Setting expectations for 221B Con

 I was remembering today, as I was giving the lawn its first mow of spring, something someone said to me at an early 221B Con years ago. I don't remember exactly who said it, because I think I heard the same sentiment from more than one Sherlockian from the traditional school after first attending the con. And that statement went something like this:

"We need to show these younger folks how to do a Sherlockian banquet night."

I probably nodded politely while screaming "OH NO, NO, NOOOOO!" in my head. Because 221B Con has always been, and hopefully will always be, something different from the old ways of our little cult.

221B Con has no time for banquets. At 221B Con you barely have time to eat. Getting a food truck parked outside was a major and needed improvement that got added after moving to the current hotel, because eating on the run leaves you more time for con.

Another thing that makes 221B Con different from traditional Sherlockian weekend events: Sessions about other things we're fans of. The con has three days of multiple-track panels that run into the evenings, as opposed to a typical symposium's 9-to-5 Saturday line-up. There is time to talk about other things, especially if there's a Sherlock Holmes based thing going on in another room for the determined devotee. And as long as I can remember, Sherlockian society meetings have always had room for side conversations on Star Trek, Doctor Who, or whatever a Sherlockian was also a fan of, and 221B Con recognizes and enables that. And Our Flag Means Death really was a fun show.

Now let's talk about headcanon for a second, just in case you're still unfamiliar with the term.

Headcanon is whatever your own head wants to believe about Sherlock Holmes, John H. Watson, and his friends. Just who was Sherlock Holmes in love with? Who did Watson actually marry? What were Conan Doyle's intentions in writing the Canon? At 221B Con, you get to bring up your headcanon beliefs, you can promote your headcanon beliefs, but you have to remember that every single other person at that con has just as much authority to speak their headcanon as well. It doesn't matter what your Sherlockian or otherwise resume looks like -- be nice and let people indulge their own ways to love Sherlock Holmes, even if it's from a TV show or movie you were not especially fond of.

I have been in a room where the panel celebrated the beauty of Will Ferrell's Holmes & Watson. That kind of thing happens at 221B Con, because because the Bees are lovely folk.

The old improv phrase "Yes, and . . ." is very helpful at 221B Con, and makes life a lot more fun. Saying "NO!" to new ideas limits your fun -- try "Yes, and . . ." and play along to see where it takes you.

221B Con has always been a creatives gathering. Writers, artists, cosplayers, all gaining inspiration for new works. And as a part of that, acceptance is key. 221B Con is HUGE on acceptance. And that's part of what makes it cool.

You'll find Sherlockian mini-communities at 221B Con that you won't see at the elder Sherlockian gathering sites, friends that gather there every year. Being new to the con, though, isn't that rough. You go into a room where people want to discuss or learn about some topic you like and you find kindred spirits that you'll smile at in the hallway later, even if you don't know names. They could be a local who just dropped in for the day, as Atlanta is a great place to try out cons of all sorts of fandoms, or they could be a longtime Sherlockian. Sooooo many people at con.

I've been to a lot of Sherlockian weekends and venues. The chaotic BSI weekend in New York. The top-flight Minneapolis conferences. The media-based Indianapolis weekends with an actual Granada Watson present. All the flavors of Dayton, Santa Fe, Portland, Tampa, and more. But 221B Con is the weekend where my Sherlockian heart lives. Never the same twice. And I always hate to see it end.

Am I prepared for this year? As much as I can be. The best prep is to just not have too many expectations at all and just let it happen as it will.