Dragon*Con starts
tomorrow!
This is the post where
I’ll take a look at the Pocket
Program
and run down what I’m doing at Con, as well as what panels I’m
interested in seeing and which events I’d like to witness. This
year I’m going to start by focusing on what Needless Things is
actually involved in, then cover all of the stuff I’d just like to
see.
YOU MUST MAKE A PACKING
LIST.
If I’m being honest,
I’m at a point where I’m questioning doing anything at Dragon
Con. I work very hard at my day job and at running Needless Things
the rest of the year, and I’m sort of left wondering why I ever
agreed to do more work at the only real vacation I get. It’s not
like I even do a lot, but committing to anything
at Con is committing many hours of time – not just the time it
takes to get to the event and perform, but prep time before Con even
starts.
But then I think about
entertaining people and getting to work live with folks that I don’t
ever get to see and the surge of pure life
that comes from putting on a good performance. And I realize that
that’s more of a vacation from my day job than just hanging out and
drinking could ever be. And I want to do it all again, bigger and
better. Just not necessarily more.
It’s going to be
another busy year, but aside from Friday things are spaced out quite
nicely. And Friday isn’t unmanageable, it’s just that even with
only three events planned it’s going to be tight.
Yes – seriously. That’s
how Dragon Con is. I’ll explain below. This is but a tiny sampling
of all of the delights available at Dragon Con. For now, grab your
copy of the Pocket
Program
or open up your Dragon Con 2015 app – available from iTunes or the
Google Play Store – and follow along!
Also be sure to attend
all of my panels and give them a 5 out of 5 in the app.
THINGS OF
IMPORTANCE
Badges
– Dragon Con will be limiting access to convention areas to keep
freeloaders from horning in on the action that we all save and plan
for every year. I think this is great and it looks like this year it
will be enforced 24-7. What this means is that you need to have your
badge and/or your hotel key on you AT ALL TIMES. Every time you leave
your room, check to make sure you have these items on your person. It
totally sucks to get to the entrance to an event and realize that you
don’t have your badge.
DC TV
– One of the most magical components of Dragon Con. Every year, a
special channel run by Con volunteers is broadcast in the Host
Hotels. The channels for DC TV are:
Hyatt Regency: 56
Marriott Marquis: 74
Hilton Atlanta: 65
Sheraton Atlanta: 68 or
72
Westin Peachtree: 81
DC TV features not only
live and rebroadcasted panels from Con, but also sketches and music
videos from some of the greatest and funniest nerd minds in the land.
I am not being hyperbolic when I say that this is the greatest
television channel that has ever been. I will put it on when I arrive
on Thursday and keep it on until I leave.
DC TV will once again be
broadcasting the incomparable Dragon Con Parade live so that you can
enjoy it from the company of your room. Not to mention that the
broadcast version will be accompanied by the sharpest and wittiest
narration available. AND YOU CAN’T TEACH THAT. Or hear it if you’re
out in the Atlanta streets.
Amazingly, we are getting
a whole
other channel
this year – DC TV LAND. This separate channel will feature segments
and panels from past years, basically because there’s just too much
real-time content available now. It is going to be hard to choose
between this and standard DC TV. The channels aren’t listed yet, so
check the app when you arrive.
Note: According to the
Pocket Program, DC TV LAND will not be available in the Westin.
Music
– In addition to the scheduled live performances in the various
ballrooms, some of the musical guests perform acoustic sets in
designated concourses. This year they will be set up in the Hyatt on
the pool level and at AmericasMart building 2 outside of the Vendor
Halls. I always enjoy discovering bands out playing in the middle of
Con.
Hotel Bars on
Saturday Night
– They close at midnight. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Additionally, from time
to time the hotels will try to crack down on what I call “thrifty
drunks” – people who bring their own booze. Be prepared to
respect their authority in whatever way you need to. They’re just
doing their jobs. There’s no reason to give them a hard time. I’m
not suggesting you bring cups or find alternative means to transport
your liquor. I could never publicly endorse such behavior.
Walk of Fame
– This is where they store the famous people. It is located in the
Marquis Ballroom on the Marquis Level of the Marriott Marquis.
Marquis. Marquis.
Marquis.
Got it?
Incidentally, this is the
same level where the excellent American Sci-Fi Classics Track is
located and where I will be doing all of my panels. We’re behind
the FedEx office.
