There are certain events I daydream about attending. One of these is CrimeCon, a fairly new annual convention of true crime enthusiasts who gather to enthuse about their favorite cases, crime shows, and podcasters.
I listen to several true crime podcasts. And I kept hearing the hosts of Generation Why, Crime in Sports/Small Town Murder, Crime Writers On, and Truth & Justice advertising CrimeCon and talking about how they’d be there. Seriously, literally every single podcast I listen to was going to make an appearance.
I started to think maybe I should make an appearance, too. It might be fun. Plus, when you listen to the same people every week, sometimes twice a week, for years, you start to think you kind of know them. I eagerly await the next installment of Generation Why’s Justin and Aaron, knowing my Monday morning commute will be all the brighter for it. I bicker with Rebecca Lavoie and Kevin Flynn when I don’t agree with their Crime Writers On opinions. (They may not know it, but I still do it.) These were my people, and they would all be gathered together in Nashville in May for one special weekend.
I mentioned it to Jason. He was not at all opposed to my going, but didn’t entertain the thought of coming with me for one moment. He doesn’t give one hoot about true crime. “Why don’t you price it out?” he suggested. “For one,” he added. (He really has no interest in dead people.)
So I did. And thus the first hurdle.
A flight was about $500 round trip. Then the hotel would be $225 a night. And to actually attend the convention? Three hundred dollars.
Here is where I would like to remind you, gentle reader, that I’m cheap. There was no way I would shell out that kind of money for a death convention, no matter how appealing it sounded.
Adding to that was the list of special guests. See, there’s a bit of infighting going on in the true crime podcast world. At last year’s CrimeCon, Payne Lindsey (Up & Vanished) ruffled quite a few feathers by giving a presentation on why he was doing true crime podcasting right . . . implying that every other podcaster was doing it wrong. The word “amateurs” may have been used. In addition to this, Truth & Justice’s host, Bob Ruff, declared last year—rather recklessly—who he thought was guilty of killing Hae Min Lee (and for you Serial fans, he doesn’t believe it was Adnan Syed). The Crime in Sports hosts recently called him out on this behavior, and I love the Crime in Sports guys. Plus, Bob did some sloppy editing last week that kind of made Damien Echols (West Memphis Three) sound like a lying jerkbag, which, believe what you will about Damien, wasn’t fair to him. So I was already ticked off at Bob.
Thus, the second hurdle: Both Payne Lindsey and Bob Ruff were being touted on CrimeCon’s website as special guests. Plus a third guy who I don’t listen to anymore because he’s arrogant and condescending to one of his cohosts. No special guest honors for Justin and Aaron, or the Crime Writers On gang, or my boys James and Jimmy at Crime in Sports . . . people I actually liked.
You know what? I really didn’t want to go after all.
So to my friends out there who are passionate about the genre, I hope you have a wonderful time. I’ll miss seeing some of my favorite pod personalities, but the minuses really outweigh the plusses for me this year.
And I’m sure I’ll hear all about what happened there on the podcasts.
I listen to several true crime podcasts. And I kept hearing the hosts of Generation Why, Crime in Sports/Small Town Murder, Crime Writers On, and Truth & Justice advertising CrimeCon and talking about how they’d be there. Seriously, literally every single podcast I listen to was going to make an appearance.
I started to think maybe I should make an appearance, too. It might be fun. Plus, when you listen to the same people every week, sometimes twice a week, for years, you start to think you kind of know them. I eagerly await the next installment of Generation Why’s Justin and Aaron, knowing my Monday morning commute will be all the brighter for it. I bicker with Rebecca Lavoie and Kevin Flynn when I don’t agree with their Crime Writers On opinions. (They may not know it, but I still do it.) These were my people, and they would all be gathered together in Nashville in May for one special weekend.
I mentioned it to Jason. He was not at all opposed to my going, but didn’t entertain the thought of coming with me for one moment. He doesn’t give one hoot about true crime. “Why don’t you price it out?” he suggested. “For one,” he added. (He really has no interest in dead people.)
So I did. And thus the first hurdle.
A flight was about $500 round trip. Then the hotel would be $225 a night. And to actually attend the convention? Three hundred dollars.
Here is where I would like to remind you, gentle reader, that I’m cheap. There was no way I would shell out that kind of money for a death convention, no matter how appealing it sounded.
Adding to that was the list of special guests. See, there’s a bit of infighting going on in the true crime podcast world. At last year’s CrimeCon, Payne Lindsey (Up & Vanished) ruffled quite a few feathers by giving a presentation on why he was doing true crime podcasting right . . . implying that every other podcaster was doing it wrong. The word “amateurs” may have been used. In addition to this, Truth & Justice’s host, Bob Ruff, declared last year—rather recklessly—who he thought was guilty of killing Hae Min Lee (and for you Serial fans, he doesn’t believe it was Adnan Syed). The Crime in Sports hosts recently called him out on this behavior, and I love the Crime in Sports guys. Plus, Bob did some sloppy editing last week that kind of made Damien Echols (West Memphis Three) sound like a lying jerkbag, which, believe what you will about Damien, wasn’t fair to him. So I was already ticked off at Bob.
Thus, the second hurdle: Both Payne Lindsey and Bob Ruff were being touted on CrimeCon’s website as special guests. Plus a third guy who I don’t listen to anymore because he’s arrogant and condescending to one of his cohosts. No special guest honors for Justin and Aaron, or the Crime Writers On gang, or my boys James and Jimmy at Crime in Sports . . . people I actually liked.
You know what? I really didn’t want to go after all.
So to my friends out there who are passionate about the genre, I hope you have a wonderful time. I’ll miss seeing some of my favorite pod personalities, but the minuses really outweigh the plusses for me this year.
And I’m sure I’ll hear all about what happened there on the podcasts.
Two comedians talking about criminal athletes. Why aren't you listening yet?
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