My First Indy PopCon and Meeting Matt Ryan

Indy Popcon

 Indy PopCon, Meeting Matt Ryan, and having a systemic allergic reaction all at one time.

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I went to my very first convention. my first pop culture/anime/comic/et cetera convention-Indy PopCon.

Indy PopCon

OMGOMG!
Photo Credit: FandemoniumNetwork.com

Now, I am not a stranger to conventional, uh, conventions. I have been to many optical related conventions, and I hope to go to many more.

Let me tell you now that optical conventions have only one advantage over PopCon: all the free stuff.

At optical conventions, companies are trying to get me to:

Buy and use their stuff consistently
Buy their really expensive stuff
Talk the doctor into accepting their insurance.

I get bags and bags of swag. They have drawings for new cars, vacations(never won either), whiskey baskets(okay, that’s a Kentucky optical thing-but I never won one) besides the loot. But the loot: pens, nice bags, umbrellas, shirts, gift cards, branded stuff from the optical frame lines the companies carry. You can practically sweep the contents of their vendor booth table into your bag without breaking stride.
Our cons, not so much. There’s the occasional thing, but not like what I’m accustomed to in my cosseted optical bubble.

So here’s the story of my first con where I didn’t have to go to any classes before getting to the exhibit hall of awesomeness.

Heading to Indy PopCon

I woke up early, and put in my new contacts I was trying. Gonna be a great day! I was going to see Matt Ryan, y’all!

The trip up was flat(Really flat. Indiana is flat. They also sell Corn In A Cup) , but without incident. My friend and I got caught up and realized we could only remember the lyrics to I’m Gonna Be(500 Miles) without singing along with The Proclaimers. Boy these contacts were great!

Indy PopCon! Yeehaa, Y’all

I had prepaid my parking, and the parking staff were very good at getting cars tagged and parked within minutes.

The shuttle was already waiting, and we were at Indy PopCon within minutes of parking. About the registering: Oh, my gosh. We stood in line for maybe five minutes to get our wristbands/registered. An incredibly short amount of time for the long line we were in. They accidentally gave us the wrong bands, but that was swiftly cleared up with zero fuss or eyerolling or blaming other staff. This was a very well oiled machine, and a professional one, I was beginning to surmise. Everything was so seamless that the time we had allotted for the drive, parking and registration was drastically shortened, and we had to wait after registering for the main hall to open up.

Cassidy and Jesse

As my best pal Cary and I sat outside the hall, watching conventioneers break dancing, and a couple of cosplayers came and sat next to us. They were dressed as Cassidy and Jesse Custer from Preacher, and their getups were impeccable. We talked about the costumes, and as our conversation changed course, I found these two to be passionate about cosplay, and life in general. I asked them what they would do if they had their character’s superpowers, we talked about the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and how the changes from the Preacher comic to the show made so much sense for the 21st century. They told me their next Preacher cosplay ideas. Ganesh was mentioned.

Indy PopCon

The whole of the Cassidy and Jesse cosplay costumes from Star Squad.
Photo credit: FandemoniumNetwork.com

By that time, the hall had opened, the two left, and we never saw them again. I wish we had. Look them up on Instagram @StarSquadCosPlay or Twitter @StarSquadCospla(Yes, omit the “y”).

Waiting and People Watching

We got a quick snack and sat at a table to wait for the line to thin out. I do not like waiting in line. So much so that I camped out overnight three blocks away from my apartment to ensure that I didn’t have to wait in line for the free  limited comic for The Walking Dead Day here in Cynthiana.

We cosplay watched, and I explained to Cary the different characters. I didn’t know them all, but could tell some. It was then that I saw my first tiny cosplayer dressed as Spider-Man. I went to him, and with his mother’s permission, got his “autograph” and shook his hand. I wanted these kids to feel important and recognized in this sea of grown ups. We sat near a cosplay couple dressed as Belle and Princess Peach. The wife had sewn both costumes, and like the first two cosplayers, her eyes lit up when we asked about what she had done.

