MULTI-VERSE CON 2021
If you are there to purchase or browsing to purchase you have opportunities nearly at every step of the way on the 1st floor especially. Now staying away from putting a huge hole in your wallet is the bigger challenge but hey you have to live a little sometimes too.
Along the way of running into several vendors just by walking in, that culminates in one of the most impressive art rooms you can have, especially in one room. A lot of impressive artwork, jewelry, fandom tools, that screams "CHECK ME OUT!". Seriously I am not sure I met anyone who didn't walk by that room and go, "I need to figure out how to make some time to go in there".
So let me just say for those wondering about the following aspect of your wallet burning a hole where it sits....yes you will find something there you will want to buy. It happened to both Katie and myself. I felt like there were so many different fandoms. ideologies and genres represented I don't know how you wouldn't find something to spend money on. So if you do go, plan your budget accordingly to what you think your spending habits might be (then double that for the bar experiences later).
The Fantasy and Sci-Fi tracks were real strong celebrations, often about specific fandoms with interesting conversations that really felt like a wonderful meeting of friends more than what you tend to get with these type panels which is talking down too your audience and arguments that range from the stupidest little things to political warfare (and yes I have seen it happen). In fact on that point I think the reaction I heard the most in every panel I was in was laughter. I can't tell you how refreshing that is to hear and experience. It is part of the reason not only why you want to be there in person but why you want to go to Multiverse.
All of them were also very interactive. Toward the later night programming and toward the last night especially there is an emphasis that I think is the better versions of something that comes from a Dragon Con like experience. A real room full of interaction. Not just a panel working for and to keep your attention. These are almost like party games that bring the crowd into being a part of the experience and part of the panels. All the moderators were exceptional at making sure they interacted with the audience and that every audience member was acknowledged and felt like they were being heard. This again, such a rare treat for any con, big or small.
When we were invited to the 2021 Multi-verse Con in Atlanta, Ga, our first "travel to" event in nearly a year and a half, and only the 2nd time this actual event had been put on live (3rd year overall, last year was all virtual) we were excited but one can't help but wonder how it all would go.
First and foremost though before I get to that, I have to say a big shout out to Jesse Adams and Allie Charlesworth for letting us be there to experience the event in person. Also a big shout out to my colleague Katie Salidas for coming in and helping me do some of the things we needed to do at the event, including a live This Week In Indies which I could not have pulled off without her.
So let's start with what Multi-verse is...
From their website: [Multiverse] is a community of fans who love to get together with our friends and geek out over the things we love. We love great stories: stories of the supernatural, the fantastic, the futuristic, the heroic and weird and wonderful. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, comics, gaming, fantastical art, even science, crafting, and cooking - great stories come in all forms, and at Multiverse, we celebrate them all! Because great stories don’t only come from books and comics. Every fan is their own universe with their own unique story to tell, and added together, those stories make up the Multiverse of fandom. We created Multiverse Convention to bring fans together for a weekend of geeky fun in a place where everyone is welcomed, respected, and appreciated.
It's 1st year was in 2019 and it caught our eye the year it wasn't in person but virtual. I attended quite a bit of that virtual 2020 version during that weekend and found it to be well organized, well thought out, and knew that Go Indie Now had to go cover it when the opportunity came to do so in person. So...
WHAT THIS CON DOES WELL: 3 words: inclusion, interaction, and variety. You would think well that should be every festival's aim, every con's credo, but not all do in fact make it feel that way even sometimes if its unintended. Multiverse however is one that lived up to those words and really truly exceeded them. In every facet I am talking about here all 3 words apply again and again, over and over.
First and foremost the Con's set-up is so amazingly well organized. Basically all you have to do is travel down 2 hallways that set you up for success no matter what you are planning on doing.
So let's start with what Multi-verse is...
From their website: [Multiverse] is a community of fans who love to get together with our friends and geek out over the things we love. We love great stories: stories of the supernatural, the fantastic, the futuristic, the heroic and weird and wonderful. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, comics, gaming, fantastical art, even science, crafting, and cooking - great stories come in all forms, and at Multiverse, we celebrate them all! Because great stories don’t only come from books and comics. Every fan is their own universe with their own unique story to tell, and added together, those stories make up the Multiverse of fandom. We created Multiverse Convention to bring fans together for a weekend of geeky fun in a place where everyone is welcomed, respected, and appreciated.
WHAT THIS CON DOES WELL: 3 words: inclusion, interaction, and variety. You would think well that should be every festival's aim, every con's credo, but not all do in fact make it feel that way even sometimes if its unintended. Multiverse however is one that lived up to those words and really truly exceeded them. In every facet I am talking about here all 3 words apply again and again, over and over.
First and foremost the Con's set-up is so amazingly well organized. Basically all you have to do is travel down 2 hallways that set you up for success no matter what you are planning on doing.
If you are there to purchase or browsing to purchase you have opportunities nearly at every step of the way on the 1st floor especially. Now staying away from putting a huge hole in your wallet is the bigger challenge but hey you have to live a little sometimes too.
Along the way of running into several vendors just by walking in, that culminates in one of the most impressive art rooms you can have, especially in one room. A lot of impressive artwork, jewelry, fandom tools, that screams "CHECK ME OUT!". Seriously I am not sure I met anyone who didn't walk by that room and go, "I need to figure out how to make some time to go in there".
