Episodes
Thursday Mar 20, 2014
2014 Chicago Walker Stalker Con Reaction
Thursday Mar 20, 2014
Thursday Mar 20, 2014
As I sit here a few days removed, sipping a beer and reflecting on the 2014 Chicago Walker Stalker Con I come to the realization, that when it comes to all things nerd, the little guys get it right.
This convention was started via crowdsourcing. The con was started by podcasters. Podcasters with a love of ONE television show. It was financed by fans through Kickstarter. It was built by YOU. By “you”, I of course mean the global you: Nerd culture at its finest.
The Walker Stalkers (Eric and James)
...started their podcast from a basement (Sounds familiar, right?) based on a shared love of a segment of popular culture (Sounds eerily familiar.). These cats made a trip to the set of The Walking Dead, met some folks and turned all of that into a juggernaut of a podcast that allowed them to interview the people who brought them the entertainment they love. (OK, this is getting down right spooky.)
Jokes about the similarities between our trajectories aside, James and Eric have done what every jerk with a microphone in their basement dreams of doing. They turned their love of The Walking Dead into something they could share with thousands of people…and they did it the right way.
I’ve been to quite a few conventions, most of them as press. I have experienced the gamut of treatments from the bigger cons (in the interest of a continued media presence, I won’t name names) ranging from open arms, all access availability to having volunteers tell me that I couldn’t stand in the back of the room behind twenty empty rows of chairs because, “Everyone must be seated.” I’ve seen young conventions warmly welcome podcasters as press in order to spread the word about their fledgling gatherings only to quickly excise their involvement once the conventions perceive their attendance to be large enough to not need media exposure unless it’s “legitimate.” I feel these experiences give me enough credibility to evaluate Walker Stalker Con objectively and fairly. I will admit, it’s going to seem a bit like a stroke off though…
I loved this convention. Sure, it wasn’t the biggest convention and there was a pretty narrow (some would say, laser) focus. There might not have been a very broad array of venders. There may have only been one panel available at a time. But, honestly, I felt a lot of these things added to the family atmosphere of this convention. The entire weekend felt like we were all in a big secret meeting that no one else knew about...
…no one except the few thousand
of us in attendance.
I attended 90% of the panels. There was not a bad seat in the house...
...and due to the set up (the panels were held directly in the middle of the show floor) even if there wasn’t a seat available, you could easily stand outside the seating area and view the panel. The panel set up was not without its flaws. The audio often struggled to find that sweet spot between mics that were too hot and sound that was far too soft. That is the danger of attempting to push out sound in to a giant convention area with 20 foot ceilings and concrete floors.
The convention staff went out of their way to fill seats to the front in the cases where there were not enough VIP attendees to fill their reserved section. You don’t see this at other conventions. I’ve seen rows of seats go empty because a convention wants you to remember to buy the more expensive packages next time. For some conventions, the almighty dollar is the ruling class. At Walker Stalker, the enjoyment of those attending is paramount. They are there to make sure YOU have fun. Amazing.
The volunteer staff was friendly, attentive, and very helpful. There were several times on the convention floor when a volunteer would approach us and we would automatically assume the worst (You can’t stand here. You need to move. I see you have a camera, you can’t have that here. Keep traffic moving.) but, I can honestly say that was never the case. The volunteers would often approach us just to chat. They wanted to know how our experience was going; if we were having a good time. Holy shit, that’s amazing. Alex, we’re talking about you. You were doing your job perfectly and we hope that every convention we attend going forward has a couple hundred of you working the lines.
Finally, the guests; holy crap, the guests. I have never, and I mean EEEEEEEVER, been to a convention where the guests are so attentive, so gracious and so willing to chat with their fans. They’re willing, attentive and gracious…even if you’re not buying anything. The organizers and guests at Walker Stalker Con realize that you can’t possibly afford to buy something from every person we would like to tell that we enjoy their work, so they have a solution: “Just stop by and say hello.” God damn amazing. And simple.There will be more details and retrospective about the convention experience on the next episode, but I thought it was important to get my initial reaction on “paper” before some of the finer points escaped me. We’ll also have an interview with James and Eric coming in the next few weeks, as well as our MisInterview with The Comic Book Men.
