Dinosaur con - a pipe dream

[Newt]

I was thinking about how most hobby communities have meetings where they get together to celebrate their common interest; there are conventions and festivals for everything from hot rods to quilts to baseball cards to video games. But where are the cons for us paleo-nerds? There are academic symposia, sure, but most non-academics don't feel like they belong there. There are fossil shows, but they are in the first place mostly commercial opportunities rather than community events, and in the second place hold little interest for the many paleo enthusiasts who do not collect fossils. Other, more general cons may gather part of the paleo community under their umbrella – toy cons, movie cons, and so on – but as far as I can tell from several minutes of exhaustive internet research, there are no conventions geared specifically towards the lay paleo community. (There are "paleo" conventions, but they are for people who are into the paleo diet!) TetZooCon may be the closest thing as of right now, but it is geared towards neontology and cryptozoology as well as paleontology.


So then I started daydreaming about what such an event would look like. It should appeal to as broad a segment of the paleo community as possible, from armchair paleontologists (and professional paleontologists, for that matter) to fossil collectors to paleo-pop-culture fans. A few things I think would be key:


   Talks by experts – scientists, paleoartists, filmmakers, etc.
   Hands-on classes – preparing fossils, drawing extinct creatures, etc.
   Vendors – shop for fossils, paleoart, toys, books, movies, etc.
   Meet-and-greet – meet paleo "celebrities"
   Exhibits – see fossils, movie props, etc. up close
   Field trips – guided tours to nearby paleo-themed attractions such as museums or fossil sites


What do you guys think; would you go to a convention like this? What would add to or subtract from my sketch above? Are there any specific people or objects you would like to see at such a con?

[Reuben03]

yes i so so would.


IMAGINE THE TOYS

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I'd go if it's within a reasonable driving distance from me. I've been to a similar event at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, but it was primarily aimed at a younger audience. My ideal convention would be geared more toward adults, though still being family-friendly.

[dinodamage]

I would be THRILLED to attend something like this!

I used to work at a local science museum and pre-covid and I was trying to help arrange a "paleo night" to breathe some new life into the dusty and outdated dinosaur exhibit, and some of the ideas we had would lend themselves perfectly to a convention, such as a class on making paleoart or a panel on how reconstructions are done. Interactive panels are a really good way to get people engaged and build community within convention spaces.

rough ideas that come to mind based on past con experiences:
- a panel on the history of paleoart chronicling how our understanding of dinosaurs & other prehistoric animals has evolved
- an art showcase (or competition?) of attendee paintings, sculptures, etc
- a charity auction to support science education
- costume contest (I feel like no convention is complete without one- and people have come up with some really fun/innovative dinosaur costumes!!)

Anyhow, there are a plethora of fun ideas and possibilities and something like this has potential to be a hit- I would absolutely go to this if it was within the US

[EarthboundEiniosaurus]

The Burpee Museum in Rockford, IL holds an annual event called Paleofest that is pretty much exactly what you described. The majority of people who attend are paleo enthusiasts who come and listen to talks from various professional paleontologists, but there are also other activities and workshops set up throughout the museum. A very fun time if you're ever able to attend!

[Newt]

yes i so so would.


IMAGINE THE TOYS

Right? In my imagination, there would be vendors selling not only current mainstays but hard-to-find old toys, mods and repaints, as well as small producers selling their garage kits, 3D prints, and one-of-a-kind sculptures.

[Newt]

I'd go if it's within a reasonable driving distance from me. I've been to a similar event at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, but it was primarily aimed at a younger audience. My ideal convention would be geared more toward adults, though still being family-friendly.

That brings up the important question of where this event might be held. Obviously it would be convenient for me if it were held here in Nashville, but I suppose it would be more practical if it were nearer a major population center. Although...WonderfestUSA, the biggest garage kit con in the country, is in Louisville, Kentucky, so big events don't necessarily have to be in a megalopolis.

[Newt]

I would be THRILLED to attend something like this!

I used to work at a local science museum and pre-covid and I was trying to help arrange a "paleo night" to breathe some new life into the dusty and outdated dinosaur exhibit, and some of the ideas we had would lend themselves perfectly to a convention, such as a class on making paleoart or a panel on how reconstructions are done. Interactive panels are a really good way to get people engaged and build community within convention spaces.

rough ideas that come to mind based on past con experiences:
- a panel on the history of paleoart chronicling how our understanding of dinosaurs & other prehistoric animals has evolved
- an art showcase (or competition?) of attendee paintings, sculptures, etc
- a charity auction to support science education
- costume contest (I feel like no convention is complete without one- and people have come up with some really fun/innovative dinosaur costumes!!)

Anyhow, there are a plethora of fun ideas and possibilities and something like this has potential to be a hit- I would absolutely go to this if it was within the US

Those are some great ideas!

[Newt]

The Burpee Museum in Rockford, IL holds an annual event called Paleofest that is pretty much exactly what you described. The majority of people who attend are paleo enthusiasts who come and listen to talks from various professional paleontologists, but there are also other activities and workshops set up throughout the museum. A very fun time if you're ever able to attend!

I did not know about Paleofest, that's very cool! I'd been meaning to take a trip to Chicago anyhow, maybe I can time it to package Paleofest into the same trip. Assuming the world ever regains some semblance of sanity.

[Reuben03]

yes i so so would.


IMAGINE THE TOYS

Right? In my imagination, there would be vendors selling not only current mainstays but hard-to-find old toys, mods and repaints, as well as small producers selling their garage kits, 3D prints, and one-of-a-kind sculptures.

YES. ahh id love the 'secondhand' section where people sell things they've brought from their collection to swap and sell.

also the imported stuff!!

sooo many good plushies from japan i really want that i can't get at the moment. also the BOTM booth. ooo yes. imagine the exclusives!

[BlueKrono]

G-Fest exists for the Godzilla/kaiju collecting crowd, so why not?

[Cretaceous Crab]

I was just thinking about this the other day. Totally awesome idea!

[Halichoeres]

The Burpee Museum in Rockford, IL holds an annual event called Paleofest that is pretty much exactly what you described. The majority of people who attend are paleo enthusiasts who come and listen to talks from various professional paleontologists, but there are also other activities and workshops set up throughout the museum. A very fun time if you're ever able to attend!

I did not know about Paleofest, that's very cool! I'd been meaning to take a trip to Chicago anyhow, maybe I can time it to package Paleofest into the same trip. Assuming the world ever regains some semblance of sanity.

Let me know if you do. I'm in Chicago, but I've somehow never made it to Paleofest.

[Newt]

Let me know if you do. I'm in Chicago, but I've somehow never made it to Paleofest.

Will do!