DexCon
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | DexCon |
| Dates: | 1998-2010 |
| Frequency: | Yearly |
| Location: | Toronto, Canada |
| Type: | Relaxacon, Midi-Con, writing workshop |
| Focus: | comic fanfic |
| Organization: | Dex (director 1998-2009); Rossi (deputy director 2001-2009); Lise (deputy director and webmaster 2005-2007); Nute (webmaster ?-2004); Aisy and Lauren (co-directors, 2010); Epona Harper (chief medical officer 2002-2004) |
| Founder: | Dex Farkin |
| Founding Date: | 1998-2009 |
| URL: | LJ community & Website (via wayback) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
"DexCon, comic fanfiction's oldest and largest yearly convention in Toronto.[1]"
As Dex himself has put it in conversations about how Dexcon started, it began as a casual get-together of a few members of the acff/OTL/#subcafe IRC community and grew into a formal 'con', albeit very different from the established conventions for Star Trek, Star Wars and so on. The first Dexcon was held in Toronto, October 3, 1998, at the Bishop and the Belcher pub. Exact numbers are unavailable, but there were approximately 12 people there, local fanficcers living in Toronto and several visitors from the United States[2]. It was Kielle who described the event after the fact as "Dexcon" on CFAN and enough interest was expressed in repeating the experience that Dex volunteered to organise another one.
Essentially, Dexcon was a chance for comic ficcers to gather and socialise in a comfortable environment and be free to talk about everything and anything nerdy. Over time some structure was created - the con took place the same long weekend every year in August, a writing workshop and a Formal Night were added to the traditional trip up the CN Tower and Dex's tour of downtown Toronto (heavily featuring book and comic stores).
As most know, dexcon started out about comic books. It morphed, as people milled around various fandoms - there was that one year that everyone was forced bodily to watch Firefly dvds before they were allowed to leave - and written things, stopped writing, got into new shows, etc. As most know, dexcon is now really about beer. And comic books.
In 2005, the usual venue, the Bishop and the Belcher, relocated from Queen Street to Church Street and lost the basement party room which had been perfect for Dexcon attendees to be separate from the pub's regular clientele. Several other venues were tried, but the difficulty in finding somewhere central that would put up with being invaded by very loud fanficcers for an entire weekend taxed organisers.
Dexcon "officially" ended with Dexcon VII (hence the name "Last Call), where Dex announced he was happy for the Con to continue, but he was no longer booking accommodation/organising everything. He officially retired from running the con in 2008. The very last Dexcon held was in 2010, with Dexcon XIII, organised by Aisy and Lauren.
History
There were 13 Dexcons in total.
Dexcon I: Attack of the Cyber-Slurping Tartlets!
October 1998.
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees: 12[2].
Activities: "Currently, the plan is to sit, talk, drink, and maybe create a little interesting writing. Dinner and a brief tour of Metro will occur in the evening, and likely continue into the wee hours of Sunday."
Dexcon II: Return of the Cyber-Slurping Tartlets!
August 13-16, 1999
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees:
Activities: Guest Speakers Miles Skinner and Dustin Campbell; Formal Dinner at the Hungarian House; Toronto Museum of Art; Canada's Wonderland.
Dexcon III: The Bastards Came Back...
March 4th-7th, 2000
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees:
Activities:
Mar 4th: Arrival Day; 3:00pm - 2am The basement of the Bishop and the Belcher will be reserved for DexCon members.
Mar 5th: 1pm - Guest Speaker Miles Skinner; 2pm - 6pm Free time for sightseeing and wandering; 6pm - 2am Dinner and social night at the B&B; clubbing for those who wish it.
Mar 6th: 11am - Excursion up the CN tower (for those interested);12pm - Pool at the hotel time! 2pm-5pm - Playdium time; 6:30pm - Formal dinner at Joe Baldali's; 10pm - End of dinner, return to B&B; or sleep.
Mar 7th: 8:30am-10am - Buses leave for Niagara Falls tour. For the rest of the group, today is free. Various trips to the zoo, gallery, museum, etc will be arranged; 8:30pm-2am - Buses return. Back to B&B; for relaxing
Mar 8th: 12pm Check out. Those leaving late can grab a final lunch at the pub.
Dexcon IV: Will someone buy this man a beer!
August 4th-8th, 2001[4]
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees:
Activities:
Aug 4th: Arrivals, gathering at the Bishop and Belcher and dinner.
Aug 5th: Guest speaker, Myles Skinner on the early development of Internet culture; social night at the B&B
Aug 6th: Optional visit to the CN Tower/SkyDome; video games etc at Playdium; semi-formal dinner at Joe Baldali's.
Aug 7th: Optional day; Niagara Falls tour, excursions to the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Metro Toronto Zoo, shopping; end party at the B&B
Aug 8th: Time to go home. Groups will be sent to the airport to try and keep cab costs to the minimum. Those leaving late are welcome to lunch before they leave, and can squeeze in some last minute shopping if they choose.
Dexcon V: Dude, Where's My Con?
August 2nd-5th, 2002
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees:
Activities[5]:
August 2nd: Arrival Day; 3:00pm-2:00am - The basement of the Bishop and the Belcher will be reserved for DexCon members
August 3rd: 11:00am - Dexcon Writing Workshop; 7:00pm-2:00am - Dinner and social night at the B&B; clubbing for those who wish it
August 4th: 11:00am - Excursion up the CN tower (for those interested); 5:00pm - Pictures at the hotel; 6:00pm - Formal dinner at Big Daddy's; 10:00pm - End of dinner, return to B&B; or sleep
August 5th: 11:00am - Zoo for those interested; 6:00pm - Final dinner at the B&B;
Workshop:
Acoustic Psycho Guppies, by Ashlan, WGSarah, and Gerg.