Thanks for taking the time to read up, keep checking back for added content/coverage from our trip to Chicago Walker Stalker Con 2014, please take an opportunity to catch a Walker Stalker Con near you, and as always, thanks for listening.
Love you.
-Z
Thursday Mar 13, 2014
Walker Stalker Con Chicago is less than 24 Hours Away
Thursday Mar 13, 2014
Thursday Mar 13, 2014
One day out from Walker Stalker Con Chicago 2014! Convention festivities begin for the general public at 12pm CST Friday! It is our understanding that there are tickets available at the door. Remember to bring cash if you did not pre purchase your autograph/photo ops. Con website - http://walkerstalkercon.com/chicago/ The Misinformation Crew plans to arrive in Rosemont no later than 11am. If any listeners will be in attendance, it is a Misinformation Nation tradition to have a late dinner at the O'Hare Hooters the first evening in town. Follow us on Twitter (@MisinfoPodcast) for updates and possible meet ups. Also, if you know you're attending Walker Stalker Con, shoot us an email so we can look for you (misinformationpodcast@gmail.com). We'll be checking social media/live tweeting and shortcasting from the convention; we'll be easy to track down. We're attempting a new guerilla podcasting technique at this con in order to get more content out faster. Coverage will consist of standard live tweeting as well as podcast segments (interviews/observations) released in short sections at a time. The segments should be available at http://misinformation.podbean.com or iTunes almost immediately. This will be some new and exciting ground for Misinformation Productions! Hope to see you all there! A special thanks to the folks at Walker Stalker Con for the opportunity to cover this event. At a time when many conventions are boxing podcasters out of coverage, it is nice to see that we're still appreciated as a valid way to publicize events that appeal to our listeners. See you at the con!
Thursday Feb 27, 2014
Walker Stalker Con Chicago 2014
Thursday Feb 27, 2014
Thursday Feb 27, 2014
Hey Misinformation Nation! Clear your calendar March 14-16! We'll be at Walker Stalker Con Chicago! Check out their site http://www.walkerstalkercon.
Wednesday Oct 02, 2013
Wizard World Chicago Comicon 2013 Day #3
Wednesday Oct 02, 2013
Wednesday Oct 02, 2013
Wizard World 2013 – Day 3
Saturdays at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con are traditionally this biggest day of the con.
We definitely saw the most foot traffic today, but at no point were the throngs of people unbearable. I’m not sure if this is due to a down turn in attendance, or is a positive attribute to the new floor layout, but the convention floor (both levels) was never impassible. There was very little occurrence of “row rage” which is typically caused by the masses of inconsiderate herd animals present in a public place stopping short, or bumping in to my expensive fancy camera.
The only uncomfortable bottle-neck areas seemed to be the escalators. It was very obvious that the escalators in this particular section of the Donald F. Stephens Convention Center were not designed with the intent of moving quite as many people as Wizard World draws in. The main escalators were packed nose to shoulders the entire day. There was a strange little area at the top of the escalators with a divider in the middle made up of the elevators, that made the transition on to the show floor somewhat confusing, especially if you were coming in on the skywalk from the parking garge/hotels.
The secondary set of escalators running down the side of the show floor were broken down more often than they were operational. The main problem with this is that these escalators are very narrow and there is no stair case option even when they are operational which would greatly help to dissipate the traffic/congestion.
For the most part, everyone was thoughtful, considerate and pleasant to be around. The exception this year was something which to this point, I had not really encountered at a convention. On multiple occasions, I observed grown ass adults wearing shirts with the word “fuck” proudly emblazoned on the shirt. I find this very puzzling.
Now, I know people are idiots. I accept this as fact. The problem that I have with this is that Wizard World is really a family event. It’s not like Dragon*Con which encourages families, but also advertises certain adults only events (i.e. Dragon*Con After Dark). Wizard World runs only until 7pm in the evening and offers up to two free children’s admissions for each paying adult. Use better judgment people. An event like Wizard World is not your chance to make a counter culture statement by wearing a shirt with the word “fuck” on it. Grow up.
Midway through the day, I spent some time at Tom Nguyen’s table talking to him about photography, his new Art Samurai venture, and what makes women sexy. The footage of the interview will be available soon on YouTube. Keep your eye on the Misinformation Podcast Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MisinformationPodcast for details of when the video will be available. Tom’s a good friend of the show and a really fun guy!
