LadiesCon 2016: The Aftermath
I had mixed feelings when I discovered that I would be the one scheduled to post after our inaugural LadiesCon. There is just so much to say, so many lessons learned, so many wonderful people, and so much magic that organizing my thoughts seems like an almost impossible task. Do I give a blow-by-blow of the day? Do I just do the highlights? How could I possibly thank everyone we want to thank? Well, if I learned anything this weekend, it's that you need to move forward and at least try your best if you are going to get anything done. So in that spirit, let's give this a shot.
The Con Itself
Those of you who were able to join us this weekend learned exactly what we meant when we kept saying that our con would be "small and intimate." The unique space donated by Canopy City was fresh and inviting. It also provided some exciting and unexpected extras like an additional screen for the Boston Roller Derby ladies to show off their games, a central desk in the middle of the action to use as our own Mission Control center, and a layout that I couldn't help calling the "Gauntlet of Awesome."
We wanted to keep the focus on local and unique talent and we were able to do just that. I know that we have already featured a bunch of our vendors on our Facebook Page, but we have also updated our Con Info page to include a full list of our vendors who participated.. This way if you regret any items left behind, you will have a second chance to get it.
Here's a little slide show of the calm before the storm:
The VIP Lunch and After Party
In addition to our Con Floor, we also offered two additional LadiesCon events. The first was our "Lunch with the Ladies." This event got you early access to our vendors and guests (as well as their commission spots), a tasty lunch, and a nice swag bag to carry your goodies around in. It was a great and relaxed way to start the day.
A quick search on social media regarding the con and you are probably going to see pictures of our after party. Guys.... THIS. PARTY. Envisioned as a social experiment to see what would happen if you gathered a bunch of creative people together with a choice of several fun activities, this event went off the rails in the best possible way. Matt (Co-Founder and Managing Director at Canopy City), not only gave our guests the freedom to cover one of his dry erase walls with art, but he was so pleased with the results that he told everyone to keep on going!
The result is inspiring and just a gorgeous tribute to the event and the community spirit. Those of us on the LadiesCon staff have been using the word "magical" a lot to describe this event. But really, I don't think there is a better word for it. Thanks to Bill Imbrogna for the photos below. If you want to see more, check out his facebook page:
The Ladies have been trying over and over again to properly thank everyone who made our dream possible. At this point it's almost overwhelming to try to express how we feel about our supporters and friends. Instead, once again, I will say a simple thank you. Thank you to our hosts, guests, vendors, panelists, and volunteers. Without you, this simply would not have been possible. And to all of you who joined us for our first ever LadiesCon, thank you for proving that there's a place and a desire in the Boston area for a con like this one. We are a mighty city indeed.
I wanted to end this post answering a question we received several times on Saturday - Will there be a LadiesCon 2017? YES and we have so much more planned. So please, stick around and see what we come up with next!
Did you attend LadiesCon 2016? If so, share your experience below.