Pros of Cons: A Beginner’s Guide to Sci-Fi Conventions

I married a true-blue sci-fi nerd.  Glen has had a long-standing love affair with Star Wars, Star Trek, Iron Man, console and PC gaming, and Marvel superheroes that predates our relationship.  He’s been a fan since childhood, long before it was cool and hip to be a nerd (I’d insert a certain throwback photo here to illustrate my point, but I value my marriage too much to do it.)

With all his geek wisdom, he has ushered me into the world of sci-fi, so much so that I developed my own obsessions and pursued them avidly through my travels (like visiting almost all of the Game of Thrones filming locations).  Attending sci-fi conventions was one thing we pursued for a couple of years.  There are a huge and ever-growing number of such gatherings, catering to different genres and interests.  While its roots are in science fiction and fantasy literature and comic books, these events have spawned and morphed into such things as a zombie convention like Walker Stalker Con.

I wrote the following piece back in September 2011, when I was (still am!) a big fan of the TV show Chuck and its lead Zachary Levi (who will soon be seen on NBC’s Heroes Reborn). Many of its references may be dated but it chronicled my experiences and insights as a nerd padawan (novice, to non-Star Wars fans).  Just like discovering new places when you travel, venturing into comic book, pop culture and sci-fi conventions opens you up to a different culture and interesting new experiences.

In celebration of the ongoing San Diego Comic Con, I thought I’d share this with you.

PROS OF CONS 

I’ve always acknowledged that Glen is the original and true nerd in the family. He was the one who brought me into the geeky world of sci-fi and all its fantastical trappings. He is my guide in the mystical land that is the sci-fi convention.

But as our annual (5 years running) pilgrimage to DragonCon came to a close last night with a Battlestar Galactica panel, I must say that I’ve come into my own nerdhood this year, as evidenced by the following:

1.  I’ve attended in costume yet again, this year as a somewhat stylized Nerd Herder from Chuck’s Buy More. Previous years: as a Battlestar Galactica off-duty officer.  Glen doesn’t do costumes.

2.  I took charge of our itinerary, and it involved going to more panels than we’ve ever done before (photos took a backseat this year). And I did it paperless with my DragonCon app on my Droid (tech nerd!).

3.  I dragged Glen to The Guild panel and to meet Felicia Day. Finally, something that I got into first before he did!

4.  I held my own, asked questions at Robert Duncan McNeill’s (Star Trek’s Tom Paris and Chuck Executive Producer and Director) panel, and actively participated in the Chuck fan discussion. I actually knew enough stuff! Okay, it was not nearly as broad as Glen’s database on Star Wars and Star Trek, but it was sufficient.

5.  Having gone to San Diego Comic Con in July, I have my 2-cents worth of comparison between the two (see below).  Oh, and the fact that I went to Comic Con and Glen didn’t!  Then again, Glen ditched SDCC because he didn’t want to miss school, thus making him the bigger nerd still.

6.  I volunteered and hung out with lots of nerds at NerdHQ, an off-site event at Comic Con, organized by Chuck star and The Nerd Machine’s Nerd 001 Zachary Levi.

Despite my recent advancements at Comic Con, I remain a nerd padawan. It was great to have my master back at my side for Dragon Con, educating me about the costumes we saw this weekend and what shows/games/movies/comic books they came from.  One truly needs a wise mentor in cerebral matters such as these.

Here’s my quick and dirty take on San Diego Comic Con vs. Dragon Con:

San Diego Comic Con: Huge event with over 130,000 attendees.  The main activities are centered inside the SD Convention Center.  Recently, some off-site events have sprung up in the Gas Lamp District, such as NerdHQ and COCOMoCA (The Museum of Conan Art, as in Conan O’Brien).  Overall, Comic Con is snazzy and Hollywood-y, no doubt largely due to the event’s proximity to Los Angeles.  It is well-fueled by industry/corporate big wigs as evidenced by booths for network TVs, studios, gaming companies, toy makers, publishers, etc. which in turn translates into: tons of freebies/swag, fancy presentations in ginormous panels with lots of big-name celebrities.  This also means waiting in line at 2am to get into those panels (yes, Twilight fans, I’m referring to you).

