I got back from Convolution last night and I’m still excited from the event.  This was a wonderful creative, low-key convention.  I made a lot of new friends – special thanks to Convolution VP Erik Bigglestone, from Games of Berkeley, who saw me failing to mingle at a party (I mingle by standing awkwardly in a corner – it’s my way).  Erik personally introduced me to people I was much to shy to approach.  And although I’m singling out Erik, that general attitude – warm, friendly, hey everyone let’s have fun – pervaded the event.  In the words of M. Todd Gallowglass, toastmaster:  “There are no snobs here”.

This is Convolution’s second year and although they are still having some growing pains (registration was not pretty, and the Hyatt has very limited and ridiculously expensive food options even by fancy hotel standards) in general it was smoothly run.  It was large enough (about 900 estimated attendees) to feel exciting and busy, and small enough to feel intimate and friendly.  There were hands on workshops and panels, and parties, parties, parties.  And of course, there was the Goblin Ball, featuring live performances and a DJ and me jumping around like a very, very happy idiot with bad feet.

I’ll be writing more about this event next week, plus posting pictures ASAP, but here’s a few of the funniest things I heard:

Staff:  “Candy eyeball?”

Me:  “No thanks, I had candy for breakfast”.

Wendy Froud:  “Jim Henson called me and asked if I wanted to work for him, and I said, “Yes!’  I mean, I was gonna be a waitress.”

Cosplayer to a friend:  “Check out my tail!”

Friend:  “You don’t have a tail!”

Cosplayer:  “No, I mean, my coat tail!”

(I just find it hilarious that in this context not only might someone ask another person to check out their tail, but it can mean at least 3 things with equal likelihood).

Remember Baby Toby from Labyrinth?  That’s Brian and Wendy Froud’s son, who’s name is really Toby.  Here’s a Toby story from Wendy Froud:  “I don’t know if Toby ever used his Labyrinth celebrity to get girls, but I do know that he gave out autographs to his classmates in kindergarten.  Also Jennifer Connolly (and her mom) babysat him – it was her first babysitting job, and the first time we left him with a sitter.”

More pics later, but here’s one of The Babe With the Power, Toby, all grown up, with his baby.  DUDE.  TOO MUCH CUTE.