Convention Survival 101: A Go-To Guide on Attending Fan Conventions
They’ve existed long before nerd culture assimilated pop culture, but these days, fan conventions are bigger than ever. Venues like New York and San Diego Comic-Con are among the biggest in the entertainment world, with attendance ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. Cosplayers, celebrity guests, creators and industrialists all converge to celebrate and promote fandoms. Going to a convention can be one of the biggest highlights of the year for nerds, but it can also seem like a daunting prospect, especially for newcomers. Which begs the question: how does one survive a convention?
Going to a convention can be an arduous experience and, depending on the size, requires a lot of prior planning. However, I’ve been attending conventions since my teens, and I’ve learned many valuable lessons from my experiences. With summer bringing more free time (and SDCC), now is the perfect time to learn the ways of the Fandom. I’m RJ Writing Ink for The Game of Nerds, and this is Jay’s Declassified Convention Survival Guide*.
*Your results may vary. And yes, this is a reference from Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.
Phase I-Pre-Attendance Prep
Before you even set foot in a convention, you’re going to need to do a few things to prepare. Preparation can vary depending on the size, attendance levels, and proximity to your location, but the steps remain uniform.
Step 1: Get your tickets in advance
Before attending any convention, the first thing you need to do is see if they require tickets. If they do, you’ve got two options. You can always wait until the day of the convention to buy tickets at the entrance, but this isn’t a good idea. The biggest cons, like SDCC, rely on selling tickets online, and they can sell out in minutes to seconds. So, get them in advance. And if they give you the option to do so, have your ticket emailed and your badge sent to you in the mail. This way, you won’t have to wait in line to pick them up once you get there.
Step 2: Solo or Team?
Some people like to go to cons by themselves, but part of their appeal is being around others who are into the same fandoms you are. Unfortunately, making new friends at conventions isn’t always easy, so they may go with people they already know, like family or friends. If you want people to go with you, you’ll have to coordinate in advance. Even if you can’t find anyone, though, don’t despair. There are social media communities focused on attending conventions. If you discuss things ahead of time, you can hang out at the con or share a room.
Which makes the next part important.
Step 3: If you Need Lodgings, Get them ASAP.
Depending on the size and how far away live, this next step can be optional, as commuting can be acceptable, especially if you don’t plan on stay the entire time. If you’re traveling out of state, though, you’re going to want to book a hotel or Airbnb as close to the convention as possible, within walking distance, if you can. And you’re going to want to book them ASAP. The best deals on hotels can go quickly, so don’t dawdle. If it proves too expensive, consider sharing a room with someone else to split the cost.
Step 4: Prepare your Wallet
Going to conventions can be an expensive endeavor. There’s the transportation costs, like gas, or tickets for whatever vehicle you’re using. Then there’s the cost of the hotel room if you’re staying overnight. The cost of food and drink needs to be considered. And that’s not even mentioning the cost of tickets, autographs, vendors, and exclusive events. The biggest cons can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Thus, make sure your bank account can take the hit. The best thing to do is set up a budget and put money aside for it ahead of time, though there are ways to save money that we’ll go over later.
Step 5: Schedule time off for convention.
Unless you’re lucky (or unlucky) enough to have a job that involves covering them, you’re going to have to ask off from school or work to go to a convention. How many days you take off for depends on the length of the con and day of the week it starts. On average, conventions run for about three days or more. In my experience, though, attendees arrive at least the day before things start. Not only does this give them time to settle in, but time to see the local sights. So if youre going to a convention that requires an overnight stay, I recommend asking for how many days you intend to stay, plus two extra. One for the day before so you can get there, and another for the day after so you can get home.
Step 6: Pick your convention cosplay
Whether you’re an amateur or doing it for a living, cosplay is a major part of the appeal for conventions. If you’re the kind who likes to order costumes online, give yourself enough time for them to arrive and make sure they’re in working order. If you make them yourself, take the time to make sure they’re done right. Either way, when the time comes to leave, make sure they’re in something that can protect them from damage. Nothing is worse for a cosplayer than to see their costume ruined!
Speaking of traveling.
Step 7: Have supplies ready.
The following is a list of nonoptional supplies that you will want to bring with you. Make sure you have all of them, or you will be miserable.
- Comfiest shoes you got. You will potentially be walking several miles a day. While that’s great for cardio, it can be painful on your feet if they aren’t comfortable.
- Reusable water bottle. It may seem easier to buy water bottles at the con, but most places conventions are held have water fountains and stations to refill bottles. Not only will they help keep plastic out of our environment, they will save you money and keep you hydrated.
- Portable phone chargers. While it’s a given that most people take their phone chargers with them, and convention locations often have outlets, sitting around and waiting for phones to charge is counterproductive. Bring a portable charger that you can keep in your pockets. If you don’t have one, be on the lookout to see if the venue sells one.
- Hygienic and basic toiletries. I cannot stress this enough: hygiene is important at conventions. People will get hot, sweaty, and dirty before things are over. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and keep yourself nice and clean when you’re not in costume. And don’t forget to wear deodorant! Deodorant is non-optional!
