#VidCon2013 Day 2

VIDCON DAY TWO! This post took me the entire month to write because I had so much to say. I tried to make my commentary as concise as possible while still showing how excited I was about everything that happened. If youtube isn't really your thing, you can skip the words and just look at the pictures, but you didn't need me to tell you that. 

At VidCon, getting somewhere a half hour early is like arriving an hour and a half late, so my anxiety level was off the wall when my friends and I showed up 30 minutes before the doors opened. It wasn't until we got into the building 20 minutes later that we realized we were in the wrong place! Because of a wrong turn our ride took when dropping us off, we unknowingly got in line for the mainstage when we actually wanted to be in line for the expo hall. Noooo! My friends and I scrambled through random doors until we found a side entrance to the expo hall. That's when God blessed us. The doors to the signing area hadn't been opened to community members yet, but no one was prohibiting people from using the side entrance either. In other words, we got to get in line for famous youtube peeps before anyone else AND we didn't have to wait in line for hours! We were the second group in line to meet Charlie (of Charlieissocoollike, duh). Thank you Jesus!

The line to meet Charlie and Friends right after we got out of it

Then a dude we met the day before let us hop in line with him to meet the British beauty gurus Zoella, Sprinkleofglitter, and Tanya Burr.  Honestly, they're people I don't watch, but my friend loves them and we got to cut in line, so good things!

An hour into waiting for the British Crew and I see Michael Buckley! Ten minutes after that... JOSEPH BIRDSONG! I love this kid. He puts the bop in the bop shoo bop shoo bop.

Finally our shot with the British Crew! (Yes, Caspar is from South Africa, but it's just like calling One Direction a British boy band even though Niall is from Ireland.) These five dudes have a combined total of over 5,895,000 subscribers. Girls were crying. We people were bribing other fans with money to let them cut in line. Marriage proposals were made. It was a zoo. Erin and I spent five minutes discussing who we were going to stand by: "I want to touch Caspar the most, but I don't really care about Joe or Jim." I'm lucky my friend is extremely generous and let me stand by Alfie and Marcus even though she's in love with Alfie.

Everything I learned about sex, I learned from Laci Green's sex education videos. She held a very casual meetup on the grass and it was so cool to just hang out with her. I could only stay at the meetup for a short while before I had to go back to waiting in line for the British Crew, so I didn't get to personally talk with Laci or get a picture with her. My friend, on the other hand, had a one-on-one with her and they basically shared their life stories.

 Being a Dave Days fan means you're a Chris C fan by default. Dave and Chris are real life best friends who often make collaborative videos which I obsess over. I saw Chris again on the second day and had him sign my shirt with pink sharpie (he's the only one who signed in pink!). We talked for a minute and he made a joke and it was a dream. Then I took 11 pictures of him without his knowledge. You know, for reasons.

Of course, we had to meet the queen of YouTube (and Twitter, Taco Bell, Tumblr, etc.). Tyler Oakley is special to me and my friends because he, like us, is from MICHIGAN. We didn't want to leave his line without a picture and a signature, so we got creative. Since massively popular youtubers can't do both without being there for 80+ hours, we figured that if we were last in line, he'd make an exception. We were near the end anyway, so we let a few groups of people cut in line and BOOYA we were last. He greeted us with open arms and we told him we were from the mitten state and he exclaimed, "My people!"

FiveAwesomeGirls fangirl moment! In eighth grade, I religiously watched 5AG, one of the best video projects on Youtube, so I was happy beyond belief to meet Lauren and Kristina. I also saw Liane, but she was smoking a cigarette with some dudes outside and I didn't want to interrupt.

During Meekakitty's singing set, I glanced behind me and standing an arms' length away was Shawna and Mitchell Davis! Mitchell and I made eye contact and he looked at me like, "Please don't ask for a picture," so I pretended to act as if it were completely normal to have two of youtube's most inspiring content creators standing behind me. Shawna was a sweetheart though and stayed to take pictures with fans after her best friend's performance was over.

The hotels on Anaheim Convention Center's property are prime grounds for meeting youtubers of all ranks. Walking around the lobby is like walking into that one Disney Channel special where Raven, Hannah Montana, and Zack & Cody are all staying in the same hotel. As I strode to meet the main dude from Epic Meal Time, I turned around for a second and saw someone a thousand times better. Troye Sivan had miraculously made it to the front desk without having a mob of fangirls following him... and then my friends asked for pictures which attracted a line of people. Sorry Troye!

And finally, the perfect ending to a perfect day. My friend and I were making our way out of the hotel to leave VidCon for good when we ran into Soundlyawake. My moth dropped; I was starstruck. Despite the fact that his physical presence made me forget his name and how to say anything other than "ohmygod," he was incredibly sweet and asked if I wanted a picture. He noticed my friend making a disappointed face after taking the first picture so he was like, "Oh, is the lighting bad? Let's take another one." None of the youtubers I met this weekend could compare to how nice he was. He deserves all the positive adjectives.

