10 December 2006 @ 01:44 am
The skinny on a phat night...my night with "the browncoats"...  
Okay, there seems to be people wondering what is/was going on. Here's the long and short of it:

Being the spokesman behind the scholarship fund for BE CHARITABLES I was going to be involved with this Flanvention II Serenity/Firefly convention. I had planned on showing up on Sunday for a couple hours, talk about the charity, and then participate in the auction with the cast of Firefly.

I learned (a few weeks ago)that it had been posted online that this convention might fall apart. I googled the info to learn more and found myself at a secondary, supplemental website that basically served as a "just in case" website if Flanvention was really to be cancelled. I saved that page...JUST IN CASE.

I checked it last week once I was told the convention was back on. I checked it again this morning and learned the awful news that it had been cancelled the day the convention was supposed to start. I went to the "just in case" Browncoats backup website to see what was going on. I emailed the contact on that site and offered to show up and hang out with everyone who had shown up into town and had nothing to do. I didn't want them to leave empty-handed.

Now I know I'm no Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt but I thought the very least people should get to do is hang out with someone from t.v. before they flew back to their respective cities, states, and even countries (like Wales, Australia, etc.) I was emailed quickly with info as to where and when everyone might be having a drink at a bar. I showed up to mingle. I just felt so awful about what had happened and I felt some obligation to keep my promise of seeing everyone. It was just the right thing to do.

Much to my surprise, when I arrived, the wonderful cast members of Firefly were there hanging out with everyone. I thought I would be the only "token" celebrity people might see on their weekend and that certainly wouldn't have been worth flying out for. Everyone seemed to have a marvelous time, I did as well. Most people commented on how this situation turned out to be even better than the original convention idea. I ended up having so much fun talking with so many people that we basically closed down the bar. Thanks to all the awesome Firefly fans who were so much fun to hang with (and incidentally most were VMars fans too!).

We all made lemonade out of lemons. And they all lived happily ever after.
 
 
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Stef: YEAH! MM in Angst[info]chaotic4life on December 10th, 2006 09:52 am (UTC)
One step closer to world domination *g*

Hugz!I am sure you and Firefly's peeps really made the weeked!
TV Whisperer: serenity - ship[info]electrcspacegrl on December 10th, 2006 09:52 am (UTC)
Oh, thank you so much for doing this, Michael! I have friends down there who watch VM and I bet they were so excited (and surprised!) to see you. This just warms my heart that all the actors and Firefly composer and comic writer and SoCal Browncoats and everybody else took the time out from their busy lives to show the Browncoats a good time - without even getting paid for it. What wonderful people you all are.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It means so much to everybody in the fandom. :)
Rebecca: FIREFLY // big damn heroes[info]outoftime on December 10th, 2006 09:52 am (UTC)
Like I said before, you = awesome.
Preggo Meg: Firefly[info]meghatron on December 10th, 2006 09:52 am (UTC)
Browncoats are consistently the most devoted and dependable fandom I've ever been a part of. I'm so glad you were able to spend time among their number.
jujubee[info]jujubee on December 10th, 2006 09:53 am (UTC)
You're too nice, Michael!
n: swiffer[info]pumpkinpnts on December 10th, 2006 09:57 am (UTC)
YAY!

Side note: VM ruined the "when life gives you lemons make lemonde" quote for me. Now every time I hear someone say it, I think of chlamydia. But it makes me laugh.
Just saying!

"Smokin' hot.": Santa-J2 from liz_w[info]without_me on December 10th, 2006 10:06 am (UTC)
Michael, you are seriously one of the nicest guys around. Your generosity is beyond anything anyone could ever dream of asking. I hope the universe rewards you with continued success and happiness.
Kare: Antique Roses-- digital_diva[info]powrhug on December 10th, 2006 03:51 pm (UTC)
I think I'll just say "ditto" to what A said here. Rarely do you find someone ("real world" or celebrity) like you, and I mean that in the most wonderful way possible: he's kind! he's articulate! he's generous with his fans! not to mention others' fans!

For the record, since I've never seen Firefly, you wouldn't have been "token" anything if I myself had made the trip.

Kaitrin「ケイトリン」: MM // muhney approved[info]rebel_angel on December 10th, 2006 10:08 am (UTC)
Thanks so much for showing up Michael! It really made our weekend that much nicer. I can't even express how awesome it was to be able to see actors from not one, but TWO of my favorite shows. ♥
the enigmatic E.: tainted love is too fast to dance to[info]zauberer_sirin on December 10th, 2006 10:09 am (UTC)
Michael, you are so nice. You and the cast of Firefly, too. (i wish there were this kind of conventions in my country)
I prefer the term "Professional Crazed Fan"[info]angelite on December 10th, 2006 10:11 am (UTC)
You are awesome.

By the way, if you got to hang out with any English people (called, maybe, Tricia or Katy or Rach), I know you would have made their day. They're friends of mine, and I know Tricia in particular shared my squeeing when you were announced for the Starfury con in May.
Rebecca[info]outoftime on December 10th, 2006 10:15 am (UTC)
Ok, so I should be sleeping, but I felt moved to make an icon to celebrate your heroics. Feel free to use it, look at it, laugh at it - whatever. You're part of the Firefly fandom now, and you're a Big Damn Hero :)


TV Whisperer: firefly - still flyin[info]electrcspacegrl on December 10th, 2006 11:47 am (UTC)
Quick, someone get Michael to start watching Firefly! ;)
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Marion: firefly/serenity[info]entwashian on December 10th, 2006 10:16 am (UTC)
You rock, Michael.