Hotel Vaping
Policies
- The
host hotels classify vaping as smoking. As
such vaping will not be allowed inside the buildings except in
designated areas and “smoking permitted” hotel rooms. Generally,
vaping areas are not
separate
from smoking areas. If you have questions about your hotel’s “no
smoking/no vaping” policies or designated smoking areas, please
check with the hotel concierge desk or hotel staff. (I just
cut-and-pasted this one because I was personally excited to see it)
PHANTOM
STUFF
Alright, Phantomaniacs –
it’s time to tell you all about the Needless Things portions of
Dragon Con. We’ve got some great and new stuff planned this year.
The Toy Panel is different, the game show is different, and we are
finally doing an official Meet-Up!
Friday – 11:30 AM
– Schwarza-Panel!: The Sci-Fi Movies of Arnold Schwarzenegger
– This isn’t mine, I’m just on it (which is, quite frankly, a
bit of a relief). Debbie Viguié, Van Allen Plexico, William Stout,
Director Faber, and I will be talking about Predator,
The Running Man, Total Recall, and
The
Terminator
movies. It will be awesome. Marriott M303-304
Friday – 4:00 PM
– Needless Things Presents: Toy Stories
– I wanted to do something different for the toy panel this year. I
love talking about toys, but I wanted to get a little deeper and
connect more with the audience. So I recruited Gary Mitchel, Michael
Bailey, Shaun Rosado, and Jay Hornsby to come and help me share
personal stories attached to toys and action figures. What’s more,
I want the audience to bring their own toys and share stories. I’m
hoping this one will be very fun and special. Marriott M303-304
Friday – 7:00 PM
– Dragon Con Wrestling
– As far as I know I will once again be calling the action for DCW.
Granted, I haven’t actually spoken to anyone yet, but last year AJ
made me sign a contract in blood (not mine; Reverend Dan Wilson’s)
that I would be back this year.
Saturday – 10:00
PMish – The Dirty Dirty Con Con Game Game Show Show
– Phantom Troublemaker. Miss Lady Flex. Sexy Wolverine. Rad Ranger.
Special Guests. We will turn members of the audience into contestants
for the dirtiest game show in all of the land. It’s an all-new
format this year, so be ready for anything. There will be prizes and
remorse. Marriott M303-304
Sunday – 2:30 PM
– Sci-Fighters: GI Joe vs. He-Man
– Joe Crowe has entrusted me with a sacred duty that I will take
very seriously. I am overseeing a panel where we – the panelists
and the audience – determine who would win in an all-out war, the
fighting men and women of the world of GI Joe or the Masters of the
Universe. Bring all of your 80s nostalgia knowledge and help us
proclaim a victor. Marriott M303-304
Sunday – 8:00 PM
– The Needless Things Meet-Up!
– Come on out to the Hilton pool and enjoy the company of the
Needless Things Irregulars! We’ll have some rum and some fun and
take a picture to commemorate the occasion. I’ll give away the last
of the ill-conceived Needless Things Luchador vs. Owlbear t-shirts
and there will be special exclusive gifts for the first twenty people
that show up. Hilton Pool
Monday – 11:30 AM
- Revcast Live!
– I
am honored to have been invited to participate in the Dragon Con
Revcast.
I don’t normally do anything on Monday, but since this is in my
hotel, I might actually make it. Either way, you should go. Hilton
203
OTHER
SCHEDULED EVENTS
This is the stuff that’s
in my app or that I might just be interested in doing. Obviously it
isn’t all going to happen. Most
of it isn’t going to happen. That’s just one of the things you
have to accept about Dragon Con. This year I’m going to go ahead
and double-book again if things catch my eye (unless I have something
scheduled). It doesn’t hurt to have options and you never know
where you’ll end up.
THURSDAY
Hank West & The
Smokin’ Hots - 9:00 pm; Atrium Ballroom [M] – I
have to see these guys.
Snoot - Thu 9:30 pm;
Cent. II–III [H] -
I have to see these guys. Wait… shit.
Bunny Hutch Party &
Costume Contest
10:00 pm; A601–A602 [M]; 2.5 Hrs –
I’m not specifically interested in this one, but I will in all
likelihood end up in the vicinity. It’s always fun to see what kind
of Playboy spin the cosplayers can put on pop culture icons.
FRIDAY
Inside the Actor’s
Gaffe with Julian Glover - 10:00 am; Grand Ballroom West [Hil] – I
might be able to catch most of this before Schwarza-Panel. Our
Monsterama
pal, Anthony Taylor, is moderating Scaroth!
Flash: The Fastest
Thing on Two Feet -
1:00 pm; Atrium Ballroom [M] –
Catching a panel featuring the cast members of The
Flash
is pretty high on my list. I could conceivably make this between the
Schwarza-Panel and Toy Stories, but I won’t.
