Admin Josie's 40th Birthday Cast Reunion Fund
Donation protected
- Trio photo and autographs: 524
- 2 nights at nearby hotel: $600
- Meals for 2, for 2 days: $100
- Emergency/random expenses (tips, medical mishaps, etc) for 2: $100
- Microphones (4)- $55
- Tripod/lighting- $30
- Backup power $35
Needed fund: $1444
Current Fund: $100
In exchange for helping me have this once in a lifetime experience, in celebration of my 40th birthday, I will:
- Definitely: Update my page throughout the convention to help you experience it with me. Photos, videos, maybe even livestreams if I can figure out how to do those gracefully.
- Definitely: Give agitprop to each Pussycat during autograph time and tell them about this space, and what their work means to this community.
- Definitely: Give myself regular breaks from the crowd to try to manage my anxiety, agoraphobia, panic attacks and my ND needs in general, so I don’t have a melt down and/or hurt myself.
- Definitely: Bring my own snacks, breakfast, and lunch from home to minimize costs and maximize energy!
- Definitely: Host my virtual 40th Birthday Party on Disc Chord so we can all watch the Josie movie together (after the reunion, in April)
- Definitely: Answer any non-invasive questions about my experience at the convention.
- Definitely: investigate convention accessibility and report back on it.
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- Try to: Meet up with Josie page followers who are going to the convention (this will be dependent on the convention schedule and my own spoons, but I promise to try my best!
- Try to: meet the Pussycats via my influencer badge to ask them one or two questions based on what you all want me to ask (this will be dependent on whether I am allowed to schedule press time with them. I know they’re all gonna be busy, but since Rosario will only be around on Saturday, I’m sure her day is gonna be packed with Star Wars and Josie stuff; so this is a LONG shot).
- Try to: collab with Awesome Con on any Josie content they’re producing (dependent on what they offer me in terms of collaboration- I’ve already expressed my interest in this).
- Try to: ignore my imposter syndrome that will tell me I don’t deserve to be there (it already is. Shush, imposter syndrome!)
- Try to: build community and make connections with other con goers who seem like they might be leftists (dependent on my spoons)
- Try to: bring my leftist swag with me to disperse (dependent on how much swag I still have left in March. Stocks are kinda low rn tbh).
- Try to: support independent artists instead of spending money on branded merchandise (dependent on whether I have any spare money).
- Try to: not be a huge weirdo around people I’m meeting for the first time (I said TRY )
- Try to: BE in some photos even though I hate seeing pictures of myself.
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- Will not: do a face reveal, for safety reasons (probably.)
- Will not: overextend myself socially.
- Will not: do anything wacky or mischievous that will put my attendance and influencer badge in jeopardy (I can’t risk being elected before the reunion, sorry comrades).
Q&A:
Q: Why the group photo AND all three autographs?
A: Yeah, it’s a lot. It’s excessive. It’s supremely indulgent. And I could absolutely live without these things, for sure. But it’s about to be my 40th birthday. And this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s incredibly unlikely that these three actors will be on the east coast together to promote a Josie reunion again in my lifetime. I would like to take full advantage of this opportunity, if possible. And share as much of it with you all as I can!
Q: You live in Northern Virginia. Why do you need a hotel room? And why so close to the convention?
A: This convention is expecting over 70,000 people. Mr. Moviefone and I are NOT capable of navigating that for an entire day, much less three. Our neurodivergent brains and disabled bodies will NEVER be able to handle 8 hours + at a time, in a crowd like that. Between our autism, agoraphobia, social anxiety, general anxiety, OCD, migraines, panic attacks, arthritis, and other physical limitations, having a place as nearby as possible where we can go if either one of us needs to rest or remove ourselves from the overwhelming con swarm quickly, is absolutely critical. Making sure we can do so without taking a two hour crowded train ride in each direction every time we need to recharge, is so important. To put it frankly, without a nearby hotel room, attending this convention will simply not be possible for either of us.
Q: Meals for two? Why?
A: Mr. Moviefone will be with me, as my partner, but also as my “influencer” assistant (his badge is included with my influencer badge). We will be bringing lots of our own, cheap food and drinks from home, but I know from previous convention experiences that a hot meal goes a LONG way in boosting energy and easing stress. This part of the budget is included to ensure that Mr. Moviefone and I can each afford one hot, fresh, nutritious meal a day.
Q: Emergency money? What’s that all about?
A: Back in my early 20s, I used to attend anime conventions. I know from those experiences that unexpected stuff WILL come up. This is just to ensure that we can handle things if there’s any kind of emergency (what if my only bra breaks? THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME! What if the hotel adds on weird undisclosed charges? Also happened to me! What if Awesome Con decides to charge for the Josie Reunion panel? Also happened to me! What if I lost a single shoe? You get the idea.)
Q: Why do you need all this tech equipment?
A: As an influencer, I MIGHT have the opportunity to interview some or all of the Pussycats. It’s a long shot, but I’m going to try. In that case, I’d like to be able to record the interview on a tripod with my phone. I don’t have a tripod. I’d also like to capture sound, and that requires microphones. I could, theoretically, need mics for up to four people. Backup power banks are also recommended for influencers at conventions, for obvious reasons!
Even if I am not granted any press time with the Pussycats, these things will help me cover the convention and Josie Cast Reunion better, so I can share higher quality content with y’all!
Q: What will you do with any money donated above your original goal?
A: Any money above my goal will be used to get a haircut so I can look professional (haven’t had one in... 5 years), produce leftist swag for freely dispersing at the convention, and patronize the independent artists in the Artist Alley and Pride Alley.
Organizer
Josie McCoy
Organizer
Manassas, VA