0:00

This week's life note, reflecting on my very first Comic Con experience.

0:10

Welcome to Life Notes from Chair 17,

0:13

a podcast dedicated to sharing life stories,

0:16

wisdoms and inspirations as we navigate life's journey,

0:20

post chas to share thoughtful perspectives and insights from her own life journey,

0:25

as well as those of special guests, contributors tune in for thoughtful conversations about lessons learned wisdoms,

0:33

gained experiences, had and inspirations shared.

0:37

Find us where you get your podcasts and be sure to hit follow or subscribe,

0:43

so you never miss an episode. Now enjoy this week's episode.

0:52

Alrighty, welcome back in friends to another episode of Life Notes from chair 17.

0:58

I'm your host, Ch and I thank you as always for once again,

1:02

finding me in this corner of the podcast universe and as returning C 17 ers will know,

1:09

I always like to thank you first for your continued support and tuning in each week.

1:15

This also includes our new or continuing to be new international listeners.

1:22

Thank you so much. And if you happen to be checking us out for the first time,

1:28

maybe you've just found us on one of the major podcast platforms or via our website out on life notes from Chair 17 podcast.com.

1:38

Welcome to you. Thank you for wanting to tune in.

1:42

We hope you like what you hear and you will stick around.

1:46

And as I sit down to record this,

1:49

I do realize that the last couple of episodes have been very reflective and very introspective,

1:56

very life lesson if you will or wisdoms or lessons or all of the above,

2:04

none of the above. Um Which of course we do like to do here on the podcast,

2:08

but we also like to have some fun and share life experience as well and given what feels like sort of everything everywhere all at once that is happening in my sphere at the time that I sit down to record this episode,

2:29

I did want to shift a bit and talk about something fun.

2:32

And that is, I have recently just attended my very first Comic Con,

2:41

which was the Emerald City Comic Con here in Seattle,

2:44

Washington in the US. And if you do not know what a Comic Con is or you have never heard of one or you've heard of it but thought uh I don't really get it.

2:56

That is totally OK. This episode isn't necessarily going to be focused on describing every moment of the experience and what I would call my nerd in detail.

3:11

Rather, I am just gonna reflect on what I observed really as a first timer and particularly struck by the what I'm going to call the openness and the welcoming atmosphere that I experienced when I attended.

3:30

And I was absolutely definitely a first timer,

3:35

no questions asked. I do like to consider myself somewhat of a nerd or like I said,

3:42

Nerry, I don't know if you've heard that word,

3:45

but I worked with a gal once who said that and I've always loved that way to describe it.

3:51

Nerry sort of feels like you have a degree in Nerry or something.

3:56

And I've mentioned it before a little bit on the podcast,

3:59

right. I've always enjoyed horror films.

4:01

I tend to be a Star Trek next generation and now Picard fan,

4:09

I'm a Harry Potter fan.

4:12

I'm a Ravenclaw for anyone who's wondering.

4:15

And I just like to consider myself a general movie,

4:19

film follower, television follower with perhaps what I'll call a moderate pulse of kind of trying to keep track of pop cultish kind of things.

4:32

But I will say clearly comic con level,

4:40

Nerry is next level and I was like the first level for real.

4:49

And I say that in all good uh from a good hearted place because I was so impressed by just the dedication of some of the fans and the just the love of why they were there,

5:04

which I'll talk about in a little bit. But my personal main reason for attending was due to the fact that actor Jodie Whittaker would be appearing and she has been a pretty big inspiration to me and she has for many others.

5:22

Uh I genuinely like and enjoy meeting actors in real life.

5:27

Not necessarily for only their character inspiration that they may provide or something that really touched me in,

5:37

in some part of their work. But actually to just also get real life inspiration from them.

5:42

And I think that this comes from a point in my life where I did have an opportunity to interview actors for a television blog that I used to write for.

5:54

It was an independent television blog.

5:56

It wasn't a major one. It was kind of like this podcast,

5:59

but back in the day, and I really love actually talking to them about their craft and,

6:06

or their passion for their craft.

