Examining Online Fandom Conventions

Most of you are probably unaware, but as I type this, a group of fan girls (and one guy) are working away to put together a brand new fandom convention called FanGirlCon. This does not seem like anything out of the ordinary, since practically everyday there is a new convention popping up for every other TV show out there. In some instances, there is even two conventions for a show, as is the case with House. Fans are putting together a west coast one in Anaheim and an east coast one in Princeton, of course.

So what makes FanGirlCon special? This convention will not be taking place in any particular city; it will be taking place online. It's not the first of its kind, but it is a wonder that this type of convention hasn't become more popular. Online conventions are certainly easier to fashion together, since they don't require lots of time and effort put forth in finding the right venue and organizing large scale events. They are considerably more affordable for the average fan, considering most fans don't typically live in the same town a convention may take place and thus have to pay transportation and hotel costs. Perhaps most importantly, though, hosting a convention online makes it far more accessible to a larger group worldwide.

Of course, there are many downsides to hosting a fandom convention online. One of the biggest draws of real-life conventions for fans is the chance to meet one of their favorite stars, assuming they're attending one of the better ones that has managed to at least get a supporting actor from a top-notch program, and not just some d-list actor who played alien #2 in a random episode of a little watched sci-fi show. Though a moderated online chat with a star comes close, it's hardly the same and you don't get to walk away from it with a picture to forever remember the moment. Another reason many people go to conventions is meet other die-hard fans in person, to put a face to the friends they've made online. Though discussions at an online convention can be fruitful, they're nothing out of the ordinary for most fans and don't compare to time spent together in "real life".

But discussing the abstract pros and cons of an online convention can be somewhat futile. Let's put it in terms of a real convention. Last October, Scranton, PA hosted The Office Convention, which turned out to be fairly successful. What would it have been like if it had been hosted online instead? As previously stated, fans of The Office would not have had the chance to meet some of the beloved stars of the show. However, not all fans were lucky enough to have some face time with their favorites, and if they did, it was only by chance or because they had paid upwards of hundreds of dollars for such an opportunity. Had the convention been hosted online, though, attendees would have had at least the chance to slip a question by the actors, without spending a dime, an opportunity possibly more appealing to some. Also, perhaps the bigger name actors who could not be flown out to Scranton, such as Steve Carell, would have been able to participate in a chat at an online convention.

Another major aspect of conventions is the sale of tons of products related to whatever the subject of the convention is. In this case, the NBC Experience Store was there to sell such Office-related memorabilia, everything from Michael bobble heads to Dunder Mifflin umbrellas (a popular item considering it rained during the first two days of the convention). Considering NBC was already selling most of the stuff from that weekend on their website, the success of the store would have been easily translatable had the convention been held online. A discount could have been offered to those participating in the convention since they would be incurring shipping costs, with a special link put up on the main page directing attendees to NBC's online store or a special code offered. In this scenario, NBC would still make out like a bandit, especially since they wouldn't have to pay salespeople to man the makeshift store nor transport costs.

It seems the biggest loser in the case of an online convention, instead, would be Scranton itself. There's no doubt the convention was a big win for the city. Not only did the city make money from ticket sales and sponsors, but their economy surely received somewhat of a boost with many guests opting to stay at their hotels, dine at establishments featured on the show, and shop at the now somewhat famous Steamtown Mall. Unfortunately for Scranton, it would have no chance to reap any money or publicity from an online convention.

Though FanGirlCon is nothing on the scale of The Office convention, it's definitely a step in the right direction. In its efforts to further the status of online conventions, it's making it easier to put these events together and thus putting the control of conventions where it belongs: in the hands of the fans.

Slight Changes

So, I've decided to change things up a bit with this blog before I actually start posting anything real. As far as content goes, I'm still planning on posting entries related to fandom and whatnot. However, I'd like to expand on the type of content I'll be putting up here to pop culture stuff in general. This means in addition to fandom commentary, I'll also be posting the occasional review of new and old media alike (everything from movies and TV shows, to websites and YouTube clips), as well as observations on other pop culture related occurences.

And just so you know, I am working on creating legit content for this blog. Currently, I'm working on an entry in regards to a certain LiveJournal community, so keep an eye out for that.