Jo meets Emily and Sally by Cookie N Screen
The weekend kicked off with a glorious Friday. After many worries about the weather, the sun beamed down as characters from games to film gathered to enjoy a magnificent MCM Comic Con. As the painted faces and loving hand crafted costumes grouped together on the steps of the Excel Centre, the bustling excitement about connecting with other fans tinged like electricity in the air. With all the enthusiasm, the stage was set for an epic weekend as people paid homage to the worlds that they have fallen into and were champing at the bit to connect with others, including many of their favourite artists.
The weekend kicked off with a glorious Friday. After many worries about the weather, the sun beamed down as characters from games to film gathered to enjoy a magnificent MCM Comic Con. As the painted faces and loving hand crafted costumes grouped together on the steps of the Excel Centre, the bustling excitement about connecting with other fans tinged like electricity in the air. With all the enthusiasm, the stage was set for an epic weekend as people paid homage to the worlds that they have fallen into and were champing at the bit to connect with others, including many of their favourite artists.
For the first time, I’m With Geek teamed up to take to the MCM Expo. Bristling with delight, Editor In Chief William John, Senior Editors Graham and myself, designer Kim and publicist Jo took to the masses to bring you the goodness of our website and help celebrate your creations. We had lots of goodies to give to you from the brains of our team and we wanted to reach out to an audience. I’m With Geek, for those just joining this site, is an entertainment site made by creative with fiery passion for all things geek. MCM London Comic Con is the biggest convention of geek culture this side of the Atlantic. Turning up on Friday and straight through the Sunday, I’m With Geek felt right at home in the centre of the crowds.
It’s safe to say a highlight of the weekend was all of you who attended. Never has there been such passion swimming through the air of a centre. London's Dockyards were brimming with the creatives. From well-known popular culture costumes (Anna and Elsa from Frozen were in full force this weekend) to some left field from out knowledge (an abundance of Homestruck characters look amazing, but perhaps outside of our geek vocabularly,) the effort by many was astonishing. Particular costume highlights included Christine Daee, Oogie Booie, Bender and Storm. But that was the tip of a lucrative colourful display. In fact, you guys rocked your costumes so hard that we at IWG HQ are already planning our costumes for the next convention. Some may have already ordered the.
It’s safe to say a highlight of the weekend was all of you who attended. Never has there been such passion swimming through the air of a centre. London's Dockyards were brimming with the creatives. From well-known popular culture costumes (Anna and Elsa from Frozen were in full force this weekend) to some left field from out knowledge (an abundance of Homestruck characters look amazing, but perhaps outside of our geek vocabularly,) the effort by many was astonishing. Particular costume highlights included Christine Daee, Oogie Booie, Bender and Storm. But that was the tip of a lucrative colourful display. In fact, you guys rocked your costumes so hard that we at IWG HQ are already planning our costumes for the next convention. Some may have already ordered the.
The stalls were fantastic. A range of the popular shops such as Forbidden Planet to the artists all had a collection of creations that emptied our pockets. An entire stall dedicated to sock monkey’s, a gothic steampunk show and collection, Tokyo Toys, The Cinema Store and thousands of t-shirts and figurines have now piled up in our offices and homes. The engaging sellers were brilliantly receptive and their minds must be infinite with fandom possibilities. Our favourite? For me, it was the Zombie Apocalypse Survival team who delighted Jo with their insight into surviving the inevitable stream of Walkers that will take over this Earth.
Similarly the panels and guests were intriguing. Though I may not have entered the scope of games as it is outside my wheelhouse, finding new web series such as Cops and Monsters, Future Duck and more made me excited for the upcoming stuff NOTE WILL I CANT THINK OF A BETTER WORD HELP! Our television screens, our computers and our cinemas will be full of the biggest and brightest talent! On that note, Raindaince provided a great insight into their festival. Speaker Eliot Grove was particular inspiring, giving boosts for anyone hoping to make and create film. Raindance is offering a chance to screen your work and with his tips (of which will be spoken about later) will hone in anyone wanting to make it. Internet sensation Tomska was too a massive hit with the audiences.
Similarly the panels and guests were intriguing. Though I may not have entered the scope of games as it is outside my wheelhouse, finding new web series such as Cops and Monsters, Future Duck and more made me excited for the upcoming stuff NOTE WILL I CANT THINK OF A BETTER WORD HELP! Our television screens, our computers and our cinemas will be full of the biggest and brightest talent! On that note, Raindaince provided a great insight into their festival. Speaker Eliot Grove was particular inspiring, giving boosts for anyone hoping to make and create film. Raindance is offering a chance to screen your work and with his tips (of which will be spoken about later) will hone in anyone wanting to make it. Internet sensation Tomska was too a massive hit with the audiences.
Hoping to address this in a larger piece but our enjoyment was hindered, like so many people, by the organisation of the event. The queues were pesky, especially in the rain, and security were rude. But that is by and by with a large event like this. Coming from a small upcoming business, asking us to spend over a grand for a stall and then privileges such as leafleting, from our perspective seemed wrong. Telling us that we couldn’t give away freebies, leaflets or connect with our audience despite not having a stall was outrageous. Feeling as though we had to fight tooth and nail for our message to come through, for us to lay foundations for a prospective and promising future, was ludicrous.
While I understand that MCM Comic Con relies on tickets and money from exhibitors to cover the expense of Excel and make profit, there seems to be no backbone for small businesses. I’m With Geek, at the moment, may be a tiny drop in a bigger ocean but we have (or had) determination to build it all up. What we needed was a bit of faith from MCM or a little bit of understanding in order to pay back, in kind, down the line in, what could’ve been, a phenomenal relationship. Though we appreciate the press pass for one of our people, the way we were treated like so many has dampened our spirits like the clouds that hailed down on Saturday.
Yet it truly is the crowds that made it. In fact, this years MCM Expo boasted 100,000 guests; the largest it has ever seen smashing all previous records. Meeting so many of you face to face, adoring your costumes and conversing over the finer details of fandom made us brim with delight. I'm With Geek cannot, personally, wait until October. Paul Miley, the shows organizers, says "when we return in October, the show will be even bigger and better!"
If you haven’t, I urge you now to enter our competition now. Tweet us, get in contact with is and make sure your life is always with geek.
Check out photoshere!
TTFN
Cookie.
While I understand that MCM Comic Con relies on tickets and money from exhibitors to cover the expense of Excel and make profit, there seems to be no backbone for small businesses. I’m With Geek, at the moment, may be a tiny drop in a bigger ocean but we have (or had) determination to build it all up. What we needed was a bit of faith from MCM or a little bit of understanding in order to pay back, in kind, down the line in, what could’ve been, a phenomenal relationship. Though we appreciate the press pass for one of our people, the way we were treated like so many has dampened our spirits like the clouds that hailed down on Saturday.
Yet it truly is the crowds that made it. In fact, this years MCM Expo boasted 100,000 guests; the largest it has ever seen smashing all previous records. Meeting so many of you face to face, adoring your costumes and conversing over the finer details of fandom made us brim with delight. I'm With Geek cannot, personally, wait until October. Paul Miley, the shows organizers, says "when we return in October, the show will be even bigger and better!"
If you haven’t, I urge you now to enter our competition now. Tweet us, get in contact with is and make sure your life is always with geek.
Check out photoshere!
TTFN
Cookie.
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