So... that was a bust. My sister talked some sense into me but I learned a lot. In a bad way. This weekend made me realize I have PMDD and that basically ruined it??
Pros:
- My new itabag is great and will replace the old coffin itabag. I traded a good gimmick for functionality. Unfortunately I haven't posted photos of my itabag on art sites, so skip this if you don't get it.
- Got some good gifts! My impulse control was great and I realize last month the vendors aren't my go-to since I'm barely into any mainstream fandoms. I got a shirt as a gift and a shirt for me.
- Freebie stuff was bountiful as ever! I also had 2 stickers of my own this year and plan on continuing ordering from Sticky Brand for that.
- Went to the game room on Friday and Crushing Force is uh... very unique! I had a hearty laugh playing a few rounds.
- Went to the panel about attending cons on a budget and had a great talk with the host for first time rooming advice.
- This isn't a pro, but it's not a con either. Just extremely weird. When asking for rooming advice, I was directed to a vetted Telegram chat in a "DM this person to get in" way. I DMed her, told her I was at TFF and couldn't automatically verify with ID since my phone was in my pocket most of the time. She had a friend attending and I could meet her to verify. We were both at different locations for a few hours, and THEN I got her. She ended not knowing what I needed her for until I told her and wasn't even in the server I was being verified for, but it was cleared up LOL.
- Harmonycon 2027 table on Saturday!!! Tried to Wander Over Yonder pill the guy at the table, you're welcome. (xd) (If you love G4 and Powerpuff Girls, there's a 80% chance you will love Wander.)
- I found a pony plushie maker! I'm aiming to have Sparkler made by next year, but I haven't arranged anything since my Insta is IRL-centric and inactive. The hilarious part is she was the maker of two pony plushies I saw the other night, I was just going home and couldn't ask for the maker...
- UNOFFICIAL LPS MEET UP! Was totally worth having my legs falls asleep for nearly 2 hours. I unfortunately didn't offload my "to trade" pile but I got 2 hamsters on my wishlist and gave 2 of mine away to nice people :) Unfortunately I haven't posted my LPS customs but I'm sad I couldn't join in the "custom group shot" photo :(
- Shadow the hedgehog liked my itabag and hugged me on Friday? Absolutely sweet experience and melted my heart.
- Silly moment when going down the elevator, someone asked if anyone had a spare hair tie when stopping on the way down. I did... but it was buried in my purse and we had to hold the door open til I grabbed it. "You’re a queen!"
- Both drag shows on Friday and Saturday were kino as usual. I preferred Friday since it leaned towards burlesque and had more boobs, but Saturday was a proper Otterly Fierce production and made me lose it at several parts. I GOTTA see Mustache Envy at Sue Ellens again after my tolerance break.
- I didn't know there were some "rogues" that stuck around after artist's alley closes. Do not take this as tattling or problematic, they were just sitting there socializing to whoever was still on the 2nd floor. (Anecdotal con advice I wish someone told me.)
- Met @/iggy666 before I left! LOCALS PLS TALK TO ME xd
(Note: this is being cross-posted to multiple sites, that @ may not work.)
Cons:
- Uh... a lot. This will be the last multi-day con I will go to without a room. For convention newbies, here's some advice: IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE LOCAL. UNLESS IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE, GET A ROOM IN ADVANCE OR GRAB A DAY PASS. HOTEL ROOMS CLOSE BEFORE THE EVENT, YOU NEED TO GET ONE IN ADVANCE. Holy fucking hell.
- Room party situation was dire and completely killed my plans. A lot of my plan hinged on attending a party on Friday and feeling the rest out... nope. The hotel was actively cracking down on parties, no matter how tame. I attended one NSFW party on Friday night but it made me so claustrophobic I quickly left. The room party I was at during Harmonycon had its issues because some channers got too edgy, but I NEVER felt like I was literally suffocated. I couldn't even sit down and listen to music :( 2 chairs + couch + bed is a terrible arrangement for a party advertised under the table, jfc. Save that for you and your friends.
