Upon the Brodeo Reunion

I've been thinking about this particular topic for a while but only now do I feel the necessary time has passed to allow me to articulate my thoughts.

 

Yes, it was me that got the GFW Radio "The Brodeo" Reunion at PAX '09 rolling. I started pushing the rock at the end of January 2009 and by the time September 5, 2009 arrived I was a ball of nervous tension.  I'm pretty sure that anyone that interacted with me the day of the Reunion would be able to tell you I was wound up about something.  Besides hoping that everything would come together the way I planned in my head, I worried about the audio quality, the crowd response, the artwork... a million other little details pressed against the inside of my skull.

 

In this clouded state I met Jeff Green at the My Sims Agents part of EA's PAX booth to touch base about the approaching panel.

I stammered at first, hoping the blaring from Brutal Legend and Dead Space: Downfall made it less noticeable. We chatted for a bit but I'd been standing still for

too long and my right leg started twitching.

The whole meeting felt a little weird for the simple fact that a voice I was so familiar with from the podcasts was suddenly coming out of a guy's mouth standing in front of me.  And it wasn't a one way conversation -- I could interact. I don't remember much of the conversation.  I know we talked about the

upcoming panel and at one point Tina Sanchez, 1UP's Community Manager interrupted but beyond that it was a blur.

I hit the streets of Seattle soon after and just started walking. On the circle back to the convention center, I stopped for a beer and burger.  Soon enough I was outside the Raven Theatre, watching a long line form in front of the theatre.  I met Ben Curran who had taken it upon himself to have posters, featuring Bill Mudron's artwork, produced for the event. Chatted with him for a bit, just long enough for the first signs that my anxiety was starting to wane. Just talking to another human being, particularly one that really appreciated what the Brodeo was, helped me relax. Then the line of Jeff Green, Sean Molloy, Shawn Elliott, Robert Ashley, and Ryan Scott trooped into the room.

It was right then that it felt like I was suddenly the gate crasher at someone else's high school reunion.

I remember exchanging some polite handshakes and nods and "Nice to meet yous" with the guys and Robert Ashley saying he expected me to be shorter and 1UP's David Ellis thanking me for getting the Reunion together.

 

         

Jeff Green, Ryan Scott, Robert Ashley, Shawn Elliott and Sean Molloy get ready (left); Khahil White, one of the PAX organizers introduces himself (right)

Soon enough the room was full of people. 350 people! I briefly had their attention at the front of the room thanks to the guys allowing me an indulgence: the introductions. If I could get in a time machine and change one thing about the introductions it would be change my use of the word "and" when I should have said, "so."  Then I'd go kill Hitler and possibly grab some ice cream when it was on sale last week.  Listening (and re-listening) to the intro, I can now tell precisely when 9 months of tension snaps. Halfway through Robert's intro my voice actually changes.

 

The Raven Theatre fills up.

 

I actually had to watch and listen to the Reunion, even after having a front row seat for the event. Like I said, my brain was cloudy. So much so, that even Shawn Elliott's sincere thanks directed to me near the end of the panel didn't even register until I listened to the recording.

After the panel, there was some autograph signing outside the theatre and some more half-remembered conversations, like my chat with Anthony Gallegos about this scrawling signature. I don't recall anything of importance talked about and soon enough the area was empty and I stood there with my rolled up posters wondering what just happened. I had heard of a 1UP gathering at Gameworks so I went there to round out my night with a large mug of beer and a goofy grin on my face staring at nothing in particular.

Upon Tina Sanchez

There's a lot of hate out there for Tina Sanchez on some of the Internet's gaming forums. I really don't understand it, especially after meeting her.  She's as cute as a button and can talk with anyone comfortably as I witnessed standing in line for fifteen minutes at Gameworks to pass on a message.

Upon the Thing That Got Me to Write This MRI

Jeff Green wrote a post on his blog about the event, which I'll partially quote below:

"Of course, the proverbial icing on the cake [of PAX] was the GFW Radio reunion, which was just an incredible blast, humbling and exciting and satisfying in so many ways--not to mention just being a serious ego boost. Because, hey, let's not be falsely modest: Having hundreds of people lining up, hours ahead of time, to hear you talk, is a fucking surreal and awesome experience, and is easily one of the highlights of my entire professional career to date."

The emphasis is my own because it wouldn't have happened without me.  I placed my involvement in such an understated fashion -- I blame a Canadian up-bringing -- that I didn't even introduce myself during the panel intro. Or take the opportunity to plug The Armchair Empire.  Well, I'm taking credit now!  And if I could play a major role in giving Jeff Green a highlight for his professional career, it's only fair. The laughs and insight Jeff, Shawn, Sean, Ryan and Robert have given me over the years needed to be paid back somehow.

 

Appropriately standing in front of a painting featuring a topless woman holding a monkey, from left to right: Robert Ashley, Anthony Gallegos, Shawn Elliott, Ryan Scott, Jeff Green and Sean Molloy.

 

(September 30, 2009)