Sunday, November 27, 2016

Celebrity Sighting #Now Hear This Fest

I just caught up on my podcasts after a month deficit. I went to Now Hear This Fest and while it was a cool experience, I was burned out on podcast festivals. Plus the schedule made me miss out on maximizing the awesome. Plus the hot chicks getting to cut the line pissed me off. And the VIP pass was irrelevant since the lines for VIP were longer than the general admission. And spending extra for VIP plus wasn't worth it. (Only difference between VIP and VIP plus was the lounge and the breakfast with podcasters. (Yes the extra special VIP lounge was cool and all, but I saw no podcasters at there.) And I had the uncomfortable feeling in the beginning that I was just a star fucker and an outsider. Yep. I have the text to my husband to prove it. (Was too nervous to approach Dino Stamatopoulos) Oh, and they added buy one get one free tickets a month before the festival. And meet and greets for everyone were added last minute. And the Nundercover posters announced at the How Did This Get Made show never made it to the merchandise table. (Wow, my ire at this festival is seriously showing) Bonus, I totally embarrassed myself in front of one of the founders of the LA Podfest by mistaking him for someone else and I still am red about it.

WITH THE EXCEPTION: I met two absolutely amazing women who in turn introduced me to a few more amazing people and I thoroughly enjoyed nerding out with them. Here is the basic list of what I saw:

Friday
Never Not Funny: Jimmy Pardo, Matt Belknap with guest John Ross Bowie. Met JRB in the VIP lounge. Such a sweetheart!

Comedy Bang! Bang!: Scott Aukerman, Jason Mantzoukas, Jon Gabrus as Gino The Intern, Paul F. Tompkins as Kent Daarvilstaow, Lauren Lapkus as Pamela from Big Bear and Andy Daly as Don DiMello
No idea what was happening, but thought it was pretty damn funny. Met Scott Aukerman at the first Meet & Greet.

The schedule was so confusing and I missed a few I did want to see (I'm sorry I Was There Too & Dear Prudence). There is no real chance to give a new podcast a chance. And I was so focused on the How Did This Get Made meet and greet, I left Doug Loves Movies early. I so had a name tag and everything.

Saturday
With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus: guests Shaun Diston & Phil Jackson. So damn funny.

Superego: Matt Gourley, Jeremy Carter, Mark McConville & Paul F. Tompkins 

Doug Loves Movie: Doug Benson, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville & Paul F. Tompkins (Listened to the end days later online.)

How Did This Get Made? Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas, and guest Hayes Davenport (Meet and Greet of course with Paul and Jason)

Sunday
Bitch Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown: Casey Wilson & Danielle Schneider
I was so lost, so I left and met my husband at:

Worst Idea of All Time: Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt (Foudn out about these guys at 2015 LA Podfest. Damn funny and enjoyed myself. Said hi to them on the way to the bathroom later that day.)


Spontaneanation Paul F. Tompkins and guests Kulap Vilaysack, Howard Kremer, Dan Ahdoot, Tawny Newsome & Drew Tarver 
Paul F. Tompkins was such a gracious guy and took the time to take a picture with me. He is so damn talented and I love him. And this show blew my mind.

Extra sightings: Andy Kindler, Marc Maron, Andy Dick, Dave Anthony(still blushing my embarrassment away), and Julia WD Harrison. 

It was a great time despite my grumblings. And one of my new friends has a podcasts. It is amazing and I can't wait to catch up into real time. 

 It is very likely I will not be back next year as LA Podfest has spoiled me. I didn't have to see their growing pains. But I do want to give them more of my money. And maybe volunteer next year. Yes, take my blood, sweat, tears, and cash!