Working for so many years behind the laptop screen, I've only recently felt bold enough to step out from behind and enjoy the types of events my customers are buying my clothes for.  Although I  worked for PyrateCon (which was a very non-traditional con), I felt that SteamCon was my first ACTUAL Con.  Solidly held within a hotel, and with dozens of lectures, panels and events taking over most of the meeting and ballrooms, SteamCon was a most unique experience.  Different than a comic-con as there are only a handful of the entire population that dress up as their favorite characters, and different than a science fiction convention in that rather than there being a character that one would dress up as, the participants in SteamCon who had never compared their perception of what Steampunk was with one another, took a single concept and traveled to the four corners with it.  Although there were specific characters to be found here and there, and even straight forward pirates, the flavor of Steampunk ran the gambit from fairly solid Victorian and Wild West re-enactors with little modification, to time traveling gnomes, to uniformed dirigible crews in both Victorian and Pre WWII attire.  There were Firefly adventurers, there were raygun toting African Explorers, there were even a few super heroes.  Wandering the lobby that was decorated in Mission with deep, wide comfy chairs and several fireplaces, one could find monocle wearing gentlemen in top hats and waist coats, lots of bustled and corseted women, military jodhpurs, custom leather toolbelts, and a bevy of wild and wacky inventions, all made by hand. 

The vendor room was small, so I chose to have a sale out of my suite, complete with full bar.  That way I could enjoy a number of events and only open for a few hours each day.  It was a fantastic way to get to meet people that I wouldn't have otherwise.  It was also a fantastic chance to see how my clothes fit a variety of people, as well as getting suggestions for next year.  The inspiration alone was worth the journey, as you will see from what transpires in next year's line. 

Saturday night was the Airship Invasion with the band Abney Park.  When one thinks of steampunk music, one expects something more akin to punk, however, the genre name is very different than the music that goes along.  Abney Park obviously grew up like the rest of us, in drum circles, around event campfires with bellydancers.  Their sound is electronic, but gypsy infused, but dance, but never self absorbed, and the stage presence of the musicians are more that they are the lucky ones to have us, rather than the typical musician attitude of the other way around.  They hung out before and after the show, accessible to anyone who wanted to come and chat, and to me, that alone is the most endearing quality. 

Later this month is Ory-Con, and yes, I've caught the Con bug.  I'll be taking my son this time, as I did see a lot of children at SteamCon, carrying their rayguns, invading the gaming rooms.  I won't be selling out of a suite, so I'll be free to come and go as I please, and living 15 minutes away from the event, can just come home to my own, and way better bed.