The line thinned and we went in, walking around and marveling at how inexpensive the vendors were. And who the vendors were, y’all. There were snakes! Hashtag I love snakes.

Indy PopCon

Snakes at a PopCon!
Photo Credit: FandemoniumNetwork.com

Indy PopCon

The reptile rescue group at Indy PopCon dropping the knowledge on how cool reptiles are.

Matt Ryan at Indy PopCon

It was time to meet Matt, the reason I came to Indy PopCon. Again, his security and “handlers” were professional and courteous and fast. No one in line with me complained about waiting, as he took his time with everyone and made them feel like they were special. There was no assembly line feel to meeting Mr. Ryan. He remembered the foam pumpkin I had painted, having had autographed it in Wales(Thanks, Clare!).

Indy PopCon

The front of my foampumpkin with the Wales con autograph Photo Credit: FandemoniumNetwork.com

He wanted to put something special on it this time around, and quickly “thought of something witty”. We chatted for a second, and I left, happy. Like, super happy. I still had the photo op, and waited around after signing in.

Indy PopCon

My pumpkin is awesome, is snarky, and probably wants a cigarette.
Photo Credit: FandemoniumNetwork.com

Matt met me, and we cracked wise for a few, then he put his arm around me and showed me the taped off mark where we stood for the camera. The man didn’t know me from Adam, so I kept my hands behind my back. I have heard con stories about fans overstepping bounds with actors, and I wasn’t about to with this great guy. The cameraman took a picture. I said I loved it without looking at it(It was Matt, I was good with it). I presented him a gift I had sculpted and told him it was from a group of fans. He opened it, gushed, kept complimenting it, and grabbed me in a bear hug. He loved it, and I felt happy having represented such a great group of fans with something he liked. We chatted again, and I skedaddled, not wanting to hold the man up.

I cannot say enough good about that man. An absolute gem in a world of muddy lumps. He was kind and he did not have to be.

Cary and I made a few purchases, and made our way to get some food. We wanted to take Dave Blass’s suggestion for the Tequila Sunrise shrimp cocktail, and had every intention. The roads were messy with rain and Friday traffic. I was getting a sore throat by that time, so we ate at the hotel.

No Ordinary Sore Throat

It was no sore throat. I was having a systemic allergic reaction to my new contacts! It had been happening slowly all day. I didn’t know until I got home and my eyes were redder than Christopher Lee’s in his Hammer Film Dracula days. I might be exaggerating there. Sorry to anyone that thought I was high. Especially to the woman at the gas station where I bought three different drinks and a danish.

It’s all good, y’all. I gots the eye drops from my boss/doc.

Thoughts on Indy PopCon from a Neophyte

I  cannot say enough about the great staff of Indy PopCon. Just like Matt, they seemed to really care about what they were doing.

If you are at a con, and you see a really cool cosplay-even if you don’t know the character- tell them so. Every cosplayer I spoke to lit up and loved talking about their costumes, makeup, and homemade gear. When I asked about design, they gladly volunteered information. Some seemed shocked and scared at first when I approached them. I think they have been victims of bullying for their love of the fandoms. But not from me. Not my thing. Or, y’know,  their fear may have been from the swelling and red eyes, in hindsight…

Most of these participants have to make everything by hand, or at least partially. This means that they have learned intricate sewing, woodworking, working with foam, special effects makeup, etc. They are learning skills and trades that may give them a profession. Seeing these dedicated people made me proud of being what I am. A fan, nerd, whatever the normal people call us!

I have never felt more in my element. The entire staff and special guests were wonderful. I am grateful to everyone I spoke to about their costumes or makeup.

About author(s)

Angel Miller

Hi! I am from Kentucky, and am usually being a human. Love God, family, country, rescue animals, and my fandoms. Also chocolate. I get overly angry when people's glasses on TV are not right.