Lastly, if you intend to buy merchandise, I recommend you bring a backpack. Preferably one big enough to keep all the merch and autographs safe. It will free up your hands and save you a trip back to your room.
Phase II: Attending the convention
At last, grasshopper, you have prepared yourself to the best of your ability and are ready to attend a convention. However, that is the first phase of your training. It doesn’t matter how much you prepare in advance. If you still don’t know what you’re doing, you’re going to be in for a stressful time. That is why there are still things you must know to help you once you’re at a convention, especially if it happens to be one of the larger ones.
Tip 1: If the convention has an app, get it!
The largest conventions will require the largest venues to house them, and finding your way around can be a hassle. In the days before smartphones, people had to use physical maps, boards, and brochures to find their way around. Those are still an option, but many people find it easier to use their smartphones. And it just so happens that there are apps with guides on them that can help you.
Go onto your mobile phone’s store and see if there’s an app for the convention you’re going to attend. If there is, download it. These apps should contain all the essentials that you need: maps, a schedule of events, celebrity guests, and the ability to plan out your itinerary. If there isn’t an app for your specific con, don’t fret. There are guidebook apps that contain guides for events, such as conventions. As you get closer to the date of the con, check to see if they have a guide for it.
Tip 2: If you’re in a group, use social media
If you chose to attend a convention with a partner or a larger group, good for you! Having friends and loved ones can make conventions even more fun! However, the larger conventions can have thousands to hundreds of thousands in attendance. If you’re not careful, you can get separated in the crowd. That’s where the power of social media can come in handy. Use communication apps like Facebook Messenger, Discord, Instagram, and more to let each other know where you are. And in the event that the Internet isn’t working in your location, come up with a place and time where you can meet up in case things go wrong.
Tip 3: Keep track of your wallet and tickets
When you’re in a big place with a lot of people, it’s important to keep track of your effects. If you’re not careful, you could lose your wallet, money and cards. Or worse, someone could end up pickpocketing them right under your nose. While there’s always a chance that they could find their way to lost and found or security could get them, there’s also the chance they could be lost forever. Your best option is to keep your wallet and tickets in your front pockets rather than the back, making it harder for people to pilfer. Barring that, keep them in a zipped-up backpack or container you keep on your person.
Speaking of which…
Tip 4: Bring a backpack
It may not match the costume you’re wearing, but trust me on this: having a backpack can be a lifesaver. It’s an easy way to carry around any merch and autographs you might buy, freeing your hands up and saving you a trip back to your room. Just make sure they’re zipped-up so that nothing valuable falls out. It’s also an easy place to keep your drinks, chargers, and portable batteries.
Tip 5: Look out for stations to refill bottles
If you remembered the essential supplies, then you should have brought yourself a reusable water bottle. Most places that host conventions will have water fountains that you can drink from, but some venues are implementing stations to refill bottles. If you’re running low on liquids, keep an eye out for them instead of resorting to buy another bottle. Not only will it save you time and money, it helps keep plastic out of the environment.
Tip 6: Look out for vendors selling disposable batteries
This might not be the norm, but the last convention I went to had stations that were selling rechargable, disposable batteries. If you see one, I recommend getting one. All you need to do is buy it the one time, and then you can exchange them at any station for a fully charged one. These can be a lifesaver if you forget a portable battery.
Tip 7: Bring your own food and drinks to avoid buying at conventions.
Next to the money spent on merchandise and things involving celebrities, one of the biggest drains on the wallet at conventions can be the need to buy food and drink. Since vendors know that people will eventually need to eat or drink, they’re able to charge high prices. In addition, the process of getting sustenance can be time-consuming due to everyone else wanting the same thing, leading to long lines. So, see if you can bring your own food to the event to help save money. If that’s not possible, don’t be afraid to leave the convention and find someplace cheaper to eat. Your wallet will thank you.
Tip 8: Get to events before they start lining people up
One of the worst aspects of attending a convention is having to wait in line. Whether it’s for a concert, a dance, a photo op, or getting an autograph from someone famous, there are going to be lines. And those lines can sometimes move so slow, it feels like a snail’s moving faster than you. To help with this, most conventions will start lining people up for an event an hour or so before it starts, but even then, the line can still get long.
Here’s a helpful tip: don’t try to make it to the event right when they’re starting to line people up. Instead, you should arrive before they even start lining people up. That way, you can get as close a place to the start of the line as possible and ensure things go faster. Just make sure you’re civil when trying to get your spot. Bad behavior can get you ejected!
Tip 9: Be patient in lines
Dread it, run from it, but it is inevitable. One way or another, you’re going to be stuck waiting in line for something! It’s one of the worst parts of going to a convention, especially if you’re the kind of person who went alone and doesn’t want to talk to other people in line with you. However, all you can do at this point is be patient and wait. To pass the time, maybe watch something on your phone or tablet. If you don’t want to waste the battery life, consider bringing something to read, instead! This could be the perfect time to finish that book you’re been wanting to read! Just make sure you keep track of the line movement!