DragonCon: Big but not overwhelming (60,000 attendees), with events spread across 5 adjacent hotels in Atlanta.  This event definitely feels like it is run by fans for fans with tons of diverse programming (which means panels for every conceivable topic).  Different genres are represented but firmly rooted in sci-fi and pop-culture as evidenced by the myriad of costumes.  It my humble opinion, Dragon Con has better, more creative cos-players than SDCC.

 

To round up our con season 2011, here’s a couple of tips to future attendees:

1.   Know your con. There are different cons specializing in different genres.  Find the one that caters to your specific interest. Google it up.

2.  There is an overwhelming number of resources of information, from the official websites to blogs to Twitter accounts.  Find out the basics: dates, membership fees/tickets, hotel accommodations, programming/panels/events, guests, etc. then slowly build your game plan.

3.  Plan well.  You will not be able to see and do everything, so prioritize.  Lining up for hours sucks but is a way of life for many popular panels and autograph booths.

4.  Plan your outfits.  Costume or cosplay is optional but lots of fun. They can range from the elaborate to the absurd.  Themes are largely dependent on the type of con you’re attending, but for multi-genre ones, anything from sci-fi and pop culture (including movies, TV shows, TV commercials and internet viral videos) are fair game. If costumes aren’t your thing, a cool and witty graphic or statement shirt is the popular choice.  For that, check out sites like Snorg Tees, Mental Floss, Despair, TeeFuryand The Nerd Machine. Or make your own at Cafe Press, etc.

5.  If you can and if they’re good, use the con’s official apps. They’re customizable, interactive, more updated and just cooler than the printed guide.

6.  To save costs, find roommates to share accommodations with. Just be sure you know them well enough to know that they will not murder you in your sleep or worse, steal your autographed photos of your favorite celebrity.

7.  Food inside the convention centers and hotels are a rip off. Buy snacks and drinks ahead of time at drugstores or groceries to sustain yourself while waiting in line.

8.  Eat well, stay hydrated and try to get some sleep.  It would be unfortunate to have lined up for a panel or a signing only to pass out just as you were getting to the top of the line.

9.  Don’t forget your essential gear: camera, phone, charger, Ipad, tablet or e-book reader, Ipod, pen, and whatever item it is that you wanted to have signed or have your favorite celebrity take a picture with. Charging stations may be at full capacity, so plan on bringing extra batteries or your own portable chargers.

10.  Some celebrities are okay with taking pictures with you at the signing table, some aren’t – ask the agent/publicist/ assistant ahead of time to avoid embarrassment.  Agents and con staff will ask you not to take paparazzi shots with your zoom lens.

11.   Some cons have designated photographers to do official portrait shots with the celebrities.  If you want the whole shebang, plan on getting the photo done first, claim the photo (can take up to 24 hours) and then line up to have it autographed. Now, no one will ever doubt you met said celebrity and you have your new Facebook profile pic.  To ensure success, timing and coordination of photo session, release and autograph schedule are critical.

12.   On the matter of payment for photos/autographs, check to see if the celebrity has an assistant to take your cash (no credit cards or checks) – they’re usually seated right beside each other.  I personally find it awkward to hand the money to the celebrity but sometimes that’s what has to happen if he/she came alone. Save yourselves the embarrassment and avoid having to make them ask you for the cash – look for the sign that will indicate the desired payment, slip it quietly across the table then commence your fan moment.

13.   Be kind and friendly to other attendees: they’re excited to have fun just like you and have spent hard-earned money to be there too. Be courteous to staff/volunteers: many actually paid their way to help and serve you. Be respectful to celebrities/guests: they appreciate your enthusiasm for their work but they’re also humans who would like to eat, have a drink, pee or roam the con floor without people taking their photos every second.

Enjoy your con experience and let me know about it!

Live Long and Prosper. May the Force Be With You. So Say We All.

 

Have you been to a sci-fi convention?  Tell me about your experience!