Get Over It! - 1:00
pm; Dunwoody [H] –
“Does fandom culture nitpick ourselves out of enjoying that which
we supposedly love?” This might be the most important panel in the
history of anything.
A Harsh Winter:
Defiance Cast Q&A
- 1:00 pm; P’tree Ballroom [W] –
I love
Defiance
and I want to see one of these cast panels. But the Westin is so far
away. I remember the first year I went to see a panel there I felt
like I was in a different city.
A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Death Star
- 1:00 pm; Reg. VI–VII [H] – Star
Wars puppetry.
Celebrating ‘80s
Animated Movies
- 2:30 pm; Dunwoody [H] –
My initial reaction was that this is all Classics Track stuff, but I
guess maybe the Animation Track lays claim to some of the same stuff.
I’d like to see this one.
Jaws: The 40th
Anniversary - 7:00
pm; M303–M304 [M] –
I’m probably more bummed about missing this panel than any other. I
wanted to do this one so
bad.
But nothing will tear me away from DCW. Not even a Great White.
Monster Mash for
Charity - 10:00
pm; Reg. VI–VII [H]; 4 Hrs –
This is a costume dance for the blood drive and it sounds like fun.
Also, it goes late enough that I can make it there after DCW if I
choose to go.
The Walking Thread:
Puppet Improv – Adults (Mature
Audiences Only) - 11:30 pm; Grand Ballroom West [Hil] –
If you can make it to this, I highly recommend it. It’s hilarious
improve and a fascinating look at how puppeteers do what they do.
@Midnight -
11:30 pm; Dunwoody [H] –
Wait – is this okay? Or is Chris Hardwick sneaking in?
SATURDAY
Thundarr
the Barbarian and Friends: Saturday Morning Sci-fi -
8:30 am; M303–M304 [M] –
It’s laughable to think that I would even be up at 8:30 AM at
Dragon Con (still
up, maybe). But I would love to see this panel.
14th Annual Dragon Con
Parade—LIVE/REBROADCAST ON DC TV -
10:00 am – My
brain still cannot accept the fact that I do not have anything
scheduled during the day on Saturday. We’ll be rehearsing for the
game show at 8, but I’m free and clear until then. That doesn’t
mean I’m going to stand in the hot, stinking Atlanta streets,
though. I’ll watch this from the comfort of my room.
Lost in Space: The
50th Anniversary
- 1:00 pm; M303–M304 [M] –
Hosted by the former Grand Poobah of the Classics Track. This will be
a good one.
GoT: Songs of Westeros
- 1:00
pm; Atrium Ballroom [M] –
As of right now there’s no reason I should miss this panel
featuring Maester Pycell, Ser Loras, and Hodor. But I probably will.
Arrow: Loss Makes Us
Stronger - 2:30
pm; Atrium Ballroom [M]
– Right up there with seeing a Flash
panel. This is probably the strongest possibility as far as me
actually going and standing in a line.
The New DC Universe -
2:30
pm; Intl. N [H] –
Some of my favorite creators currently working for DC Comics. This is
on my “almost certainly” list.
Familiar Faces:
Defiance Cast Q&A -
5:30 pm; P’tree Ballroom [W] –
Another chance to see the cast of one of my favorite shows on the
air. I might actually make this one.
Georgia Philharmonic
Orchestra Presents
- 7:00 pm; Cent. I–III [H]; 2.5 Hrs –
The orchestra will be performing selections from various genre works.
I would LOVE to see this. Obviously I can’t go, but you guys could
catch most of it and still make the game show.
Match Game in the 25th
Century - 7:00
pm; M303–M304 [M] –
Normally I would never put over another game show on the same night
as mine, but this one has Gil Gerard. And I may be many things, but I
am no Gil Gerard. That’s okay, though. He probably won’t talk
about Transformer penises.
Swimcast Party -
8:30 pm; Dunwoody [H] –
Recommended, but you’re going to have to run to get to The Dirty
Dirty Con Con Game Game Show Show.
Fantastic Four: Tales
of the Never Released Movie -
11:30 pm; M303–M304 [M]
– I would love to take part in this one, but I’ll be busy at the
super-secret, ultra-exclusive Dirty Dirty Con Con Game Game Show Show
After Party.
Dragon Con Burlesque:
A Glamour Geek Revue
- 12:00 am; Reg. VI–VII [H] –
Another event that I put on my schedule every year. I think it’s
later this year, so there’s a possibility I might make it. But
there are a lot of things at midnight on Saturday.
Frenchy and the Punk -
12:00
am; Atrium Ballroom [M] –
I have yet to see their full stage show.
Here Come the Mummies
- Sun
12:00 am; Cent. II–III [H] –
And I really want to see these lunatics.
