The Dream Lounge was where it all started. And I don’t mean this blog. I mean the original The Dream Lounge. Seen a screenshot here.
That was where everything started. That is the physical source of this blog, and of The 21 Convention. It was essentially a small, private forum, of the best young pick up artists I could find. At it’s peak, it was about 25, very active posters, from all over the world.
Members include many speakers of The 21 Convention. Nilatak, Alexander, Orleans, and Heartwork, among others.
The forum was 100% private. Members could and were banned for telling anyone about it. The front page was a dummy page that had something to do with furniture. Membership was granted by multiple references only, from lounge members, after the initial ~15 people were approved for the lounge.
I started this when I was 17.
While it’s history beyond the mentioned is not the subject of today’s post, know that TDL took me across the country, sprang a counter forum (screenshot), and almost, a counter event to The Under 21 Convention (screenshot).
Endurance prevails.
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Today is the official re-launch of The Dream Lounge, and of The 21 Convention forum, as a combination of the two, and in memory of how it all began.
Which bears mentioning that for the first year and a half, all T21C had was a forum. A very active, massive forum, of a couple thousand users. That public forum, in addition to the private TDL, was literally how the first convention was organized. To register, all you had to do was “RSVP” by sending me a private message on the public forum.
81 people showed up to Orlando that year. Less than 20 were from Florida. Cash was collected at the door, and I made a grand total of $100 off the event itself.
Talk about cutting it close.
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The new forum is called The 21 Convention Lounge, although I will refer to it as The Lounge here on TDL. It is inclusive of both TDL and T21C. The forum is primarily public to read, with private journals being the exception, where registration is required to view. A free account is required to post anywhere.
On The Lounge, I will be posting more frequently over the next few months, in spite of being extra busy with the conventions. I am doing this because I value the authentic sense of community that can come from an online group like this, without generating a mindless herd mentality, present on most large forums.
There are people out there that reflect your own ideas, values, and goals. The Lounge is where you will find them.
The Lounge will also be the best place to discuss potential topics for me to write about on TDL, versus the random comment on this blog.
Messaging me on there will also be the best way to contact me, and get a response.
Finally, I am inviting all past speakers to post on The Lounge. Some already do, and have on a consistent basis, for months, and even years on end. Others will be new to the fun. All are welcome.
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As a final (final) note, The Lounge is the best place to organize with other T21C and TDL viewers/readers. Skype meetings and real life projects have sprung up over the past few months, completely independent of anything official from T21C or TDL. Needless to say, talking and meeting with other T21C/TDL fans is a great way to stay actively, rather than passively, involved year round.
I will also recommend to everyone, starting a private journal on the forum. I have been journaling for years on end now. The journal is called The Dream. You can read it here once you have an account.
I recommend a journal because it is the best way to keep track of yourself, and your own thoughts, over the long haul. The feedback, public or private (via PM), is always helpful as well — and something you simply cannot get without getting your thoughts out there for others to read.
Even if you do not get a response on a particular idea, physically organizing your thoughts into text is IMO, the single clearest introspective picture you can take of yourself at any given time.
It’s always fun to go back and read your old stuff to… and literally see the progress you’ve made in your own life, into the man you were meant to be — the best and highest possible.
The ideal in physical reality.
~~~
– Anthony Dream Johnson
ps — Can you be sure The Dream Lounge really closed…?
Edit: a mandatory introduction section has been added. If you are a new user, you have to make an intro once your account is created, or you will be banned by an admin.
“Even if you do not get a response on a particular idea, physically organizing your thoughts into text is IMO, the single clearest introspective picture you can take of yourself at any given time.
It’s always fun to go back and read your old stuff to… and literally see the progress you’ve made in your own life, into the man you were meant to be — the best and highest possible.
The ideal in physical reality”
Totally agree with this.