We made it safely home around 7pm last night after an amazing weekend at Mysticon in Roanoke, VA. To say I had fun would be the understatement of the century. There’s a vibe at these geek conventions (and being a certified geek myself, I feel a-okay using the term) that is somewhat hard to find elsewhere; A warmth of kindred souls meeting. I spent some time thinking about why that feeling exists, and came up with something very simple. People are happiest when they’re being exactly who they want to. With all the awesome, outlandish costumes at these things, it’s damn near impossible to judge anyone. So everyone seems comfortable and completely in their element. It’s just a shame that this atmosphere doesn’t spill over into the streets more often. I can’t tell you how happy I’d be to see Darth Vader or the Hulk on my way to grab a cup of coffee down on Main Street! People are just happy at these things, and I don’t ever recall seeing a fight at a con. People go to revel in things they’re passionate about and to meet the people behind these tv shows, books, and bands. And it’s rad.

The author panels i sat on were a lot of fun, as was discussing the state of gothic music with some very passionate fans on Saturday evening. We performed at midnight on Saturday to a packed ballroom using a sub-par PA system that would be more appropriate for a high school graduation ceremony. And it was a blast! A huge thanks to the staff at Mysticon and all the fans who made it such an incredible weekend! You guys are the best!

-Andy

A sexy Vader:

A sexy mechanic:

A sexy Santa: