Convention Survival Guide by Robert Andrews

Intro

So, you’ve decided to attend your first convention. I remember what it was like when I attended my first Anime Blues Con. Going in unprepared can really take it out for an attendee that hopes to do this long term. After getting a few underneath my belt, I thought it’d be nice to share what I’ve learned, heard and seen since attending in 2012. This will help with conventions from the small, local scene to the nationally covered events. These are the ins and outs of what to do and what not to do and how to survive a convention weekend.

Pre-Con Prep

          It goes without saying that attending conventions will put a strain on both the body and patience of any attendee. Most just go and deal with the conditions taking them in stride. Like with an exam, it always helps to be prepared. Conventions come with their own trials and knowing what to do ahead of time can save you a lot of grief, time and pain. The first step would be to stretch prior to your arrival. I know that sounds weird, but keep in mind that you’ll be on your feet walking aimlessly for hours and your legs will surely feel it. 

It also helps to wear appropriate footwear such as running shoes or something lighter the make it easier on your feet. Granted there will be spots available for sitting, but between checking out booths, panels and signings, those moments may be rare. This is especially true in regards to waiting in lines for autographs. The next step is hydration.

Let’s assume that 90% of your time at the convention will be spent constantly walking and moving around. You’ll need to take in as much water as you can. There may be water fountains scattered throughout the area, but it can be a chore trying to locate one depending on the size of the venue. I recommend having bottled water on hand for convenience as the bottle can be refilled at the fountains. Now that you’ve taken all of the measures to prepare, it's time for the main event.

The Dealer’s Room

                The most heavily populated area of any convention is without a doubt the Dealer’s Room. Inside, there’s a plethora of booths and tables with artists and vendors selling merchandise. This room is an anime collector’s paradise but could put a real strain on the wallet if you’re too rash when deciding what to buy. Artwork, Blu-rays & DVDs, games, clothes, figures and plushies will be on full display in almost every inch of the main exhibition hall. Fans will be tempted at every corner to spend on merchandise they will, at the time, feel as though they can’t live without. It then becomes a matter of deciding between whether or not you have the spare funds to splurge or should you hold off in order to pay rent or cover an unexpected expense that could creep up on you any moment. 

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t spend money at a convention, but you should budget accordingly and make sure that you won’t take too big of a hit in the wallet. Before buying any merch, however, it might not be such a bad idea to perform a quick sweep of the dealer’s room to see what everyone has to offer. You want to be fast to make sure the merch you want isn’t snatched up, but you also want to weigh your other options. Consider how much spending money you’ve brought with you. Which booths have the items you want the most? Should you spend a majority of your money on one expensive piece or several smaller cheaper ones? Should you have a bag dedicated to carrying all of your purchases? Should you act now or risk it being bought by someone else? Decisions, decisions. This all comes down to the attendee’s personal choice, but it never hurts to think about what your options are. On a side note, this is also something to consider should you be attending a con that you traveled to by flight. Will your newly acquired merch fit within your luggage? Could it be potentially damaged? What if your luggage is lost? What can you fit in your carry-on bag? I have seen photos in collector groups where members have had their newly purchased collectibles have had their packaging beaten up by the handling of their luggage. It’s something I, and I bet those reading this, would like to avoid. I’m not saying it isn’t a good idea to buy anything at all. It’s just a smart idea to know what your limits are in terms of what you can carry.

Food

Of course, if you’re staying at the event for a day, the feeling of hunger will eventually creep up on you as well. Convention centers and hotels have concession lines where you can buy food. These usually include things like burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos, chicken strips and pizza. If those don’t work for you, your options are to either bring your own food or leave the con to venture out to a nearby restaurant. In the event that you don’t want to leave or pay for the food provided, it’s always a good idea to bring a lunch or a few snacks on hand to tie you over until you leave the con and have dinner. There is another option, but it is entirely dependent on the area of the convention. If the event takes place in a major city such as Los Angeles or D.C., there’s a strong chance that there will be food trucks and street vendors stationed outside of the event.

All of the convenience of restaurant style food is just a few feet from the entrance. The important thing is that you’ll never starve unless you just choose not to eat anything at all.

