Any Pony Have as much fun at Babscon as I did?

[Diva Pony 345]

I want to give major kudos to the folks at Babscon for running a surprisingly smooth (for a first year con) and successful con in San Francisco this weekend.  I am not new to Cons but I am new to Brony Cons and I could not be happier having this be my first.

 

Would love to hear from other Ponies to get their reactions.  Apparently they will do this again in 2015 and I certainly plan on being there.

[David 3]

My first vending con, and it went off fairly well. A little rough at the start, but smooth sailing from there on in. It would be a pleasure to return next year!

[Jurassicdl3 2]

I had a blast at Babscon as I was looking forward to it since there were no really close brony conventions besides EQLA and Everfree Northwest. Being able to talk with the Writers and Voice Actors from the show was totally awesome as I got to learn new things form them. I also found it great to meet many different people and I got to make new friends here as well as meet people I have talked to before only though online means like Skype. Overall, I though Babscon was a great brony convention and I'm really looking forward to Babscon 2015 to see what guest we get and what new people I'll get the meet then.

[greatmaul 17]

It was fantastic!  Nowhere near as intimate as the belated Sac Brony Expo, but still it was fantastic.  I was just in a daze for a second there in the autograph room realizing I was just standing there in a tiny room with Ashleigh, Tara, Andrea, Peter, Nicole, Cathy, Brynna and Brian Drummond!

 

I mean, I know it's sometimes not cool to think of them as their characters, but I was in a room with 5 of the Mane Six, Spike, Big Mac, Princess Celestia and Babs Seed!  *swoons*  So Awesome!!

 

I can't wait for next year and hopefully we'll go the full monty with a hotel and staying for at least 2 of the days instead of only one.

[Templar22 5]

I had a blast, looking forward to next years. Will definitely be going. Might even try to get on a panel next time. 

[AstralTide 7]

Good first con, I'll probably be back next year.

 

The number of weirdo fans (i.e. the ones that creep out and/or the normal fans) was not insignificant, but they only made up a small percentage of the attendees.

 

The panels were good, and I gotta give props to Nicole Oliver for her classiness in bringing all the kids up to the front.

 

Artist's Alley felt cramped, as did the vendor room (albeit to a lesser extent). I expect this problem to be exacerbated in future years as the popularity of the convention increases.

 

As a con overall, I'd give BABS a solid B, and as a first con it gets an A-.

 

Suggestions for next year:

Expect about triple the attendees next year and use the space to accommodate.

 

Preparation for some of the events was lacking, wherein several which were slated to start at a specific time instead started ten to thirty minutes late. This means more volunteers, which means more volunteer perks to draw them in.

 

While certainly not the main focus of the convention, I felt the tabletop and video game rooms were lacking in organization and content. I'd either just make it an unsupervised public space or bring on a couple more people to handle it.

 

My suggestions are not indicative of my overall experience, as I did have quite a bit of fun at the convention and recommend it to anyone who is considering attending next year. The statements above are simply those aspects which I felt could use improvement to make next year even better.

 

Thanks for all the effort to bring this con to fruition.

[caramba2654 602]

I didn't go.

 

But I'll glady accept all the footage from it.

[bronyhub 2]

I had tons of fun! Unfortunately I had to leave Saturday night and couldn't stay for the closing ceremonies (maybe someone can tell me how that went?) What I did stay for was awesome though.

 

Highlights

 

• Vinyl Scratch / Octavia opening ceremony and duet. For those who didn't attend, here's a great video showing off how awesome the opening ceremony was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbKzOin1WOI
• Princess Big Mac. Peter New dressed as a Princess. Enough said.
• All the actresses, writers, producers. Pretty much everyone but Tabitha was there in person!
• Josh Haber. I just have to say, this guy really stole the show for any panel he was on. He's hilarious and really energetic. Him cutting in front of the kids to hijack the Q&A with the VAs was probably the best part. "So tell me, who's your favorite writer?"

Issues

• Long lines and crowding. There was a huge crowd at this event and not a lot of spare space. The next venue will need to be much larger. I feel it's going to bring in double the crowd next year. There also seemed to be a lack of organization and direction in terms of organizing lines and events. This was a first con though, so it's understandable.
• Technical issues. The mics seemed to not work or had tons of problems at around 80% of the events I attended, from the opening ceremony to the side events you could bet your bits someone's mic wasn't going to work. Hopefully they get better equipment for next year.
• Poor scheduling. This tied into technical issues. Seemed like most events started 20-30 minutes late, causing a ripple effect for other events.

