When people say the word “convention,” they are usually referring to large gatherings of the employees of companies and corporations who attend a mass assembly, usually in a big hotel somewhere, for the purpose of pretending to learn stuff when they are in fact enjoying a free trip somewhere, time off work, and the opportunity to flirt with strangers, drink, and otherwise indulge themselves.
The first major difference between a business convention and a fandom convention is that fandom doesn’t bother with the pretenses. They’re just there to have a good time. The second difference is the dress code – the ensembles at a fan convention tend to be a considerably more novel.
– Harry Dresden (Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher)
Things I learned at Otakon (2013) and MAGFest (2014)
1) I should blog about what I’ve learned about fan conventions.
2) I shouldn’t design a blog from scratch, because that takes too long.
Costumes
3) If you cosplay Booker DeWitt, you have an excuse to get a picture with an Elizabeth cosplayer.
4) If you cosplay Booker Dewitt, people will throw coins at you.
5) You will probably fail to catch said coins. This is funny the first time.
6) Apparently, it’s also funny the second and third time.
7) A RED sniper costume is simultaneously a BLU spy costume.
8) The look on someone’s face when you tell them that is hilarious. (“Huh? Oh! I get it.”)
9) Somewhere, somehow, some guy will work a kilt into their costume.
10) Do not mess with White Mage.
Dancing/MAGProm
11) Shepard and Femshep are the cutest couple ever.
12) If you are a guy going stag to MAGProm, you are going to have a difficult time finding a girl to dance with (seeing as it’s about 90% guys).
13) On the other hand, about 90% of said guys are too nervous to ask anyone to dance. So it might work out for you after all…
14) If a group of people start limbo dancing, do not attempt to dramatically run forward and slide under the poll. You will slip and slam your head into the ground.
15) After ignoring the previous rule, do not reattempt another 3 times.
Partying
16) People at conventions can party harder than you can.
17) Don’t do tequila shots.
18) No, really.
19) Watching people stumble around a convention center drunk is kind of entertaining.
20) However, herding drunk people around a convention center, trying to keep them out of trouble, is the worst escort mission ever.
21) Especially if you ignored some of the previous rules.
22) Drunk people can move really quickly when you’re not paying attention.
Panels
23) Panels with famous people have really long lines.
24) Except panels at 10:00 am. You can meet some neat voice actors this way and ask them lots of questions.
25) Such as, “Can you recreate the dialog between the two of you when you first met, but in your characters’ voice?” (John Patrick Lowrie (The Sniper) and Ellen McLain (GLaDOS) are married.)
26) If you get bored waiting in line, start singing “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”. Everyone knows that song and will join in.
Other
27) There will be at least one Dr. Who reference. This is required by fan convention law.
28) In short, you will meet a lot of awesome new people.
29) Unfortunately, most of them will live far away from you.
30) Fortunately, you’ll get to see them at other conventions.