Cosplay

A staple of conventions is cosplay. Attendees relish the opportunity to dress up as their favorite fictional characters. Superheroes, cartoon and even live action characters flood the area in mass. Think of it as having extra Halloweens throughout the year minus the candy. There’s an abundance of people in costume and each of them fall within three categories. There are the casual cosplayers that wear clothes that have printed patterns representing their favorite characters such as Goku or Captain America. Next, we have the crafted cosplays. These can end up costing the most in term of both time and money depending on the cosplay. The most common ones I usually see being crafted are costumes that include body armor such as Iron Man or Samus Aran. Should you choose to craft a more complex and time-consuming cosplay, give yourself an ample amount of time before the date of the convention arrives. A few months should be good enough to look up tutorials, buy materials and have time to start crafting as the date approaches. The third category would be for cosplays that are purchased. If you don’t think you’ll be able to put a cosplay together and still want to represent a character, there are shops online where you could possibly find style that suits you. It’s a good idea to look up site reviews to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. There are sites such as Etsy where you can look to find independent artists that specialize in different areas of cosplay such as masks, props, etc. As someone who has purchased a few cosplays online, I can say that a majority of the final products leave much to be desired. If you’re capable and want to improve the quality of the costume, modifying it would be a good idea. Maybe there are some extra details you’d like to add or put in some rips and holes for a more battle-scarred aesthetic. Who knows, maybe you’d like to do an original version of an existing cosplay or a combination of multiple characters. The only limit to cosplay is your imagination.

Still can't believe she made this out of perler beads.

While it can be fun to cosplay, it can come with its own set of issues. These can range from comfortability to social interactions. When planning a cosplay, it’s important to know what the conditions you’ll have to deal with when cosplaying. Depending on the costume, you find it hard to walk and stand for long periods of time. This goes double for full-body suits for characters like Captain America, Deadpool and Black Panther. Combine a crowded area, a form-fitting suit with padding and a lot of walking and you have a recipe for constant exhaustion and overheating. You’ll have to unmask and rehydrate constantly when dressed in something that is essentially a Dutch oven that you wear; especially when walking outside in it during the warmer seasons. It’s not just full-body cosplays that can give a person grief. There are costumes that may require a person to paint their entire body an unusual color such as green, gray or blue. Others consist of multiple layers and can turn into entire production numbers just to put on. You want to make sure that you’re wearing something that you’ll instantly regret or that will limit your movement.

The same can be said about shoes that are ordered from a cosplay site as well. They have standard sizes, but are not shaped for things such as wide toes. Unlike normal shoes, they’re not exactly the type that can be broken in as they’re usually made of much cheaper materials. If you’ve ever bought a pair of shoes that were uncomfortable to wear at first, get ready for them to stay that way. It would be a better idea to buy a real pair of shoes that resemble the ones needed and make some cosmetic modifications. At least that way, they won’t hurt as much from the constant standing and walking.

In connection to an earlier topic, if you choose to leave the convention venue in pursuit of food or other reasons, I recommend changing out of any cosplay should you happen to be wearing one that might be cumbersome. At least provided that it is one that would attract too much attention. It can be hard for some people that just want to eat and get back to the convention to have others staring at them like they’re some sideshow attraction. If you are into being in the spotlight, feel free to ignore that part wear your cosplay with pride. Show the fruits of your work and appreciation. Who knows? Maybe some people outside of the con will want a picture with you because they like the work that was put into it. 

This next part might sound a bit preachy, but I felt like it was obligatory given the subject being discussed. Whether you are in or out of cosplay, it is important to act with courtesy and respect towards others that show their passion for dressing up. It isn’t uncommon for cosplayers to be met with criticism and harassment from other attendees. These can range from being shamed for missing a detail in a costume or not being able to pull off a look due to body type and can turn into full-on sexual harassment.
It can happen to anyone regardless of gender, race, or size. People dress up to show their love for a character and to have a good time. It’s not a good look to act elitist and belittle the work people put into showing their admiration for a character. Long story short, don’t be an ass.

Hygiene

                Chances are that you’ve never heard the term “con funk”. This refers to the idea that con goers do not bathe or keep up common hygienic habits during the time of the convention. The culmination of hundreds, if not thousands, of sweaty and musty individuals cluttered together in a single space is sure to result in a change in the atmosphere; specifically, its odor. When wearing a full-body cosplay, especially during the warmer months, you’re bound to feel and smell the effects.  In all my years of attending, I can say when something definitely smells like a convention and that’s pretty sad. 

There exists a stereotype that convention attendees refrain from keeping up regular hygienic practices during the con weekend to spend more time at the event. Instead, they’re known to carry cans of body spray to mask the scent. That’s no substitute for a shower. Don’t be a dirty degenerate con-goer.

The hero we need, but not the one we deserve.

Also, it should be noted that there’s usually some rando holding a sign offering free hugs to strangers, so attempt at own risk. TLDR, Del the Funkee Homosapien will take it from here.

Guests

                One of the main attractions for any convention is the guests. These usually include screen actors, voice actors, models, athletes and internet celebrities. I can honestly say that this is what I look forward to the most when attending a con. I’ve met so many people that have entertained me since my childhood. Since 2012, I’ve met the likes of Stan Lee, Tara Strong, Steve Blum, Jason David Frank, Phil Lamar, and many more. It was truly an honor meeting them and there are still so many that I hope to see in the future. Meeting someone who’s the brains or voice behind a favorite book, show, or character can elevate your appreciation for the product. I’m sure that there are others that feel the same way when they come face to face with these people and it’s a moment that they’re sure to treasure for the rest of their lives.

