It has finally happened Curious Crowd! This Nerdie Foodie went to her very first con in two years. TWO YEARS! The last Con I went to was Fan Expo Vancouver 2020, just before the pandemic shutdowns happened. So, it felt apropos that my first Con two years later would be Fan Expo Vancouver 2022! This outing almost did not happen due to my work schedule. After some last-minute texting with very understanding work friends, I was able to get one day off to attend with a few caveats. So, I bought my Saturday pass online the night before and hoped for the best that everything was going to work out.
Getting Into the Con Floor
The Fan Expo Vancouver team in conjunction with Vancouver Convention Centre West, kept the crowds moving through the front doors at a fairly decent pace. There weren’t any lines outside the doors, but the movement of people was one-way. The first stop was to show your proof of vaccination. This was a bit tricky to decipher as there weren’t many signs on where to go to show your vaccine passport. You only had to show your vaccine passport once to get a stamp. Once you are stamped, you can go in and out of Fan Expo without having to re-show your vaccine passport each time you entered the building for that day (not sure what plan they had in place for those whom had multi-day passes). They had Con staff directing which booth to check in with. Since I bought my ticket online the night before, it was only a matter of scanning my purchase QR code, receive my bracelet for the day, and off I went to meet up with The Twin Nerds and our long-time friend (and convention photographer) Kevin!
(Photo Credit: Nerdy Curious)
Ming-Na Wen Appreciation Day
How would I describe Ming-Na Wen: actress, mother, wife, humble, nerd, foodie, and role model. As an Asian Canadian, we didn’t have many role models to look up to whom understood what it is like being Asian and growing up in suburbia North America. Let alone, a female nerd whom is Asian Canadian. Ming-Na was one of the few whom I looked up to and still do, to this day. It was only fitting that The Twin Nerds, Kevin and I were all there for everything Ming-Na since she was only in town for one day.
Autograph Experience Take 1
We headed straight to her autograph line first thing in the morning. Boy, was it a long line! It overflowed out onto the show floor and past a few other autograph stalls before being capped off. We got lucky and made it just before the cap off. There were a ton of people and it was pretty squished. Time was starting to run out as we also had a group photo-op with Ming-Na, and we still hadn’t moved that far into the autograph line (maybe one and half turns in) when the handlers and con staff had started to tell everyone that she needed to leave for the photo op session. But since everyone had been patiently waiting in line, each group would get a ticket to come back after her Q&A panel for a guaranteed autograph spot. It was taking so long because Ming-Na was spending time with each fan, having a conversation with them, accepting fan gifts, and genuinely making a connection with each person who stopped by. And for that, I can’t be mad.
(Photo Credit: Nerdy Curious)
Photo-Op Session
I jumped in on The Twin Nerds and Kevin’s group photo-op. It worked out really well since I ended up balancing the group with my Evil BB-8 bounding (thank you Elhoffer for making amazing nerdy couture). Kevin had his Stormtrooper t-shirt, and The Twin Nerds were in full cosplay as Disney Princess Suffragettes! They scanned us into the photo-op area and directed us to the pre-outlined lineup area. This was spaced out nicely with lots of room between each group without having to feel like sardines in a tin can. They had a runner going back and forth between fans and the bags/items table so that you didn’t have to worry about dropping off your things before going to get your photo taken. The photos per group/person were timed really well that the bag table was never overflowing and you could easily spot your belongings after you were done. We were allowed to take our masks off for the photo and there was plexiglass between us and Ming-Na. You could tell she was trying to get as close to the plexiglass, almost to the point of being in front of it without coming over to our side. The photo turned out really well! So much so that Kevin (being the magical person that he is) was able to digitally get rid of the plexiglass discolouration and the slight glare from my glasses. You can’t even tell that there is even plexiglass there! Thanks Kevin!
(Photo Credit: Epic Photos)
Q&A Panel
It was a packed house at the Main Stage but everyone spaced themselves out, leaving at least one chair free between each group. We sat near the back of the seating area so that we could sneak out without disturbing too much of the end of the panel to head back to the autograph area. The panel was a lot of fun! I felt rusty doing live-tweeting from a Q&A panel, but I think it went pretty well considering that I was by myself out of our NC group. You can check out the live tweets below.
.@MingNa‘s hubby is not a nerd but will keep buying her #bookofbobafett merch! And she let us pick which shirt she will wear for the rest of the panel! #Starwars #FennecShand #fanexpovancouver2022 pic.twitter.com/WJDSyP0icm
— The Nerdy Curious (@nerdycurious) February 19, 2022
Ming-Na was nerding out with us, interacting with some audience participation and letting loose (clearly she was in the gutter with us) before all the heavy hitting and thoughtful questions from the fans (aka. Mingalings). Overall, it was a great panel!
