The Con Where It Happens


I know it's been awhile, but I haven't had the chance to write in this blog so I'm sorry for that. I do feel like I owe everyone (and myself) a BroadwayCon 2022 recap post so here it is! I went to BroadwayCon two weeks ago on July 9th and have been meaning to write an update about the experience, so better late than never, right?

The funny thing is, I wasn't even planning to attend BroadwayCon this year until less than a month before. I saw them promoting the convention a lot on social media and convincing people to buy tickets. The journalist in me thought, "Wow, they must need press!" So of course, I went ahead and googled how to apply for a press pass, and submitted an application. Shortly after, their PR company emailed me a press release anyway encouraging me to apply, but I had already done so. I got approved a few weeks later, and was honestly shocked. I did get in trouble for not asking the higher-ups at BroadwayWorld for permission first, but oh well. I wasn't really sure what types of articles I was able to do until I got my press materials literally 3 days before. They said people who had press passes could interview anyone on the guest list, so I asked the PR team to interview Anthony Rapp at BroadwayCon. Why not at least try, right? I coordinated with the PR rep to set up an interview, but things were more complicated than I expected. I knew the interview was probably going to happen, but I wasn't 100% sure. The night before, I wrote down some questions for Anthony on my phone just to be somewhat prepared. I also packed a notebook and pen in my bag with me. 

The day of BroadwayCon, I woke up at 5:30am freaking out because I had no idea what time I was interviewing Anthony or if it was actually going to happen at all. I tried to relax on the bus ride to NYC and remain positive. No matter what, I was excited to be at BroadwayCon again, and I was grateful to have a press pass this time. I emailed the PR rep again around 9am, when the bus got to NYC. I vowed to not open my email again until I got there, because I wanted to focus on checking in and getting to the first event on time. I was so happy to get my press pass because it was the first one I've ever had! It made all of my hard work for the last 3 1/2 years worth it. When I checked in, the PR rep I had been talking to introduced herself and confirmed my interview with Anthony for 12:15. Thank god I was in public, because I probably would've lost my mind if I found this out at home. Of course, this meant my schedule for the morning/early afternoon was going to be PACKED bouncing around to the two different venues, but I knew it would be worth it. I wrote down my questions for Anthony while I waited for the first event because I wasn't able to print them out the night before.

The first event I went to at 10am was a live recording of David Alpert's Disney podcast, E-Ticket to Broadway. It was nice to see David live again, and I love listening to his podcast! Lesli Margherita, Jelani Remy, and Andrew Barth Feldman were also part of the recording, and they were hilarious! They talked a lot about Disney, and did a ride bracket. I enjoyed being in the audience for it! Next, I went to a panel for standbys/understudies who were in Dear Evan Hansen at 11:20, but I couldn't even focus knowing my interview with Anthony would be next. I left around 11:45, and went to the same venue where I originally checked in. I arrived a little bit early, so I stood outside of Manhattan Center panicking and tried to calm down, but it didn't really work.

I went inside and checked in for the interview, and someone from their team escorted me up the elevator to the press room. THIS WAS IT. Everything I had been waiting for was all culminating to this moment. Who would've thought that I would ever be able to interview my FAVORITE Broadway actor, Anthony Rapp? Fourteen year-old me would be very happy about all of this. I knew it would happen at some point, but it's all about timing. I'll never forget how I felt when I walked into the press room. I saw a bunch of people just like me interviewing some of Broadway's biggest stars. There were a few tables where interviews were being held, and a table with snacks, water, and coffee. I had to wait outside because I was a little early, but I saw my friend Ilana interviewing Anthony and BroadwayCon's founder, Melissa Anelli. After Ilana's interview, Anthony took a short break and the PR reps escorted me to the empty table. I said hi to Ilana, and thanked her for warming Anthony up for my interview!

