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I have been going to MCM for two years, and it has provided a great experience in 2021 and 2022. The convention includes elements from comics, media, gaming, TV, film, and cosplay, and allows people to be open about their interests without judgment. Although I enjoyed the process of organizing and participating in the events, there were more noticeable problems compared to the year before which were difficult to overlook.
To prepare for the 2022 MCM, I opted to cosplay as one of my own characters. This was a more complex process than in 2021 and required me to dedicate time and creativity to it. I wanted to choose something easy, so I found items that would best reflect my character. Additionally, I noticed that many attendees decided to cosplay, adding to the communal feeling at the convention.
The guests at the 2022 MCM were much more low-key than those in 2021, with Michael Sheen being the standout. However, I was still able to learn about new talent and the voices behind my favorite characters. The meet and greet session was more open compared to 2021, which was understandable since it was the first convention after the Covid pandemic. This openness had both positive aspects and safety risks.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the event was the less-than-ideal organization compared to the previous MCM. It should be noted that there were more people at this event due to fewer Covid restrictions, so Reedpop may have underestimated the number of staff needed. There were times when I had difficulty locating a team member to direct me to where I needed to go since the Excel Centre was sprawling and easy to get lost in. If someone had gotten into trouble within the busy crowd, would there have been enough staff to pinpoint their location?
The best thing about being at MCM and any other conventions is the community or communities within it. This is one of the only instances where fans can gather in one space to celebrate their interests and interact with each other in an offline space. People won’t be judged for wearing merch of their favorite show or cosplaying their favorite character, as this is an accepted part of attending a convention — no matter the scale or quality, this will always be the best part of any convention.
In conclusion, MCM 2022, even though it wasn’t as good as its 2021 counterpart, there were many things that made MCM 2022 still an amazing experience and a community can lift up the experience of even the worst convention. As I have explored most of what MCM has to offer at this point, it still didn’t take away my interest in exploring conventions as a whole, especially smaller conventions. Even if smaller conventions may not be as packed with guests and events as ones like MCM, there is a bigger sense of community due to the smallness of it.
I would like to next experience that.
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