DashCon was a fan convention for Tumblr users held July 11–13, 2014 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. It became an internet byword for a botched event after organizers asked attendees for emergency cash mid-convention, the headline Welcome to Night Vale show was cancelled, and disappointed ticket-holders were offered “an extra hour with the ball pit.”
The Weekend at a Glance
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Before the event | Announced as “Tumbl-Con USA,” later renamed DashCon; organizers raised $4,000 in startup costs on Indiegogo | Wikipedia, Pollstar |
| July 11–13, 2014 | Convention runs at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel | Wikipedia |
| During the event | Organizers say they need $17,000 for the venue and collect donations in person and online | Wikipedia, Pollstar |
| During the event | The Welcome to Night Vale live show is cancelled | Pollstar |
| During the event | Reserved-seat holders are offered “an extra hour with the ball pit” | Pollstar |
| July 17, 2014 | Organizers release an official statement, with a conditional refund for cash or PayPal donors | Know Your Meme |
| September 2014 | Organizers announce DashCon LLP will be dissolved and its assets liquidated | Wikipedia |
The $17,000 Appeal
Accounts of the money differ, and none of the fetched sources quotes the hotel’s own position.
- Organizers’ account: According to Wikipedia, a staff member claimed the hotel said they “would need to pay $20,000 upfront for the use of the facilities or shut the convention down,” and organizers collected donations with “a goal of collecting at least $17,000 by 10 p.m.” Organizers also said they had verbally agreed to pay the venue gradually from ticket sales.
- Press account: Pollstar reported on July 16, 2014 that organizers “claimed they had not read the contract with the hotel that said the full payment was due on day one,” and that the hotel “was booked a year in advance.”
- Afterwards: Wikipedia reports that organizers maintained the money raised was not a scam and went to the venue.
Attendance: Expected vs Reported
| Figure | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Organizers’ expectation | 3,000 to 7,000 | Wikipedia |
| Organizers’ expectation | 5,000 | Pollstar |
| Reported turnout | About 350 | Wikipedia |
| Reported turnout | 500 to 1,500 | Pollstar |
The Night Vale Cancellation
The cast of #NightVale was a headline guest. According to Pollstar, the Welcome to Night Vale team said organizers “were unable to pay for our flights, hotel, or performance fee.” Wikipedia adds that attendees with panel tickets were offered other perks instead of refunds. Other guests, including ND Stevenson and the Baker Street Babes, were told by the hotel that they would have to pay for their own rooms.
The Ball Pit
The ball pit was a minor attraction until the organizers’ compensation offer, quoted by Pollstar: “For those of you who had reserved seats, we are giving you guys an extra hour with the ball pit.” Know Your Meme describes “a colorful children’s ball pit in an otherwise mostly empty room,” and, per Wikipedia, the pit became a meme because of that offer. Guest Mark Oshiro later said the pit was “not a point of interest” before the offer made it famous.
Recent Developments
In 2025, an unrelated team held DashCon 2 in Toronto, which Wikipedia describes as considered a success.