# Geek.Kon

Geek.Kon was a multi-genre convention in Madison, Wisconsin.

## History

The convention was started by UW students Louise Behnke, head of the SciFi Club, and Jackie Lee, head of the Anime Club. The two groups and the Madison Academics’ Gaming Enthusiast Society were planning the convention by March 2007. Geek.Kon was first held began in October 2007 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison's George L. Mosse Humanities Building as a two-day free convention. Expecting hundreds, it received over 1800 attendees. In 2008, the convention expanded to include one of the upper floors of nearby Vilas Hall. In 2009 the convention separated from the University of Wisconsin, went private, moved to the Madison Sheraton Hotel, expanded to three days, and began charging admission. Beginning in 2010, the convention moved to the Marriott Madison West Hotel in Middleton and has been there ever since.

## Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| October 6–7, 2007 | University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin | 1,800 | Blame Society Productions, Luke Ski, Monte Cook, Joan Vinge, Sarah Monette, Aaron Pavao, Studio AntiThesis |
| September 27–28, 2008 | University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin | 1,144 | Luke Ski, Chad Vader, David Salo, Sarah Monette, Aaron Pavao, Steam Century, Studio AntiThesis |
| October 23–25, 2009 | Madison Sheraton Hotel Madison, Wisconsin | 1,036 | Kyle Hebert, Raven Software, Chad Corrie, Steam Century, Aaron Pavao, The Spoony Bards, Fermata, Studio AntiThesis. |
| September 3–5, 2010 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | 1,211 | Christopher Ayres, Eric Vale, John Kovalic, Raven Software, Jim Frenkel, Bill Bodden, Matt Forbeck, Aaron Pavao, Monica Valentinelli, Matt McElroy, The Spoony Bards, Dr. Cancer and the SKAmbies. |
| September 9–11, 2011 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | 1,625 | Bill Bodden, Troy Denning, Matt Forbeck, Jerry Jewell, John Kovalic, Aaron Pavao, David Salo, Sonny Strait, Monica Valentinelli, I Fight Dragons |
| September 7–9, 2012 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | 1,800 | Elaine Cunningham, Caitlin Glass, Jerry Jewell, Matt McElroy, Aaron Pavao, Michael Stackpole, Eric Stuart, Monica Valentinelli |
| August 23–25, 2013 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | 2,018 | Bill Bodden, Tim Buckley, Bridget Landry, Matt M. McElroy, John Jackson Miller, Chris Patton, Aaron Pavao, Ryan Reynolds, David Salo, Alexis Tipton, Monica Valentinelli, Rob Wieland |
| August 22–24, 2014 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | | Tia Ballard, Martin "LittleKuriboh" Billany, Alex Bledsoe, Bill Bodden, Chris Cason, Christopher Jones, John Kovalic, Matt M. McElroy, Marin Miller, Aaron Pavao, Joseph Scrimshaw, Mark Stegbauer, Monica Valentinelli |
| August 21–23, 2015 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | | Greg Weisman, Jan Scott-Frazier, Ned the Dead, Matt Greenfield, Emma Bull, Mark Stegbauer, Alex Bledsoe, Christopher Jones, Tiffany Grant, Bill Bodden, Matt M. McElroy, Monica Valentinelli, Aaron Pavao, Will Shetterly |
| August 26–28, 2016 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | 2,585 | Jerry Jewell, Ryan Reynolds, Christina Kelly, Jason Carter, Bill Bodden, Matt M. McElroy, Monica Valentinelli, Aaron Pavao, Alex Bledsoe, Mark Stegbauer, Briana Lawrence, Catie Pfeifer, Enrica Jang, Jennifer Smith, Jessica Walsh, John Jackson Miller, Melissa Olson, Peter Liethen. |
| August 25–27, 2017 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | ~1,800 | Jeff Nimoy, Robert Axelrod, Brad Swaile, Eloy Lasanta, Neall Raemonn Price, Linkara, Bill Bodden, Monica Valentinelli, Matt McElroy, and Crystal Mazur |
| August 24–26, 2018 | Marriott Madison West Middleton, Wisconsin | | Michael Winslow, Jeff Nimoy, Lex Lang, Brian Donovan, Nikki Boyer, Jonathan Fahn |