If you’ve been following along for the last couple of months you’ve no doubt enjoyed a chuckle or two from our new “Shattering Conventions” columnist, Bob Calhoun.
From a “PJ Party at the Yarn-Con” to his foray into steampunk culture, Bob is just one of those endlessly curious types who seems to stumble into situations where he doesn’t quite belong, but still fits in perfectly.
Well, this month we have the Super Bowl—sorry NFL!—of odd conventions, as Bob suited up in a polar bear costume to encounter the furries, that eccentric, colorful cast of characters that don fuzzy, anthropomorphic animal costumes and engage in all manner of festivity.
To each his or her own, I say, which is sort of the point of “Shattering Conventions.” We all operate in an industry that can at one time be as serious as life and death and fun and goofy as all get-out.
Turn to the back of the magazine to see how Bob fared, and by all means, I beseech you to stop everything you’re doing right now—even reading this!—and jump on the Internet to see his fantastical furry video at www.MeetingsToday.com/Shattering.
And if you’re like me, you won’t be able to get the theme song—recorded by Bob and his band Count Dante and the Black Dragon Fighting Society (but that’s another story) out of your head. Like. Ever.
Vaya Con Dios, Stan
On a sad note, it’s with great sadness that we recently said goodbye to Stan Aaronson, a longtime events professional and our founding Content Advisory Board facilitator, and constant source of inspiration, reflection and collaboration.
Stan was my first contact in the industry that truly became my close personal friend, and I’ll miss him and his gift for delightful, tangential conversation greatly. Until we meet again, my friend.
