Stardate -315565.6 ... Bonn/Germany ... these are the voyages of Jens Schaller visiting his first Star Trek Convention...
After talking about visiting a Star Trek Convention for nearly 20 years, I finally did it. I visited the FedCon XVI in the Maritim Hotel in Bonn, which isn't very far from my home.
Yeah, I know there are some - or maybe some more - of you thinking: "A Trekkie Convention? That's some place for weirdos, right?". Well, I just thought nothing and had no special expectations. I just wanted to have a good time seeing some of the stars, etc.
But what I experienced there was beyond any imagination! My recommendation is: If you ever saw the different series of Star Trek and liked them, go visit a Convention, you'll love it!
Without anymore babbling I'll try to give you a few impressions:
In each Spaceship of Star Trek there have to be Jefferies tubes, right?
Seeing a group of app. 15-20 Imperial Stormtroopers passing by really is something.
Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew were there too and Jack got the audience award for the best costume. Not to mention his mimic ;)
Jonathan Frakes aka Commander William Thomas "Will" Riker entered the stage singing with an italian accent: "Voooooooooooolaaaaaaaaaarrrreeeeeeeeee" and the whole audience answered: "Ooooooooooooooohhhooooooooooooooo".
Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye from Firefly/Serenity) und Laura Bertram (Trance Gemini from Andromeda) did a panel together. If have to say that I did only watch one or two episodes of Andromeda and found it awful, but Laura in person is fabulous. Someone in the audience got it to the point: "I have never seen Andromeda, but if your role is nearly as great as you are, I have to watch it."
When asked by another person in the audience, which unusual question the both would like to be asked and also would like to answer, silience occured.
After a few moments Laura asked Jewel with a squeaky kind of voice: "Jewel, what's your favourite Jellybean flavour?" Jewel: "Watermelon" Laura: "Now THAT was an unusual question." Jewel: "Now Laura, what's your favourite animal?" Laura (again with that voice): "A seahorse..." "And do you know why?" Jewel: "No?" Laura: "Because the men have to carry out the babies..." The audience was rolling on the floor laughing ;)
He told us, that he nearly ran over Harrison Ford when arriving on his first day for filming Star Trek Voyager. He thought about the possible headlines in the newspapers: "Star Trek rookie kills Han Solo"
Kate Mulgrew (aka Captain Kathryn Janeway) had a great presence on stage. She is a very intelligent, but also thoughtful person with a great sense of humor. The "Spitball Story" was just gorgeous, but to long to tell here.
She and Armin Shimerman aka Quark (DS9) were the only ones getting standing ovations and they absolutely deserved it.
Well, without much words: Me and the sweet and wonderful Laura Bertram.
On Saturday night there was a big party with great people to meet and Cirroc Lofton and Anthony Montgomery performing some live Hip-Hop/Rap songs. Star Trek fans really know how to party.
You really can't describe what is happending to you when visiting such a place. It seems like you are leaving the real world entering another for nearly three days. There is something in the air that sucks you in and you need a while to adjust after it. I guess "Reality Jetlag" would be the perfect expression for it.
I leave you now with a photo of the closing ceremony, as always hosted by the fabulous Marc B. Lee, and I hope you enjoyed the little flight through the FedConXVI. It was a wonderful weekend with lots of nice people. Special greetings go to Kathrin and Any.