The Cassandra Syndrome, by Epona Harper, Chandri and Nimori.
Coping Mechanisms, by Amanda Sichter, Frito and Andraste.
Hello Sailor, by Dex and DuAnn.
I Love The Nightlife, by Jim Smith, IndyJ, and Lise.
Mercury Burning, by Red Monster, Redhawk and sevenall.
Seeking, by Alara Rogers, Nisa and 'rith.
Still Life, by Rossi, Dr. Benway and JB.
Strange Bedfellows, by Paradoqz, Brucha, and Sascha.
Waiting, by Mike Smith, Nute and PollyMel.
Waking The Sea, by Seraph, MaggieCat, and River.
Dexcon VI: This one time, at Dexcon...
August 2003
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees: 26
Activities:
Workshop:
Anniversary, by Epona, 'rith, and sevenall.
Guido and Jamie's Excellent Adventure, by
Mystery of the Telfer Diaries, by Jim Smith, Domenika Marzione, and Smitty.
Sidekicks Anonymous, by Heatherly, Nisa and Frito.
Taking Care of Oneself, by Alestar, IndiJ, and Red Monster.
The Macguffin Device, by Seraph, Hex, and Brucha.
Don't Scratch, by Tapestry, Dr. Benway and Alicia.
Dexcon VII: LAST CALL
July 30th - August 2nd, 2004
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher.
Attendees: approx. 30
Activities[6]:
Jul 30th: Arrival Day; 3:00pm-2:00am - The basement of the Bishop and the Belcher will be reserved for DexCon members
Jul 31st: Dexcon Writing Workshop; "The Ordinary Extraordinary", with talks from Minisinoo, JB McDragon, Mitai and Nute; social night with live band, Johnny Devil and the Screamin' Demons.
Aug 1st: 11:00am - Swimming at the hotel pool; free time; Formal Dinner at Big Daddy's, then social night at the B&B
Aug 2nd 11:00am - Horseback riding, final night at the B&B.
Dexcon VIII: BOOTLEGGED
July 29-August 1st, 2005
Location: The Bishop and the Belcher
Attendees: 22[7]
Activities:
Dexcon IX
July 28th to July 31st, 2006[8]
Location: The Madison
Attendees:
Activities:
Jul 28th: Arrival Day - gathering at the Madison, social time
Jul 29th: Dexcon Writing Workshop; "Editing" with talks from Alicia, Minisinoo and 'rith; social night at the Madison
Jul 30th: free time; Formal Dinner at Big Daddy's; gather at the new B&B
Jul 31st: Social night with live band, Johnny Devil and the Screamin' Demons at the Yellow Griffin.
Workshop:
A Librarian and a Death Eater Walk Into a Bar by Buttercup, Chandri, and WGSarah
Metaphor by Dr. Benway, Nute and Rossi
Three Mutants in a Bar by Alicia, Pebblin and Tangerine
All Along the (animated) Watchtower by Heatherly, 'rith and Carmen
Mutant Enemy by Phil Foster, Lise. and Alestar
Dexcon X
August 3rd to 7th, 2007
Location: Fox and the Fiddle
Attendees:
Activities:
Workshop: All prompts came from the Canadian Heritage Moments.
The Long Con by Paradoqz, Heatherly and Kate (Prompt: Pauline Vanier)
Dead Nite by Seraph, Alestar and Tangerine (Prompt: Vikings)
Ten Miles to Oaxaca by Frito, Shai Perihawk, and Lauren. (Prompt: Jacques Cartier)
X 18 by Ben, 'rith and JB McDragon (Prompt: Nat Taylor)
Adaptation by Chandri, Dr. Benway, and Philomel. (Prompt: Saguenay Fire)
Not So Quiet On The Eastern Front by Pebblin, Azzy, and Nute (Prompt: Juno Beach)
Lifeblood by Mike Smith, Brucha, and Aisy (Prompt: Water Pump)
Pinko Commie Bastard Canucks by Alicia Mckenzie, Jim Smith and Rossi (Prompt: Avro Arrow)
Outside Westchester, July 7th 2004 by Daroos, Phil Foster and Indiana J (Prompt: Sitting Bull)
Fic Not Submitted - Bounce, Twiller, Tapestry (Prompt: Joseph Casavant)
Fic Not Submitted - Amanda Sichter, Dex (Prompt: Joseph-Armand Bombardier)
Dexcon XI
This article or section needs expansion. |
August 2008
Location: Fox and the Fiddle
Attendees:
Activities:
Workshop:
My Turn by Rossi, Twiller and Nute
The Last Holdout by Brucha, Hex, & DarkLady
Dexcon XII
July 31 to August 3, 2009
Location: Fox and the Fiddle
Attendees:
Activities:
Workshop:
Dexcon XIII - Revenge of the Laurens
August 6-9, 2010
Location: The Pilot; the Yellow Griffin
Attendees:
Activities:
References
- ^ Dexcon Livejournal profile
- ^ a b Dexcon - Indigo Sky Net - Via Wayback Jan 9/02
- ^ What - drinkwithdex Via Wayback Sep 15/17
- ^ Dexcon IV Events (Via Wayback, Feb 6/02)
- ^ Dexcon Website: Dexcon V Schedule (Via Wayback, Sep 6/02)
- ^ Dexcon Report - Dexcon LJ, by nute; Aug 4, 2004
- ^ Dexcon VIII, Dexcon website (Via Wayback, Sep 18/07)
- ^ Thren? - Dexcon LJ - May 17, 2006