Let your freak flag fly
Everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere. Maybe they've been told their whole lives that they're too loud, too quiet, too this, too that... never fitting into the mold that people are trying to fit them into. I, for one, have always been told that I'm too loud (spend an hour with my family and you'd understand why!). I also think members of my family feel that I'm a little "extra". I tend to keep myself slightly subdued when around them in an effort to dilute who I am... for lack of better words. I'm sure I am not alone in this.
However, this past weekend I went to my first BroadwayCon and let me tell you... I found my people! It's like at the end of the No Rain video by Blind Melon where the bee girl finds all the other bee girls. It felt like coming home. The entire weekend I was surrounded by people breaking into song, singing along to music that was playing (or simply just singing!). People walking around in cosplay and theatre shirts. People pointing to each other's shirts and gear excited that there were other people just like them. On Friday I were my "Puff Pride" shirt and had people screaming, "Puff Pride!!" at me all day. It was the best feeling. I had a similar experience at a music festival in September of 2018, but this was heightened. No one was judging anyone else. Everyone was sharing the same love and you could see that other people were comfortable in the space as well.
Theatre people are often told that they are too much when around non-theatre people. We're too loud, sing too much... too "extra". BwayCon brings all those "extra" people together so that we can be "extra" together and not diminish ourselves for the sake of others. Being able to be 100% yourself without having to worry about what someone else is thinking is extremely freeing. I even did my own "cosplay" (I wouldn't actually consider this cosplay but there's no other term for it lol)
However, this past weekend I went to my first BroadwayCon and let me tell you... I found my people! It's like at the end of the No Rain video by Blind Melon where the bee girl finds all the other bee girls. It felt like coming home. The entire weekend I was surrounded by people breaking into song, singing along to music that was playing (or simply just singing!). People walking around in cosplay and theatre shirts. People pointing to each other's shirts and gear excited that there were other people just like them. On Friday I were my "Puff Pride" shirt and had people screaming, "Puff Pride!!" at me all day. It was the best feeling. I had a similar experience at a music festival in September of 2018, but this was heightened. No one was judging anyone else. Everyone was sharing the same love and you could see that other people were comfortable in the space as well.
Theatre people are often told that they are too much when around non-theatre people. We're too loud, sing too much... too "extra". BwayCon brings all those "extra" people together so that we can be "extra" together and not diminish ourselves for the sake of others. Being able to be 100% yourself without having to worry about what someone else is thinking is extremely freeing. I even did my own "cosplay" (I wouldn't actually consider this cosplay but there's no other term for it lol)
Now, in any other environment I would have felt like an idiot walking around like this. Yes, I'm just wearing a hat and a hoodie, but for those that knew it was obvious what I was doing. Did I feel slightly uncomfortable on the subway that morning? Absolutely, because I knew that until I got to the Con that people would be looking at me sideways (I know it's NYC, but still).
We should never have to feel like we have to hide who we are or dim our light for the sake of others, but being able to spend time around similar people for 3 straight days was extraordinary. If we lived in a more accepting world, maybe we could all just be ourselves all the time regardless of the company we keep. But until we live in that perfect world, just remember that you're perfect the way you are. Whatever it is that makes you "extra", lean into it. Just be yourself, whoever that may be. Maybe we can all find our other bee people if we just keep at it and stop hiding.
- Danielle
