I've never been either, but have always wanted to attend!

Problem is, I hear the reports say you are more out of place if you DON'T dress up in costume. Well, I wanna be Utena, of course... but my appearance is more along the lines of Anthy, because I'm only 5'4... I won't! Sure, I love Anthy, she's probably my favorite. But not because I'm similar, just out of sheer awe. I identify more with Utena, but alas... I couldn't bear to go in a costume I can't pull off because I'm too short. What is Utena? Like 6'10?

Plus, I'm 25 - I'm assuming most people are teenagers attending. Ah well, if you did go, when you do go, will you be cosplaying??? I should just go with a camera! How fun! I'll bet those conventions are fun, I've read many a blogs about people's experiences and they sound most entertaining!

Well, I've only been to three and that was AnimeVegas every year. I've learned that you should get ready to a long-hall, mostly if the convention lasts more then one day and you plan to go every day.

- Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, you're probably gonna be walking.... a LOT.
- It's good to get a print-out of all the events, panels, etc that are scheduled through out the convention. You should make a keen plan on which ones you want to go to.
- Snacks are important, too. Generally, most of the food that's sold directly at the convention is pretty expense (unless it's pocky). Bringing a lunch isn't a bad idea and saves time deciding what to eat.
- Don't lose your badge~ (or whatever they ask you to carry to get into the con). I lost mine one year and the front was kind enough to give me another one as long as I didn't tell. I found my original when I checked in with AnimeVegas staff, so I ended up with two all three-day passes (but I didn't use that to my advantage...)
- If you have friends going with you then keep close tabs on them. If you split, make sure to figure out what they're doing, that way you don't call them in the middle of a panel or Dance Dance Revolution competition.
- Also, it’s perfectly fine not to cosplay (especially if it’s your first year going) & it’s also completely acceptable to only cosplay two days out of three.
- If you’re going to be taking a lot of pictures then make sure that you ask before you do. Be kind, don’t take a picture if a cosplayer is eating or doing something that provides there full attention.
- Also, don’t hug the cosplayers unless you ask. I remember for AV06 I was Lacus Clyne from Gundam Seed (and my boyfriend was Kira Yamato from the same show---we were a couple cosplay), and we got attacked with hugs. We didn’t know what we were in store in. So, try asking because getting glomped by random people is just asking for injury.
- If you’re a cosplayer, hug back… it’s only polite. =^.^= (This is entirely optional).
- Most importantly, bring a lot of money. There’s too much to buy and so much you want. It’s insane if you can’t live without that action figure and you’ve already spent all your money. So shop wise.
- Ah, almost forgot, around the last hour of the con on the last day, the prices usually drop from anywhere to ten to thirty dollars because all the venders are trying to get rid of their stuff.

Hope that helps~

Frosty wrote:

What is Utena? Like 6'10?

On the official charts she's only 5'5'', so you'd be just about perfect. Anthy's 5 even. And of course the guys are all like....7'5", pshaw.

I totally second allllllllllll the advice so far. I spent about five years running from one convention to another -I've stopped going and I really kinda miss it. My only advice is to bring cash! Most of those booths, especially the smaller ones, don't take credit/debit cards, and the atms at convention halls/hotels usually charge an astronomical service fee. Yeah, I did AFO one year and forgot to get cash beforehand, and racked up almost 15 bucks in service charges because of that.

To be totally honest though, I've not had fun at a convention in a long time. Be prepared for a lot of drama, because as much as I love them, the people at cons are freaky-deaks, and a good percentage on medication. I usually ended up listening to people whine about other attendees, things like how the judges were biased, and so-and-so didn't look at them or pay enough attention, or who they fucked or whatever.

mercurynin wrote:

But I'm kinda glad I didn't have a room there, because I found myself getting inexplicably fed up or overwhelmed or something as the day wore on.  Can't put my finger on it, even now.

You too? I think it was all the noobs that were pissing me off at my last couple cons.

