VidCon is changing in an important (and safe) way
If you’ve been feeling a little extra FOMO in the air, then let me tell you why: it’s VidCon season, the three-day convention in Anaheim, California that celebrates YouTube and its creators with panels, concerts and signings. Anyone who’s anyone in the online world is there, which is why you always hear about those frantic, screaming fans storming the convention floor.
Which makes sense, because VidCon hosts a lot of awesome people like MirandaSings, SprikleofGlitter, AwesomenessTV, and Ingrid Nilsen, who all host panels about gaming, sexuality, the business of YouTube and if I kept going I’d just list the whole line up because I’m THAT JEALOUS of everyone there. And everyone is there, just take a look at the video that Vlogbrothers posted (Vlogbrothers, the fraternal duo consisting of John Green, the author, and Hank Green, the creator of VidCon) the other day from the main stage:
And with all those people, it understandably can turn into a bit of a madhouse. Here’s a clip of last year’s madness…
However, this year, the organizers of VidCon are trying something a little different with a rule that is so simple, I almost can’t believe they didn’t already have it officially in place last year.
No running. Yep. It may seem simple, or even a little elementary-school, but it’s important. We all have gotten wrapped up in the excitement — when you see someone you admire, you just can’t help it! But when it turns into hundreds of fans sprinting towards their idol, it’s not just overwhelming. It’s dangerous. What starts as a burst of happiness at the sight of a YouTube celebrity turns into a full-on stampede, with the people in the back not even sure who they’re running towards.
This year, guards have been put in place to stop all that. “That’s why I’m here,” said one guard. “To stop people from running before they start.”
But what if you see Tyler Oakley and you want to say hi? Instead of forming a swarm, you form a line. Nothing official, as these YouTubers have panels to run and signings to attend, but enough for a quick hug and selfie before letting the person behind you get their chance at a meeting. This year, instead of uncontrollable mobs that could start anywhere, tiny little meet-ups were popping up all over the center. The atmosphere was excited but peaceful, a marker that by its sixth year, the convention and its fans have grown and matured into the type of community they’ve always wanted to be: Open, respectful and enthusiastic.
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