ReConStruction Report

ReConStruction, the 10th Occasional North American Science Fiction Convention, was held this past weekend in Raleigh, NC.  I went, I had a fantastic time… but for odd reasons.

This is the Big Con That Wasn’t.  It probably only had about 25% the normal attendance for a NASFic.  This had both good and bad aspects — the worst of which is that they probably did not break even.  But what resulted was a convention with all the activities of a huge convention, but very cozy and friendly.  The Filk Room, which at most larger conventions is full of filkers hoping to get one song in over the evening, usually had 7 or fewer performers.  But they were some of the biggest names — Juanita Coulson, Roberta Rogow, Blind Lemming Chiffon… and, on the other hand, me.  Mind you, the Big Name Filkers either know me or know of me, but I am hardly what you would call a major draw, largely because I’m usually too broke to attend any cons.

Blind Lemming Chiffon and I got to share a one-hour concert.  BLC is my oldest (i.e., longest time) friend in the world, and it was as though we had never been apart.  We each got 6 songs in that hour — and at least a dozen songs each during the open filking.

The hotel was nice but huge, the convention center was confusing but all reserved for us.  Concerts were excellent, even though many of the performers did not attend the open filks.  Panels were many and varied, and I sat on 4 of them and provided some expertise to a fifth.  I spent a couple hours talking with Guest of Honor Lawrence Watt-Evans, with one or two other people (not dozens or a hundred).

I gave away a lot of promotional materials, including books, discs, business cards, and bookmarks.  At least two authors were interested enough in Eternal Press/Damnation Books LLC to sit and talk with me and exchange business cards.

I wish I could do this a lot more, but I couldn’t have done it at all without Blind Lemming Chiffon — who paid for the hotel room and most of my food.  Also, more than partly due to Blind Lemming, Tom Smith and I got over ourselves, forgave each other, understood each other, and there were hugs and tears shared.  Tom is one of the nicest guys and best writers and performers in filk, and our mutual problem helped neither of us.  It feels so good to get this over with.

I didn’t hear anyone having any major complaints… and the InstaFilk written by Roberta concentrated on the tiny attendance (she used the tune for “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-dot Bikini”).

Yeah, there were things that could have been better.  But overall, it was either a small con with a big-time feel, or a big con with few enough members to stay cozy.  I’m sure the dealers would rather have had more customers.  The drive was uneventful (good thing, with a car with which I was not familiar).  The weather was too bloody hot.

…and my name is printed on the convention t-shirt.  Never had that happen before, even when I was Filk Guest at a con, which has happened a few times.

Hugs,
Me