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Seasons - Megaplex/CozyCon 2023
2 years ago
General
I was just struck by how much things have changed here on FA. Many of the old artists I've watched no longer post or do commission work, and a lot of new artists from Russia and Europe have appeared in their places. My own activity here has lessened considerably from what it used to be back when I joined. Despite this, my personal life hasn't changed hardly at all since I joined back around 2006. I'm still me, and I've become increasingly dissatisfied with that.
I spent the weekend in sunny Florida for good old Megaplex. I still can't believe I had dismissed the convention for so long; a friend of mine managed to convince me it was a stuffy anime convention a long time ago, so I focused on FWA instead. Oh but how things change! FWA is...well, it's floundering. It's always been a party con but it is starting to transition into something much more adult, and while I'm glad they are making some time to acknowledge that part of the fandom in a safe and secure way, I can see how the wandering focus might have cost them elsewhere. That was fairly obvious this year. Megaplex however, was forced to become an 18+ venue by policy Governer DeSantis was setting in their state, and yet they kept their focus and delivered an all-inclusive event that was friendly and welcoming.
Because of DeSantis, we really weren't sure if we were actually going to go...so much so that I didn't even register for the con until we got on-site. Both the trip down and the trip back ended up taking a lot longer then anticipated. I keep wanting to leave before sunrise and my roommate keeps convincing me to wait. We did our usual stop at Buccees and Circle K but skipped Kroger's this year...and our trip was still around 11 hours each way. Regardless, despite some extremely harrowing situations on the road, we managed to arrive and promptly forget about our driving experience.
Lots of friendly people helped make the event feel refreshing. They're in the Hyatt this year, which isn't a resort hotel, despite being in the same area as the last one. Better parking though; I was able to get out to go to Soupa Saiyan without taking an Uber. More and more people are starting to notice and compliment the pin collection I've got going on my backpack, which is always fun. Chatted up some non-furs who came to the event on a whim and became converts, went to a panel with Mike Merlino, had breakfast with the greymuzzles, won fibsh at the feline meet...got some houseplants from the plant panel too.
The event was not without its problems however. Most concerningly, children kept getting into the con space. The entire convention this year was supposed to have been 18+ specifically to comply with the direction local laws were going and convention staff couldn't enforce it. There were protestors outside the hotel at one point, and a youtuber tried to crash the convention, though was head off as soon as he got there.
To be quite honest, I'm concerned for Megaplex's future. I suspect that Florida is going to become a rogue state during the 24 election cycle, and even if the authoritarian Nazi elements running for offices are defeated there is still the outsize effect climate change is projected to have there. The con isn't future proof. The staffs inability to enforce a rule set up to help the con's survival doesn't inspire confidence. There is a part of me that wants to make this con a regular destination but isn't ready for the inevitable heartbreak that may happen soon. There was also a troubling issue with one of the elevators in Tower 1 going into free-fall and engaging emergency brakes...several times. People joke about elevator con but you start seeing some real Final Destination shit when a hotel genuinely isn't ready for the amount of people being thrown at it.
While in Florida I also attended CozyCon online, doing two cons at once. If you had told me this would be possible back before the pandemic I'd have looked at you funny, but here it is. I honestly really love CozyCon. I just wish I didn't have to do it on a shitty 4G tablet this year, but I made do. I sent them photos of stuff at Megaplex which they seemed to get a kick out of. The increasing prevalence of VR technology has started making me feel a little left behind to be honest. Maybe one day...It's just intimidating when you see Furality at every single con you go to now.
Not sure what else to say. Had money problems since my roommate didn't pay his roomshare (we've worked it out), so this was the first con in a while that I didn't get a serious commission at. Still spent more than I intended but that's how it goes at these things.
This may or may not be my last con. Normally I'd go to Bewhiskered but they scheduled the con out directly during the holidays, so I can't attend without jeapordizing my work, and I'm not doing that for Bewhiskered. I'm considering MFF instead but as my roommate is still too big to fly I'll be going that one alone, and I've no idea if I'll be able to recover financially from Megaplex in time. Plans for next year are completely open, so we'll see what happens.
I spent the weekend in sunny Florida for good old Megaplex. I still can't believe I had dismissed the convention for so long; a friend of mine managed to convince me it was a stuffy anime convention a long time ago, so I focused on FWA instead. Oh but how things change! FWA is...well, it's floundering. It's always been a party con but it is starting to transition into something much more adult, and while I'm glad they are making some time to acknowledge that part of the fandom in a safe and secure way, I can see how the wandering focus might have cost them elsewhere. That was fairly obvious this year. Megaplex however, was forced to become an 18+ venue by policy Governer DeSantis was setting in their state, and yet they kept their focus and delivered an all-inclusive event that was friendly and welcoming.
Because of DeSantis, we really weren't sure if we were actually going to go...so much so that I didn't even register for the con until we got on-site. Both the trip down and the trip back ended up taking a lot longer then anticipated. I keep wanting to leave before sunrise and my roommate keeps convincing me to wait. We did our usual stop at Buccees and Circle K but skipped Kroger's this year...and our trip was still around 11 hours each way. Regardless, despite some extremely harrowing situations on the road, we managed to arrive and promptly forget about our driving experience.
Lots of friendly people helped make the event feel refreshing. They're in the Hyatt this year, which isn't a resort hotel, despite being in the same area as the last one. Better parking though; I was able to get out to go to Soupa Saiyan without taking an Uber. More and more people are starting to notice and compliment the pin collection I've got going on my backpack, which is always fun. Chatted up some non-furs who came to the event on a whim and became converts, went to a panel with Mike Merlino, had breakfast with the greymuzzles, won fibsh at the feline meet...got some houseplants from the plant panel too.
