A Letter from the Con Chair of Nebkon Abridged:
To all of those who even thought of our event, I would like to say thank you. I won’t lie and say the event was flawless, but like the shows we all love to riff on, Abridged was really a love letter to the earlier days. It was absolutely worth the effort on my end. I wasn’t sure how many would show up especially after taking the reins so late into the year but you all did show up. Surprisingly a lot of cosplayers showed up and it warmed my heart to know you wanted our event to share your craft with us. I know I made several memories I will hold for a very very long time.
To all of my staff, thank you. Every one of you was so professional and efficient that I was proud to even work with you. I hope you all will work with me in the future to make this event even better and give the attendees a show they truly deserve.
To all of our panelists, thank you for sharing your event with our own. As someone who started out as a panelist at Anime Nebraskon, I found they really were the heart and soul of our convention. I hope to see you again and hope to see even more of you take the stage.
I would like to thank all of the special guests we had this year. The Shinjuku Strays, especially Leon who continues to honor me with his friendship, who showed me what burlesque and pop culture are really an art form I really never knew about until I started this event. They always have made their events so welcoming and fun that I hope to see them again very soon. I would like to thank the best artist guest we’ve ever invited, Fredd Gorham. We all call him Papa Fred for a reason, he has an infectious warmth and insight we are happy to see at any event, but especially our own. To our cosplay judges, Jeanette Haro, Carissa Baker, and Natalie D. Schamp, who were able to assist at nearly the last minute and whose insight on the craft was obvious even just by looking at them. To our DJs, Qubit and Shylynx, who helped make the ending concert special even when we stumbled before it could even start.
Lastly, I would like to thank my wife Vanessa. She frequently pauses her life to watch our two kids when I was needed for a meeting after both of us already worked an eight hour shift each. Who supported me every step of the way when I sincerely doubted this was going to be even remotely successful. I love you Vanessa, and I always will.
We do not know when the next event will be (cause come on, any Abridged series has a rather erratic schedule) but I know the next one will be special because of you, the reader. Your support means so much to me. I know we can make the next one better so, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to submit your thoughts to our feedback form. When we do announce our next date, prepare those panels, cosplays and karaoke set lists, because I know number four is going to be big.
Til we meet again, I’m Professor Shinobi, keep being yourself.
-Andrew Montz, Con Chair of Nebkon Abridged 2024
