Conventions

Fan Conventions and Comic Cons 

What are Comic Con and what can you expect at them? 

 Comic Cons- “A comic book convention (one-day event) or comic con is a fan convention with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay than most other types of fan conventions” Read more about this definition here 

When referring to conventions of the Fandom sort this is the most commonly used term due to it being the most popular. For more specific topics there are fan conventions: 

“ A fan convention (also known as a con or fan meeting) is an event in which fans of a particular topic gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and each other.” read more about this definition here

Often times when referring to conventions in conversation instead of using comicon, and then convention, we will just meet at the particular topic. For example, you're going to an anime convention or a video gaming convention. Conventions that mix multiple genres and media types are often just referred to as comic cons even though they include more than what The definition of Comic Con states

What is a Panal? A panel is when a group of experts in a particular field relating to pop culture or creative for a specific series, gather together and do either a Q&A, or have a discussion on a specific topic. Below are two good examples of panels from San Diego Comic Con, arguably one of the biggest conventions in the world. 

Of course, when talking about conventions I had to include this iconic Panal moment!  

Let's talk about what you should do at a Comic Cons: 

• Always carry your badge! You need it to get into any convention-specific space in the conversion center. 

• Start conversations while in line for things, in the elevator and in front of bathroom mirrors! Everyone at conversions like this are nerds and we love to talk about our passions with people! 

• If you love a poster from Artest ally you can consider asking the artist to sign it for you! Normally, the creator of the art that is on display and available for purchase as an Artist ally is the one running the booth! 

  • I have a poster that inspired one of my tattoos and I found the artist at a later conversion and told her as such how much I love her work.  I got a special addition of the poster with her Signature for a discounted price! In another situation, after expressing my love of an artist's work I got a little free bee poster! 

• Ask questions! That is what Con Staff is there for! If you ask a fellow con go-er, if they know I am gentree they will help, if not you can be lost together! 

• Plan what panels, workshops and events you want to go to ahead of time! Often time lines form anywhere for 30 min to multiple horses before a panel or event so know what you want to do and when you can start lining up for it. Most of the time this is induced on the event listing on whatever app the Con is using to keep their Schedule! 

• It's okay to not plan anything! Especially if you're a first time convention go-er, walking around, people watching, and shopping might take up your entire day!

• Make sure to stop into both Artist Alley, and the Dealers Den! They both have different things in them you can not find in the other. 

• Budget appropriately! Conventions can be expensive especially when you start shopping. Using your dinner money to buy a sword is not okay (even though we have all done it at least once) 

•  SHOWER!!! PLEASE! It might seem like a small and simple things but believe me or not but people for go showers while at conventions. 

• Ask before taking pictures of people in cosplay. The cosplayer is going to say “yes" to your photo request. They spent too much time getting ready in the morning and working on their costume for it not to be photographed, But it's still super important to ask. 

• HAVE FUN! 

What not to do at cons: 

• Don't be creepy please, Just because someone is cosplaying as your favorite character or your “wife” doesn't mean you can stare at them or say/offer inappropriate things

• For the love of all that is good, keep your hands to yourself! Cosplay is not consent, liking fandoms and expressing that I like your shirt or some reference you made is not permission to touch me. 

  • Have I had this happen to me at conventions? Unfortunately yes. Lucky for me I was with good friends who I was able to single for help so we got get out of thier. 

  • That's horrible as it sounds. It is unfortunately a problem at conventions. Learn more in this Allure Article, ‘The on Going Struggle to Prevent Harassment at Comic Cons”

• If you are taking a picture with a cosplayer, let them choose how to pose around you. 

• Think before you ask a question or an action. Don't ask a cosplayer or a voice actor/actor out on a date or to marry you. (It's just creepy) 

• If you're gonna drink, be responsible. You are still an adult in a public space.

• Respect other people's time, it's great to start conversations and talk about things you're passionate about but please don't go on a rant to your new friends in the middle of the Dealer's Den. 

• An unspoken but very much appreciated rule is not to take pictures in Artist Alley. This is because the art on display is how these artists are profiting at the convention and sometimes it's a full-time job so out of respect for them if you are going to take a picture and artist alley of a cosplayer try to avoid having art and booths in that photo.

• Overall, just don't do anything that you wouldn't do normally at a convention. Conventions are not an excuse to be creepy or act in ways that wouldn't be acceptable the other 364 days of the year.

Want some more guidelines on how to not cross lines at conventions? Take a look at this article from Wired, Conventions Etiquette 101 

Here are some fun moments you can expect to see at cons! 

Some personal suggestions of awesome conventions I have been to! 

Awesome Con 

Awesome Con is a great all-around convention for fandom! From Comic books, to tabletops games, video games, and anime, they have it all! I have been able to take quite a few people to this con as their first conventions and they are still hooked to this day! 

Otakon

Otakon was the first convention I ever went to and it's still a personal favorite 10 years later! It's an amazing anime convention located in Washington D.C.