Minicon 48

Rather than doing a play-by play write-up of Minicon (as I have done in the past), instead I am going to give you guys my thoughts and impressions about the convention this year.

It seemed smaller. I heard the final numbers were something around 350 people, but I don’t think I ever saw more than 30 people at a time.{ETA: I have heard the official warm body count was 505 attendees. For the life of me, I have no idea where they were.} I attribute this to a small convention being spread out in a large space. The energy also seemed lower this year, but I noticed that at MarsCon as well, so maybe the Twin Cities SF convention scene is just having a low-keyed sort of year.

I got to visit with several friends and make a few new ones. I was not on any panels, which seemed strange to me, but there was nothing I felt so strongly about that I had to be on it. I did attend a few panels ( and made a contribution to one from the audience), and I thought they all went well. I sold a few books, mostly at my signing, but also at my personal reading and the MinnSpec reading.

The MinnSpec reading was the one trouble spot for me this year, as there was conflicting information about the time. The pocket guide said 3:00pm on Sunday and everything else including the sign hung on the door said the reading was at 2:00pm. We showed up at 2:00pm, read to a handful of people, then everyone scooted out for another reading in another room. No one showed up by 3:10, so we left as well.

The music was lovely again this year, but I simply did not have enough energy to stay up late for the music circle. I partook of several good conversations with various smart and lovely people.

All-in-all, though Minicon was small and low-keyed this year — and I also took the approach of taking it easy — I had a good enough time to sign up for next year. I wonder if I’m hitting an age where small, intimate conventions are what I really desire and enjoy, as opposed to large, loud, rollicking conventions.