I
really want to write something promoting TimeGate, but I honestly
don’t know a whole heck of a lot about TimeGate.
If
you don’t know, TimeGate is an Atlanta-based convention formed
mostly around Doctor Who and Stargate, but encompassing many facets
of science fiction and fantasy. There are panels for Stars both Wars
and Trek, Buffy, comic books, and even Masters of the Universe. There
are celebrity guests, fan tables, bands – all the sorts of things
you expect from a con. People are coming from all over the Southeast
to attend.
I
will be attending TimeGate for the first time this year thanks to my
affiliation with Earth Station Who. I have no idea what to expect as
far as scale, but if the con's Facebook page
is any indication the fans are pretty supportive and enthusiastic.
All I know is I'm turning off my snark for the weekend and embracing
everything. From steampunk to people dressed as the Furries from
Warrior's Gate; I'm cool with everybody.
I'll
be on the Earth Station Who panel Saturday night at 7 PM and I have
no fucking clue how that's going to go. I've never been on a panel
before and I don't know what we'll be covering specifically. But if
there's one thing I'm good at it's talking, so I'm sure I'll be just
fine. I just hope the Mikes are ready for whatever it is I bring to
the table. Or mic. Whatever.
There's
also a podcasting panel Sunday morning that I feel it has been
implied that I could be on. I dunno. I've been on exactly eight
podcasts in my entire life, so I'm not too sure I have any business
being on this one. Also, I'm probably going to be hungover. I don't
know if my Dragon*Con-stitution will kick in for TimeGate or not.
As
far as guests go, you've got David Nykl from Stargate:
Atlantis,
Caitlin Blackwood from Doctor
Who,
and Mika McKinnon who was the scientific adviser on Stargate:
Atlantis.
There are various other guests representing the fandom – from
authors to musicians to experts on the different genres. It's an
exciting mix of knowns and lesser-knowns that I think will make for
an interesting time.
There
is, of course, a Dealer's Room:
Companions
Corner
Starbase Atlanta
Fantastic Visions
Duae Designs
Crescent Fawn Studios
Geekcetera
Soiled Doves Mercantile
Antiquity's Jewelry Box
Crimson Castle Games
Comic City
Exile Into Imagination
Starbase Atlanta
Fantastic Visions
Duae Designs
Crescent Fawn Studios
Geekcetera
Soiled Doves Mercantile
Antiquity's Jewelry Box
Crimson Castle Games
Comic City
Exile Into Imagination
I'm
not familiar with most of those, but we all know Starbase Atlanta
from Dragon*Con and from around the internet. I'm actually pretty
happy that these are all strangers to me. How much of a bummer would
it have been to go to this new (to me) con and see a bunch of vendors
I've been seeing for years and will be seeing yet again this
September? So it's pretty awesome to have unknown quantities. I'm not
sure if these are all the vendors or just the ones that registered
earliest. We'll find out.
And
then there's the schedule, which is absolutely jam-packed with
events. Days of the Dead could certainly learn a lesson from the Time
Gate folks. Just like I do with Dragon*Con, I'm just covering the
panels and events I'm interested in. If you want the full schedule,
go check the website.
Friday
We'll
be taking Lil' Troublemaker down Friday night, so I'll be at the ESO
table for a bit and roaming around. But if I were flying solo, here's
what I'd be doing:
6:30
– Opening – I have never been to the Opening Ceremonies of
anything, ever.
But someday I will make it happen. Just not today.
7:00
– BFF's: The Doctor's Companions – I wouldn't mind sitting in on
a discussion of the various companions that have accompanied our
favorite Time Lord over the past 49 years. I think my favorite is
always going to be Leela, though.
8:00
– 20 Years in the Buffyverse – I have Buffy
the Vampire Slayer
tattoos. Of course I'd check this out.
11:00
– Concert – Hyperdrive/One Hard Night – From the site:
"Two
of Atlanta's premiere nerd-rock bands join forces to bring you a
concert of fist-pumping power! It'll be like an old issue of Marvel
Team-Up ... but LOUDER!!! In addition to original songs by both
bands, you'll hear covers of songs by David Bowie, Tom Petty, the
Misfits, and other surprises. You're bound to hear something you'll
know!"
I
like the Marvel Team-Up
reference, not so much the Tom Petty. But I'll definitely check out
nerd rock any time it is available. Also, this is only an hour? Huh?
Saturday
Mrs.
Troublemaker and I will be at TimeGate all day Saturday and staying
at the hotel Saturday night. Because we decided we were going to
party. I doubt very much we'll be there at 10 AM, but...
10:00
– He-Man 30th
Anniversary – It bugs the shit out of me that they called this
"He-Man" rather than "Masters of the Universe"
even though I always called it "He-Man" as a kid. But I'd
really like to see this panel. Just wish it was later.
11:00
– The Tom Bake Era – I'd love to go and see a panel dedicated to
My Doctor, but I don't thin k we'll arrive until noon at the
earliest. And I'm probably going to be manning the ESO/ESW table at
that point.
1:00
– DC Comics: The Reboot – I should be on
this panel. Actually, I should have had my special project done by
now. But I am lazy. Coming soon – I promise. A wholly different
perspective on DC's New
52 – exclusively on
Needless Things!
3:00
- $25,000 Pyramid of Mars – I guess this is some kind of fan
competition – I have no idea. I just want to see it because I think
the name is clever and fucking hilarious.
4:00
– The Presentation of Costume for Masquerade and Hall Cosplay –
This is a crazy and unwieldy title for anything. I don't know exactly
what it means, but I aims to find out.
8:30
– Cabaret – The evening's entertainment begins! Sure, it's no
DCW, but it should be fun.
9:30
– Masquerade – The costume contest. I will have at least one
costume – maybe more – but I am not sure what I could do on
stage. If I had put more preparation into this I could've own this
thing.
10:30
– TimeGate Dance – Doctor Q will be spinnign who knows what. It
won't matter because by this time I'll be so drunk that I'll dance to
anything – even Depressed Commode.
Sunday
There
is a good chance I'll be manning the ESO/ESW table for however long
I'm at Time Gate on Sunday. I am seriously considering doing free
sketches, so you should come by.
2:00
– Ken Spivey Band – These guys are at Dragon*Con every year and
they obviously love Doctor Who at least as much as I do. I owe it to
them to check 'em out.
And
that's pretty much it. Please check out the Time Gate website and the
TimeGate Facebook page. And come out. I think this is going to be a
whole heck of a lot of fun and it won't be the sweaty, crowded,
grinding nightmare that Dragon*Con can be. Don't get me wrong – I
fucking love
D*C's sweaty grinding. I just don't need it this early in the year.
I'll be posting on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr all weekend. If you're not friends or following or whatever, DO IT NOW.
And of course, check back in with Needless Things next week for my full coverage of the convention.
-Phantom
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