6:09

I think maybe this comes potentially from my own creative tendencies or maybe just a fascination with the creative process.

6:16

But because of this, I don't tend to get really super star struck.

6:21

I just tend to get very curious and I,

6:25

I really do appreciate the opportunity to not only tell an actor about how much their work means to me,

6:33

maybe thank them for it, but also to hear them talk about what it meant to them.

6:40

And in the case of Jody, who uh if anyone is not familiar with her,

6:46

uh made history being named as the first female doctor in the long standing British TV,

6:53

series doctor who uh I really appreciate her though for much a much broader array,

7:01

let's say of her work as and just for being one of those really,

7:05

really rare actors that what you see in interviews and in how she uh engages with folks that's not necessarily specific to a character or film or a television show.

7:22

What you see is really what you get.

7:25

Uh you know how everyone genuinely likes to talk about Dolly Parton being one of the kindest nicest,

7:37

most down to earth people on the planet.

7:40

Despite Dolly being this massive,

7:43

massive, massive juggernaut of success and fame,

7:49

I would say that Jody is also like this,

7:52

although she'd probably cringe if I said that to her and say something like no way mate,

7:58

I'm not Dolly and I'm not saying that her fame is that level or that she even wants that level of fame.

8:04

But it's actually just the characteristics of how she treats people and how she carries herself.

8:10

It's very similar and I don't know that that always happens sometimes when you meet,

8:16

you know, the people that you might look up to.

8:18

There is a reason of why there's a saying you should never,

8:22

I think the saying goes, you should never meet your heroes or something like that because you might be disappointed.

8:27

Uh But in the case of, of people who really admire and love Jody,

8:32

I am one of them. She is an incredibly kind,

8:35

genuine, warm, personable,

8:37

funny person.

8:39

She's also a fan herself. And I think that this makes her quite easily relatable really to people who go to see her.

8:46

So I was really thrilled to have the opportunity to just share a few moments with her.

8:52

And for anyone wondering,

8:54

I, as I've talked about a lot on this podcast,

8:59

uh my love of music, I am a drummer.

9:03

Uh Jody is a fan of music.

9:05

I would say she's even a greater fan of music than I am And she happens to be a massive,

9:12

massive fan of coldplay and the drummer who is world champion.

9:17

So I took a shot and brought a little snare drum uh for her to sign because it actually is a,

9:24

a rainbow esque looking snare drum.

9:28

It just so happens to have been made that way by the manufacturer and I bought it around the time she was ending her run on doctor who and I did buy it because it looked like a rainbow.

9:41

And that was very much a part of her 13th doctor's aesthetic.

9:47

So I've nicknamed it the Jody snare.

9:51

And I thought, well, maybe, you know, one day,

9:53

if she ever comes this way, I might be able to get her to sign it.

9:56

Given her love of music, her love of coldplay,

9:59

her love of drummers. And it felt like it was a fitting tribute.

10:03

It was, it was a first for her. I think it shocked her when I put the drum on the table.

10:07

She was pretty jazzed. About that. I also had the opportunity to give a gift to her from one of her most dedicated fans who lives over in Italy and who manages the Jodie Whitaker fans,

10:25

Instagram account, but she's never had the opportunity to meet Jody in person or actually be able to give her anything in person.

10:34

And so I really enjoyed that almost more than my own interaction with Jody because I know how much uh Jody means to this particular fan and how much this fan has done really globally for everyone that is uh a fan of Jody.

10:53

So it was really uh a,

10:56

a beautiful moment to be able to, to give her a piece of art that this fan had created.

11:01

And really, I do want to shout out to Corey who was Jody's handler who heard the story of what I was trying to do and allowed me to do it in the photo op session.

11:12

I don't think she will ever hear this episode,

11:15

but in case she does, I sincerely appreciate her kindness and her support of it because I without her,

11:21

I don't think that would have happened. And that's a great segue actually,

11:26

because that was the thing that really,

11:30

I was most struck by at the con itself.

11:33

And the con we call it the con for short,

11:36

it's seriously genuine love and kindness of nearly every single person who was there.