- The ELEVATOR SITUATION was also horrific. The gaming and artist room being on the 37th floor killed A LOT of potential fun because the lines were so long and it was high up. Absolutely bullshit.
- This isn't a complaint, but I'm putting it under con since it's meta. Why isn't TFF 18+? It feels like it wants to be an adult con when even the normal vendors have suggestive daki merch and leatherwork. I don't mean this in a "think of the children" way, I only saw one actual child and a teenager at the LPS meetup on Saturday. I just think it'd probably be healthier to admit what people are really here for? But I don't know what the social scene is for minors or if this is their only con option or not.
- I was not at the Chester memorial because I didn't know them, but I was heartbroken about how it happened to someone so young. Drunk drivers KYS challenge. (Or... just not do that. Please get a fucking Uber or Lyft.)
- Trading Post wasn't as good this year. Didn't even bother with the AD trading post, I don't want to stay here late or spend all day carrying [REDACTEDS] in my bag.
- I also passed on buying anything from the AD vendors due to not feeling very confident with myself :( This isn't a dig at them, it's me. I have got to get sexier.
- The AD rodeo on Friday was neat, but another instance of "oh geez I need a hotel room"... it didn't appear to be there on Saturday.
- Catering was absolute dogshit just like last year. The cafe on 1st floor skews pricey but was still a lot better.
- I developed a tolerance to alcohol because I drank too much vodka leisurely after Harmonycon. On Friday I had 3 shots before I left and didn't get drunk, it's so fucking over. April is my tolerance break month.
- I'm retiring my G3 Rarity stickers. I have some left that I'll give or distribute next con. Maybe they'll be "to give" only because I realized it's weird for my Carrd sticker to have a copyrighted character instead of my own???
- You miss all of the shots you don't take. I don't have anything to say about most panels I attended besides "I should've spoken up" or "I should've asked someone this" etc. I don't struggle with anxiety anymore, my default is just not speaking or having surface level interactions.
- My mom has never driven around downtown Dallas without getting lost. The drunk drivinh story made me paranoid so I wanted my sister to be with her for Google maps and to keep me posted. I really want to try DART instead one day.
- Was curious about FanExpo and other DFW cons. I was told FanExpo is extremely large. I do not want to deal with attending another large convention.
- Speaking of large... yeah. TFF was too big. It was very very overwhelming and lonely. It was mysterious and exciting last year but a huge bummer now.
- I do not like the Sheraton as a venue in general. It's like night and day compared to the Hyatt. TFS last year was lovely and Harmonycon was magical, but this venue is a pain to maneuver and I'm still pissed over the placement of the game room. Def going to mention that in my post-con survey.
- Didn't see anyone else online :(
- I am also dealing with hormonal issues and thus just not in a good mood most of the time. Friday sucked minus some cute moments, Saturday was slightly better but I spent the time wishing I got a day pass instead and either depressed or pissed about the elevators/no parties between panels/meetups.
So... 5.5/10, ironically worse than Sonic Expo which was a 6/10. The difference is my expectations with Sonic Expo were low, I got a day pass, and my complaint was the concert ordeal and dogshit catering. PMDD aside, my issues here... are numerous! I go back to work on the 31st so I'm probably going to draw and chip at WIPs until I work 4 days in a row. I'm not allowed to think about anything until a family birthday coming up, otherwise I'm putting feelers out for room sharing during TFS. I really need to get some "adult" experience, it'll be good prep for Harmonycon 2027 or even (maybe) (unlikely) traveling out of state in the future. Well, not with the airport BS going on right now...
I also need to decide on my birthday in August. I want a Samsung Tab S6 for portable digital art, and to start commissioning my Sparkler plushie before Harmonycon next year. I can buy both for myself, but not at once. I'm considering the Tab for my birthday, and depending on how long it takes for a plushie, start my payment plan after August or save it for Christmas. The plushiemaker doesn't have a Carrd and is only on Instagram, but I can link if anyone needs me to.
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senashenta