Waiting for Anthony to come back from the bathroom felt like 100 years. I took out my notebook and pen, and set my phone up to record. I couldn't believe this was my LIFE! Anthony came out, and he said hi to me, obviously knowing who I was because this was the 5th time we've met. I asked him if it was OK to record, and told him it wouldn't be published (MEANING THE RECORDING!!), and he seemed confused. So I said "No, this is going to be for an article, the actual recording won't be published." #STUPID. I did the interview and I was TERRIFIED, but he was a real trooper! Even a Xanax couldn't calm my ass down, so that's when you know I was extremely nervous! I had to wear a mask during the interview, but he didn't. It was kind of hard to talk with a mask on, but I completely respect the fact that he was filming his TV show and wanted to be safe! Other than that, the interview went well and my phone actually recorded all of it, which will be something I'll treasure forever. READ THE INTERVIEW HERE! After the interview, Anthony asked what else I was doing the rest of the day which was actually so nice of him! I said I was going to the journalism panel then eating something. I sounded like a loser, but whatever. I asked the PR rep if it was okay to take a photo with him, and she said yes! Luckily, I didn't have to wear a mask for that. (SEE BELOW!)

When the interview was over, I thanked Anthony for taking the time to sit down with me and told him that he was my dream person to interview. I was on a high, but it was also a little sad? We kind of just parted ways like nothing even happened. I had been manifesting an interview with Anthony ever since I got into theater journalism, and part of me didn't know if it would ever happen (even though I figured it probably would!) I've seen Anthony live and met him many times, and luckily there's always a next time, at least for now. People who are meant to cross paths again usually do. I have a feeling this won't be the last time I ever get to interview him, that's for sure!

The interview was shorter than I expected. I was given 20 minutes, and only used about 15. I wasn't thrilled about it being cut short (because I LOVED talking to Anthony), but I was kind of happy because I had to be at the journalism panel by 1:00 (it was about 12:40 when the interview ended). It wouldn't be my life if I didn't have some kind of mishap. One minute I'm interviewing a Broadway star, the next I'm lost in a stairwell because I can't get out of Manhattan Center! I finally made my way out to The New Yorker Hotel and arrived at the journalism panel EARLY! I really liked the panel, even though it wasn't as good as the one I went to at BroadwayCon 2020. It seemed like it was more for beginners, and I didn't feel like I classified as a beginner (but I technically am a beginner in some ways?) The panelists couldn't have been nicer! One was a guy who teaches journalism and works for a newspaper as a side job, and the other two women were podcasters. I learned a lot about focusing more on local journalism, and trying to interview everyday people and not just celebrities. They also talked a lot about how to come up with good interview questions and other tips. Some of this advice would've been helpful BEFORE my interview with Anthony because I probably did some things wrong, but now I know for next time! I wish there was a Q&A after like the last journalism panel, but instead they allowed people to come up to them when the discussion was over. I talked to the guy who works at the newspaper and told him about my job situation. His advice didn't seem helpful at the time, but now I'm realizing that it kind of manifested itself unexpectedly? (MORE ON THIS IN A FUTURE BLOG POST...) 🤐

I loved the journalism panel, but I was fucking STARVING. It was already 2pm and I had barely eaten all day. I had never been more excited to go to McDonald's in my LIFE! Between 9am and 2pm, I had gone back and forth to the two BroadwayCon venues about three times, and that's A LOT! It was exhausting. I took a much-needed break, updated my family about the day's events and my interview with Anthony, and wolfed down my food. I've been to BroadwayCon three times now (not counting the virtual one in 2021), and there's ALWAYS an afternoon lull. Sometimes it's a good thing, and sometimes it's lonely. I had been going from 0-60 all day, and it kind of hit me that I was alone. I started to get sad and wanted to leave. I figured I'd look around at the marketplace since I didn't have time to go in 2020. I even talked to this girl Laura from the Applause Shop because I've been wanting to get rid of my old playbills and LOB cards I didn't get to sell on eBay. She was really nice, but I felt kind of awkward and out of place.

I went to the bathroom and tried to calm down because I was feeling anxious again. I texted my mom and even contemplated leaving and didn't know if I would make it to 6pm. I didn't have anything planned for the afternoon, and I wasn't sure what to do with myself. Then, I pulled myself together and realized that there's nothing to do at home, and to make the most of my FREE BroadwayCon press pass. I messaged Ilana and asked where she was, and met up with her at the BroadwayCon Mainstage. There was a Disney Princess Party concert finishing up, and I joined her in the third row. When the concert was over, we actually had a nice conversation. I had only met her in person once before, and we didn't get to talk as much that one time. Afterward, there was a panel for a new show called Kimberly Akimbo. I don't really know much about it, but I got two free candy necklaces! 

