BotCon 2012

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Here are my photos from BotCon 2012 if anyone's interested. Finally got all of them uploaded to Facebook. Enjoy.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 518&type=3

[una]

Hmmm it keeps saying it is unavailable. Or this could be just happening on my end.

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Poopie. How about this:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 9ad982a9b5

[Beastbot]

Ah, NOW it works. Nice pics. (I honestly never thought of taking pictures out of the airplane window...)

Dang, you just know everybody, don't ya? Sitting at the VIP table at the HoF Dinner. SO JEALOUS.

And I totally bought that art contest entry of Lugnut giving the P.O.K.E. to Windcharger. Wasn't about to let THAT one get away.

[una]

Oh! That is some nice scenery you took.

I'm glad that you had a great time there, OOP!

It's always cool to see Garry Chalk and David Kaye in the same convention. I bet that was awesome!

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Ah, NOW it works. Nice pics. (I honestly never thought of taking pictures out of the airplane window...)

Thank you, Beastbot! Really? I can't help it. I can't really sleep on the plane because I'm afraid I'll miss something magnificent out the window.

Dang, you just know everybody, don't ya? Sitting at the VIP table at the HoF Dinner. SO JEALOUS.

No, I don't know everyone. Garry does, so I just tag along. I was standing in line with some of my friends like everyone else when they started letting people in to sit down at the tables and Garry suddenly showed up out of nowhere and took my hand, practically dragging me to the front of the line. Line-jumper! I had no idea what was going on until I followed him to the guest table. It was either Dan or David who asked Garry, "You brought your handler?!" Man, I suck! Actually, I was surprised they even recognized me. I don't know why he invited me to the table (if he was really even allowed to ); if he was just being nice and wanted me there as his friend or if he felt bad that I couldn't attend the Meet & Greet with him because it was far too expensive. Whatever his reason, I was quite humbled and very grateful.

And I totally bought that art contest entry of Lugnut giving the P.O.K.E. to Windcharger. Wasn't about to let THAT one get away.

No way! Awesome. By the way, I can't believe I never saw you or LJ. Makes me sad. I was looking forward to seeing you guys.

Oh! That is some nice scenery you took. I'm glad that you had a great time there, OOP!

Thank you, una! It was fun but very busy. Lots of running back and forth and coordinating things. And a lot of Garry and me running around in circles trying to find each other. I need to have a leash on him at these events.

It's always cool to see Garry Chalk and David Kaye in the same convention. I bet that was awesome!

They are always a riot together. Although, I felt that David was a little more reserved than I remember him being at past conventions. I don't know. I wanted to ask him if everything was all right but I know he's a pretty private guy so I didn't want to intrude on his business.

[Beastbot]

No way! Awesome. By the way, I can't believe I never saw you or LJ. Makes me sad. I was looking forward to seeing you guys.

Wait, what? You and I talked several times during Botcon. I talked with you and Garry briefly on Thursday night at that fancy Italian restaurant in the hotel, among other times. Did you think I was someone else?

They are always a riot together. Although, I felt that David was a little more reserved than I remember him being at past conventions.

Yeah, I noticed that, too. Though on the other end of things, compared to the only other time I've seen Garry in person (OTFCC 2004... did he attend Botcon 2006? I don't think so, but I can't remember), HE seemed a lot more outgoing this time, so who knows.

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Wait, what? You and I talked several times during Botcon. I talked with you and Garry briefly on Thursday night at that fancy Italian restaurant in the hotel, among other times. Did you think I was someone else?

NO WAY! I suck! No, I couldn't remember what you looked like, so I didn't realize that was you! I'm soooo sorry about that, and I'm sooooo embarassed now. I honestly have a hard time keeping message board handles and real names connected. I don't know why. As soon as I see someone in person, everything we've spoken about on-line is just completely forgotten in my memory. I know, it's terrible. Again, my apologies, Beastbot. I didn't mean to offend you or anything. You were so kind and talkative. And your dad was nice, too. Now I feel better that we did get to meet. I'm such a fruit. It was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed your Italian dinner. I had the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. Nom, noms!

Yeah, I noticed that, too. Though on the other end of things, compared to the only other time I've seen Garry in person (OTFCC 2004... did he attend Botcon 2006? I don't think so, but I can't remember), HE seemed a lot more outgoing this time, so who knows.

Good to know I wasn't the only one who noticed. Hm. A friend of mine and I were wondering if it had anything to do with the way he might've been treated or the way some fans were treated? I learned that some guests refuse to come back to BotCon for the way things transpired, but who knows which side is to "blame." I don't know. Yeah, Garry was on a ball at all of his panels and autographs. I was glad to see that. He's usually pretty outgoing and entertaining, though. Depends on how quickly he gets exhausted from meeting so many people in two days.

