A TFN Journey: a story in three parts - part 2
In part 1 of the story of my first Transformers convention experience, I talked about how your attempts to plot a course and navigate a convention can easily be frustrated. But that’s not a bad thing. If you missed it, you can find it here.
In part 2, I want to talk about the people and the moments that you meet them in. Some that have big parts to play, some that are small but by no means any less poignant.
I arrived on Friday and unsurprisingly I didn’t know a person. It was awhile before I spotted a few people I recognised from my online, largely Twitter, interactions. It’s a strange feeling. It’s like seeing someone you feel you know but then you realise you don’t really at all. There are clearly people who know them really well. So I have to admit it made me apprehensive about approaching some of these people.
I remember the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone was coming out of James Roberts’ queue juggling all of his scripts and the various prints I’d picked up from Alex Milne, Nick Roche and Jack Lawrence. She had been in the line behind me and I was pretty sure I’d seen her face at some point on Twitter and that she was probably the same Marian that co-hosted Podcast Maximus. So I opened my mouth, said hi, explained how the podcast was a lovely part of my walk to work. She was lovely and later introduced me to her other co-hosts, Terome and Stuart, who I would not have recognised even though I’d somehow stumbled upon them! I listen to many podcasts but only one Transformers one so it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to express my appreciation for their efforts as I know it’s not easy and can seem thankless. It was a lovely conversation and I regret not having more opportunities to chat with them but that doesn’t reduce its importance. It made future efforts to break the ice with other people I thought I knew that much easier and for that I am grateful.
But beyond the people you think you know there are also the people you’ve never known. I remember sitting there on Friday in the bar, just having finished dinner, and looking up and seeing a sea of people I knew shared my passion but I didn’t know. Opposite me were two blokes and so I shifted over and asked if I could join them. Matt and Bobby were inviting, friendly and warm. They got me a drink and we chatted casually about the weekend ahead. It may have been a small thing but I still remember that first evening. It was my first step on the path to confidently meeting other strangers who also shared my love for these robots.
Something I noticed early during the convention was the amount of parents clearly with their much younger kids. These weren’t collector parents, these were parents of young collectors. For some unclear reason that nagged at me but I did make it a point with my newfound confidence to express how impressed I was and how fortunate their children were whenever I came across one. And then somewhen on Saturday I received the message below from my 15 year old sister.
I remember at the time pausing, being touched by it. But then I had rollout to the podcast panel I wanted to see (something ironic about seeing a podcast!). It was two events on Sunday morning that forced me to revisit it though.
The first was on the lake on Sunday morning when I’d gone for a stroll. I passed someone who had just purchased MakeToys Galaxy Meteor, a toy I’d been eyeing off but couldn’t bring back to Australia. I said to him that’s a nice start to the day. He replied that it was actually for his son. We chatted and he reflected on it as something his parents would have never done for him but he wanted to make sure he did this for his son. I told him how lovely that was and moved on.
The second was @l0rean from Germany. We were lining up to chance getting a copy of the incredibly popular Animated comic. It was big to both of us and we gabbled on about our love for it. She shared her artbook and my jaw dropped at how talented she already was. Along the way she told me she was here with her dad whose English was not great but was indulging her. We got separated (both successful tho!) but later spotted her and her dad and joined them. I told him he how awesome he was and he seemed grateful and jovial about it. Job done.
But I wasn’t done. Something about it still nagged at me and I don’t like not understanding things. It was between popping over to Resort World to get more quid for the Forge and sitting down on the edge of the lake as the sun beamed down that I tried to dissect this among other things. It was then that my sister’s message hit me. Seeing these other parents with their kids here, supporting and encouraging them, smiling at a fandom they did not quite understand, was a window into a childhood I never had. As much as it reminded me of what I didn’t have, it reminded me of what I did have. I came back home when my sister was young to be a part of her life. I wanted to make sure she had a better childhood than I did. And I’m glad she feels she did. There were things I gave up in order to do that - including living and working abroad. In some ways I may have been to a convention much earlier in life but if I hadn’t been grounded, perhaps I wouldn’t have taken on a hobby that requires a degree of permanence. And I certainly wouldn’t have been at TFNation.
I’m grateful and humbled to see the kindness, friendliness and supportiveness of the parents at TFnation. As someone who likes to be ahead of the curve and be emotionally prepared for most eventualities, it was unexpected but it allowed me a window into my own childhood, my relationship with my sister, and the role Transformers played in all of that.
I can’t begin to understate how much fun my Rodimus outfit was. There were so many great moments and I feel guilty for not being able to recount them all but one stuck out more than all others. In James Roberts queue (as many things happens there as things do in a James Roberts script!) ran into the two wonderful ladies running around dressed as the Cyclonus (@eabevella) and Tailgate (@passivelyfabail) holoavatars (boy were they awesome at the cosplay night!). They reported to their captain (me!) and honoured me with a beautiful badge that removed the blight of co-captaincy. A swath of photos were snapped and we were even gatecrashed by Tarn (@sneknoodles). Of course, I did what Rodimus would do: I was awesome. I fended off that fusion-cannoned Megatron-worshipping fanatic and all was well. If I had a Rodimus Star handy I would’ve awarded myself one. Quipping aside, I tend to be good with words but I do forever find myself reflecting on that moment and questioning if I sufficiently conveyed my appreciation at their creativity, appetite for fun, and kindness. I hope the photos convey how special those memories are to me.
Then there was Krinsyn (@Krinsyn). An old friend of mine from Melbourne knew her and had unwittingly asked her to keep a keen eye open for an Aussie bogan (chav) Rodimus strutting the halls of TFNation. She found me in the ClubCon hall on the eve festivities and as the words poured out of her mouth, I’d figured out who she was before she’d even finished her sentence. She shares Albie’s infectious enthusiasm and happy-go-lucky smile. I could see straight away why despite the distance and time zones that separates them that they’re good friends. It was a special moment where two strangers closed that mythical six degrees of separation.
Conventions are filled with fleeting happenstances. You teeter on the edge of anxiety, ambivalence, and ambiguity. But the thing at TFNation was that it worked out 99.9% of the time. I crossed paths with a ton of people, heard wonderful stories, and shared fun moments that will forever stay with me. And all I have to thank for those memories was the kindness of strangers.
Up next: Part III - “Sliding Doors”