So let me just say for those wondering about the following aspect of your wallet burning a hole where it sits....yes you will find something there you will want to buy. It happened to both Katie and myself. I felt like there were so many different fandoms. ideologies and genres represented I don't know how you wouldn't find something to spend money on. So if you do go, plan your budget accordingly to what you think your spending habits might be (then double that for the bar experiences later).
Along the lines of those 3 words I already kind of mentioned inclusion and variety but interaction is not lost on this room either. Multiverse hosts an opportunity throughout the weekend to not only go vote for your favorite art piece, with the winner being named the audience choice award. It also includes those who go into a panel an opportunity to play a word association game and collect stickers of the various tracks. A game that not only is a bragging rights and a little extra incentive for the various tracks but one in which random draws for different pieces of art happen each day of the con. Which is a great way to get congoers to feel like it is valuable to not only walk through this room but to take it all in and be a part of the decision of the con accolades be given out (like a film festival does and not all other types of cons do). Very smart way to get people involved, also to get them to visit the room, and let's be honest get them to spend money ;).
The 2 hallway set ups I alluded too makes going to panels even easier once you make initial trek to orientate yourself. You should feel in 1 to 2 trips like you've got it down, and while you still have organize your time, you are never far enough away from something, and can pretty much find where you are in an instant. You should rarely ever feel rushed or lost. It reminds me a lot of the Slamdance Film Festival in that regard.
The other factor I think is worth mentioning that helps not feeling lost is that Multi-verse has done quite well in giving anyone about a 20 to 30 minute scheduling buffer between the next round of panels and also a nice, soft dinner break. So if you are there just for the panels you should be able to maximize an entire day and schedule enough for you to get your money's worth.
I tried very hard to go to at least 1 or 2 panels in every room. Naturally, though you do find a favorite or one that just was programmed so well you had to keep coming back. For me, I was planted in L. Marie Wood's Horror Track more than I wasn't. It spoke to me and my particular fandoms and that's going to happen. Really at a good con, THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
The Writer's track also had some very impressive business acumen type programming that is really strong and I think anyone at any level of their writing career would gain something from it. I highly recommend seeking at least one panel from that track to add to your attending list if you do attend in the future. The pitch panel which featured the track director Venessa Giunta, John Hartness, and Melissa MacArthur, all from Falstaff books, I thought was a really interesting panel to sit in on and watch how the process for these amazing minds worked (maybe they will bring on a screenwriter who has pitched more times than he can count next year ;) ). Seriously this was an incredible opportunity that I think everyone would benefit from, as was the podcasting panel.
The Fantasy and Sci-Fi tracks were real strong celebrations, often about specific fandoms with interesting conversations that really felt like a wonderful meeting of friends more than what you tend to get with these type panels which is talking down too your audience and arguments that range from the stupidest little things to political warfare (and yes I have seen it happen). In fact on that point I think the reaction I heard the most in every panel I was in was laughter. I can't tell you how refreshing that is to hear and experience. It is part of the reason not only why you want to be there in person but why you want to go to Multiverse.
All of them were also very interactive. Toward the later night programming and toward the last night especially there is an emphasis that I think is the better versions of something that comes from a Dragon Con like experience. A real room full of interaction. Not just a panel working for and to keep your attention. These are almost like party games that bring the crowd into being a part of the experience and part of the panels. All the moderators were exceptional at making sure they interacted with the audience and that every audience member was acknowledged and felt like they were being heard. This again, such a rare treat for any con, big or small.
The two things I couldn't do in this year's run were experience the opportunity to learn a little more gaming to be a part of that group a little more, and the crafts room which looked like so much fun and something that I hope if we get to come back I will correct.
In fact, back to Interaction, being a part of the con overall is something highly valued by this event but also it's intimacy is not lost on this congoer and how much that matters when it comes to feeling included. At the end of this weekend, its hard-pressed not to feel like you not only made some connections but some long term friends too. Often you go to these events (and we are fortunate to have that opportunity) and you feel there is something missing, something stale, something clinical, or even sometimes a bit clicky where inside jokes and groups flock to make it feel exclusive instead of inclusive. Multiverse right from my 1st moment there never felt anything but welcoming, inclusive, and genuine.
WHY YOU NEED TO GO TO THIS CON: It's a convention of incredible inclusion, a celebration of aspirations, and a wealth of knowledge in several areas of writing, art, gaming, storytelling, and crafting. Like most cons you might have experienced or know about, the bar is a great place after the day's programming to unwind, to really network, and to express those shared experiences and connect with your fellow congoers on a whole other level. Prepare yourself for long days, long nights, and to smile a hell of a lot. I know I did and I am so incredibly grateful to the folks at Multiverse for the opportunity to experience what I really needed too. Pure human interaction, added with a touch of warmth and genuineness...that is Multiverse. Trust me when I say you just might find you needed this con more than you could have ever expected too. Give a shot. The world would best be served if there were more Multiverse Cons out there, and maybe there is, but even if I go looking for more and I will, I don't know if they will feel like home like this one did.
CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR COVERAGE IN THIS SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT EPISODE WHICH FEATURES CLIPS FROM A COUPLE PANELS AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CONVENTION CHAIRS ALLIE CHARLESWORTH AND JESSE ADAMS
CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR COVERAGE IN THIS SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT EPISODE WHICH FEATURES CLIPS FROM A COUPLE PANELS AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CONVENTION CHAIRS ALLIE CHARLESWORTH AND JESSE ADAMS
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