FAQs
General
Are you the team that organized the original DashCon?
No! Our team is not associated with the original organizers. We’re a completely different group with a very different plan for DashCon 2.
Are you officially affiliated with Tumblr?
Also nope! We’ve been in communication with some staff members at Tumblr, so they’re aware of our existence (and excited to see how this will go). But they’re not sponsoring us, nor are they involved in any aspect of the actual event organization.
This is crazy/ why should we trust you?
Our team of organizers actually have experience in event coordination, or fields with transferable skills. We’ve taken our time to plan the road ahead carefully, and we have no intention of repeating DashCon’s mistakes.
Are you a Tumblr Con?
DashCon Two is an internet history con, celebrating a very specific era of fandom culture, as well as the original DashCon event. We want to bring people together to reminisce on an era long past, and to celebrate the local artists, performers, and creators of today. In short: no, we’re not a Tumblr convention.
So why DashCon 2?
Why not? But really, DashCon has such a distinctive legacy. It’s a legend in convention history. When we looked at our combined skill sets and realized we had a very real chance of making a DashCon 2 that actually happened, we got to planning.
What even IS DashCon 2?
It’s a celebration of DashCon. It’s also a celebration of local artists, fandom, and internet history. And it’s also kind of dancing on DashCon’s grave.
Will you be renting the DashCon hotel?
No. Firstly, we’re based in Toronto, Canada; and as a small first year con, we’re not expecting numbers large enough to justify such a huge venue. We’re also a single-day convention, so we’re not looking to partner with any hotels.
Will there be a ball pit?
Yes.
Logistics
You said in-person. Will there be an online DashCon 2?
We’ll also be selling virtual tickets that allow virtual access to certain panels, and there’s no attendance cap on those!
How do you intend to ensure guest safety?
We take the safety and security of our guests seriously. DashCon 2 will have professional security and safety guidelines that all guests will be expected to abide by. Any and all weapons and large props will have to be approved by Weapons Check before they are allowed into the con space. Additionally, in-person attendance will be limited.
What experience does your team have?
Our organizers primarily have experience in planning community events, such as art markets, music festivals, or educational events. Most of us also have years of experience volunteering at and attending cons, amongst other events such as cultural or music festivals. While this is our first time planning a convention, we’ve been professionally involved in planning comparable events.
Do you have a venue booked?
We’re currently in conversation with a few venues! We’re still ironing out the the details, but we several places that will be available on our expected con date.
What are you doing to make sure this event actually happens as intended?
The big thing is communication. We’re working to make sure our entire team is on the same page! We also have a clear goal, and a solid plan in place on how to achieve it. It’s sort of hard to summarize the experience and competence of a whole team in a few sentences, so please keep an eye our blog for more information and updates!
About the Ball Pit
Will there really be a ball pit?
Yes. This was the first thing we decided.
How do you expect to keep people from peeing in the ball pit?
The ball pit will be supervised at all times.
Can I pee in the ball pit?
No.
Can I get an extra hour in the ball pit?
Stay tuned!
Our Team!
Avis | Co-Director
Literally assigned tumblr sexyman at birth (it’s a genetic disorder), Avis is our other co-director, and primary website madman. Their event planning experience is a bit eclectic, ranging from volunteering at local cultural festivals, tradeshows, and cons to helping organize community events like bake sales and trash pickup. Throw in some experience in digital marketing, enough time spent on Tumblr to cause permanent brain damage, plus a healthy dose of hubris, and you get the kind of person who’s excited to try and run DashCon Two.
Simone | Co-Director
Goddess of audacious emailing, Simone is our main contact point for sponsors. She’s also our co-director, with professional experience in event planning for a local charity, and half a decade of experience organizing community events and volunteering at conventions. Her long history of dragging her introverted friends outside is deeply intertwined with her passion for community and fandom, which is the driving force behind this clownshow.
Intern | Intern
We were originally planning to put her name here, but I think it’s funnier not to. Our intern is remarkably overqualified for her position, having run the social media accounts of far more important people than us. However, ever since she discovered the ability to channel the spirit of Dashcon we haven’t had the heart to tell her she’s too good for us. We just have to hope she doesn’t start a cult or something.
Martin | Artistic Director
Our artist, venue coordinator, and forever DM, Martin is well and truly accustomed to dealing with tomfoolery of all sorts. He’s run more booths at artist alleys/vendors halls than he can count, and has spent more money than he cares to admit. His work in the museum/library field means he’s very familiar with the planning,settup, and running of local fairs, festivals, and markets. He’s made all of the lovely art you’ve seen on this website, and so much more of his dnd characters, which you can see by following him on Tumblr (@paintbrushinacoffeecup) or instagram (@piccisfree)
Oz | Panel and Attendee relations
A con veteran who talks about poorly run events like someone who’s seen ‘nam, Oz is our Panel and Attendee relations coordinator. With nearly two decades of con experience, he knows all too well how good panels should be run, and even better how they should not be run.
Emma | Financial Consultant
Emma is our financial consultant, though we mostly just refer to her as our excel wizard. She’s also involved in the museum/library field, and is familiar with organizing events with over a thousand attendees. She’s been involved in the event coordinating space for half a decade now, and still somehow has the time to read, bake, and keep up to date with whatever is going on with F1.
Ruby | Accessibility Coordinator
Ruby is our accessibility coordinator and well versed in fandom necromancy. While she’s far from the only disabled person on our team, she has a decade of experience attending cons as a disabled person, and is familiar with what a con needs to be accessible to people with both mobility and non-mobility related disabilities. She’s girlbossed pretty hard, having helped plan multiple successful crowdfunding campaigns and managing her own small business, so we hope we have not pushed her too hard towards the sun.