Wow, thanks everyone for your advice...I'm definitely saving up for it....also I plan on showing my adventure on youtube as well. If I do cosplay I'll do it as Anthy cause I have to represent for all Utena fans..lol..that or...Akio himself..cause all I need is a nice whitish-purplish wig and a friends white tux and there you go. I'm 20 and besides, anime cons are for everyone..heck I got a 52 year old proffesor who admits watching Tenchi Muyo.

Tamago wrote:

Another thing you need to watch out for, are things like this!
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/ … atmoon.jpg
If one approaches you, be very careful, look for any nearby exits and back away very slowly.

Sailor Buba is quite tame compared to man-faye once you see him... you are never the same

I don't think I could say to you anything new anybody else had. Use confortable shoes, take your own lunch/water, bring money. Also try to make a list of what you really want to buy.

Romanticide wrote:

Tamago wrote:

Another thing you need to watch out for, are things like this!
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/ … atmoon.jpg
If one approaches you, be very careful, look for any nearby exits and back away very slowly.

Sailor Buba is quite tame compared to man-faye once you see him... you are never the same

I don't think I could say to you anything new anybody else had. Use confortable shoes, take your own lunch/water, bring money. Also try to make a list of what you really want to buy.

*snerk* I was about to say "in b4 Man-Faye", but I got beat to the punch.

lol utenafangirl's the cheap way covention guide

If the convention is a huge convention then

If you live near the area of the convention feel free to drive back and forth to home and convention
- but if you dont live near the convention then
A. find a friend that lives near the convention to park at thier house
B. carpool and help pay for parking ticket
C. pay for the parking

never get a hotel unless your loaded
A. sleep at a hotel couch (i've sleepover in a hotel couch at the conventions before XD)
B. Keep awake at the video room if they have anime all night
C unless you live near the convention then just drive home or to a friends house thats closer

if your planning to take pics of cosplayers have a lot of film or memory/batteries for your camera

if your planing to cosplay yourself....try to be as confortable as you can in your costum and think of what kind of weather you'll have

have a lot of storage room in that backpack incase you buy bunchy of stuff in the dealers room

watch where ya going cause someones costume might poke you out of no where o.<

beware of glompers X3 (my friend got glompified by a group from gravitation...so it can happen) which you can ask to hug others but doesnt mean your gonna be immune to others glomping ya

and i think thats about it or thats what i can think of right now

Last edited by UtenaFanGirl (12-03-2006 12:38:26 AM)

I used to go to conventions all the time, but I haven't been to one in a year or so, mostly because the conventions round where I live (Florida) are just repeats of the year before. It gets boring after a while. But, if you're just starting out, it can be a wonderful experience. Make sure not to make the same mistake I did and think that you can live on Pocky and Ramune once you've spent your entire wallet on that really expensive and rare Jrock video and like 30 Full Metal Alchemist doujinshi. Never a good idea. You also probably want to book a nearby hotel (often you get cheapter rates so long as you can handle the transportation) or room with a friend; buying one hotel room for yourself is just wasteful. Get roommates for that kind of thing; me, I roomed with five other people in two rooms at my last convention. Pre-registering is your friend.

A lot of people don't go to conventions; either because they can't or because they choose not to. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Bring a camera; if you don't have a digital one, bring a couple disposable ones. You will use them a lot. And don't worry-- cosplay is optional. By the time you leave, you'll have enough stuff you bought at the Dealer Room to make it look like you're cosplaying already. (Fifty pairs of cat ears, anyone?)

I agree with all the advice already posted, but have a few tips to add:

-Don't go alone; it's lonely if you don't have anyone to share the experience with.  (I did this and left early, depressed that I had moved away from con-attending friends.)

-If you travel to a con, try to get a room in the hotel or as close as possible, especially if the weather sucks.  You'll be lugging yourself (possibly in costume) and the crap you buy back and forth at least six times a day if you're like me. (Hello Katsucon DC winter weather in a Lulu costume)

-If going with a group, don't feel obligated to stick together all the time, or you'll feel disappointed that you didn't get to go to this or that.  When I went with my club, most people split into their own groups and we tried to get together and eat once a day as a club. (Also a time when officers of a club can make sure everyone is doing OK)

-You don't have to be loaded to go to a hotel.  You just have to have 6+ friends that don't mind sharing a bed/sleeping on the floor.  One group checks in and goes up to the room, the other group waits a few minutes and goes separately so the hotel doesn't suspect 7 people staying in a 4 person room. (This is fun if you don't have any divas or bathroom-hoggers in the group.  Also, one group showers in the morning, the other at night, and everyone brings towels.)

