MarsCon 2012

Since I had to go without my camera's SD card at Run For Your Lives, I've been a bit paranoid. I always check for my backup cards and cords in my bag, because I know that inevitably I'm going to do exactly what I did at MarsCon: forget the it again. But this time I was prepared!

Although I had forgotten my usual 16GB card, I had my backup card! I was beaming with pride until I looked down and read the cover: 128MB. The few photos I did get have been uploaded to the DC Geeks Flickr pool. Luckily, others stepped up. There are zombie portraits online until March 1st, and an awesome wrap up video by Pickleman.

In the event of a zombie apocalypse, you're getting tripped.

Instead, I decided that although I had fun busting ass trying to get to everything around MAGFest, I was just going to enjoy MarsCon. The Patriot hotel where MarsCon is held is about equal parts claustrophobic and intimate. I hit up this con every year, and although their array of guests and panels is always impressive, I tend to spend a lot of my time just meeting people and talking costuming. That's why their Safe Zone/Consuite is one of my favorite parts of the con.

A few events were the highlight of my weekend, though. I headed down super early for the Fishnet Inc Rocky Horror (like I always do) and happened to catch the tail end of Mikey Mason's performance. I'd only known him before because of his song "She Don't Like Firefly." He is incredibly funny, and it was a perfect lead-in for a night of Rocky.

I have to say, I love Fishnet Inc, and I make the Rocky Horror Show at MarsCon every year. I should have done the math when about 75% of the audience went up for the virgin sacrifice. Upside: the newb next to me thought I was hilarious. Downside: Almost no one outside of the front row knew the audience participation lines. Fishnet Inc threw as awesome a show as they always did; the audience just didn't meet them halfway.

On second thought, let me correct that. Fishnet was better than usual because of a bit of metahumor: a deliciously talented crossplaying, female Frank-N-Furter. I think we were halfway through "Sweet Transvestite" before I was sure she was a girl. By the end of the song, I was completely caught up in how brilliant it was. If you flip through the photos on their website you can catch pictures of the badass cast.

Don't have to sell me on how badass the Dark
Side is. I already play Sith.

My favorite event on Saturday was the Podcasting Panel. The panel moderator was Keith DeCandido of Dead Kitchen Radio, and the panelists were Alfredo Torres from Torres vs. Zombies, Helen Madden of Heat Flash (18+), and Jason Bayless from Zombie Popcorn, To sum it up in one sentence: Just go do it.

MarsCon was wonderful: small, fun, familiar. I know it's not strictly in the immediate DC area, but I've found that it's always worth the trip to Williamsburg. Thanks to everyone who hung out with me, and to the organizers for throwing another wonderful event.