11:45

And I'm not talking about the celebrities or the talent.

11:48

I'm talking about just the people attending the fans from nearly every walk of life,

11:56

nearly every fandom that you could imagine.

11:59

It doesn't matter what your favorite thing is to nerd out on.

12:04

There is a place and a space for you in a comic con and there are a ton of reasons why people attend from different angles or lenses of,

12:18

of interest. They can be genuine fans looking as I was to have the opportunity to meet someone who had somehow inspired them can be artists and writers and illustrators.

12:31

They can be what are called cosplayers.

12:34

These are people who dress up as certain characters from certain movies and television and so on and so forth.

12:41

They compete, they can win actually in contests for best Cosplay.

12:47

There are of course professional collectors there looking for,

12:53

you know, rare items to add to their collection of things they might be fans of or enjoy or like there are exhibitors there showcasing all sorts of,

13:06

I would call it a specific or niche merchan merchandise,

13:10

think of it as a place where if you didn't have everything you ever wanted for the thing,

13:17

you are a most nerdy fan about,

13:20

you can find it at a comic con and there are people selling their,

13:24

their goods and their wares there that are in support of that.

13:28

And I think it's important too to call out and I didn't really know this until I kind of looked it up the earlier Comic Cons.

13:37

So if we go back into probably the 19 seventies or so,

13:41

they were much smaller uh intimate gatherings,

13:45

you could say of what you might call super collectors of maybe unique or rare comics specifically.

13:53

But nowadays, Comic Cons are sort of these full fledged entertainment,

14:00

juggernaut kinds of events.

14:03

Uh the most famous one and the largest one which is,

14:07

it feels like it's a full blown Hollywood production now is,

14:09

is Comic Con in San Diego. That happens every I believe it happens every summer and whether it's a giant one or a smaller regional one,

14:19

it really is just where people gather in mass to really bond over some intense passion that they might have for comics or movies,

14:31

TV, shows books, video games, whatever it might be.

14:34

And I would say that Emerald City from at least a first timers perspective,

14:40

which is mine is a well known one and it does pull in a good,

14:46

I would say showing or celebrity talent offering,

14:50

you know, four days of that, usually Thursday through Sunday is the the block of days and obviously the weekend days are the big ones Friday and for sure,

15:00

Saturday and Sunday and often depends on the the celebrity talent.

15:05

Can they appear all four days or only one day as in Jodi's case.

15:09

So Emerald City is,

15:12

is on the map as it were.

15:15

But above all that or in addition to all that is what I could not get over as I walked these floors of the Seattle Convention Center was really the inclusivity and that everyone is welcome.

15:28

If you want to show up as just you.

15:30

No costume, which was my case.

15:33

You are good. If you want to go full out,

15:38

let's say in a full blown Disney princess ballerina,

15:43

take me to the ball and have me home by midnight costume.

15:48

You are good. if you want to be all in on,

15:54

I saw it. I can't remember. I,

15:56

I know it was from Star Trek. Uh Sorry.

15:59

No, I know it was from Star Wars. Although there were Star Trek,

16:01

there is too Trekkies Truckers,

16:05

whatever, the, whatever,

16:07

however you want to identify, you want to be dressed full blown Captain Picard or in a stormtrooper kind of thing.

16:16

Depending on if you're a Star Wars or Star Trek.

16:19

All good. Right. You want to be deadpool.

16:23

You can do that if you want to dress up as your favorite doctor from doctor who as many people did in honor of Jody.

16:30

You can do that if you want to experiment with your own costume,

16:34

perhaps discovering yourself at the same time all good.

16:38

And it does not matter your age,

16:42

either you can be three years old or you can be 93 years old.

16:49

And it made me really think about where else in the world does this kind of full blown,

17:00

all inclusive come as you are acceptance happen where it is safe and full of some of the most polite people who,

17:10

even though we are in line endlessly for whomever we are there to see,

17:16

we never seem to lose our sense of humor or our friendliness or our kindness.

17:22

I sometimes think that this does happen at music festivals or music concerts because music can often have this unifying or welcoming or inclusive effect.

