In a lot of ways, going to VidCon is probably like going to a One Direction concert. Which is to say that selfie sticks quite possibly outnumber valid driver's licenses.
And if you're one of those cool parents who got dragged along as a chaperone, amidst all the fawning and screaming, there's a certain sadness when you discover that nobody has yet invented a bourbon-filled water fountain.
Because that would help.
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To the casual observer, it may just seem like thousands of teens jockeying for position to meet their favorite Internet personalities. And it is. But it's more than that.
The annual industry gathering in Anaheim, California, is the premier showcase of new and existing Web talent. Here, top YouTube influencers walk around the convention center like they're the Rolling Stones. Future stars are being discovered. And everyone else is trying to figure out how to get into the game.
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From panel discussions with titles like "Building an Empire" to workshops on how to start a podcast, this is where the sharks and minnows of the changing face of media go to learn, network and sow the seeds of the next big thing.
Don't let the screaming kids confuse you. This is real. And there's money up in them there hills.
Bring a selfie stick.