05/06/2024
I’m still processing 2024, but I have thoughts – very long wordy thoughts.
In addition to having my Trek Untold booth, it was my first event as program director. When I first joined this con a few weeks after their inaugural 2023 show, I just wanted to help with the podcasters and make sure their needs were met. Time went on, and I ended up filling that director role, so I added that title to my growing list of duties.
Unlike you can’t have the best of both worlds, and it wasn’t an easy balance helping to organize a show while trying to support my own interests. I neglected a lot of the things I did last year to prep myself and it hurt a bit to do that, but that’s the job I signed up for (and later fell into).
I gave feedback to one of my fellow podcasters about their panel, and it’s something I’ve learned from years of doing interviews that ties into my behind-the-scenes experience. When I conduct an interview, moderate a panel, or help put together a show, I am in service to the guests, our fine podcasters, and honored attendees - and not myself. It’s not about me, and never should be.
I spent an hour moderating the DS9 panel, and I ultimately asked one question that started the chat and then “next question” for the remaining session. There was so much I wanted to ask, and it would have been great to put me over as someone who looked like they knew what they were doing, but plans changed and that hot crowd wanted their borderless time with the stars, so that’s what they got! I’m disappointed with how I represented myself during that hour, but several tough lessons were learned or reinforced. You have to be fluid, roll with the punches, and most importantly - what I want to do isn’t what everyone else wants to do.
I wanted to sit in my booth to promote myself and meet more fans, but I think I spent a collective two hours in my booth this year because fires had to be put out to make sure others had a great time. We had an amazing group of podcasters and it was my duty to make sure they had the most special time possible for that weekend, make their dreams come true, and in turn, make sure the attendees had a memorable weekend too (and there were much more of them this year than in 2023). It’s a sacrifice, and the price is not being able to hang out with my colleagues, get to know them better, sell myself and meet new or existing fans of what I do, buy some merch, get more autographs, etc., but someone has to do these things or many more than myself will suffer.
Everyone wants their moment in the spotlight, and I worked in the shadows like Section 31 to make sure as many people as possible had that. Was it a perfect event? No. There were still growing pains, but we improved things from the debut show, adapted and improvised to make things work whenever possible this year, and know what to do for 2025 to make sure they don’t repeat.
This is where I thank Stefanie for her faith in me, Emily for seeing how much more I could be, Melissa for managing that main stage like a boss, Flash for making that same place function at optimal efficiency, Tiffany and Saravit for their tireless work in the upstairs panel rooms, Chris and Moises for their commanding presences that kept things running smooth, my three assistants Mark, Marland, and Evan for their amazing help, the Klingon Pop Warrior for being a hero (we ran a Karaoke party together that neither of us were meant to), and of course, my partner Andrea for being my Number One through not just this weekend, but the entire process over these past twelve months.
This is the most aggrandizing I will be about myself, and I don’t share this to ask for platitudes (especially because Trek LI is a TEAM EFFORT and I’m merely a part of this exceptional crew who I bet feel the same way). I write this to say “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” It’s not easy to put aside the things I hoped to accomplish or wanted to do, but hearing everyone say how happy they were to have their magical moment makes it worth it. Seeing the influx of positive social media posts this year made me feel like a difference was made from last year, and this little show is starting to grow into a force of nature.
I want to be more selfish, but I know how it feels to be neglected and unwanted. Trek Long Island is the one place where you should feel empowered and emboldened to be yourself and have the best weekend ever. Nobody should feel like garbage walking out of the event (and if you did, tell me what happened and I promise you won’t next year).
There’s more I want to say but I don’t have words for that yet, so for now, thank you to everyone who attended. Whether you were a celebrity guest, vendor, podcaster, volunteer, or attendee, I hoped it was everything you wanted and more, and I aim to do my part to deliver a bigger show next year and beyond. See you next year for Trek Long Island 3!
