So this year I decided I'd mix it up by getting a Creator badge. What does that mean? Well there's really only 2 differences from the Community badge. First off, there are a bunch of Creator only panels. These tend to lean more towards making videos and trying to turn YouTube into a career. The second difference is you don't get to participate in the signing lottery. While one of my favorite things in this world is meeting entertainers and letting them know how much joy they bring me, I felt that maybe the Creator track could hold enough interesting things to make up for that. We'll have to see. But that will be for Parts Three-Six. This is about Day 0.5.

You see, VidCon doesn't officially start until tomorrow. However, registration started today. So I decided it'd be best if I get it done tonight so I don't have to wait 2 hours in the morning. This turned out to be a brilliant move as I was done in about 4 minutes. The other thing they had going on tonight was the first of the AwesomenessTV Festival Concert Series. As this was being hosted by Brizzy, I had to go. Co-Hosting was Ruba Wilson who I'd never heard of. To be honest, I'd never heard of any of the acts either.

Brizzy and Ruba Wilson kicking things off.

But this is where we get into one of the things I really like about VidCon. Unless you're a tween girl, there's no way you've heard of everyone who is a featured creator at the show. They have over 400 of them this year. So that means there will be times when panels or interviews are going on and you haven't heard of any of the people. This is when it is best to discover. I remember last year I watched an interview with Connor Franta. I knew nothing about him, but it was interesting to hear his story. So while I was at the show to show my support as a BrizzKid (that's what she calls her fans, don't even get me started on the BrizzyBatFamily) I figured I'd learn of some new musicians as well. They did not disappoint.

First up was Andrew Huang. He started by using a balloon to make various noises, and looped them together until they made a backing beat (a lot like Reggie Watts if you've ever seen him). He was very good and I quite enjoyed his show.

Andrew Huang.  Sadly I don't think I could have gotten a picture of him looking any more Asian.  Did I mention I'm the worlds worst photographer? — Andrew Huang. Sadly I don't think I could have gotten a picture of him looking any more Asian. Did I mention I'm the worlds worst photographer?

Next was Rusty Clanton. He was your typical dude with a guitar singing about love. The basic just him and the guitar and heartache. He was good, however he kept forgetting the lyrics to his own songs. It was a kind of silly the first time. A little less the second time. The third time? Ok, there wasn't a third time.

Rusty Clanton, dudeing it up with a guitar.

Next was Dodie Clark, my favorite of all the acts I watched. She is this sweet little ukulele playing pixie that, I'm guessing from her accent, is from England. She would end every song by saying "Thank you" in the sweetest way possible. It kind of reminded me of that old Mr. Show sketch with the carnival barkers and the one played by David Cross would always end his barks with "Thank you" which made him more liked. Now that's a deep pull.

Sweet (possibly English) ukulele playing pixie Dodie Clark.

Next up was Leroy Sanchez. He had a back up guitarist and started by singing "Hello" by Adele. It was around this time that I started to notice people posting pictures on Twitter with Brizzy that she was re-tweeting.

Lerooooooooooooooooooy Sancheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez.

I decided to walk around to the side and back of the stage and low and behold there was Brizzy, meeting with fans. She was talking to these two you girls and so I waited. Once they were done she looked at me and said "hello Shawn". I'm a very simple person. If you have a million subscribers on YouTube and you remember my name, you have a fan for life. I talked to her for a little bit, then after having her sign my badge again this year, left her to meet with the young girls that she inspires every day.

This was a great way to start VidCon 2016. The halls open at 8AM tomorrow and the first panel I want to see is at 9:30AM. It is the #GirlLove Community panel on the main stage and Lindsey Stirling is going to be on it. That will be followed at 11:00AM with a live recording of Grace Helbig's podcast "Not Too Deep". 3 of my top 5 favorite YouTube personalities, Brizzy, Grace and Lindsey, and I will have seen them in the first 3 things I did. VidCon 2016 is looking pretty good so far.