[Beastbot]

NO WAY! I suck! No, I couldn't remember what you looked like, so I didn't realize that was you! I'm soooo sorry about that, and I'm sooooo embarassed now. I honestly have a hard time keeping message board handles and real names connected. I don't know why. As soon as I see someone in person, everything we've spoken about on-line is just completely forgotten in my memory. I know, it's terrible. Again, my apologies, Beastbot. I didn't mean to offend you or anything. You were so kind and talkative. And your dad was nice, too. Now I feel better that we did get to meet. I'm such a fruit. It was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed your Italian dinner. I had the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. Nom, noms!

Nah, it's no biggie. I'm a tall white skinny male with acne, I don't exactly stand out from the crowd at a Botcon. Besides, since I got my (partially failed) LASIK in summer 2010, this is the first time you would've seen me without my glasses, so that added to the confusion I'm sure. I'm more curious about who you thought I was, mostly. If there's some TF fan doppleganger out there at Botcons I gotta watch out for.. .

[Sapphire]

Sounds like you both had a great time. I'm happy for you guys.

I noted to comments about the behaviours of both David and Garry. I saw Garry at Auto Assembly in 2010 and her had an absolute blast. He was telling us that it was such a relaxed, fun and social convention, and it was his first in a long time, I believe, after previous bad experiences. I think maybe that convention lightened his mood for other cons. As for David...well, when I spoke with Scott at Auto Assembly, he said that Auto Assembly was breath of fresh air, as it was run by a family (I know the organisers, they are lovely group of people) and was really relaxed, and the fans gave him space but were pleasant and chatty and he had a fun time. (This is not a plug for AA, although it is a great convention; I think it is as nice as it is simply because it's much smaller and thus more easygoing). Scott said at larger cons, it can be very stressful for the guests, as they can get abused by fans, left to sign lonng quues of autographs for hours, or they are whisked away like royalty and don't really get to ENJOY the cons. I don't know what Botcon was like this year, or if, perhaps, David had been to other big conventions recently that gave him a a bad experience, but I suspect he's been knocked around a bit. Either that or something's up in his personal life. These are just thoughts and reflections.

And OOP, don't feel too bad about not recognizing people. It's a skill to assign screen name with real name with real person! I made a few mistakes myself. Though I will always remember Brad. He's been at every Botcon I have ever been too and you're right, he and his dad are awesome people.

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Hey, Sapphire! I hope SilverfromOz got my PM a few weeks ago.

I agree with everything you said about David's behavior and the comments Garry and Scotty have made about the larger cons. It was probably something along those lines with David. I felt bad, though. BotCon was very exhausting for Garry, and he was hardly able to spend much time with David at all, who he doesn't get to see very often. I probably should have done a better job fighting off the fans for Garry but I wasn't technically his handler since BotCon said the guests didn't need them, so I didn't want to overstep any boundaries by constantly being by his side before and after every event and telling fans to back off and give him some space. I will get as fiesty as a honey badger if I have to! "Honey badger don't care! Honey badger don't give a sh*t!" But he and I have spoken about it and things will be handled differently at Dragon*Con so he can relax between things and not be hounded by photos and autographs in the halls or while he's eating lunch. David was quite good at vanishing quickly after his panels and whatnot. I barely saw him anywhere, but I also think he had been staying at a different hotel. Peter always left pretty early as well; can't blame him, though. Garry was the only guest roaming around during the entire casino night after the HoF ceremony, but that might've been because of me because we didn't know when they'd be announcing the contest winners. Unfortunately, they did that waaay too late and he wasn't able to be there with me. I myself was very, very tired by that point. I thought it was ridiculous to wait until 11:15 or 11:30 at night to be present when the winners were announced. Not very fun although I was grateful to have a few other friends to keep me company.

Speaking of AA, I do plan on attending the next time they invite Garry (depending on finances). It'll be my first time flying across the pond, and I definitely hope to meet a lot my friends over there. I agree, Sapphire, the organizers are very nice. The best conventions are the ones run by the fans for the fans. I feel BotCon has lost its way, and so there are several newer fan-run conventions popping up now. I think they're the best kind for both the fans and the guests. Personally, if BotCon didn't exist anymore, I wouldn't be too upset about it as there are tons of other more relaxing cons to go to.

And OOP, don't feel too bad about not recognizing people. It's a skill to assign screen name with real name with real person! I made a few mistakes myself. Though I will always remember Brad. He's been at every Botcon I have ever been too and you're right, he and his dad are awesome people.

LoL A skill I lack in, I suppose. It's just weird how I disconnect the 'net with RL. And when you only see someone from here once in a few years, yeah, mistakes happen and faces are forgotten. I still feel bad, though. XD

It wasn't that I thought you were someone else, Beastbot, it was just that I haven't seen you since 2007 I believe, and I just didn't make the connection that that was you. Your face was very familiar but I didn't realize you were Beastbot. And I had forgotten your real name, so yeah, it was a disaster in my head. Again, my deepest apologies. I'll try not to let it happen again, although I don't think I'll be attending another BotCon anytime soon. Are you on Facebook? XD