Thank you for reading about my VidCon adventures :) I hope to compile a list of tips and secrets for anyone who wishes to enjoy the event in the future. 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! I INTERRUPT YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED LIFE TO URGE YOU TO WATCH CRABSTICKZ' NEW INTERNET ANIMAL IMPRESSIONS VIDEO.

Crabstickz is a comic genius on youtube. If you have not watched his videos, you are missing out on one of our generation's most gifted. I cannot say enough good things about Chris without outright professing my love for him.

If that wasn't your style, try my favorite, "I'm single and I LOVE it!" which is for anyone with a sense of humor. Or if you're interested in internet culture, watch "Fangirls!" Then there is the best of the best: "Internet Animal Impressins 2!"

98% of inside jokes between my friend Erin and I are quotes straight from Crabstickz videos and I honestly think we're closer because of him. (Erin, if you're reading this, hi. I read your email and laughed a billion times and smiled profusely. It took me a half hour to read though, so it will take me several days to reply. I love you!)

You may return to your usual obligations. And if that includes doing stats homework on the p-value and null hypothesis, go watch a movie and eat chocolate instead. Ain't nobody got time for that.

#VidCon2013 Day 1

So VidCon happened. Actually, it happened a month ago almost exactly. You might think that makes this post a bit late compared to most reviewers, but the entire trip was so perfect and dream-like that I couldn't possibly get all my thoughts on the subject into words so soon. Now that I'm at a significant distance from the weekend and I can safely drown in nostalgia, come with me down VidCon Lane!

Day 1

The VidCon schedule is so jam-packed with events, that it's impossible to be a part of everything that's going on. From panels to meetups, and signings to concerts, you can find your favorite youtuber in almost any situation. For my friends and I, the signings were our greatest interest since it allows you to say a few words to someone you admire and get a picture with that person (if the admin is nice enough to let you!). Because of this, we spent the first nine hours of our day in the expo hall.

First stop: Strawburry17! Meghan Camarena has been the female youtuber I've watched the longest, so naturally I headed to her line first. When she and her affiliates walked to their table, I waved at her brother David and he waved back and I cried...yeahhhhh I'm a professional fangirl. Meghan was so nice and I basically spewed my love for her and she listened to all of it. I hope her and Jimmy get married.

Winner for Most Dedicated to her Fans is Brittani Louise Taylor. She stood up to to hug her fans instead of sitting behind the signing table. I ran into her later happily talking with people in the bathroom, then at night she was saying hi to fans in the hotel lobby. Even more, I saw her meeting fans in the sponsor section of the expo hall the next day. She never stops!

Believe it or not, a friend of mine didn't know who Rebecca Black was until I told him about her a few days ago. To think he's never contemplated the options of what seat to take! Anyway, I discovered ol' Becky Black was very chill, despite her immense popularity at the gathering. When she went to sign my VidCon shirt, I told her there was vacant space next to a cat graphic and she got really excited. 

I heard Danielle Fishel was going to make an appearance somewhere, so I got out of line for Dan and Phil and found the Popsugar booth (the YT channel she's on). Not even two minutes later, she sat down behind the desk, lookin' perf (Do you see that hair!?!) and answered some questions from viewers. Guys, I was less than six feet from Topanga!!!

After waiting in line for FOUR HOURS to meet internet cult leaders Dan and Phil, here are the highlights:
- I handed each of them a note, to which Dan grabbed and set down on the gift table a few feet away. This gave me the perfect opportunity to admire his entire backside. Let me tell you, that boy fits a lot into those dark wash skinny jeans. He had love handles and I wanted to scream. *overcome with Dan feels*
- After Dan said he liked my hat, we had a conversation that went like this: ME: See that girl in the Doctor Who shirt right there? *points to my friend* Well she's never kissed a boy and I was wondering if you would be her first kiss. DAN: Ah, you know, I would, except there's like a pedophile law that says we can't.
- When my friends and I exited the queue I started crying. Legit sobs were coming out of me, I was so emotionally unstable from meeting them.

My friend and I ran into iamchrisc, and you'll see in day 2's post that I am his biggest fan.

One of the most hilarious and entertaining people on Youtube was filming a vlog when we saw her, so you can check out that epic moment here. We're doing her post-tea-sip-face, duh.

Whoa, this post is longer than a Zoella video and I haven't even mentioned half of the people I met on the first day of the convention. Other really cool things that happened were:

• Seeing The Boy Band Project perform. Check out their Cody Simpson cover; it's so good! 
• the DaveDays concert! See the iPhone in the middle of this video? My friend and I are the ones below it hyper-jumping like major corn balls. I just really have a soft spot for Dave...
• GIVING DAVE A HIGH-FIVE!

It was a fantastic day and I wish I could go back and do it all over again. Look forward to my recap of day 2 which was even more miraculous.

On Repeat: "Best Friends" - Dave Days ft. Chris C and MatthewDaMC
Currently Reading: The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo

So You Want To Watch Youtube?

