Off contestants provide a demo and Q&A session.  We didn't, however, attend any panels, but we should have.  (Next year!!) 
 
We headed out of the convention center about 4 or 4:30 (ahhhh....fresh air) to walk the 16th Street Mall, grab a coffee, eat the rest of our snacks from home.  We then headed to the outdoor area where the costume contest was to be held.  We didn't stay long, tho.  It had turned rather cold, which was completely off from the weather report, and didn't have any jackets. 
 
We arrived home about 7 ~ A long day of walking and standing.  We are ready to do it again next year, maybe seek out different assignments to see something new, something different. 
 
Perhaps I should find a simple Con-worthy costume for a quick change!!!  It's like a 2nd Halloween!!! 
 
On tap this weekend, Pride Fest!!!!  

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