SUNDAY
Classic Sci-fi
Roll-a-Panel - 10:00 am; M303–M304 [M] – I
might
show up for this one if I’m not still at the DDCCGGSS after party.
But that is a very weak might.
After the 47 panelists that showed up for this one last year, I’m
pretty sure they’ll have this year covered.
Conquer! Kill! Devour!
Defiance Cast Q&A - 10:00 am; P’tree Ballroom [W] –
I don’t see me making this panel, but I thought I’d mention it.
On the Fringe with
John Noble
- 10:00 am; Cent. I [H] – I already loved John Nobel from his role
as Walter on Fringe,
but his incredible performance as Scarecrow in Batman:
Arkham Knight
put him over the top for me. I’d love to catch him on a panel.
ESW Panel: Is the
Doctor a Good Man? - 11:30 am; Macon [S] –
I used to be on this podcast. Maybe I’ll be on it again at some
point.
Venture Bros. - 4:00
pm; Atrium Ballroom [M] –
Always a highlight of Dragon Con. Publick, Hammer, and Urbaniak put
on a can’t-miss show. Except that I’ll be finishing up
Sci-Fighters and might miss it.
Stump the Geeks - 4:00
pm; M303–M304 [M] –
I saw a bit of Stump the Geeks a couple of years ago while waiting
for one of my panels. I’d like to see it again. But I DO NOT want
to be sprayed with Hulk cologne.
Harley, Kara, &
Kori with Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner - 4:00 pm; A601–A602
[M] –
I doubt I’ll be able to make it over here after Sci-Fighters, but I
might try.
Back to the Future:
30th Anniversary & Costume Contest - 5:30 pm; M303–M304 [M] –
It looks like I could pretty much just camp out in the Classics Track
room. And it’s not just because they tolerate/encourage my
activities.
Bond, James Bond, 007
- 5:30 pm; Macon [S] –
I’d watch a Bond panel with Anthony Taylor and Louis Robinson.
Pee-Wee’s Big
Adventure: We Know You - 10:00 pm; M303–M304 [M]
– Another tempting panel from the sultry geek harlots of the
Classics Track.
The Late-Night Puppet
Slam
(Mature Audiences Only) - 12:00 am; Reg. VI–VII [H] –
There’s no excuse for missing this. It is one of the three best
things at Dragon Con.
MONDAY
Superhero-versary: 75
Years of Robin, Shazam, & the JSA - 8:30 am; M303–M304 [M] –
If you
can find it within yourself to get up super, butt-crack-of-dawn early
for this one it will be well worth your time. I would love to hang
out with Mike Gordon and Bobby Nash and talk about superheroes. But
there is now way in hell I’m going to be up for this (again -
unless I’m still
up).
James Bond:
Thunderballs, Views, & Kills - 10:00 am; M303–M304 [M] –
Another killer lineup for a great panel. There’s almost zero chance
that I’ll be here, but I’d like to see it.
Terry Jones: A Very
Naughty Boy Live! - 10:00
am; Grand Ballroom [S] –
It would be great to see this, but I have a bad feeling I’ll be
wasting my late check-out by being hungover.
‘80s Cartoons:
One-Season Wonders - 11:30 am; M303– M304 [M] –
The fine folks of RetroBlasting
talk about some of the best cartoons of the 80s. This one is right up
my alley, but it’s also on Monday morning.
Karen Gillan -
11:30 am; Atrium Ballroom [M] –
I’d just go and stare at her for an hour. She doesn’t even have
to talk. That’s probably creepy, isn’t it? Wouldn’t that be
hilarious, though? Gillan On Display – you just walk through the
ballroom and there’s a queue to line up and gaze upon perfection.
Maybe even get your picture with her.
Oh, wait – that’s
exactly what I did at Wizard World.
Defiance Q&A -
1:00
pm; Cent. II–III [H] –
Not out of the question thanks to the Hilton’s late check-out. I
like how the names of these have become less inspired as the weekend
has gone on.
I am totally pumped up
for Dragon Con. My personal schedule isn’t super packed, but what
I’ve got planned is all so
good.
I’m in the Dragon Con app under “Presenters”, where you can
find me and add all of my panels to your schedule. I’m also in
there under “Attendees”, so send me a friend request and come
have some rum at the Needless Things Meet-Up!
See you this weekend!
If
you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited
Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Me and my writers post
five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop
culture dorkery. I do the Needless
Things Podcast once
a week. And definitely come back in October for our 31 Days of
Halloween! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is
thoroughly Halloweeny! Each weekday post also includes a rundown of
SyFy’s programming.
No comments:
Post a Comment