                While meeting guests, there are some things that should be taken note of during the convention. The most important thing that a first-time con attendee should know is that guests have limited availability. Just because they’re scheduled to be there, it doesn’t mean they’ll be there the entire time. There will be a dedicated area for getting autographs and photos, and they’re normally reserved for certain hours. If you’re arriving at a con in the morning, don’t expect meet and greets to be the first thing you do when you get there. Some guests are available for the entire weekend while there may be some that are only there for one day. Trust me when I say that it’s always a good idea to double check what days they’re appearing; otherwise, you could end up missing your chance to meet someone you happen to be a fan of. There are other crucial points to take note of. Depending on the popularity of the individual, a long line is to be expected. At the very least, if you want to get your encounter out of the way, I’d recommend lining up AT LEAST 30 minutes before their scheduled signings if no one is by their tables, especially if there’s more than one guest for you to meet.

This also ties into the next thing to consider when meeting a guest and that’s autographs and photos. There have been a few exceptions, but guests will charge for signings and photos. Understand that these appearances aren’t free and that these people have to generate income when they’re not working on projects, so this does make sense. Hell, this is how most of the older Power Ranger actors are still making money today. Luckily, most conventions post prices ahead of time and even allow attendees to purchase tickets months in advance.  With this information, it might be a good idea to decide what to get signed. Maybe you have a print, figure, or other piece of merch for them to signed. It should also be noted that autographs are typically charged per item signed, so choose wisely.

                  There may be some of you that will be nervous when it come time to meet certain guests and that’s to be expected. I’m here to tell you that there’s no real need for that. It’s natural to feel starstruck when it’s your first time and it’ll get easier with attending more conventions. You’ll find that most people are down to earth and they’re just like everyone else. Upon meeting them, it’ll provide you with a brief moment to show your appreciation for their work as well as to get to know them a little better. That being said, it’s important to conduct yourself in a polite and mature manner. No one wants to be responsible for a guest no wanting to attend again down the line. Conventions have a strict policy against harassment, be it physical or verbal. This can result in participants of this type of behavior to be kicked out of the convention, so I’d think twice about making a scene.

Activities

                A con isn’t all walking, spending and signings. There are places where you’ll be able to spend your time just hanging out and having fun. These staples are the gaming rooms and the panels. With panels, they’re either hosted by the guests or other attendees. Usually a single show or whatever is the main subject and these usually only last about an hour, but there are many hosted throughout the weekend. Panels allow people to promote an upcoming project or get together and show their appreciation for an existing one. There’re usually things such as games and Q&A’s to keep the audiences invested and entertained. One of my personal favorites would have to be the anime dubbing panels. In these, the hosts play an anime scene muted and audience members can dub over it with their voices for comedic results. This is just one of the examples of how panels can be fun for everyone and the best part is that panels can be run by anyone. Leading up to a convention, they’ll take application for panel submissions and yours could make the cut. I’ve co-hosted a Bleach panel once in 2013 and it was an experience that I look back on with fondness. It almost makes me want to host more in the future. What about you?

                As for the gaming room, there are usually two types of accommodations. There’s a video game room and a tabletop game room. I’m not going go into too much detail with these because they sound self-explanatory. Long story short: One room has video games and the other has board games/card games. Have fun everyone.

Post-con

                Now that I’ve told you about what to expect before and during the con, here comes the aftermath. If you’re new to the convention scene, you’re almost guaranteed to be hit with what’s known as PCD (post-con depression).

The weekend is over. Everyone’s packing up. It’s time to say goodbye to all of the friends you’ve made and go back to your “normal” life with either work or school. Sadly, all things must come to and end. What makes it even harder is that your brain is still in convention mode. There are ways to soften the blow, however. Making sure to stay in contact with the new friends that you’ve made should be the obvious thing as people always plan to hang out when they see each other. The next thing you can do is to start planning future convention attendances. Will you hold out for next year’s convention or will you find more to attend in the mean time? Maybe you and your friends can plan a group cosplay to host a panel together for your favorite anime. There’s always something you can do to hold yourself over until your next convention. Maybe you want to try your hand at cosplay crafting or apply for the artist’s alley. Just because the convention has ended, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop making preparations. PCD can be rough at first, but these are some ways in which you can power through it and keep your eye on your next convention.

Conclusion

                If you’re reading this, I hope you found this reading to beneficial to you. This is my first time writing in an instructive type of manner and I hope this will help many first time or even long time con-goers. I don’t claim to be an expert and there are things at conventions that can still take me by surprise, but all of my past experiences have made me a more aware of what to look out for and how to adapt while I’m there. I hope this guide can do the same for all of you. Thanks for reading.