On one hand, this is pretty awesome, I won't lie. :D As far as I can tell, we had to pass at least _some_ hurdle to get a free membership and hotel room out of these people. (I don't _think_ we just got picked out of a hat?) For a con that was invite-only to start with, that's pretty awesome...

On the other, ugh, their event site is so full of Monetization, Disruption, and Self-Branding gorp. It's clearly NOT aimed at small, static-medium creators like Peg and me...

So basically, I'm anticipating feeling like the Slacker Barbarians At The Gates through the whole con.

I can totally deal with this. There's a lot to gain and nothing to lose, really. So my current plan is to pack a bathrobe, get a White Russian from the bar as soon as I get there, and play up my Dudeness as much as possible. I have absolutely NO fear of coming off as a hilarious low-rent outsider there, and if anybody has anything to fear, it's them. :D

@zebratron2084

only partially serious suggestion: offer the disruptive monitized branded dudebros terrible drink advice "oh sure try the malort" "baiju! good baiju" "you gotta ask the bar tender for thunderbird" etc..