As someone who has been avidly watching youtube since 2007, I have been dying to go to VidCon in California since John and Hank announced it in 2010.  But because I’m just a teenager from Michigan who has only traveled as west as Colorado, I knew I'd never have a chance to go.
My friend, however, recently moved near Anaheim, giving me the opportunity to visit her in California this summer.  In other words: I GET TO ATTEND VIDCON 2013.

*slides down a rainbow into a field of prancing unicorns* 
*floats on a cloud of youtube heaven* 
*dies a happy, blissful death*

While high on fangirl happiness, I created a list of my favorite youtubers and divided them into categories hoping that others would read and discover their new favorite youtuber. I guarantee there’s a channel you'll fall in love with and/or be addicted to. Read on and find out :)

01. BRITISH EYECANDY (sorry, I only watch enough to make a list of guys)

a. Jacksgap: Cheeky vlogs in HD brought to you by youtube’s most wanted: Jack Harries and his twin brother Finn. (key word: twin)

b. Danisnotonfire: Basically Tumblr in human form. He’s got great hair, a sarcastic sense of humor, and more knowledge of internet culture than, well, everyone on the internet.

c. Pointlessblog: He likes One Direction; he bakes with his mom; and he can ghetto booty dance. What more do you want?

MORE: MarcusButlerTV, Amazingphil, KickthePJ

02: FASHION&BEAUTY

a. Stilababe09: Weekly videos providing you with style inspiration and all the fun that comes with being a girl. Done with her quirky confidence, of course.

b. Macbarbie07: Fun DIY fashion ideas, seasonal lookbooks, and beauty favorites. It’s no surprise she has 1,620,000+ subscribers; she’s perfection.

c. Scarlettheartsmakeup: If you don’t hate her for being so darn gorgeous, you’ll love her for her sweet personality and beauty tutorials. Bonus: She was in Cody Simpson's "iYiYi" music video.

MORE: Zoella280390, AndreasChoice, theFashionCitizen

03. FUNNY

a. Crabstickz: He often dresses up in wigs and acts out scenes with several different characters played by himself. You’ll fall over laughing. Plus his accent is SO enticing.

b. Soundlyawake: He’s responsible for creating hits such as Sh*t Girls Say to Gay Guys and Humblebrags With Keisha. His humor is spot on with real life.

c. OlanRogers: His laugh accounts for half of his likability, and the other half comes from his signature vlogging style that will leave you in tears.

MORE: MattKoval, BlimeyCow, Kingsley

04. MUSICIAN

a. DaveDays: He does covers and music videos for popular songs while giving everything a pop punk twist. He is also my future husband.

b. KayteGrace: She has a natural talent that could rival Taylor Swift and He Is We. Check out “Soaked You In” and you’ll be singing it for days.

c. LandonAustin: On his channel, you’ll find romantic music videos set to his acoustic tracks. Offering both covers and original tunes, his passion for music is inspiring and effecting.

MORE: ChesterSee, gootmusic, ToriKelly

05: VLOGGER (sort of)

a. italktosnakes: Calling all nerds! Kristina Horner is here to bring you her views on Harry Potter, board games, and the writing process.

b. Hayleyghoover: She’s smart, witty, funny, and, frankly, everything you want to be. It’s a scientific fact that no one does it better than Hayley G.

c. JosephBirdsong: Beware, this Arkansas gay boy will steal your soul! He’ll tell you what’s up on alcohol, celebrities, and killer-Furbys.

MORE: CoffeyChat, TylerOakley, BooShoe37

06: BEST OF THE BEST

a. MeekaKitty: The amount of time she puts into editing her videos will make you question your motivation in life. Pretty much you’ll be waiting your whole life until the day you can call her your best friend.

b. Strawburry17: Music Video Pro. Positive Speaker FTW. All around fantastic person. She will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

c. Nanalew: Her videos are a window to the human soul, urging you to think deeper about your life and your time here on earth. Join the Lewnatics.

MORE: albinwonderland, whatthebuckshow, ninebrassmonkeys

07: DIY

a. BrittaniLouiseTaylor: While exuding happiness, she’ll show you how to bling out pretty much anything you own. Then at the end of nearly every video, she’ll do a giveaway contest. WOO!

b. TheSorryGirls: These Canadian besties will give you the best home-made gift ideas for every holiday, as well as offer tips and ideas for costumes and parties.

c. TheMrKate: For the advanced crafter, Mr. Kate gives the coolest DIY ideas that will make you shout, “I want that!”

MORE: threadbanger, anneorshine, PaperPastels

Obviously I only graced a few of the HUNDREDS of awesome youtubers out there. I watch at least 3 hours of youtube a day (except for recently since I gave up youtube for lent. I know, I'm crazy), so I have a ton more channels to suggest. The cool thing about YouTube is that once you find someone you like, it’s not hard to find a bunch of other people that are similar to them.

Let me know if you'd like more categories or channel suggestions! :)

And yes, I stole my title for this post from Karen Kavett, but she's fantastic too, so check her out.