-Don't drive yourself crazy making costumes.  You'll stress yourself out by not sleeping and possibly get sick/moody and become a buzzkill.  If you know that even though you bought the fabric but you're leaving the day after tommorrow, save it for the next convention.  You still need time to pack all that shit, you know.

-There's nothing like an all-night anime music and video game remix rave. (A good way to get nice and tired)

-REST IS IMPORTANT BEFORE DURING AND AFTER THE CON.  Especially if you are driving.  Also, nobody wants to listen to your grouchy tired ass complaining, it's buzzkill.  And you need to leave early enough so you can wind down when you get home because more than likely you have work or school the next day.

-If you're older than 18 or so, try to wait so that you can go to a larger convention.  They have many more attendees and will have more things that interest both hardcore and casual fans.  It's awkward to go to a small local convention attended by junior and high school students escorted by their parents.  I did this once and it felt like I was trying to swim in the 1' deep baby pool.

I've been to a convention before...

They're actually rather overrated... and I suggest that if you go to one, GO WITH FRIENDS!

Going it alone is torturous... especially if you're mildly good looking... because that automatically gets you fifteen hundred sweaty otakus saying 'wau.... heheh... I think ur hawt...' & trying to get you to cosplay Chocolate's battle costume from Sorcerer Hunters... or if you're a guy... eh... some naked dude...

They can be fun though... but really it's only if you are with some really good friends.

woo see u at anime expo 07...if only it was still at anahime cause i like like 20 mins away from it

X3 hey ya'll whos going to AX07 what to make a gathering for this forums?

I've been to one big convention -- Anime Central (ACen), the Midwest's annual megacon.  I went with half of the U of C's anime club, and would never have gone alone; I get confused easily and need someone around who can set me straight if I get lost or lose track of the schedule or whatever.  Most of the events, though, I attended alone, and I didn't feel bored for lack of company.  I cosplayed a little -- Mikage! -- but no one recognized me that I know of, so I didn't get glomped/groped/whatev.  (I felt kinda left out.)

Anyway, advice that hasn't been covered!

- Have a plan for food.  Seriously, have a plan for food.  I think I somehow expected the hotel to have a food court; in reality, if they had a restaurant of any kind I never found it.  I ate very little the whole weekend.

- If you are like me and hate crowds, steel yourself.  There will be crowds, and you will be packed like a sardine into elevators.  It's tolerable as long as you accept it.

- If you want to avoid attracting attention, don't cosplay.  (Or cosplay as Mikage, evidently.)

- Corollary: If someone is cosplaying, it's okay to pay attention.  If their costume is really good -- I saw a totally awesome Etna/Flonne pair -- compliment them.  They like that.

- If an event is going to be really popular and you want to go, show up early.  I mean really early.  I mean like during the previous guy's presentation.  Hotels have rules about how many people can be in a room at one time, and you don't want to miss the interview with Ikuhara because of the "fire code" or whatev.

- If there are anime-themed game shows, go.  You will either be awed by the breadth of the contestants' knowledge or feel smugly superior.  Either way it's fun to watch, and you don't have to stay for the whole thing.

- Get someone in the dealer room to sketch your portrait.  It makes an awesome souvenir.

- DO NOT BE AN ASSHOLE.  Do not roller blade around a crowded convention hall with a four-foot papier-mache stick because your Shounen Bat costume is oh so awesome.  Do not roleplay with people who aren't expecting it.  For the love of God, shower once a day or more.  I'm sure you don't need to be told this, but it is included for completeness. 

Last edited by satyreyes (12-22-2006 09:53:52 PM)