Steel City Con Day 3 – Hobbit Hauls and Costume Contests

Steel City Con – December 11, 2022

Looking forward to my final day attending Steel City Con, there were still things I seek to accomplish.  Paramount of which, was getting an autograph from each of the four hobbits in attendance.  Aside from that though, I had intended on getting a good haul from the remaining vendors, in addition seeing at least a bit of the cosplay contest.  Although my time on the final day was limited, and space became an issue, my final day was great.

Fun Times with the Hobbits.

Courtesy of Daniel Cunningham

Starting my day off, I attended the Q&A with the four hobbits.  Almost as soon as they sat down, the dynamic of each was as though they had never stopped playing their respective characters.  In particular, the witty banter between Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd was a highlight.  Their humor and charisma reminded me of the funniest moments of Merry and Pippin.  In particular, an instant of Monaghan answering one fan question resulted in quite a laugh.  When asked, “How would you describe yourself in 5 words?” Monaghan stated, “I am really quite hungover”.  Aside from that, other questions included that of what being in costume was like, or if there was interest in returning to the franchise in some form.

With the former question, Elijah Wood would provide an answer.  When it came to playing Frodo, being covered in (fake)sweaty clothes was rough at times.  Making it more difficult was the fake blood that would be put around his neck, due to the weight of the Ring.  As a result, it would often spread down and become incredibly sticky.  As for the latter, each would provide an answer, although Sean Astin would mention an idea which excited everyone.  When adapting the book, one of the most notable sections cut was the Scouring of the Shire.  While an understandable omission, given it’s effect on the ending and pacing, hardcore fans wondered what such a portrayal would play out.  Sean Astin seems to share such a sentiment, given he expressed interest in seeing that event come to screen.

Eager for Autographs

Being a hardcore fantasy fan, I can’t deny the opportunity to get the autograph of these actors was exciting.  These people played characters in a story which inspired me to become a writer and storyteller.  As such, after the Q&A, I eagerly waited in line to get an autograph from each on a canvas I had acquired.  While the wait in line was long, it most certainly was worth it.

Courtesy of Daniel Cunningham

Still, there was so much which resonated with me.  Billy Boyd was incredibly interactive and personal with fans, often having brief conversations with them.  While I was waiting in line for Sean Astin, I watched with a gleam on my face as he talked with a young fan with a balloon animal.  I didn’t hear all of the interaction, but the adorable nature of it left everyone with a warm feeling.  While also in line for Astin, we watched as he shared an interaction with an elderly woman in a wheelchair.  Once again, I didn’t hear much of the interaction, but the tender way he spoke with her as he got to her side, was enough to bring a tear to some peoples eyes.  Each of these actors had such a warm presence and interaction with the fans eager to see them.

I myself shared brief, albeit pleasant interactions.  Recommending the local restaurant chain of Primanti Brothers to Monaghan was awesome as a Pittsburgher. I got to share with Sean Astin the names of my dogs, Samwise and Rosy.  Which, to answer your question, given they are German Shepards, 15 children may be a lot to handle.  Sharing with Boyd my passion for writing and him wishing me well with it, left me feeling proud.  Shaking the hand of Wood, Frodo himself, and seeing a childhood hero enjoy his time in the city I grew up in… it was surreal, but in a weird way, it felt like a part of my childhood was alive again.  To each of you, if you see this, I hope you all had a wonderful time in Pittsburgh, and keep up the amazing work!

Cool Costumes and Cosplays.

Courtesy of Daniel Cunningham

Of course, with the final day came for many the long awaited cosplay contest.  While I saw many the previous days, I saw many more today, and many of them left me in awe.  As I walked around the convention, I came across another set of local creatives, Obsidian Giant(instagram – obsidian_giant).  I had encountered them the previous day, but when I was told one of the co-owners, J. Demetrius Belvin, would be present cosplaying one of his characters.  As such, today I came back to get a picture of him.  To say the least, I would not want to get on his bad side.

Courtesy of Brad Leccia

In addition, Brad Leccia, the man in the Witch King cosplay pictured in the previous day’s article.  Together with his family, they would go on to win the group cosplay contest.  So many people partook in the cosplay events, and while I wish I could feature all of them there, the best way to see any and all of these cosplays, is to go to a convention yourself.

At Times, Steal City Con was Too Close for Comfort

While the time spent at Steel City Con is certainly enjoyable; there’s a major issue that’s brought up by almost all attendance present; space.  While previous years were busy, but never crowded, this year was apparently far different.  Whether because of the celebrities present, or people looking to get out after COVID, the crowds became huge.  Many people were unable to get into the convention, and those that could would often have to wait in long lines, sometimes outside with the cold weather, for extended periods of time.  Brad even informed me that costumes would end up damaged due to the large crowds forming frequently.

Final Thoughts

Despite the issues with space and attendance, I had an excellent time at Steel City Con.  I got to meet creative, interesting, and imaginative people.  I met some of my childhood heroes, got quite the personal haul for myself, and was in awe of the creativity of the cosplay community’s talents.

Getting to experience this all has been nothing short of amazing.  Put simply, I can’t wait to do this again.