Costuming at Toronto Trek
I spent Saturday at Toronto Trek, a sf media convention held up near the airport. I had a great time.
John and I arrived at the hotel around 11 and went to hook up with Donna Maloney, who was working at "The Gathering of The Fellowship" booth. Donna had brought the green gown she's made me to wear at "The Gathering" and I had agreed I would costume at Toronto Trek, as well. I was somewhat nervous, as I never tend to costume at conventions, but walking through the corridors of the con reminded me just how many people at TT do wear costumes so I realized I would blend right in.
I found Donna at a panel on Tolkien's works beyond "Lord of The Rings" and after attending that panel we headed upstairs to her hotel room so I could get changed. The gown is gorgeous and a perfect fit and Donna had also brought me a gold and green ribbon with a gold charm for my neck that set off the dress nicely. She was annoyed at herself for forgetting the gold belt she had made me, but the dress looked equally as lovely without it and I'll wear the belt at "The Gathering".
And as a final step to the "Elfish look" I let her put latex points on my ears :). Shows you how persuasive Donna can be, because 6 months ago I would have been sure no one could have convinced me to do that! John thought it was a riot and videotaped the whole procedure. I was reassured when I looked in the mirror because my hair is thick enough that you could only subtly see the ears poking through. Mind you, I had tried to beat my hair straight that morning before coming to the con, but due to the natural wave in my hair and the rain outside, it was already its wavy, unruly self again.
From there we headed back down to "The Gathering" booth again to touch base with Trish, Ed and Tracy who were also working there. Their booth was set up next to a group of professional costumers (though I can't remember their name...) that are presently committed to do programming at "The Gathering". They had several impressive costumes on display, including a wonderfully detailed Nazgul from LOTR. Every once in awhile, Scott, who had created the costume, would put the costume on and wander the hallway or stand stock still between the two booths luring people up and then scaring them to death when he would suddenly move. He was very intimidating in that costume! It was entertaining to watch people react to him, gingerly sidling up to him to get their photo taken. John and Ed have made plans to have John film a promotional video for "The Gathering" later this summer and Scott is going to be involved in that shoot, too.
That was one thing I discovered being in costume for the first time in years, it seems to immediately make you open game for photographers. Anytime I would pose with another Tolkien costumer so a friend could take a photo five other photographers would jump in and take our photo, too. Again, I'm sure it's something more regular costumers are quite used to and even encourage.
Made quick circuits through the Dealers Room (where I bought a copper chainmail necklace) and the Art Show (where I was tempted by some beautiful beadwork, but resisted putting bids on it). Talked with a lot of old friends who I only tend to see at events like Toronto Trek. Attended two LOTR panels and one Harry Potter panel. Had a tasty Chinese dinner in the hotel restaurant with John and Donna. Went to the Masquerade with Donna and her friends, Whitney and Andy, again something I hadn't done in many years. The Masquerade was MCed by Gord Rose, who had also MCed the Ad Astra Masquerade back in March (where Donna entered her LOTR costumes and won prizes). Gord is really funny and very entertaining, but after 11 years of MCing the TT Masquerade he's retiring this year and he'll be missed a lot. The WorldCon Masquerade at the end of the summer will be his last event.
At 11:00 I participated in a Space Filk panel run by Karen Linsley, with fellow participants Freddy, Glen, Howard and Sally. Poor Heather Borean became sick earlier in the evening and had to go home before the panel began. The panel went extremely well with Karen putting together an excellent set of songs going through all the themes of longing, optimism, tragedy and determination involved with space flight. Being that John and I were driving home to Richmond Hill that night I wasn't able to stay for open filk afterward, but I will look forward to longer filk sessions this summer at both ConCertino and WorldCon!
It was a good day and I found I did enjoy costuming at the con after all. I'll try to get a few photos of my dress up in the next few days.
Exercise log: Went walking on the Seaton Trail in Pickering yesterday. Put in 4 miles taking me up to 262 miles. My goal is to be at my next reward shield (275 miles) by Thursday, as I'm quite sure I won't be doing any walking at ConCertino in Massachusetts next weekend.
