This past weekend, I went to Ottawa PopExpo and I had a sensational time! It was the second time I went to a con by myself, and while I packed and planned on cosplaying, the weather did not cooperate and I ended up in my civvies all weekend. In fairness though, not cosplaying allowed me freedom at a convention like I’ve never had before. I could go places without worrying about my costume, I could eat and drink to my hearts content, going to the washroom wasn’t akin to a coordinated dance routine, and I didn’t have to worry about blocking the view of people sitting behind me at panels with my GIANT Red Queen wig.
I had a busy weekend and I saw/did everything I wanted to! The convention was busy enough to be awesome, but not busy enough that it was frustrating or difficult to get places/do things. I queued up no more than 15 minutes for every Q&A and panel I saw (most no more than 10) and I got excellent seats for everything. I was super impressed with how well organized the con was too – all the minions knew where stuff was happening and when, and they were all polite. Security was great too – they weren’t rude at all! I was also impressed with the shopping area – the vendors were mega – I bought a TARDIS toque, silver TARDIS earrings, and silver Triforce earrings – and I don’t usually buy stuff at cons.
On Saturday, I saw Robert Picardo, James Marsters, and John Barrowman’s Q&A’s, and I went to Cosplay /= Consent, and Zombie University panels which were awesome! The Q&A’s were so funny, I was glad I wasn’t in full face makeup because I would have been a creasy mess from laughing so hard. John Barrowman’s panel was the last of the day and my cheeks hurt from laughing at the end of it!
Sunday was a shorter day, and I saw Nicole de Boer, and YaYa Han’s Q&A’s which were in a nice, small room which made them fantastically casual and intimate. I even got to ask Nicole de Boer my question about ‘Cube’! It was the first time I’d ever asked a question at a celebrity Q&A so I was pretty excited! The last panel of the day was Achieving Flex Appeal which was a great panel about getting in shape for cosplay. It was hosted by a guy who cosplayed as He-Man at Ottawa ComicCon, and I got to speak with him afterward, and he was super nice and knowledgeable. It was a great end to the weekend!
On top of all that, I met some amazing people while waiting in queues, and sitting next to/around people in panels for panels and Q&A’s. My favourite thing about going to conventions is the people I meet that are there for the same reason I am – to completely nerd out over our shared love of awesome things!
So, even though the weather was cold, rainy, hail/snow/freezing raining, topped with gail force winds, I had a blast this past weekend and I cannot wait for the next convention!
Did anyone else go to PopExpo?
What did you do?
Did you cosplay?
It Takes A Village To Cosplay!
Earla Alara
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