The browncoats are a shiny group of people, and I'm so glad they had you around to make their shindig even better.
Ally: vmars - lamb - textless cocky[info]vanya_elda on December 10th, 2006 10:26 am (UTC)
I personally know of at least five or so people that were completely elated to see you walk through the door of that bar, Michael. Your generosity to fans is unprecedented. Thank you for all that you do. It makes me so happy to be a part of this fandom.
Court: Kaylee thats my girl - liz_guerin[info]wordsleadmeon on December 10th, 2006 10:56 am (UTC)
I know I said this in my comment in the previous post, but it can't hurt to say it again, right? So here it goes...

As far as I'm concerned you definitely do deserve, and have more than earned, the title of Big Damn Hero.

And for the record? I don't go throwing that around willy-nilly. Until today, for four whole years, it's been reserved for the crew of a certain Firefly-class vessel. But you've more than proven yourself to be as generous with your fans, and apparently theirs, as the BDHs are. You really, truly are made of awesome for wanting to go to the backup event to make sure that everyone got to hang out with SOMEBODY other than fellow Browncoats.
Polter-Cow: Good for you[info]spectralbovine on December 10th, 2006 11:01 am (UTC)
Aha! Now it all makes sense! Go you!

The FF cast is surprisingly awesome, huh?
iwillrememberu: Scarecrow[info]iwillrememberu on December 10th, 2006 11:23 am (UTC)
That's true... you're no Tom Hanks nor Brad Pitt... you're just way better :)
take heart, sweetheart[info]aliice on December 10th, 2006 11:58 am (UTC)
awww
Regan: Stephen Colbert - Mrs. Colbert[info]regan117 on December 10th, 2006 12:00 pm (UTC)
That is so nice of you. I'm really sorry I missed you then.

Don't forget about all of us who were flying out to Burbank Friday. I live in Pennsylvania and go to school, so not wanting to miss too much class, I was flying out at 6 a.m. Friday morning. I learned of the cancellation at 9 p.m. Thursday night, which left me scrambling to change my plane ticket.

It cost me $226 to change the ticket on top of the $500 I had originally paid. And I am also out the $900 in convention tickets it's looking like I will never get back.

So it all just makes me infinitely more sad to see things like this posted on the Internet all weekend. I was one of the people who was screwed so badly by Booster and I lost so much money...and I don't even get to see you or meet the Firefly actors at all. The whole situation just has me depressed, and I've been so mopey all weekend.

But it was amazing of you to show up to hang out with the Browncoats, considering you're not even a part of their fandom. I have to say that I'm not surprised you went. Thanks for helping to make it a memorable weekend for at least some of the people who were taken by Booster.
Cindy[info]cindywrites on December 10th, 2006 12:39 pm (UTC)
I'm so sorry to read what has happened to you with this convention, Regan, and that you missed the Back-Up party. I knew from reading Google cached pages of the BE forums, that this would be the case for the fans who had the opportunity to make a last minute cancelation. You made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time.
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kacie krasinski[info]no_mysteryleft on December 10th, 2006 12:24 pm (UTC)
you are clearly filled with the christmas spirit... it's enough to make this grinch's heart grow three times it's size.

way to be amazing.
maxymama: U of Az basketball[info]maxymama on December 10th, 2006 12:30 pm (UTC)
That is awesome of you, Michael. Super big smoochies to you and the cast of Firefly!
an idea is bulletproof: VM once upon a time[info]elizalavelle on December 10th, 2006 12:33 pm (UTC)
Thank you for showing up there. I have a lot of friends who went to FlanII and I've been so relieved to hear that people are still taking the time to show up even though the event itself fell apart initially. It's people like you who have helped to make the weekend a success!
Cindy[info]cindywrites on December 10th, 2006 12:33 pm (UTC)
Michael, as I said in my own entry here, thank you. I was and am quite touched by your kindness, and your desire to ensure these fans had something joyful to remember about this weekend. There's a pretty big cross-section of Veronica Mars fans who, like me, are fans of Whedon's works, and I'm sure they were thrilled to see you there.

The Firefly cast rocks. They've had a particularly strong bond with their fans though, so although I was impressed that they attended, I was largely unsurprised. To see you reach out like that knocked the wind out of me. I understand your involvement better now, but I'm still never not going to be blown away that you did this. You are a good human.

You did make lemonade, and you served it how it's best served, with hope.
Intergalactic Wanker: can't take the sky (serenity)[info]stimpson on December 10th, 2006 12:40 pm (UTC)
You kick ass, dude. I've got a friend over there at the moment and I know that she - along with everyone else there - most certainly appreciates all the time the celeb guests have put in for the Backup Bash. Imagine getting a bonus sheriff! That's value for money :) Glad to hear you had a terrific time partying with the Browncoats, they're a tops lot!
TV Whisperer: joss - heroical-er[info]electrcspacegrl on December 10th, 2006 01:05 pm (UTC)
Britney[info]borgin on December 10th, 2006 01:16 pm (UTC)
As someone who wasn't even attending Flanvention, thank you. The Back-Up Bash sounds like it was a lot of fun.