Thank Yous and Pre-Teen Aliens at the GeekGirlCon ’16 Closing Ceremony
The final moments of GeekGirlCon are always bittersweet. On the one hand, it is when it becomes very clear very fast just how near the end really is. On the other, it brings with it the Closing Ceremony, which is always such a magical way to conclude the other-worldly experience that is GeekGirlCon.
To start off, GeekGirlCon staff and board members thanked attendees for spending this weekend celebrating socially-conscious geekdom. They also took a moment to address the sheer amount of time and energy staff and Agents voluntarily and consistently dedicate to the mission of making GeekGirlCon a reality. They implored attendees to add their support to the pool as donors and volunteers. It was a moment of true gratitude all around and a real indication of just what sort of atmosphere GeekGirlCon cultivates. Here is a video compiled of scenes and feels from GeekGirlCon ’16.
After the last shoutout was given and the last round of genuinely heart-warming, congratulatory applause had trickled away, the main event was announced and actors from Jet City Improv took to the stage to debut their upcoming show: Periods in History.
What followed was a seriously girl-power, geek-power, down-with-the-patriarchy-power performance. The show was comprised of five distinct scenes, each based on audience suggestions collected before the show began. The actors formulated the stories by pairing interesting moments in history with the daily habits of con attendees.
A pre-teen alien negotiating with confused humans. Photo by Sayed Alamy.
How the first woman got to space via star-shaped origami. Photo by Sayed Alamy.
Covering everything from pre-teen aliens in mid-century Roswell to a coffee-obsessed King Henry VIII, the show was equal parts pure hilarity and subtle but sincere jokes about the common experience of disenfranchised peoples and the importance of feminism. It was clear in these instances how completely GeekGirlCon has become the safe space it was originally conceived to be.
Jet City Improv Performing at GeekGirlCon ’16. Photo by Sayed Alamy.
The final minutes of GeekGirlCon ‘16 were ones of unironic joy and connectedness. After the performance, the actors lingered near the stage to answer questions from audience members about their work and comedy in general. It was undoubtedly the conclusion an event as monumental as GeekGirlCon ’16 deserved and I can’t imagine witnessing something more accurately portraying the significance of community in action.
GeekGirlCon ‘16 may be over, but our community is strong enough to prevail even while an irl manifestation isn’t underway. Follow GeekGirlCon on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr for updates on offseason goings on and general geeky musings; be sure to fill out our post-con survey; and let the momentum incited by GeekGirlCon ‘16 carry you through the coming months!
