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Yonnie Mack

This was my first time ever attending a convention, so I went into BlerdCon not really knowing what to expect. I attended Friday through Sunday, and overall I’m really glad I went. I was also attending while recovering from surgery and using a wheelchair, so this review is coming from the perspective of someone navigating the event with limited mobility. Overall, I had a good experience, but I also noticed a few things that could be improved. ⸻ Pros 🎉 Nonstop Energy & Activities One thing I absolutely loved is that once you pay for your pass (a little over $100), it truly feels like you’re getting your money’s worth. There is something happening almost 24/7 from sunup to sundown. Panels, meetups, events, parties—there’s rarely a moment where nothing is going on. 🧠 Wide Variety of Panels There were panels on a wide range of topics—from anime to kink to gaming and everything in between. I really appreciated the diversity of topics and communities represented. 🪢 The RopeNik Panel Was Amazing My favorite panel by far was RopeNik. As someone who is already part of the kink community and practices rope/shibari, this panel was 10/10. The speakers were extremely informative, engaging with the audience, and clearly knowledgeable. It was the one panel where I truly felt like I walked away having learned something new. 🛍️ Vendor Hall Creativity The vendor hall was phenomenal. Seeing so many artists and creators bringing their ideas to life was inspiring. I ended up buying a few pieces myself. The level of creativity throughout the vendor space was incredible. 📱 The Guidebook App Was a Lifesaver With so many things happening at once, the Guidebook app made navigating the schedule much easier. It really helped with locating events and planning the day. ⸻ Cons 📚 Some Panels Felt More Like Open Conversations While I enjoyed the range of topics, some of the panels—especially a few of the kink ones—felt less educational than expected. Based on the descriptions and titles, I thought there would be more structured information or takeaways. Instead, some of them felt more like casual discussions. That’s not necessarily bad, but it just wasn’t what I personally expected. 📶 Service Was Almost Nonexistent Once you get into the lower levels of the venue, phone service basically disappears. This made it really difficult to coordinate with friends or figure out where people were. 🚪 Room Sizes for Popular Events Some events that were clearly going to draw large crowds were placed in very small rooms, which meant many people couldn’t get in. It felt like maybe only a small percentage of the interested crowd could actually attend certain panels. 🛗 Elevator Access Issues Elevators were supposed to be prioritized for people with mobility needs or vendors carrying equipment. However, many people who could have easily taken the escalators still used the elevators. Since I was using a wheelchair while recovering from surgery, waiting for elevators sometimes became frustrating and inconvenient. 🍹 Food Truck Experiences Were Hit or Miss Some food trucks were great, but others were disappointing. For example, I ordered a lychee tea, and the vendor gave me a drink that was almost entirely milk—even though it wasn’t supposed to be a milk tea. After making it, he told me they didn’t actually have the drink I ordered. I also tried ordering a smoothie from another truck and ended up getting what was basically syrup over shaved ice, like a snow cone. ⸻ Final Thoughts Even with some of the frustrations, I still had a really good time overall, especially considering it was my first con ever. Being there while recovering from surgery definitely made things more overwhelming at times, and there were moments where my social battery completely drained because there was just so much happening everywhere. That said, the creativity, the community, and the overall energy of BlerdCon were really impressive. I’d definitely be open to attending another convention in the future—especially when I’m fully recovered and able to experience it without mobility limitations.

Deshon Dorsey

Blerdcon was my first cosplay con experience. I always have a fun time there. The prices have been rising, and I find the vendors lacking outside of an Artist Alley, but they're getting more organized every year. Will come again!