Brony Fan Fair

[summerday]

Is anybody going to Brony Fan Fair in Austin, TX in September?

[Evening_Moonstone]

I went last year, but won't be able to attend this year (as our baby is due a few weeks before).

[Feathermay]

I'm not sure yet. I will if I know other arena members are.

[Pandora]

I've thought about it but I don't know how likely it will be.

[hathorcat]

Sounds interesting!

[summerday]

I went last year, but won't be able to attend this year (as our baby is due a few weeks before).

How was it?

[spottedslug]

I bet it's lots of fun! Way too far away for me, lol.

[achab1984]

I did not know anything about it. Is this the first year or has there been one before?

[CrazyCatPony]

Is it anything like the mlp fair? Is it fun?

[summerday]

I believe this is the second year, and it's definitely G4 geared. My 5 year old told me she was going, so I'm thinking we'll make it there.

[Pandora]

So, out of curiosity...will there be lots of ponies for sale?  My daughter and I would go nuts! lol

[Evening_Moonstone]

It's a G4-focused thing.  Last year they really underestimated the number of attendees and it was ridiculously crowded (they planned for 200 and 900 showed up).  There were no ponies for sale to speak of.  The vendor room had handmade plush, some G4-related pony goods (like handpainted glasses with cutie marks on them), some G4 fanart prints, a table of lovely blindbag custom ponies, and the basic things like sealed blind bag figures and some brushable ponies on cards.

Due to the insane crowding, we didn't get to attend many panels, as they filled up very fast.  The one we did get to attend required an hour of waiting in line first (it was an improv panel, very entertaining).  If it hadn't been so crowded, I would have liked to see more of the panels.

The demographic was almost exclusively young adult males.  I was one of the only girls there.  There was some cosplay (my husband and I are MLP cosplayers, and we enjoyed the contest), but mostly the attendees wore the We Love Fine shirts, sometimes with handmade accessories like wings and pony hats.  There were a handful of children there, but not very many.

It was ok - fun for the opportunity to cosplay and see the spectacle, but it was also fairly local for us (only a few hours drive).  I wouldn't make a long drive to get there, as they didn't have any non-fandom guests (I don't get much out of the 'fandom' stuff for MLP, I don't follow any podcasts or fan music or things like that, so those convention guests don't mean anything to me).  There were no industry guests (real VAs, animators, etc) or convention exclusives (like trading cards).  Overall it felt like a small anime con, but with a pony focus.  I don't think there was any representation for previous ponies, though.

[summerday]

Thanks for the info. I'm in Houston and my Mom lives in Austin. So, we don't mind the drive. We'll probably still go. Are you going to go again, Evening_Moonstone?

[Evening_Moonstone]

We can't this year - our baby is due right before then.

[Clipper]

me and snyfez are going and will have a booth set up

we had tons of G1 and g3's at our booth. we were the only ones selling ponies though..

If you're looking for any special G1's PM me with a want list and I will bring them for you

last year was insane.. there was over 1000 people there this year they expect about 2500 + to show :-X!

*edit* - there are also a few members of the arena from san antonio setting up a booth as well.. They have G1-g4 ponies.. I know this because last year I bought some Euro G2's at Brony Fan Fair, and was super happy