Like many fans, I enjoy going to conventions! My introduction to the convention experience was probably a convention in Niagara Falls, NY sometime in the mid-1990s. I'd gone there to see Alexander Siddig (née Siddig El-Fadil) -- Dr. Julian Bashir on Star Trek Deep Space 9 -- and though he wasn't able to make it due to personal reasons, I had a grand time anyway, even participating in the masquerade as part of a "chain gang" on the prison asteroid Rura Pente (a reference to Star Trek VI; trust me, if you've seen the movie, you'll understand).
Then Nigel Bennet (of Forever Knight fame) appeared at Toronto Trek 9 in Etobicoke, Ontario. I was a big Forever Knight fan at the time, so naturally I went to the con. I had a wonderful time seeing not only Mr. Bennet, but Majel Barret Roddenberry (Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek, Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and the voice of the ship's computer in all three series) and Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat in Deep Space Nine, a last-minute replacement for Nana Visitor, Major Kira in the same series).
I missed Toronto Trek 10 for reasons that escape me, but attended Toronto Trek 11 in 1997 along with my husband (then-fiancé) Christopher Church. We had a great time taking in the sights, and I was even able to persuade Chris to be in the masquerade with me. No one was more surprised than we were when we won the Judge's Appreciation award for our Pretty Soldier SailorMoon-inspired skit, "Highland Senshi." A picture is below; that's me as SailorMars, and Chris as my "Highland Souvenir" (click on the thumbnail to view a larger version):
Here are some pictures from various conventions I've attended (most notably Toronto Trek). If you'd like to see a larger version, just click on the pictures.
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Me in the Dealer's Room at Toronto Trek with another convention-goer. If I recall correctly, the man with her thought the contrast between the black and white lace dresses would make for a good picture. |
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Me in what an acquaintance called my "vampire outfit" at Toronto Trek. |
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This is me in the Constellation Ballroom (I think) during Toronto Trek, dressed as a Japanese miko, or Shinto shrine maiden. |
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Me dressed as Gilly The Perky Goth (from John Kovalic's wonderful comic book, Dork Tower) at Toronto Trek 15. |
Me and Tama (the fox) basking in the glory that is Virginia Hey (click on
photo for larger version)
I also got an autograph from the fabulous Ms. Hey, as well as one from Amber Benson, who played Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer during the fourth through sixth seasons of that show. That autograph is kind of neat, I think, as it's not only signed by Ms. Benson, but also by Mary McVoy, the artist who created those fantastic paper dolls (I've got the entire BtVS set! :-).
You can see a report on the convention in my Live Journal.