It’s been very quiet here for a while. I just felt it was right ending this blog with leaving England, as it started with going abroad. But now I was back in Coventry for 6 (technically 4) days for a gaming festival to meet the festival, and felt like writing about it and sharing the pictures. I started this blog to save memories, after all. I’m alive and well, terribly busy as graduation is so close, but here is a summary of my crazy weekend at i54.
Check out the Insomnia vlog with lots of footage from the event here: https://youtu.be/76ktHNBz9Vg
And my instagram/Twitter for pictures and clips: Erzaqrw
Day 1
We arrived in Coventry late on Tuesday, and basically all we did was destress (there was something wrong with our booking) and sleep. The next two days we went into the city centre and shopped and had coffee, as I do, and it was lovely.
Friday we got up early after only a few hours of sleep to leave for Ricoh Arena for i54. Surprisingly, we didnt mess up with buses and arrived there what we assumed was “early”. We were wrong, and ended up standing in a queue for about an hour in the rain. So much for looking on point.
Friday was a lot of fun, despite queueing for a good 5 hours of the day. We originally planned to go to the meet and greet of Vikkstar123 and ZerkaaHD, but the line got cut off so we were moved to the next meet and greet which was Behzinga, Miniminter7 and Tbjzl. It was well worth the long wait!
They were all so genuinly nice, and surprisingly normal. I don’t know what I was expecting, but when you meet someone you have been watching on youtube for over a year, its strange meeting them. You never really think that these are real people, normal people. Thats the strange thing about entertainment, I guess.
We just talked for a bit, and they took their time and it didn’t feel rushed, so you didn’t get pushed straight in and out again. And then I gave them norwegian chocolate and they bantered and I got all the hugs. It was actually lovely 🙂 And as usual, I have a talent of looking incredibly awkward and uncomfortable in pictures, but to my defense, my bag was in the way.
At 5pm it was time for the sidemen show, which was a much needed opportunity to sit down and relax. First we watched part of the chat with the Insomnia crew and Syndicate, before the Sidemen came on. It was a live q&a and it was awesome to see the chemistry and banter they had on stage. It was fun and entertaining, and it ended with JJ performing Lamborghini, which totally isn’t my kind of music, but its so catchy. Everyone went craaazy and danced, and it was great!
Day 2
We arrived at Ricoh Arena a bit earlier than the previous day because we expected today to be busier since it was Saturday. We came at 10, and the queue was already insane. The line ran all the way into the foodcourt, which was far away. We wanted to get in the queue to wait for the meet and greet which was supposed to start at two, but it was closed and staff informed us that it was closed until at least 5. We decided not to stand in line for that long, and I’m glad we didn’t because it ended up getting cut several times and it was just chaotic. Apparently the event had been selling special tickets for the meet and greet that morning, which was frustrating for all parts involved, but I’m not gonna get into that. Let’s just say it consisted of a lot of camping by the sidemen booth, coffee and waiting. Lots and lots of waiting.
Anyways, the day started off with the opening ceremony and then the Sidemen show. In contrast to the rest of the day, the Sidemen show was better organized and even more fun to watch than the day before. The energy levels were high, the questions good and over all it was awesome!
Even though Saturday was chaotic and poorly organized, all the youtubers did their best to meet as many people as possible. When they weren’t outside the booth taking pictures (they weren’t allowed to sign so it would go more smoothly), they could be seen running around meeting fans. You knew there was someone famous if there was a mob. Tobi ended up standing outside the Sidemen booth for hours, and we got to meet him again. Like the day before, he was super nice and lovely to chat to. I was so impressed with his dedication. He stood there taking pictures and signing until his meet and greet, and if that’s not dedication then I don’t know what is.
I was frustrated not to go to the signing with Vik, Josh and Harry, but luckily Vik appeared outside the booth as well to take pictures. He wasn’t allowed to sign anything, but I got my poster signed anyways because I used the “I’m from Norway card” hehe. Then we took the cutest selfie and I gave him Norwegian chocolate and tried very hard not to fangirl because I didn’t wanna be that person. I’m an adult after all. After having the nicest chat with him and getting mobbed by children and parents, Henri and I headed out of Ricoh Arena to go to Costa. I desperately needed my Gingerbread soy latte. Yes, I am that person. Don’t judge me. Anyways, turns out that my purse had fallen out of my bag while I was at the Sidemen booth. Long story short, an awesome security guard let us in the VIP entrance, I had a panic attack, tracked down my wallet and it was safely returned to me. All my cards (Did i mention my passport was in it?) and money was still there and I honestly have never been more relieved. It was a lot more stressful than it sounds.
Yay for selfies!
Unfortunately we were thrown out at 6, but we lingered in the hallway for a while. I’m glad we did, because most of the youtubers came out to meet the fans they had not met yet, and it was (for the most part) very casual and relaxed. Except for JJ (KSI), who couldn’t stand still for a second without getting mobbed. So yeah, he was the only one we didn’t get to meet. We saw him perform though, so I guess we’ll have to do with that.
I’m so glad we got to see 6 out of 7 sidemen, and as expected they were all cool and nice. I met Vik again and had a nice chat again, met hearing dogs (this is very important okay), met simon again and talked to him for a while, then met Josh, who showed me his Norwegian skills. Which were basically “Takk” (Thank you) and “Gratulerer med dagen” (Happy Birthday), but still, I’m impressed. We also caught Harry and then Calfreezy, who was very nice and very tall. Also, even though I don’t really watch Joe Weller, he wasn’t too mobbed when I saw him so I got a picture hehe.
Over all, it was such an amazing weekend and I was so glad I flew out from Norway to meet the sidemen. Even though I didn’t play as many games as I would like because of lack of time and queues, I still had a great time and met almost everyone I came to meet. Despite the unorganized mess on Saturday, the youtubers went out of their way to meet as many fans as possible, even though the situation was probably just as, if not more, frustrating for them.
Definitely a much needed weekend of fun, even though I’m seriously exhausted and didn’t sleep for two days straight. What we did before and after the event was also great, but I’m not gonna go into detail. I think this blogpost is long enough. I don’t wanna give anyone the impression that I’m actually breathing life into this blog for good again. But who knows, I might? I’m not sure though. Now I’m safely back home in Norway, desperately trying to process everything that has happened and trying to catch up on sleep. Mocks and exams are coming up, and then it’s time to graduate.
I’m very tempted to buy tickets for both Eurogamer and i55, but I’ll have to wait to see if the Sidemen announce they are going. I probably shouldn’t though, as I’ve started university. But that’s another crazy thought that I’m not gonna get into now.
A year abroad 