VIDCON 2015!!!

Hey hey 

Our last days in the USA. We flew in to LA on Wednesday night and then made our way to Anaheim ready for VidCon in the morning. 

VidCon. Wow. I mean wow.

Day one was crazy. I'd seen how massive the convention was but hadn't actually processed it to the point of being a part of it. On day one alone I saw an interview with Jon Cozart (Paint), then an interview with Colleen Ballinger, met Michael Arranda and went to the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony we saw John and Hank Green, Rhett and Link, Miranda Sings and Dad Sharp as well as a few others. We then stayed for a  two panels. The first panel was Women on YouTube and was fairly interesting, and moderated brilliantly. The second was a panel of comedians including Glozell, Craig Benzine, Jenna Marbles, Colleen, Mamrie Hart and Dan Howell. The panel was fantastic, if not for all the screaming that erupted every time Dan moved. 

The day ended earlier than we expected as the expo hall closed at 6. We decided against the movie that was screening and the concert that night in favour of heading back to our accommodation and getting to know our host. 

Day two was incredible. We got up early to go and see some of the expo hall in the morning, I then went off to my second meet and greet, getting to meet Jamie Currie (Jamie's World) it was a little bit more awkward than the first but it was still awesome to see her. Then I headed off to the main stage to see panels for the rest of the day. The first panel was called Power of Words and was really interesting to hear opinions from panellists about how the power they have been given through such immense followings is something that really has to be part of their mindset when creating, but shouldn't stop them from staying true to their content. 

The second panel I saw was one on Sexual Orientation on YouTube and I found it incredibly interesting, plus Hannah Hart was a surprise panellist which was awesome. I found that the moderator (Michael Buckley) was a little too involved in the conversation rather than guiding it and I was more interested in hearing was the actual panellists were saying. But it was fantastic to hear opinions on responsibility and exposure as creators. (I also got to meet Ashley Mardell while waiting for the panel). 

The last event on the main stage that day was a Nerdfighter Q&A with John and Hank Green. The highlight of this was of course when they answered one of the questions that I had tweeted in... and Hank Green favourited my tweet. I was definitely buzzing for the rest of the day... ok for the rest of the trip. 

That evening Yooga headed off to the movie that was screening and I headed off to the concert at the arena. Two of the performances were The Driftless Pony Club and Hank and the Perfect Strangers. The night was so much fun and full of energy and I also got to make some awesome friends that I definitely hope to keep in touch with. All in all, an absolutely fantastic night.

The last day of VidCon was spectacular! We split fairly early in the day after seeing an interview of Lily Singh (iiSuperwomanii). I then stayed for part of an interview with Jamie Currie before heading off to my last meet and greet with Craig Benzine (WheezyWaiter) Oh and I bumped into Joey Richter (Starkid) on the way. Craig was awesome and friendly and definitely the most fun to meet. I then headed off to find a seat and the Holy Trinity Q&A (Hannah Hart, Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart). The Q&A was hilarious and awesome and they spent a lot of time talking about their pets. They also announced that they're making another movie.

Yooga managed to find me and we stayed for the Closing Ceremony. There were lots of announcements including movies and albums. Just before the end of the event Troye Sivan announced an exclusive jumper available only at the DFTBA records stall and teenage girls streamed out of the mainstage hall to go buy one (as an uninterested party it was very entertaining to watch the disappointment when they had sold out).
I then got to meet Emma Blackery as part of an impromptu meet up before she left.
When Yooga and I managed to find each other with no reception after we'd been split up (relatively stressful) we headed back to the accommodation to get ready for the VidCon Prom.
At VidCon Prom we met up with the friends I'd made the night before and we all just spent the night dancing and having an incredibly fun night.

We spent the following day slowly packing, we slept in, lazed around and just got ready to head off. Pretty sure that Yooga was quite sick of hearing me tell her how many hours it was until we were home. But that was it, our trip was over and all we had left was a 15 hour flight back to Australia.

Anaheim.
Justine