Tip 10: Celebrities are People, too
So you’re about to meet that one celebrity that you’ve been a fan of for who knows how long. But just as you get ready, they leave to go on a break and won’t be back until later. Or not back at all. But here’s the thing: that person you’re a huge fan of is also a person, and they have to look after themselves. Maybe they need to take a break to get some food, use the bathroom, or recharge their mental batteries. Or maybe they just want to enjoy the convention themselves. Either way, don’t get upset at them or act like they owe you something. Even if they do owe you a photo or autograph because you already paid them, acting like a jerk can leave a bad taste in their mouths. You may be there for fun, but this is part of their job!
Tip 11: If you have kids in your group, keep them in sight at all times.
For the most part, conventions are meant to be something that people of all ages can enjoy, including kids. Like any place with a large group of people, though, there’s always going to be the chance of stranger danger. Most of the people attending are just there to have fun, and there will usually be plenty of security present to maintain order. However, bringing a kid to a crowded event like a comic-con can be risky. If you choose to bring kids with you, make sure you keep them in your line of sight at all times. As for teenagers, they are more capable of taking care of themselves, but you should make sure you can contact them if you get split up.
Phase III (or 2.5): Convention Etiquette
There is but one last phase of your training before you are ready, grasshopper. It is perhaps the most important aspect of your training, as failing to learn could lead to consequences that extend beyond the convention. I’m talking, of course, about convention etiquette.
Comic-cons are meant to be a safe place for everyone to have fun. As such, they have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of bullying or harassment. Yet it remains an issue, and if you’re not careful, you could be on the giving end (intentionally or not) or the recieving end. Worst-case scenario won’t just see you thrown out and banned: it could land you in jail.
So, please, keep these next few tips to heart.
Tip 1: Ask for permission before taking photos (and give permission)
Cosplay is one of the main draws of attending fan conventions, and some of the costumes that people wear look so good, they might as well have come off the set of a movie. However, it’s often considered rude to take a photo of someone’s cosplay without their permission. So, if you see someone dressed as your favorite character, ask them first if you can take a photo and if they mind you posting it on social media. If they agree to the latter, ask them what their online name so you can tag them. It’s not that necessary, but it can help them promote themselves if they want that.
Tip 2: Be respectful of others (and ask for respect)
Using the last tip as a springboard, succesfully asking someone for a photo or letting them take your photo can be a good icebreaker to starting a conversation. However, just because they gave you their social media handle doesn’t mean they’re going to want to be your friend right off the bat. Nor does it mean that they will want to hang out with you for the rest of the convention. If they look like they’re about to walk away or aren’t interested in talking any further, don’t press things. You’re still a stranger, and most people won’t open up that quickly. Know when to stop.
Conversely, if you don’t want to hang out with someone, be upfront, tell them that, and don’t leave any opportunities for misunderstandings.
Tip 3: COSPLAY. DOES NOT. EQUAL. CONSENT
If there’s one golden rule you have to follow at conventions, it’s this. Just because you see someone dressed in a skimpy outfit or they look like your top waifu or husbando does not, I repeat, does not give you the right to do any of the following:
- Ogle them for excessive lengths of time
- Try to keep talking to them
- Try and hit on them
As nice as the idea of a cool cosplayer being flattered by this attention sounds, this behavior will ensure it doesn’t happen. If they’re not interested, then you take the L and walk away.
Same goes if you’re cosplaying. If you have to shoot someone down, make sure they know this! There’s an entire movement aimed at preventing this sort of harassment at conventions, and it could ruin your life if you’re on the wrong end of it.
Tip 4: Watch out for red flags at parties, official or unofficial
If you’re attending conventions as a legal adult, that means that you can attend the 18+ that can take place once the sun goes down. The kind of events where people cut loose and indulge in alcoholic beverages. When done right, these parties can be fun and a good way to meet new people. However, they can just as easily go south. So make sure to keep your eyes out for any of the following red flags:
- People consuming large amounts of alcohol and acting like they’re drunk. Or on drugs.
- People getting harassed
- Kids running around despite the age restriction.
If you see any of these things going on at a late-night convention party and no one is trying to stop it, bail. Security is likely going to be called soon to break it up and being there is not going to look good.
Tip 5: Have fun.
You’re going to a convention to have fun. It’s a way to make friends, and if you’re lucky, those friendships can stick past the end of the con. But if you’re going there with the expectation of making a ton of friends or finding your soulmate, you could set yourself up for disappointment. Just let things happen as they do, and enjoy yourself. And for goodness sake, treat others with the respect that every human being deserves!
Pass on all you have learned.
Well, grasshopper, you managed to reach the end of this guide. I hope that it has been of some use to you as we head into convention season. Take everything that we have taught you and do your best to apply it when you’re going to a convention, regardless of how big or small it may be. Network and make friends, meet your idols, show off your costumes, and above all, have fun. May the spirit of Fandom be with you!