 

Overall I felt the con was very strong. This was my first convention and I had tons of fun! Not having any experience with a con, doesn't mean I don't know what to expect. I feel some things could have been handled better, but this was their first and it can only get better. I liked the Hyatt, but I feel like their next con should be somewhere spacier.

[Simon 4,557]

I had a ton of fun at the convention

 

Of course there were some issues, but I think overall the convention was wonderful.  The panels I went to were all fun (although I did cringe at some of the mature stuff being done in the Equestria Daily panel with a half dozen small children in the room.)

 

I think the only issues I really had with the convention were some of the scheduling issues, and the constant technical issues (granted those were out of the control of the convention)

 

 

couldn't stay for the closing ceremonies (maybe someone can tell me how that went?)

Eh, you didn't miss much.  Basically it was about an hour and a half of thank you's and some charity check presentations from the auction and brony thank you fund..  It was nice, but after the unbelievable opening ceremony, the closing was a bit of a let down.

[Azure Envy 1,092]

I think all the issues I had with the con have already been said.

 

Even though I could only go for most of one day, I had a lot of fun and am very glad to hear they'll be doing it again in 2015. Hopefully, they'll have many of the kinks ironed out for next year, and I'll be sure to apply for staffing positions waaaaaaaaaay before one week from the con (I'm helping!)

 

A friend of mine (just curious about the whole MLP thing, but not at all a brony in any way) was trying to register on Saturday at the front desk on an ancient HP laptop that had trouble connecting to basically anything. After a few tries (and a growing line behind him) he finally got through. I was kind of afraid he would just leave at that point, but he stuck around. The front desk even remarked that he was one of two people all day that didn't complain about the one-day pass price.

 

[OldMrAbernathy 1]

I had a blast on Saturday. If you were there, you may know me as the guy with the Portal gun. I haven't seen any of the pictures that were taken of me yet.

[Diva Pony 345]

I didn't get into too much detail in my intro but I agree with a lot of what was said. 

 

@David I know you guys must have been really stressed that the hotel booked the vendor room for something else in the morning.  Thank you for sticking it out!  I am not sure which vendor you were but I certainly spent a lot of money in that room.

 

@greatmaul Do I understand correctly that there was a Sacramento Pony Con?  Is that what Sac stands for?  I am so bummed if there was and I missed it!!!!  I wasn't a fan before this year.

 

@AstralTide I'm hoping that next year they move to a bigger place.  I agree that it will increase a lot.  Many Bronies that I talked to on this forum said they didn't plan on going to a first year con in case it failed.  I think a lot of ponies are still shuddering from the Con in Las Vegas that tanked.  Now that Babscon has proved to be a positive event, I think we will see many more attendees next year.  

 

Because there is such a strong West Coast Brony presence, I would not be surprised if Babscon becomes to the West Coast what Brony Con is to the East Coast.

 

@Simon already knows we agree about the auction.  Previews are really important because then you can plan a bit.  I saw some of the items at the charity table but they were bunched together and you certainly could not see them all or see most closeup.  In fact as you know, what I did win in the auction I had no idea was in it.

 

I am still looking around my home office and smiling at the great Pony merch that I brought home.  Today I was drinking my diet ginger ale out of my etched Luna and Celestia glass tankard.  Tonight I was moved to watch the Brony Documentary and I think it was more fun because a lot of the people in the film were people I met at the Con.  

 

Now if only we could get Lauren Faust to come back and see us...........I gathered from the documentary that her leaving was painful.  I just hope that someday she can see her way past the pain and will know that she is a celebrity to the fandom and always will be.

 

I'm not at all sure that I can possibly wait another year to do a con again.  I may have to check another one out.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Diva Pony

[Graveyard Duck 150]

I didn't actually take too much offense at the scheduling issues; in my convention experiences it's pretty normal for things to start a bit late. It's definitely something to work on, but I tolerated it well.

 

One thing that DID piss me off was the disorganization when it came to managing crowds and lines. They should have clearly marked which line at a big event was for VIP passes and which was for ordinary folks. I really resented being shunted from the front of one line to the back of the other simply because it wasn't clear which was which.

