I now have three conventions I go to yearly: Marcon in May, DragonCon in September, and BroadwayCon in January. I usually end up on a minimum of 3 panels at Marcon, sometimes more. I present at the Comics and Popular Arts Conference (CPAC) and march in the parade at DragonCon. I am one of the crowd at BroadwayCon. Yet, the conference I participate in the least is the one I spend the most on.
I’m currently reading Henry Jenkins’ Textual Poachers and the conclusion reminded me of a discussion that happened on Facebook soon after DragonCon was over. Someone had asked why DC does not have VIP badges, with goody bags and preferred seating and other perks. I, like the majority of the respondents, argued against them. It divides the community into those who can afford the badges and those who can’t. It also potentially leaves empty seats in every panel, seats that are needed for lots of people who want to be in that panel.
While reading Jenkins, I realized that DragonCon really is about the fans. It is run by fans for fans. Other conventions are not, and are more concerned with making money than making it financially accessible to as many people as possible. DragonCon is also about a community that gets together and parties and celebrates their fandom for 5 days in Atlanta every year. Not every convention has those ideals driving them.
BroadwayCon is the first convention I’ve attended where there are different types of badges. Last year was my first time going, and their second time holding the con. Even then, there were two kinds of badges: Gold and regular. Gold were the VIPs; they got preferred seating at the main stage, extra goodies, guaranteed photos and autographs, and early access to the marketplace – and thus seating for the smaller panels – on Friday. For the upcoming convention in January, they have changed things and added a third level. Now there is the General Pass, Gold Pass, and Platinum Pass. The new level is the current Gold Pass. With the Gold Pass you get: “Tote with exclusive merch and program book, 3 guaranteed autographs or photographs, Hourly shuttle between our partner hotel and the Javits Center, Priority queueing for autographs and photos, Guaranteed general admission MainStage seating, Expedited on-site check-in, Exclusive Marketplace preview Friday morning, Exclusive customer service liaison for questions before and during the event”. With the General Pass, you only get seating in the MainStage if there are seats left after the Platinum and Gold Pass people have seated. Considering the types of panels that are held on that stage, I got the Gold Pass – which is currently sold out.
That is the one part of the system that bothers me. Give people who intentionally pay more to attend more stuff and priority in lining up for things. But to say that because you don’t have a specific type of pass you can’t get a seat for the MainStage? That’s just rude. People are paying to attend the convention, all of the convention.
It probably isn’t going to be as big a deal as I am making it seem. But this is most of why I don’t want DragonCon to go this route. Back in 2013, because I was polite and patient, I ended up with a center, third or fourth row seat for a panel with Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy – Fifth and Seventh Doctors, respectively – that I wouldn’t have gotten if there were VIP badges and sectioned seating. Maybe a smaller convention like BroadwayCon, with one main programming stage can do it. But not DragonCon. It’s too big and too established as a place where all the attendees are treated equally, no matter how much you paid for your badge.
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