Conventional Matters

[vovat]

The Munchkin Convention is this weekend, and once again, I'm not going. I used to go every year, but ever since the big Centennial Convention in 2000, I haven't attended any Oz conventions, and I'm not totally sure why not. I guess it's partially the cost. If I just went on Saturday, it would cost me $105. That includes meals, but even taking that into account, it's a lot more money than, say, the Monster-Mania Conventions that bethje and I go to. I guess I didn't mind paying that much when there weren't a lot of other fun things I wanted to do throughout the year, and I didn't have bills to pay. It was the one time of year when I would spend a significant amount of money on something.

There's also the distance factor. When I used to attend the Munchkin Convention, it was held right outside Wilmington. After that, it was moved to Hershey. This year it's in Princeton, which isn't TOO far away, but is hardly as convenient for me. I mean, I've gone farther away for smaller events, but if it were as close as it used to be, I might just decide to go at the last minute.

One thing I liked about the Centennial Convention was that there were always several things happening at one time. The smaller conventions, on the other hand, usually only have one program at a time. This means that, if it's something that doesn't interest me, I can either sit through it anyway, or figure out some other way to kill the time. I'm only mildly interested in stuff involving the MGM movie, and not interested at all in collecting. There are a lot of people who come to the conventions just for those things, though. I don't mind their being catered to, but I wish there were some other organized activity for those of us who aren't interested in them. I guess that would mean the convention would cost even MORE money, though. Besides, I know some presenters at the Centennial Convention complained that not enough people attended their programs. There was one presenter who flew in from Russia, and only a few people attended his session, because most of the guests were attending other programs. There's also always an auction that lasts several hours, during which there's very little else to do. I've bought things at the auction before, but I'm usually only interested in a few items, and have little to no desire to sit through the rest.

Regardless of all this, I'm sure I'd still have fun at an Oz Convention. I keep telling myself, "I'll go next year." Then the next year rolls around, and I come up with more excuses. I'll probably go again someday, though. Maybe when I get a full-time job (like THAT will ever happen).

And, on an unrelated note, I'm worried that I'll run out of ear medicine before I'm supposed to stop taking it. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, though.

Comments

[shadarko.livejournal.com]

has the ear medicine been helping at all?

I've never gone to one of the large Oz conventions, they've always been way to expensive. I always wanted to go, the last large winkie convention was suppose to be really good with a lot of different things going on.

I use to go regularly to the southern winkie convention which is tiny, and only cost 15 bucks to go to. I really enjoyed it, though there were times the lectures/talks were a bit dull since they were about the movie and I'm only now getting a bit more interested in it. But I've been lucky that they've had a lot of really good speakers. I also think the auction, which I tend to buy more then I sell at is the most interesting. Since its such a small group the auction doesnt go on to long and theres always good humored heckiling going on.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I guess the ear medicine has been working. My ear no longer hurts anywhere near as much, but it still feels stopped up. My jaw occasionally feels numb, too. I'm kind of concerned, because I'm now out of antibiotics, and I'm only supposed to be using the eardrops for four more days. I guess if it doesn't clear up by tomorrow or Tuesday, I'll call the doctor again. I really hope I don't have to spend any more money on this stupid ear.

The auction at the Munchkin Convention tends to be pretty long. It can be fun to watch for the item descriptions and occasional bidding wars, but it gets tedious at times.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

So you're saying that NOW THAT YOU'RE SEEING SOME FEMALE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING FOR YOU.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

No, I probably actually buy MORE stuff for myself now. It just doesn't include Oz Convention attendance.

It does seem like I stopped going to the conventions around the same time that I started going to more concerts. I guess I just spread my Fun Events out over the year now.

[loz]

I think you've come up with good reasons as to not go, but maybe put aside 2 dollars a week from hereon in so the cost next year will be less taxing :D

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Heh, I initially read "hereon" as "heroin." I guess I really WOULD have more money to spend on conventions if I cut out my smack habit. {g}