The last event was the BroadwayCon Cabaret, and I was SO excited to see Anthony perform again, along with Fredi Walker! First up was a boy band cover group called The Boy Band Project, and they were AWESOME! I appreciated the fact that it wasn't just Broadway songs, because I love 90's music too. Fredi sang a few songs, and Anthony came on and sang "Wait For It" from Hamilton, and "Origin of Love" from Hedwig, which I've heard him sing live MANY TIMES. Since he was only going to BroadwayCon for one day, the host Ben Cameron did a whole "10 minutes of BroadwayCon" thing with him. He played 20 questions, “name that show" rock edition with a fan, tried on everyone's cosplay items, and lip-synced "Out Tonight," which was FUCKING HILARIOUS. Before I knew it, the convention was over. Ilana found a few friends in the elevator, and excitedly introduced me to them, which was nice. I also saw one of the podcasters from the journalism panel and told her how much I enjoyed the conversation, and she gave me her business card. I'm sad BroadwayCon is over because I had the best time. Interviewing Anthony was definitely the icing on the cake, but I'm actually shocked at how nice and kind everyone was! I'm so grateful to have been there, and I hope to go next year and have a different experience! I'm not sure if I'll go as press again or not, but I have a year to decide on that. Maybe I'll interview someone else who I've never met before!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Everyone

Image
Dear Everyone, Words can't explain how difficult the last sixth months have been for me. While I'm grateful to be alive and healthy, being laid off from my most recent job at Dexerto in June has taken an emotional toll on me. Even though it wasn't my fault, it's been the third time in a row that I've been fired/let go/laid off from a full-time job. In addition to that, I was also let go from another temp job in 2018 after only being there for a month. I didn't expect this to hit me so hard, but it's more about the bigger picture than the actual situation. For five years, I built a journalism career all on my own and worked my ass off to do it, not knowing where it would lead me. I interviewed Broadway stars, Bachelor stars, and wrote more reality TV articles than I can count. Getting laid off from my job confirmed the not-so-harsh reality that a journalism career isn't stable. The constant plagiarism, quantity prioritizing quality, cutting employees, and...
Read more

How can it be emotions change, faster than mercurial rain?

Image
  August 18, 2023 was the day I had been waiting for not just for three weeks, but basically since I was a teenager. I bought a ticket to meet Idina Menzel at a CD signing in at Barnes & Noble in NYC for her new album, Drama Queen. I've been a fan of Idina since I saw her in Wicked at 11 years old, and always dreamed of meeting her someday. I actually met her two other times before at the stagedoor for If/Then and Skintight, but never really talked to her because I mentally blacked out. Also, both times I waited at the stagedoor, she wasn't allowed to take photos with fans (even though I'm grateful that she came out at all!) So back to two days ago... I didn't sleep the night before (shocker) and I was EXTREMELY nervous. I felt like I had already fucked up before by not talking to Idina the other two times I met her, and was also sad about not getting a photo. I didn't want to ruin my opportunity this time because I would never forgive myself. It helped that I ...
Read more

Back with a vengeance.

Image
I'm back at it again! I know I owed anyone who actually reads this blog an update but I've been too exhausted to write. If you can believe it, I've been at my new job for three months now. I passed my first review and it went well! For some reason, because of everything I've gone through I'm unable to accept a compliment, but I'm glad that the people I work with actually seem to appreciate me. I also got a nice personal message for International Women's Day that was written for each of the female employees, which was really thoughtful! I'm grateful to be at a job that I'm not miserable at. But like any job, there are things that annoy me about it. The people here are chill. Like, way too chill... the opposite from my other job. Sometimes it takes awhile for them to answer messages and I try not to let it annoy me, but it does. Also, I got mad at my mom before I started the job for telling me that I might get upset because I'll be going from an ed...
Read more