What I Learned from Rathacon 2019

I'm am not as nerdy as I claim to be

I've always thought of myself as a nerd, a geek, a dork....what have you. But the more conventions I participate in the more I realize just how NOT nerdy I am when it comes to overall geek culture. 

My wife, Amy, and I attended Rathacon for the second time in beautiful Athens, Ohio. It's a great small "pop culture" con catering to all walks of geek like from comics, to anime, to gaming, to cosplay. You never know what you will see or what to expect from Rathacon. The team that sets up the con every year are fantastic and really try to put on a great show. We always have fun at the pre-party Nerd Prom at Casa Nueva featuring great music from DJ BFunk. Get a few drinks in me and look out as it's time to bust some moves! Yes, I am that old....

The Con itself is in the Athens Community Center and has quite the diverse mix of vendors, artists and cosplayers. The events are....ok but fun. I've never been to a panel because we're always stuck at our table but I can imagine they're great. Maybe next year I'll host a panel. Not going to lie, but the day is long and we're always ready to pack up and get some rest as we usually start the day out fairly hungover. It's always a good time and always an experience.

But here is my list of what I learned from Rathacon 2019 (in no particular order):

• I know absolutely nothing about current Anime
• Good Cosplay is amazing. Bad Cosplay is just sad. Don't phone it in.
• Geek culture is getting younger and younger every year. Nerdy parents are heavily influencing the next generation.
• I have no clue what Tween Geeks are in to and don't care to learn
• Pre-Con Nerd Prom is so much fun. Always a blast.
• Get 3 drinks in me and it's time to dance!
• When they say OU is a party school, they were NOT kidding. Wow
• Bring Gatorade for the following morning......
• When scheduling a Con, make sure there aren't already five other one's in Ohio on the same day. Better time of year but attendance felt down.
• 8 hours spent at a convention table is draining.
• Bring your own snacks, water, and hand sanitizer. Shit gets expensive!
• There's a very good chance that the person with a booth near you will literally be the most annoying person ever. Smile and deal with it.
• Don't compliment a Cosplayer's outfit if you don't know who they are. They WILL be offended.
• Cosplay kids are the cutest. Tweens....not so much.
• Conventions are where people can be their true selves.
• Diversity and Inclusivity are what makes a great convention.
• It's very hard to figure out what people want to spend actual money on. Every show and audience is different. I still haven't cracked the code.
• No one was interested in my children's books. Period.
• Last year I didn't sell a thing. This year I did so there's that.
• It's great to chat with true comic fans. There's a connection there that can't be replicated anywhere.
• Lots of very talented people put lots of work into projects that make no sense to the average person. 
• My beautiful wife is the most amazing and supportive person in the world. I will never understand how she deals with my nonsense. 

If you were at Rathacon, what did you think? Comment and let me know. Good? Bad?

Thanks again to the great Ratha-team and we plan to be back again next year!