VidCon 2023: Squishmellow Pits and Celebrity Sightings

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


Oh, the joys of VidCon. If you aren’t packed in an Anaheim hotel elevator with kids and families—some in “Minecraft” merch, others in Mickey Mouse ears—are you really experiencing VidCon? 

VidCon is the go-to convention for video creators to meet fans, rub shoulders with brands, and party. It’s littered with marketing folks and companies selling merch, food, and more. Daily panels allow creators to learn more established folks’ tips, tricks, and insights. It takes place in Anaheim every summer, with a new convention added in Baltimore in September 2023.

I hopped on a plane at LAX and then endured a one-and-a-half-hour car trip to the happiest place on Earth. We whisked away to our first event of the weekend: Tubefilter and Amaze’s K-1 race track event. The VIP lounge was great if you don’t mind selfie sticks, pageant moms, go-karts whizzing past, and four brands of free cheap beer. But the event had a charm, with many industry folks, creators, media mavens, and families milling around—and a dance battle outside with a DJ blasting something that sounded like a PG T-Pain song. 

Today, the convention floor is PACKED with an unbelievable amount of teens and tweens in cosplay and gaming merch. We started the day strong with children in selfie-stick-adorned helmets jumping into a Squishmallow pit. Please, dear God, let us not repeat the mistakes of TwitchCon 2022.

The line for the shopping center on the convention floor wrapped in zigzags around the building, with tired parents and kids trying to get the latest squishes, toys, shirts, and other merch from “Minecraft” star Dream or “Roblox” stars KREW (or whoever the kids are watching these days).

And you’ll never guess who showed up.


WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Passionfruit Presents: Taylor Lorenz on the Rise of Influencers, Predatory Platforms, and Potential Creator Unions (Video)

Taylor Lorenz on Creator Economy

NOTED BY LON HARRIS

What Creators Can Learn From the Writers Strike, Part 7: Taking Back Control


Level up by selling your own online course

Side hustle, moonlighting, freelancing…whatever you call it, take yours to the next level with the #1 online course platform. Thinkific’s all-in-one platform makes it easy to share your expertise, grow your audience, and scale your content.


THE COMMENTS SECTION


IN THE BIZ


VIDCON 2023: LOGAN’S RUN

Is Logan Paul at VidCon? Probably not, but screaming fans seem to think so

A Logan Paul doppelgänger crashed VidCon with an entourage of private security guards.

By Grace Stanley, Passionfruit Contributor


DARK SIDE OF THE INTERNET

On TikTok, Suddenly Everyone’s a Titanic Expert

If the bizarre, horrifying situation involving the missing submersible has you needing content on the topic, you’re in luck: TikTok is suddenly full of Titanic experts.

By Jasmine Waters, Passionfruit Contributor


THE MORE YOU KNOW

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Setting Up A Patreon

Ever wonder how to set up a Patreon? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know.

By Rachel Kiley, Passionfruit Contributor


TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 🎀 TikTok’s Beloved Bimbo Music Star

    🎀 TikTok’s Beloved Bimbo Music Star

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #113 | Mar. 2, 2023 Today, we’re featuring two incredibly iconic TikTok creators in interviews jampacked with useful advice, tips, tricks, and wisdom.  First, explore the story of Chrissy Chlapecka, TikTok’s beloved bimbo-turned-musician who has over 5 million TikTok followers. In an interview with Passionfruit, Chlapecka spoke on the evolution of…

  • 👀Influencer Insiders You Need To Follow

    👀Influencer Insiders You Need To Follow

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #112 | Feb. 28, 2023 If you want to flourish in social media, it’s important to realize audiences are not monolithic. There’s no one size fits all approach for viewers—especially in a world as hyper-focused as social media. Since the dawn of social media, Black creators have been at the forefront…

  • 🙌 10 Creators To Follow This Black History Month

    🙌 10 Creators To Follow This Black History Month

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #111 | Feb. 23, 2023 Black History Month is celebrated every February, but in the creator economy, there are trailblazers who are redefining what it means to be an influencer every day, week, and month of the year.  To celebrate these Black role models and mold-breaking artists on social media, the…