 

All in all, though, a very solid con. Yeah there were a few cringe-inducing fanboys but you need to expect that at any such event. I'd go again without hesitation if I knew they upped their game next year.

[Diva Pony 345]

@AstralTide I forgot to say how impressed I also was with Nicole Oliver- from what she did for the kids to how she played off the Princess Sun Butt jokes to what she did for the fan who wanted to hear her sing "you are my sunshine".  I will bet she gave that guy a memory he will take with him for the rest of his life.  She was truly a lady and Princess Celestia is a very good fit for her.

[Sageflare 276]

I had an absolute blast at Babscon this year and I was glad to meet a lot of you cool bronies there especially since I went by myself. So my pros were that they had many great panels and all the VA's were amazing and I am glad I got a signature with Ashleigh because who knows when she will go to another one. Cons were mics (of course but I think those were rented from the hotel so that may be the hotels fault), lines probably could've been planned better because when I went to the first VA signing I was at the front and I left to get vouchers cause you needed them and then they started to sell them in line so I was upset for that. I think I spent way too much at the vendors hall but I had an amazing time I will definately go next year.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Sageflare

[greatmaul 17]

@Diva Pony

Sacramento yeah!  It was at Sac State University.  

  https://www.facebook.com/SacBronyExpo

Unfortunately it turned out to be a one shot event, but it was very intimate and very fun.  Lots of great people and friendship abounded.  Big name guest star was Dusty Katt who was totally awesome as always!!

[Diva Pony 345]

@greatmaul I'm actually glad you said what you said.  I signed up on the Meetup website for Northern CA Bronies.  Maybe I can come to an event one of these days. Bummer about the Con though.  I finally googled it and saw there were some very positive remarks about it.  In fact I didn't see anything negative.  It would be nice if they could do theirs about 6 months after Babscon so we can have 2 fairly local ones a year.  One can wish.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I had a blast on Saturday. If you were there, you may know me as the guy with the Portal gun. I haven't seen any of the pictures that were taken of me yet.

Were you wearing a full costume? If so, I think I saw you. I was the person with the little red backpack.

 

Anyway, I'll be back next year for Babs Con. It was quite good with the panels and general atmosphere being very good. However, I am very unlikely to get an advanced badge like the High Society Pony again because they messed up so horribly with that. The HSP ponies like me and I assume everyone above us didn't get our custom badges like we were promised and I'm still waiting to get the picture in my e-mail which is not even close to compensating to what I anticipated most in getting the High Society Badge in the first place. I also didn't get my special con poster. I am aware that they weren't pulling a straight scam or anything but what happened was a total failure. An absurd and insulting one at that considering all the money I paid. I was getting so mad at the con that at some points, I wasn't even enjoying myself and I was walking around in frustration. They can totally forget me getting the higher badges next time even if I get the picture of the badge soon. I don't even know what I will do if they don't get me that picture by Sunday. I'll assume by then that I'll never get it at all.

[Graveyard Duck 150]

I was at Sac Brony Expo too! It was smaller than I expected but I had a nice time. ^.^ It was cool to meet Dusty Kat in person!

[K.K. Slider 391]

Flying from Tokyo for the con was totally worth it. Definitely in my top 3 and especially impressive for a first year con. Yes, everything didn't run smoothly; it comes with the territory. Didn't drag it down at all for me, met great people, great parties, great panels. Will be attending next year. 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Flying from Tokyo for the con was totally worth it. Definitely in my top 3 and especially impressive for a first year con. Yes, everything didn't run smoothly; it comes with the territory. Didn't drag it down at all for me, met great people, great parties, great panels. Will be attending next year. 

That is a long way. Did you get a more expensive badge like I did? If so, what will you do if you don't get your custom badge you were promised?

[K.K. Slider 391]

That is a long way. Did you get a more expensive badge like I did? If so, what will you do if you don't get your custom badge you were promised?

 

Regular here, I just ask/bribe for a spot in the front of the line if I don't line up early so I don't have much of a reason to pay for more. Unless the point is to support the con, of course. As far as the badge goes, email them constantly. If you're really keen, demand a refund. 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Regular here, I just ask/bribe for a spot in the front of the line if I don't line up early so I don't have much of a reason to pay for more. Unless the point is to support the con, of course. As far as the badge goes, email them constantly. If you're really keen, demand a refund. 