The event was not without its problems however. Most concerningly, children kept getting into the con space. The entire convention this year was supposed to have been 18+ specifically to comply with the direction local laws were going and convention staff couldn't enforce it. There were protestors outside the hotel at one point, and a youtuber tried to crash the convention, though was head off as soon as he got there.
To be quite honest, I'm concerned for Megaplex's future. I suspect that Florida is going to become a rogue state during the 24 election cycle, and even if the authoritarian Nazi elements running for offices are defeated there is still the outsize effect climate change is projected to have there. The con isn't future proof. The staffs inability to enforce a rule set up to help the con's survival doesn't inspire confidence. There is a part of me that wants to make this con a regular destination but isn't ready for the inevitable heartbreak that may happen soon. There was also a troubling issue with one of the elevators in Tower 1 going into free-fall and engaging emergency brakes...several times. People joke about elevator con but you start seeing some real Final Destination shit when a hotel genuinely isn't ready for the amount of people being thrown at it.
While in Florida I also attended CozyCon online, doing two cons at once. If you had told me this would be possible back before the pandemic I'd have looked at you funny, but here it is. I honestly really love CozyCon. I just wish I didn't have to do it on a shitty 4G tablet this year, but I made do. I sent them photos of stuff at Megaplex which they seemed to get a kick out of. The increasing prevalence of VR technology has started making me feel a little left behind to be honest. Maybe one day...It's just intimidating when you see Furality at every single con you go to now.
Not sure what else to say. Had money problems since my roommate didn't pay his roomshare (we've worked it out), so this was the first con in a while that I didn't get a serious commission at. Still spent more than I intended but that's how it goes at these things.
This may or may not be my last con. Normally I'd go to Bewhiskered but they scheduled the con out directly during the holidays, so I can't attend without jeapordizing my work, and I'm not doing that for Bewhiskered. I'm considering MFF instead but as my roommate is still too big to fly I'll be going that one alone, and I've no idea if I'll be able to recover financially from Megaplex in time. Plans for next year are completely open, so we'll see what happens.
As for children at Megaplex, I only saw a few with parents in the open areas adjacent to the convention space, but never in convention controlled areas. A lot of times, the people policing the entrances were generally from an outside agency, so any children that may have gained access to con space may have gotten by them, not con staff.
The hotel did well, the manager used to be at the Hyatt that TFF used to be at, so they knew what to expect. One elevator having issues is a problem, but things break down unexpectedly that no amount of pre-planning can be prepared for. Attempts were made to repair both it and the one escalator that quit working during the con.
My only beef is next year the convention conflicts with other events that I hold dear, and will not be able to return.
It's a shame that you won't be going to Bewhiskered, it would have been nice to see you there. I know of several people in the same boat as you about the dates.
Good luck with MFF. That is one convention I've attended twice, and once was really enough.
I was pleased with the Hyatt though I liked the Royal Caribbe more. Definitely enjoy the fact that the hotel has appropriate parking this time!
Sorry to hear you have conflicting schedules next year. It was a surprise running into you at Megaplex and I wish we'd have been able to hang out more.
I like Bewhiskered but their dates this year are just dumb. They chose the one week very few people are likely to be able to get off work for. I hope it doesn't impact their numbers enough to kill the con, this being their third year and all. They also waited very late in the year to announce so it was like a double-whammy of bad decisions. Oh well!
I've been to MFF once so far and it was one of the first years that it eclipsed AC in numbers. I'm not sure if it is still growing like that, but I remember being impressed with it the year I went. AC was so...impersonal. MFF had that going for it, despite its size.
I had two beefs with FWA this year. The adult activities overflowed from behind the closed curtains, and continued for the remainder of the convention. It's almost like the Friday evening event gave permission for decorum to go out the window for the remainder of the weekend. My sanctuary hotel, unbeknownst to me, became part of the con and because of that, had severe elevator congestion and noise issues. I kinda hate how anytime I discuss FWA it turns into a vent, but it's honestly how I feel.
I can help clarify Bewhiskered. The late announcement and poor dates had a lot to do with finding a larger hotel, and unfortunately, the dates for the con to be held were what was available. Like you, I hope the timing doesn't hurt the con. Fortunately my partner is off work at that time, so it doesn't affect us, but it is really close timing to a major Anime convention I attend. I'd love to see February dates for either BWS or MP. There's a big convention gap for that month.
I just wish Blue Ridge Furfare had made different decisions this year, and I'm crossing fingers for next year, but I do have my concerns about it's future.
The last time I attended MFF in 2017, it had outgrown the convention hotel, and although the Dealer's Den had be relocated to the convention center, I felt uncomfortable with the density of people. Maybe it's improved since more activities have migrated there. I await your report on that convention, and I hope its a positive one that may tempt me to give it another shot.
IF I end up going to MFF (and big IF...I don't even have a hotel or flight reservation yet), I'll let you know how it goes. The last time I went I flew in with Typhus and we stayed at an old motel a little less than a mile down the road. Typhus was a lot more spry back then and we walked the wintery distance at first... though he hated it and we ended up ubering the rest of the stay. Actually I don't remember Typhus being very enthused with the con in general, though I had a good time. Typhus is convinced he's too big to fly now, though he's in the process of losing weight. Neither of us think he'll be at where he needs to be to attend this event, so If I go I'll probably be soloing the adventure.