The Convention Guide, Part Three – Don’t Be That Guy!
via Pop Culture Geek
Dorkadia’s Convention Guide; Part 3, is part of a semi-regular ongoing series of articles of handy tips and information for the convention season.
So you’re at the awesome convention of your choice and you’re ready to hit the con floor and get going! You’re about to have an awesome time. But remember, at every con there’s anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand other people who are also there to have an awesome time. This article is going to talk about what very easy things you (and everybody else) can do to keep the experience awesome.
Free Swag
Some conventions give away a ton of free stuff. Swag is a super awesome part of a convention like PAX, where you can score huge bags of stuff by the end of the weekend. Much like most else in nerd culture, nabbing swag falls under Don’t Be a Dick – grab one or two items your first time around and come back much later to see if there’s some left.
Buying Stuff
This is just the line to get INTO an expo hall. All nerds, all the time.
via Schezar
One of the coolest parts of a convention is a huge dealer’s hall with sprawling tables full of stuff you’re going to inevitably end up buying.
If there’s things that you’re specifically looking for, make a list for yourself ahead of time, so you don’t stand outside the closed dealer’s hall cursing because you forgot to buy the limited edition Facepalming Picard statue (is this a thing? why isn’t this a thing?). Don’t hesitate to ask appropriate vendors if they carry or can order the item, most shops do brisk business online. For stuff you’re specifically looking for and you may not be able to live without, immediately hit the dealer’s room. You’ll deal with huge amounts of fans very eager to spend their money, but anything popular will go quickly.
On the other hand, if you aren’t sure about anything in particular and just want to get some good stuff at good deals, wait until the last day to hit the dealer’s room. Many of vendors don’t want to pack everything they haven’t sold back up and lug it away, so they’ll put up bargain prices and be more open to haggling. Haggling is a fine art (one that can take years to learn and refine; I got my pedigree after a childhood of yard sales and jewelry shows with a VERY assertive aunt) but if you keep polite about it, you’ll do fine. Don’t haggle over something you desperately desire unless you can face the embarrassment of paying full price if the vendor says no.
Cosplay Manners
Cosplay is great. People put a lot of effort, time and dedication into their costumes, so remember that. It takes some real bravery to dress up like the often ridiculous characters we all love and hate, so when you like somebody’s costume, so say! If you think their costume sucks? Keep it to yourself. Don’t take a picture and post it online with some nasty comment that probably isn’t all that clever after all. If I sound bitter, it’s because this is an incredibly common problem in the convention world and it’s pretty gross. Also? If you see somebody trying to take an intimate picture of a cosplayer without their knowing it? Speak the hell up. Cosplayers aren’t pieces of meat to parade around the internet while commenting on their bodies. They’re fans just like anybody else who want to show their love of their favorite characters.
Don’t criticize, just appreciate.
via Omarukai
If you are cosplaying, more power to you. Now please don’t pose for people to take your picture in the middle of any and every crowded thoroughfare. Foot traffic congestion is already a huge problem at cons and you plus your five foot wig and/or seven foot foam sword are in my way.
Line Etiquette
Lines are a huge part of almost any convention, and one of the least fun parts of the experience, so please don’t make it worse for everyone else suffering the same wait you are. My personal rule of thumb for lines is to never save a space for more than one or two people – and I’m so neurotic about what the people around me think that I start to get a cold sweat when I’m saving a space at all. If you know a large group of people who want into the same thing, make them stand in line with you. You’ll get a lot of company and far less nasty glares.
Panels / Showings / Events
Most conventions will host lots of spiffy events – these are usually the things you’ll be waiting in line for. When you go to a panel or other event, keep in mind that if it’s popular, there’s going to be a ton of other people wanting in, and those volunteers are trying to make sure everybody gets a seat. Put your bags and cosplay props on the floor and get cozy with your neighbor – there’s not enough room for you to have an empty seat next to you at most popular events. If you know this is a crowded event, do this stuff before the volunteers tell you to. Not only will other people get to see whatever awesome is about to happen, you’ll get the awesome to start much faster.
Just remember, you never want to be the person that gets horror stories told about them. We’ve all heard them – “The worst B.O.!” “Took pictures of my ass and put them on imgur!” “Took the last 8 free t-shirts!” “Let thirty people in line before me and I was waiting for two hours!”
The key to being an awesome con-goer is this – Don’t Be That Guy. It’s easy to avoid being that guy: don’t be a dick, be friendly, and take care of yourself and your friends. It’s the best way to meet new people, have fun times and get the most out of your con-going experience while ensuring that your fellow fans have the same chance.
Upcoming conventions include: Anime Evolution (June 28-30; Vancouver, BC, Canada), CONvergence (July 7-4; Bloomington, MN), Readercon (July 11-14; Burlington, MA), GaymerX (August 3-4; San Francisco, CA), Wizard World Chicago (August 9-11; Chicago, IL), Otakon (August 9-11; Baltimore, MD), Gen Con Indy (August 15-18; Indianapolis, IN)