17:34

But comic cons, at least for me and at least attending this first one.

17:39

And what I observed, it seems to be an even greater example of this and even those that are working the event,

17:45

which is a tireless feat,

17:48

no doubt they remain in good spirits.

17:51

And in, in the context of when I'm recording this and who knows how long this episode will go on into the podcast sphere,

17:59

it seems like a really important thing right now to,

18:03

to sort of see that everybody coming together for something good and something inspiring.

18:10

And I have to say that one of my favorite things that I observed was when you watched people come away with whatever it was,

18:19

they were hoping to have their favorite celebrity talent sign or have a photo op with.

18:27

There was this pure joy in their smiles and it was something that if you are having a tough day or a tough time or maybe going through it,

18:38

you could not help but be inspired and uplift,

18:41

uplifted really by by watching them.

18:44

I know I was and I certainly needed that myself.

18:48

And I, I took a moment really to watch Jodie Whittaker's line after I had gotten my stuff signed with each person coming up to her and how they had a story to share and how she was so attentive to them and that she would calm their own nervousness with a reach out a handshake,

19:12

uh a holding of a hand. Sometimes those folks were shedding tears because they were so happy to have the opportunity to talk to her and they were hardly able to speak.

19:21

But somehow they found the words given.

19:25

She was so welcoming and inviting to help them through what you could call,

19:30

you know, your own version of fan stage.

19:33

Fright. And, and this is just one example,

19:35

right? This is the example that I saw most closely,

19:38

but I did see people coming away from other tables or coming out of other photo ops and they would sit,

19:45

you know, like quietly for a moment by themselves lined against the wall,

19:51

just holding whatever that thing was with this cherished sense of gratitude,

19:55

whether they also brought a special item to get signed or they got a photo signed and it was just happiness.

20:03

And I, I honestly, I just loved it and I don't know how anyone wanders around a comic con and does not smile at what they see around them and sort of let that affect you in a good way.

20:21

Because for me, in my opinion,

20:24

when we can just be as we are in a safe environment,

20:28

an encouraging environment, a judgment free environment,

20:33

I hate a free environment. A come one come all environment one's entire psyche changes.

20:41

And there is such a peace and a joy and a happiness and a playfulness to the entire place.

20:50

And yes, the lines are long and yes,

20:52

you can spend an absolute fortune between photo ops,

20:59

autographs merchandise. And sometimes there is a sort of crazy chaos where it does feel a bit overwhelming and this might affect folks who could be sensitive to crowds or noise or bright lights.

21:14

So I do want to call that out. It's not necessarily without certain tradeoffs in terms of what each person's maybe personal preference or tolerance level is in attending a large event like that with a lot of people and sidebar,

21:32

I was absolutely exhausted afterwards.

21:35

And I really only went for one major day.

21:38

And for me, I don't think I'd been around that many people with that much going on in years.

21:45

And I, and this is said from somebody who tends to recharge from a solo perspective.

21:50

So this was even a stretch for me.

21:54

But wow, am I glad I went and to see it and experience what often those seasoned comic Conners talk about to have that chance to cross paths with some of the most kind,

22:09

genuine enthusiastic welcoming.

22:11

Warm people. It was really cool.

22:15

I have to say and if you ever find yourself with an opportunity to attend one,

22:22

especially if it features or has something particular that you love or you follow or you are inspired by or you would love to see in person.

22:31

I highly recommend going, you know,

22:33

either in costume or as yourself all is welcome.

22:38

And it will, I think in my opinion,

22:41

leave you with an experience in which you may find yourself one day saying.

22:45

You know what I was kind of once in a lifetime.

22:49

And I'm glad I went pro tip though.

22:53

Bring one of those tiny collapsible portable stool kinds of things for the standing in line,

23:01

your feet and your legs will thank you for it.

23:06

And with that as always be kind to yourself,

23:11

take it one hour at a time, one day at a time and I'll see you next time.

23:21

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of life Notes from chair 17.

23:26

Remember to follow and subscribe. So you never miss an episode.

23:30

We'll see you next time.