I may have to do that. I don't like it but I pestered them maybe too often about it while I was there. I simply don't like it when I feel I've been cheated. The idea of having a custom badge waiting for me when I got there so I can show it off was one of the things that made me want to get the higher badge level. I would have spent that money elsewhere on pony posters if I had known that was going to happen even though going ahead of every line was nice too. I can live without that. I am not exactly a confrontational type so I am not sure if I should demand it right away or not. I'm guessing that if they haven't had it made by now then it's never coming. I am just mad and frustrated that they botched it so fully like that. And the higher level badge members should have had more care and attention than any other attendant. Then I realize there that others are commissioning badges to be made right there. But I still wanted the one I was promised to get with the money I paid. With two things not promised to me, I should demand at least 100 dollars back. It wouldn't be fair to ask for it all back because I got a lot of value from the convention yet I didn't get what the higher badge promised and that is not fair either.

[Diva Pony 345]

I may have to do that. I don't like it but I pestered them maybe too often about it while I was there. I simply don't like it when I feel I've been cheated. The idea of having a custom badge waiting for me when I got there so I can show it off was one of the things that made me want to get the higher badge level. I would have spent that money elsewhere on pony posters if I had known that was going to happen even though going ahead of every line was nice too. I can live without that. I am not exactly a confrontational type so I am not sure if I should demand it right away or not. I'm guessing that if they haven't had it made by now then it's never coming. I am just mad and frustrated that they botched it so fully like that. And the higher level badge members should have had more care and attention than any other attendant. Then I realize there that others are commissioning badges to be made right there. But I still wanted the one I was promised to get with the money I paid. With two things not promised to me, I should demand at least 100 dollars back. It wouldn't be fair to ask for it all back because I got a lot of value from the convention yet I didn't get what the higher badge promised and that is not fair either.

I don't think you are going to have to worry about getting your stuff.  Please be patient.  I had the top Big Bad package and had frustrations that you don't even know about from things that were not included in your package!  I gave the con such a high rating in my post because oddly enough, the rest of it ran really smoothly- it was just the top packages that kept getting screwed up.

 

I will be emailing the con chair in about a week to follow up on my "stained glass" print and my OC badge- that's all that is left for me to get.  I'm sorry about your poster as they had them in the Con office.  You might want to email them a reminder with a list of what you didn't get.

 

I have spoken to more than one person and I don't think you will have the same issues with the top packages next year as  you had this year.  I am hoping that since there were so many problems that we will have a dedicated person to take care of the top packages so we are treated like the VIPs that we were supposed to be treated like.  It appears to me that it was left to a very overwhelmed person who should have delegated the responsibility and did not.  That doesn't help in your feeling cheated but maybe that can explain some of it. 

 

I know we all spent a lot of money whether we got your package or mine. 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I don't think you are going to have to worry about getting your stuff.  Please be patient.  I had the top Big Bad package and had frustrations that you don't even know about from things that were not included in your package!  I gave the con such a high rating in my post because oddly enough, the rest of it ran really smoothly- it was just the top packages that kept getting screwed up.

 

I will be emailing the con chair in about a week to follow up on my "stained glass" print and my OC badge- that's all that is left for me to get.  I'm sorry about your poster as they had them in the Con office.  You might want to email them a reminder with a list of what you didn't get.

 

I have spoken to more than one person and I don't think you will have the same issues with the top packages next year as  you had this year.  I am hoping that since there were so many problems that we will have a dedicated person to take care of the top packages so we are treated like the VIPs that we were supposed to be treated like.  It appears to me that it was left to a very overwhelmed person who should have delegated the responsibility and did not.  That doesn't help in your feeling cheated but maybe that can explain some of it. 

 

I know we all spent a lot of money whether we got your package or mine. 

Wow. I guess compared to your troubles, mine are not as bad. I'll be patient. I heard that you got to have a special meeting with a guest of your choice. How did that go? I wish I could have talked with one of the directors or maybe Tara Strong or Nicole Oliver for a while. Which big bad were you? Anyway, I hope you get your stuff soon. I would be furious if I didn't get all my stuff if I paid 2,000 dollars.

 

Yes, the con was very good and I liked it very much. I just wished the handling of the higher tiers was done better. The fact that we paid so much more than like 50 dollars sends a message that we are trusting in their ability to handle a first year con. That is what it represents most and they really failed in that respect.