Geeks, Freaks and Gamers Up close and personal with the wizard behind the wonderfully cool MomoCon By Mi chae l J . Pa l l e r i no GAMING I f there was a playbook on how to go from studying neurosurgery at one of the South’s most prestigious institutions to organizing one of the largest gaming, anime, eSports and comics
conventions this side of the Mississippi, Jessica Merriman was not aware it existed. But there she was, up to her eyeballs in the intricate studies of the nervous system at Georgia Tech by day and hosting a large group of animation aficionados at the university’s anime and gaming club by night. The passion project known as MomoCon began in 2005 on a cool spot on campus as a place for Merriman and her friends to
Photo by Andrew Michael Phillips
Photo by Christopher Stuckey
hang out and game. Merriman figured the initial space would easily house the crowd for the first event. But when 700 people showed up, she was blown away. When 1,800 people signed up for year 2, Merriman knew she was on to something. By 2011, the event’s last year at Georgia Tech, more than 10,000 gaming geeks were in tow, vaulting MomoCon to the largest free-admission, pop-culture event in North America at the time. Five years ago, it moved to the Georgia World Congress Center, doubling its space in the time span with more than 39,000 people in attendance in 2019. In case you are wondering, MomoCon is the ultimate geek fest—part comic con, part gaming, all pop culture love. “The energy is absolutely palpable,” Merriman says. “With MomoCon, you feel a part of a larger whole that is fandom.” MomoCon has always been a story of experiences. Take the story of the fans who while working the event at the same time over the years never met on site. But when they met several years later, their love MomoCon became eternal. Bonding over their shared MomoCon experiences, they married and have become volunteers. “To us, MomoCon is about the connections you make along the way,” Merriman says. “We are grateful to help make so many positive experiences happen for people and to be a part of their lives.”
Photo by Miguel A. Paramo
Shared experiences with others who share your passions are fundamental to the human condition and part of the value of what MomoCon can offer.
To call MomoCon life-changing for Merriman might be the mother of all fandom-con understatements. By the time she graduated from Georgia Tech, Merriman ended up switching her studies from neurosurgery to management, eventually pursuing a Masters in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University. Today, she works as a consultant to convention manage- ment across the country. One of the attributes she stresses is harnessing the power of relationships—practicing what she calls the essence of relationship management. Merriman spends a considerable amount of time networking and connecting with other companies, trying to learn everything she can to enhance her product. Employing a “the-more-you- try-the-better-you-will-be” approach, she is content to constantly give back to the gamers who entrust her with the brand.
“Your experience is enhanced by experiencing it with friends,” Merriman says. “Shared experiences with others who share your passions are fundamental to the human condition and part of the value of what MomoCon can offer.” And while this year’s event was canceled due to concerns related to COVID-19, Merriman promises it will be back bigger, stronger, and better than ever in 2021. For now, some features of MomoCon will continue online, with details on contests and events in an online/ distance format being evaluated. Details will follow. “MomoCon holds a special place in the fandom universe because we aren’t just one thing,” Merriman says. With an eye on the future in a world ready to embrace and try new experiences, MomoCon may be the key to a whole new way of exercising your passion.
@momocon
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