Comic book conventions are a place many of us nerds call home. It's truly the one time you can let your hair down and be who you truly are without feeling judged. It's events like this which should be the most enjoyable and happiest for fans, but sometimes, conventions can be a bit frustrating and maddening. The fine folks of Comic Vine are veterans when it comes to traversing the convention landscape, so whether you're a con legend or a rookie, we thought we'd give you some helpful tips to maximize your con going experience.
Everyone Sucks at Walking, Including You
There is nothing that can ruin your day quicker than just walking around a convention. It feels like a hopeless endevour as you penguin waddle behind the family of five, spread out across the walkway, stopping abruptly every five seconds without moving to the side. At no point, during your travels, will you not be behind someone like this. Here's the thing, someone walking behind you is thinking the same exact thing. Everyone "sucks" at walking to someone else, so it's best not to get mad or frustrated because you're a con. It's supposed to be fun. There's no reason to get frustrated and say something because at some point during that same con, you'll be stopping to look at things every 5 seconds. Do your best to keep a cool head so everyone has a good time.
Getting Pictures of Cosplayers
Cosplay and comic book conventions go hand and hand. It's truly part of the appeal of con-going. Here's the thing, Cosplayers are people too. They are there to enjoy the convention, just like you. It sounds silly having to actually say that but sometimes, folks can be quite rude when it comes taking cosplayers photos. The first thing you should do is ask to take their picture. Would you want people randomly taking your photo? Frankly, it's just polite, and if you don't ask, you'll look like one of those creepy dudes with the nice cameras that sneaks up on people. If you've been to a lot of conventions, you know who I'm talking about. Also, it's nice to ask them by their cosplayer name. Don't just say "hey dude, can I take a picture?" These people put a lot of time and effort into those costumes, so show them you appreciate it: "Hey Jubilee. I love the costume. Do you mind if I get a picture of you?" The more polite you are to the people around you, the better the time you'll have.
Be Patient
I, for one, hate crowds; however, I'm pretty sure there's a ton of people just like me that feel a bit uneasy about it as well. I lose my patience very quickly in a crowd and feel trapped. The thing is that you need to realize aside from conventions being fun, you're also around tons of like-minded folks. Why get mad when you're around your peers? If you get too worked up or freaked out by the crowds or being crowded in, just take a step aside and take a breath or two.
Bring a Bag or Backpack
This kinda seems like a no brainer, right? You'll probably be buying things and want something to put them in so you're not holding them for hours on end. What you really should do is also bring things to the convention with you, like water. Food and drink prices at conventions are outrageous. They can get away with it and they know you'll pay for it. When we go to conventions, I always like to bring one large bottle of water with me and maybe a granola bar to tide me over. It saves you a few bucks, which will help when you're trying to buy that super-cool Galactus statue.
Make Way for Wheelchairs
As one of my close friends, who is wheelchair-bound, puts it "My arch nemesis are grass and carpet." Many convention floors have areas that are carpeted. That, combined with the crowds, can be pretty tough for those in wheelchairs to get around. Lots of this piece is about making your con experience as fun as possible, but let's remember that being kind and helping out other folks is just as important. Giving those in wheelchairs a bit more room to get through the crowds just makes things a bit easier for them. That's common sense, right?
Take these tips with you the next time you go to a convention and you're sure to have a much better convention going experience! And we'll see you guys at C2E2!