Eric and Kehoe wanted to swing by Eddie McClintock’s (Warehouse 13) table to say hi and get a quick photo. I know absolutely nothing about Warehouse 13 beside the fact that it’s on SyFy and is about a warehouse with some wacky inventory. What I do now know, is that if you’re not watching the show, you should be. Why? Well, simply because Eddie is the nicest damn man on the planet. He chatted with us for about ten minutes about everything from why I’m not watching the show to porn stars. Yes. Porn stars. I like this guy.
Next we made our way over to Jon Heder’s (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory) table so that I could get an autograph for my oldest boy. The kid is notoriously difficult to shop for and LOVES Napoleon Dynamite. Jon was super friendly. He is close friends with miscreant and my former roommate Joe Spina (Geek and Gamer Girls, For the Win, Old Days) so we chatted a bit about Joe. I made sure to ask Jon to kick him in the nuts for me. Jon told us to make sure to go say to Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Pool Hall Junkies) and tell him that I know Joe, which we did and hopefully the video of that adventure will make its way to the internet someday.
He totally put us up to it Joe. True story.
We finished our day in our super-secret hotel room lobby people watching and enjoying beers. Not a bad day at all.
Celebrities spotted in the wild:
Alan Tudyk
Jason Priestly
Morena Baccarin
Wil…Wheaton. I hate Wil…Wheaton.
Norman Reedus
John Berenthal
Lou Ferrigno
-Z
Saturday Aug 10, 2013
Wizard World Chicago Comicon 2013 - Day #2 Part II
Saturday Aug 10, 2013
Saturday Aug 10, 2013
Wizard World 2013 – Day 2 Part II
Friday brings the first FULL day of Wizard World 2013. If you aren’t able to make it in Thursday to do a quick fly through of the con and get your bearings, Friday is nearly as stress free. Sure, there are masses more people, but there is still adequate room to move around and plan the rest of your days at the con.
The verdict was still out at the beginning of the day today regarding the new two level floor layout. After an entire day wandering booths and the celebrity area, I can definitely see the logic behind the choice.
The Walk of Fame area is nicely spread out compared to previous years we have attended and solves prior problems with bottle-necks that seemed to appear near the first celebrity sightings. Each vender booth is pretty much an island in and of itself, giving con goers more ability to walk around the outsides and venders more real estate to display their wares.
We jumped in to panels for our first time today. Superman at 75 and a James Marsters Q&A were excellent choices on our part.
Neal Adams is the kind of guy who can carry a panel on his own. He has an excellent, relaxed gift for storytelling. Brandon Routh was charming and nearly boyish in his responses. It is very clear the great deal of respect that he has for the Superman mythos and is incredibly thankful for his part in its history. The moderator of that particular panel should most likely reapply to Moderator U, or at least audit a class or two. He came across as nearly rude, and had no natural feel for the rhythm of the panel guests’ stories. He seemed to have completely NO idea when an appropriate time to interrupt or change topic might be.
James Marsters failed to disappoint. He is a natural storyteller and interacts with each amateur interviewer as if they are the only person in the room. My man crush on him continues.
No interviews and very few photos today, but I’ll leave you with this gem followed by our random celebrity sightings outside the con:
Michael Rosenbaum
Milo Ventimiglia
Jon Heder
Morena Baccarin
John Barrowman
Vern Troyer
Jason Priestley (X2)
Possibly Liev Schrieber…possibly
-Z
Friday Aug 09, 2013
Wizard World Chicago Comicon 2013 - Day #2 Part I
Friday Aug 09, 2013
Friday Aug 09, 2013
Wizard World 2013 – Day 2 Part I
Hello from Wizard World Chicago Comic Con Misinformation Nation! Eric and I started this morning off with a trip down to the fitness center for some empty stomach cardio on the treadmills.
Comic cons truly are the place where worlds collide. The amounts of different that we saw while getting our morning workout in were truly…in a word…magical.
Approximately 5 minutes in to our workout, either a boyfriend/girlfriend or husband wife pair dropped in for their morning workout. The woman decked out in her capris style yoga pants and athletic top, the man decked out in…jeans and work boots. Seriously, like straight off the job site work boots. They both popped on the treadmills and away they went. Her jogging and him walking and watching the news…Fox News.
