Arisia?

[sauergeek]

A lot of people I know talk about going to Arisia and seem to thoroughly enjoy it. I have never been to Arisia, so I can't say. However, I have been to two other cons (Darkover (twice) and Balticon (once)), and never much saw the appeal. At the time, I lived close enough to the con that I did not stay in the con hotel.

Am I missing something? Did I just pick a pair of stinkers? I fail to see the appeal of cons, even though as far as I can tell I am right smack in the target audience.

Comments

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

When I lived in Michigan, going to cons meant being some place with several hundred other like minded people for a change. I'd go for the entire weekend, volunteer in order to earn my con fee back, then spend that money on books at practically the last minute in the huckster's room. I'd rarely sleep and after my first con I didn't bother getting a room because I could always find someone to talk to or something to do. For me it was a social event, I didn't care about the panels or other programming. I'd spend most of the con hanging out, playing cards, drinking and smoking.

I still go to Arisia to see people, but it's never had the same feel for me that Michigan cons did. I feel more like a tourist and less like I belong there. Now I feel more comfortable at Boskone, where I hardly know anyone. At Boskone, I actually go to panels and book readings and enjoy it. Guess I'm getting old, ten or fifteen years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead in a panel unless I was one of the panelists.

Maybe you are missing something, or maybe cons just aren't your thing. If you're in the area Feb 16-17, come to Boskone with me and see.

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

I doubt I can do that this year. Perhaps next though. Boskone sounds like more my speed...

[andrewfeland.livejournal.com]

I've performed at Arisia with the Higgins sword group a couple of times. The vendors were overpriced, the panels weren't all that interesting, and most of the costumes I saw were of the "oh, dear God, my eyes, my eyes!" variety.

If a bunch of friends or one of your favorite authors is going, then by all means, go, but otherwise, my experience at Arisia toed the line between boring and casually horrifying.

I'm not a fan, I just read the stuff

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

Arisia's the party con. People don't attend Arisia to go to panels.

Boskone's much quieter. The dealer's room is pretty much all book sellers, and the panels tend to be (IMHO) more interesting and comprised primarily of pros.

[mizarchivist]

Arisia to me is all about hanging out with a heck of a lot of friends, going to parties, and dressing up in various fun clothes I don't usually get to wear, especially in the middle of winter. Panels and vendors and such are there, sometimes I go/spend, but that's not a primary thing for me.

[catness.livejournal.com]

I don't really like cons, either. The original appeal of cons for me was when I was about 14, and those things don't interest me in the same way anymore. I no longer feel the need to hang out with a bunch of people who are just as into $SUBJECT as I am, and talk about it endlessly and dicksize over who knows which script or story trivia better. I guess I grew out of it.

Arisia has never really held any magic for me, other than as a "go see people socially that are not usually in the same place at the same time" thing. I've volunteered there, paid for memberships occasionally, and also just done the hallway track and parties. I do like huge events, even if I'm not an integral part of them, so I was always sad on Sundays when everybody dispersed. After awhile, though, it just became a weekend where people weren't doing enough interesting things for me to bother participating anymore.

Even a love of large gatherings and staying in hotels can't make Arisia a draw for me. LISA, on the other hand...

[jtidwell.livejournal.com]

I've dropped in on Arisia as a daytripper a few times over the last few years, and honestly, I don't see the huge appeal either. It's fun to run into people I haven't seen since the previous year. It's fun to see whether the masquerade has any stunning costumes (ofthen there's one or two worth seeing). It's fun, occasionally, to sit in a panel and get a good idea or two -- but remember, I write as a semi-pro gig, so anything about books, publishing, or fiction appeals to me.

Enh. I'd say you're not missing much.

(Note that this year is the wrong year to "drop in" on Arisia, as they moved to a new smaller hotel and are already pretty much booked to their limit.)

[jtidwell.livejournal.com]

Also, I've gotten tired of people constantly harassing me to "get involved" in Arisia as a volunteer. Frankly, I'd rather poke my eyes out with an icepick -- I get enough bad management and screwy interpersonal politics at my workplaces. ;-)

[qedrakmar.livejournal.com]

My one visit to Arisia was less than stellar. Admittedly, the non-con things that happened there were great, but the con itself? eh...

It was worth dropping in to see and meet people, though, basically ignoring the con programs.

[pir.livejournal.com]

My only appeal for Arisia was when I lived in the area and went along on Saturday evening to see people who were there from out of town and go to a party or two. The actual con events have no draw whatsoever.

[jiapa.livejournal.com]

I got involved in Arisia way back at the first Arisia 'cuz a bunch of friends were doing it, and I stil do Arisia because a bunch of friends are doing it. I enjoy being on the panels, and I enjoy working the con. I enjoy seeing folks that I haven't seen in a while.

OTOH, it's certainly less appealing than cons were when I was younger. I used to do a whole lot of conventions and now I only do Arisia, and that only for the people.

I will say that, if you want to try out a convention, Darkover, which is mostly a costume con, isn't a good one if you're not a costumer. I went once and didn't particularly enjoy it.

Balticon used to be fun, but it hasn't been worth my while to go recently.

btw, if you want to try out Arisia some year, let me know -- I tend to get a hotel room just for me, since I like a place to retreat to, but you're as welcome to crash in my hotel room as you are in my apartment (ie, very).

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

It might be worth trying once. Can't be this year, but perhaps next!

The only reason I went to either of the cons I've been to is in all cases I knew one of the organizers -- who was willing to get me in for free.

[sichling.livejournal.com]

I find Arisia largely fun for the people & a bit of shopping. The masquerade is usually good as well. Sometimes, the gaming room has good board games & such. I enjoy the filk also, though I rarely remember to go.

Balticon used to be more fun; I think they had better panels & gaming.

At any rate, it's worth a visit, I think. We'll be there. ;-)

[kelkyag]

I'm going to Arisia this year. I haven't been often (and the last time I was there didn't count, as I was being a minion for the fabulous madwoman who was feeding the staff den, so I didn't actually see the con), so my opinions aren't all that solidly grounded. I'm going to see the art show and the masquerade, and go shopping (the net is great and all but I'm fond of seeing people's work in person), and see a few people I don't see much, and possibly catch a panel or two that people I know are involved in or some of the filking.

[snolan.livejournal.com]

I went to Darkover once, as the convention baby-sitter so the could actually get the keynote speaker to show up and speak (I had to watch her kids). I was un-impressed with what little I saw during the days (though admittedly I was focused on the kids). After hours it was one of the best things ever for me personally, though that really does not have much to do with the con itself.

The best comedic events are usually at after-hours parties/sessions.

I happened to discover that the girl I had a crush on for years was actually on the dating circuit rather than being "already taken" as I previously thought, so I jumped in and we are no married. So I guess I have to give (somewhat reluctantly) some credit to Darkover for helping me connect with my wife.

I did also get a little shopping done - found a print by an artist who does SciFi book covers and liked it enough to buy it at the con.

[mindways]

I've been to Arisia a few times, but only because LARPs I wanted to play were running there. The con itself wasn't engaging enough that I've been tempted to go back without LARPs, though - some interesting stuff, sure, but not generally worth the time/money.

I went to Vericon once, though, and enjoyed it enough that I've been tempted to return - especially since they keep pulling in really neat guests of honor (Guy Gavriel Kay this year, IIRC), and the con's small enough (or at least it was) that it doesn't feel so...impersonal? Also, I enjoy trying new table games, and the games-playing felt like a major part of the con rather than a sidetrack from RPG stuff. And Capture the Flag With Stuff was a trip. :)