According to the GMX website, one can define the expo as
“The Geek Media Expo (“GMX”) is an annual exposition and social conference relating primarily to the popular arts, sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and relevant cultural/lifestyle themes, presented as an educational and multi-media entertainment showcase”.
Geek Media Expo is an annual convention that is perfect for both veterans of conventions and for the newest of new people. GMX was a great thing for the Nashville community to come together at and embrace each others different fandoms. I saw fans of pretty much every aspect of the nerdy community from G.I. Joe cosplay to people dressed up like their favorite Jedi’s. From the moment we pulled into the parking lot of the Franklin/Cool Springs Conference Center I knew we had reached out destination. In the parking lot, almost every car we saw had something related to being a nerd on their windows. Everywhere I looked there were Zelda bumper stickers, stick figure superhero families and my personal favorite, a 12-2 KDR tally marked on the side of a van, I really wish I had gotten to see who drove that I would really have loved to know the story behind that.
When we walked into the hotel/conference center I was overwhelmed with what I was seeing. Almost everyone I saw was in some sort of cosplay outfit. When we through the doors, and looked to our left, there was an entire group in Guardians of The Galaxy cosplay, including a Groot on stilts and a Rocket Raccoon on his shoulders. Unfortunately, I did not get many pictures because I am/was not sure the correct way to go about asking for permission, I’m unfortunately a pretty shy person. But I promise you, it was some of the best Groot cosplay I have seen. Walking though the rest of the convention we saw a really awesome Iron Man cosplayer, and not being an Iron Man fan, I still thought this guy looked pretty bad ass (I think he had the best costume of the convention). While walking around the convention we got to really see how happy and comfortable in their skin everyone was. There was zero judgement and not a single person looked to be embarrassed or anything of that sort. I happened to see a couple Doctors from Dr. Who standing in front of a giant Tardis and it made me really wish I knew what the hell was going on. Listening to them talk was like hearing another language. I sadly have never seen a single episode of Dr. Who (I know, I’m sorry!). But, seeing the passion of these Whovians really made me want to get into the show.
I think one of the coolest things that I saw while at GMX was actually an improve group that were quoting lines from movies but would replace one key word with “Mordor,” and the audience had to fill in the blank. A few of the questions were seriously a bit on the tricky side. With quotes from Guardians of The Galaxy to Star Wars: A New Hope, pretty much every thing in the geek film culture was covered. It was really entertaining and the dynamics between the improve group that was hosting the game was honestly pretty hilarious. I really enjoyed this and it might have even been one of my favorite events going on at the expo.
Another really cool event was the Jedi obstacle course that took place, and it even had a Lando Calrissian in full cosplay with blaster and cape. He looked spot on. This was a great little course and the kids who ran the obstacles looked to have had a lot of fun, and after all, that’s what this is all about. Speaking of Star Wars, there was an awesome set up of some Star Wars props: a giant R2-D2, a landspeeder from the moon of Endor (which was amazing and I wanted to really wish it was real so I could have ridden it everywhere around the expo), and a life-size cockpit of the Millinium Falcon. WHICH WAS ALSO AWESOME. As a Star Wars fanboy (I have a Boba Fett and Darth Vader tattoo) I was geeking out pretty hard with all the awesome Star Wars props. Besides the things listed above, there were also some pretty cool Stormtrooper helmets, and a Star Wars Black Series life size box you could get your pictures taken in.
I really think that GMX is one of the coolest cons I have ever been too, and the fact that it’s a local con makes it even that more special and intimate. The community that was in attendance really made everything even more awesome. From the game rooms (video games and table top games) to the giant floor retail area (which didn’t allow alcohol in it, unfortunately). The retail section was a really cool and interesting lot. There seemed to be a little of everything. Long boxes full of comic books for a dollar, to T-Shirts that were a hybrid of The Misfits and comic books, still bummed I didn’t get one of those.
With all of this being said, GMX was one of the coolest local cons I have ever been too. It really had anything that a fellow nerd would want. From video games to comic books, and enthusiast would be in paradise here. The guest panels were truly on point with the two we were able to catch, one being with Greg Grunberg of Heroes and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, and my favorite panel was with The Pirates of the Caribbean and Once Upon a Time star Lee Arenberg. He shared a few hilarious stories about Johnny Depp and some stunts that went terribly wrong on the Pirates set. It was also interesting hearing how much the technology in filming changed just between the first and third movies.
As I said above, this was a wonderful local con, and we had an amazing time. We hope to make a return next year, and we hope to see you there with us!