Am job-hunting. Looks like plans have changed. Don't ask.

[erastes]

I look at some of the report of the Romantic Times bash and I wonder whether, if I ever have to attend, what I'd make of it.  I'm not good with large groups of women, and things like the Chippendales leave me cold - went to a performance once and was baffled by the hundreds of baying women, baying over men who wern't even naked.  The dressing up, too... *hair stands on end* That's just scary!!

I was pleased to see Linden Bay Romance's report on the convention because it seemed to me they did nothing but work, network and promote - rather than getting their pictures taken with half naked men. I'd enjoy meeting other authors I knew, and booksigning-but the rest scares me rigid.

I'm just too damned English, perhaps. I'd be the one in the corner. Clutching a couple of my books.

May I say, it's VERY scary to go and update one's Wiki pages, only to find that SOMEONE HAS ALREADY DONE IT...  *eep*

Comments

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

Chippendales = *barf!*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I know... It was obvious that the other 1999 women in the audience were loving it, but I hated every moment. Every. Moment.

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

I know precisely what you mean...I would be dreadfully uncomfortable myself, with dressing up and whatnot... *shudder* And the male strippers....yeah...I'd be right there with you, clutching a couple of my books. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's the seething press of women on heat that scares me, I think. I've never been able to do women things like window shopping and coffee mornings. Give me a pub and a pint and I'm much happier.

We'll have to get a group together if we go, people who just want to lurk in the corner.

:)

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Count me in - I'm all about the lurkage. :)

[clarelondon.livejournal.com]

I must admit, I felt like that the first year I went to yaoi Con, I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it and I'd have to hide in a corner to avoid being mangled or corrupted or forcibly made to wear cat ears...

But it's definitely got better with time! I just have to work out when to hide and when to join in. There are times, of course, when you can be more hidden in a crowd than on your own. /pontificates

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That's a good point, I think you have to learn the lie of the land and when to go into huddles and network and promote and when to be out on display as it were. Perhaps I'll never get to go, but I'd be interested to do so one of these days.

"cat ears"

*sporfles*

[clarelondon.livejournal.com]

I'm assured I'd look cute in them...

It's obviously just that strange old British inhibition that holds me back...
*coughcough*

^_~

[aunty_marion]

I'm a corner-lurker in those sorts of situations, too. I usd to hate going on the conferences from work - yes, it was a free stay in a nice hotel, usually, and often some useful info about the database (much as I hated it!), but there was all the enforced socialisation as well, and I'm terrible at remembering names and faces...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nod nod. I never fit in, and I hate that.

The best thing about hotel stays is.. the BREAKFASTS!!!

:)

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

I'm just too damned English, perhaps.

Not that I'm a big one for sweeping generalizations, but yes, that's it. A lot of the con scene in general seems specifically designed to make Brits uncomfortable. It's just too-too, if that makes sense.

(This being said by the ghost writer who has several Brits on her client list, and having traveled to events with said Brits.)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

We just don't have much to compare with with. I've been to a couple of Gaming conventions but they are more personal, really. Hundreds of little booths where you can go and play the latest games, and - lets be honest 95 percent of the other journos were men.

However, if I ever go to one of these events... I might enjoy it. I don't know. But if it is ANYTHING like the Chippendales thingy I went to, I won't.

What I have found

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Is that it helps to have a bolt hole to run to should things get overwhelming. Also, pick and choose what you want to do, don't feel compelled to do Every Single Thing (Which Brits seem to do, as it is Polite and The Thing To Do). Then you can focus on the fun stuff.

Forgive the Random Capitalization, I am channeling the worst of Winnie the Pooh via Dorothy Parker.

(constant weader thwowed up)

Re: What I have found

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Good advice, and yes, I do that. MUST see it all, or it's a waste!!

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

You might enjoy Mediawest. It's a fan-con--no celebrities--and has a large population of slashers, therefore a higher percentage of women than almost any sci-fi event.

[zamaxfield.livejournal.com]

I found at Anime Expo with my children last year that if I just stood stock still dressed as a suburban housewife no one paid me any mind and I could lurk around and buy things. That was what I went for anyway. Unfortunately, a couple of gorgeous boys decided to set up shop as a live Yaoi display right behind me when I was buying some books, and I must be in hundreds of people's pictures and video events. I thought I would die on the spot.

I like watching the festivities, mostly, but I like to watch from a fair distance and heaven forbid I find myself on YouTube doing it.

Cat ears? What's wrong with cat ears? Oh, not on cats, I see...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, you can't enjoy the Yaoi with kids in tow!!

[zamaxfield.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Yaoi con I have to attend by myself... I'm actually going this year, and... I'll be honest, I have serious misgivings.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I've only been to Epicon--great experience, especially the group book-signings. Being out in public with strength of numbers instead of solo is a great way to test the waters. Epicon was a lot lower-key than the big conferences sound, though. I think of those events as kind of performance art... and yes, the LBR honchessas work their buns off. I think they must have clones somewhere.

From reading folks' reports of the big cons, I get the impression that they're mostly business, but the social aspect more flamboyant than you'd get at any random business conference--but then, I've been going to sci-fi and media cons all my adult life so the costume aspect isn't as eyebrow-raising. A Star Trek parody skit with all cast members cross-dressing, with a drag Christine Chapel towering over all the other participants, kind of raises the bar on WTF fancy-dress. But sci-fi isn't generally as big on hearts and flowers... I saw a male strip act once--it was not all that appealing, and I had to wonder how many of the other women were acting as they thought they were expected to act, and how much of the squee could be put down to alcohol or making the boys feel appreciated. I can appreciate a pretty man (or woman) and nude art can be superb, but the objectification turns me off. IMO, romance is about intimacy, not just getting off.

Ever read "Die for Love" by Elizabeth Peters? It's a mystery based around a romance convention, with the heroine, Jacqueline Kirby, very cynically deciding to write a romance novel so she can write a trip to NY off on her taxes. I strongly suspect a couple of the less likeable characters are based on RL people but Peters is clever enough not to leave herself open for a lawsuit. Kirby's a hoot--a female character who has casual liaisons, says what she thinks, and is smart enough to pull it off.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the costumes in their place, I suppose. Booth babes and boys dressed up I found perfectly acceptable in the Gamers fairs I've been to, but sheesh - the journos and gamers don't dress up as Lara.

Or at last, they don't in England, perhaps they do at E3 or GenCon!

I'd prefer to go for business, promotion and book signing, rather than the balls. I mean, how many men would there be at these things? Or straight men, anyway.

Firm nod about the objectification.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Balls? *cough, splorfle.*

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

Oh ho! If you think that's bad, go to the Yaoicon! XD

I've recently read a RT con report at my publisher's mailing list, and like you said, it's all work and a lot of talking and advertising. The key to getting over your discomfort is to go with a group, like Lee Rowan says, or better yet, your publisher. They can at least dole out the logistics, and you answer questions from fans about your books. :)

I'm not too fond of conventions, myself, and see them as a necessary evil. Alas. Then again, I've always been a curmudgeonly hermit.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I seem to have a flist full of curmudgeonly hermits. Thank GOD.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I think more writers are introverts, rather than extraverts--not all, certainly, but more than most professions. Writing is not usually a social activity. Promotion is... and these days you can't just do one or the other.