John and I arrived at the hotel around 11 and went to hook up with Donna Maloney, who was working at "The Gathering of The Fellowship" booth. Donna had brought the green gown she's made me to wear at "The Gathering" and I had agreed I would costume at Toronto Trek, as well. I was somewhat nervous, as I never tend to costume at conventions, but walking through the corridors of the con reminded me just how many people at TT do wear costumes so I realized I would blend right in.
I found Donna at a panel on Tolkien's works beyond "Lord of The Rings" and after attending that panel we headed upstairs to her hotel room so I could get changed. The gown is gorgeous and a perfect fit and Donna had also brought me a gold and green ribbon with a gold charm for my neck that set off the dress nicely. She was annoyed at herself for forgetting the gold belt she had made me, but the dress looked equally as lovely without it and I'll wear the belt at "The Gathering".
And as a final step to the "Elfish look" I let her put latex points on my ears :). Shows you how persuasive Donna can be, because 6 months ago I would have been sure no one could have convinced me to do that! John thought it was a riot and videotaped the whole procedure. I was reassured when I looked in the mirror because my hair is thick enough that you could only subtly see the ears poking through. Mind you, I had tried to beat my hair straight that morning before coming to the con, but due to the natural wave in my hair and the rain outside, it was already its wavy, unruly self again.
From there we headed back down to "The Gathering" booth again to touch base with Trish, Ed and Tracy who were also working there. Their booth was set up next to a group of professional costumers (though I can't remember their name...) that are presently committed to do programming at "The Gathering". They had several impressive costumes on display, including a wonderfully detailed Nazgul from LOTR. Every once in awhile, Scott, who had created the costume, would put the costume on and wander the hallway or stand stock still between the two booths luring people up and then scaring them to death when he would suddenly move. He was very intimidating in that costume! It was entertaining to watch people react to him, gingerly sidling up to him to get their photo taken. John and Ed have made plans to have John film a promotional video for "The Gathering" later this summer and Scott is going to be involved in that shoot, too.
That was one thing I discovered being in costume for the first time in years, it seems to immediately make you open game for photographers. Anytime I would pose with another Tolkien costumer so a friend could take a photo five other photographers would jump in and take our photo, too. Again, I'm sure it's something more regular costumers are quite used to and even encourage.
Made quick circuits through the Dealers Room (where I bought a copper chainmail necklace) and the Art Show (where I was tempted by some beautiful beadwork, but resisted putting bids on it). Talked with a lot of old friends who I only tend to see at events like Toronto Trek. Attended two LOTR panels and one Harry Potter panel. Had a tasty Chinese dinner in the hotel restaurant with John and Donna. Went to the Masquerade with Donna and her friends, Whitney and Andy, again something I hadn't done in many years. The Masquerade was MCed by Gord Rose, who had also MCed the Ad Astra Masquerade back in March (where Donna entered her LOTR costumes and won prizes). Gord is really funny and very entertaining, but after 11 years of MCing the TT Masquerade he's retiring this year and he'll be missed a lot. The WorldCon Masquerade at the end of the summer will be his last event.
At 11:00 I participated in a Space Filk panel run by Karen Linsley, with fellow participants Freddy, Glen, Howard and Sally. Poor Heather Borean became sick earlier in the evening and had to go home before the panel began. The panel went extremely well with Karen putting together an excellent set of songs going through all the themes of longing, optimism, tragedy and determination involved with space flight. Being that John and I were driving home to Richmond Hill that night I wasn't able to stay for open filk afterward, but I will look forward to longer filk sessions this summer at both ConCertino and WorldCon!
It was a good day and I found I did enjoy costuming at the con after all. I'll try to get a few photos of my dress up in the next few days.
Exercise log: Went walking on the Seaton Trail in Pickering yesterday. Put in 4 miles taking me up to 262 miles. My goal is to be at my next reward shield (275 miles) by Thursday, as I'm quite sure I won't be doing any walking at ConCertino in Massachusetts next weekend.