Now, my gut reaction was that this was some over protective mouth breather, who couldn’t let his woman out of his sight for more than 12 seconds. As usual, I was wrong. At some point in the half hour, the couple was having a discussion about something on the news, and Eric piped in to help them out with a question they were debating. All three of them had a hearty laugh and everyone was all smiles. This reminded me of something: “Hey douchebag, don’t make assumptions at the con.”
The people here are people. They’re just like you and me. That’s why we come here. That’s why we enjoy it so much. Sure, there are clouds of ‘Con Funk’ to walk through and plenty of people who didn’t bother showering for the occasion. Mostly, though, convention goers are here for the experience. The chance to be around folks with a similar interest, and the chance to be surrounded by the things which give them joy in the monotony of their regular lives.
So, don’t be a dick. The people here are awesome.
Also, Jason Priestley was on the stationary bike next to us. No big deal.
-Z
Thursday Aug 08, 2013
Wizard World Chicago Comicon 2013 - Day #1
Thursday Aug 08, 2013
Thursday Aug 08, 2013
Wizard World 2013 – Day 1
After a brief hiccup on Interstate 90 on our way in to Rosemont thanks to a destroyed Chevy Cavalier, Wizard World Chicago Comic Con is already off to an amazing start. Eric and I had a trouble free check in to our fantastic hotel room in sunny Rosemont, IL. (Exact location, super-secret.)
The first day of the convention is perfect to get your bearings and establish a nice solid lay of the land. This year, the convention lay out is kind of cumbersome. The Donald F. Stephens Convention Center has split the con to two levels directly on top of each other. While this floor plan seems to spread the booths and venders out quite a bit and provide for wider aisles in Artist Alley, it makes for an awkward natural flow most noticeably in the vender area on the upper level.
There were not many folks in attendance on the Walk of Fame. Former Superman and Chuck big bad Brandon Routh happily signed autographs at his table. Eric had a quick chat with Dylan Dog himself and reports that he’s a hell of a nice guy. Eric let drop that we were from Iowa, specifically Waterloo which led to some quick banter about the undesirable nature of our neck of the woods. Routh seemed open to the future possibility of an interview from a couple of podcast slubs from Iowa, so here’s crossing our fingers that his agent doesn’t lose our number when we reach out.
On our walk back to the hotel, we spied Pool Hall Junkies star Michael Rosenbaum (minus Joe Spina, which is bullshit, because Joe Spina was the whole reason we came to this convention…feel bad yet Joe?) and emo empath extraordinaire Milo Ventimiglia passed us in the hotel lobby. Morena Baccarin and Jon Heder have also been confirmed to be in attendance, so this convention is shaping up to be stellar…gosh. Stay tuned for more coverage and quick updates kids…this one’s going to be a doozie.
-Z
Friday Aug 12, 2011
Wizard World Comes Through Big!
Friday Aug 12, 2011
Friday Aug 12, 2011
So kids, here's the deal: This is my first Wizard World Chicago Comic Con. It will NOT be my last. I will say unequivicolly that Dragon*Con has nothing on Wizard World Chicago in terms of efficiency and guest accessibility. The the first short hours of our day here, I was fortunate enough to have extended conversations with both Charisma Carpenter and none other than the Clown Prince of Podcasting, Chris Hardwick...who may be the nicest human being I have ever met...ever...did I mention ever? (More on that in the Wizard World episode of Misinformation...coming soon to an iTunes near you.)
The efficiency of this convention is mind blowing. Mind. Blowing. The "line" to get our press passes was expedient and manageable. Notice how I put the word line in quotation marks Misinformation Nation? There's a damn good reason for that. The line consisted of four people; two Geek Chic girls who were trying to find the location of their exibition table, Eric and me. Four. People. The only complaint I would have about the registration process is the absence of any type of lanyard or lamenant pass for anyone other than VIP Convention goers. Our proof of press credentials consists of a wristband not unlike those used to gain admission to carnival rides or to provide proof that you are old enough to drink at a beach themed dance club. This trivial complaint was pretty much all I could muster after an entire day walking the convention floor and getting a lay of the land. This convention is awesome...and I'm tired...and hungry. I'm going to Hooters. More tomorrow from Wizard World Chicago Comic Con! Love you.