Never been to a comic convention before? It’s time to fix that!
Conventions are a fun and safe way to meet new people and embrace your nerdy side! They offer you opportunities to see the latest and greatest things, shop for comics and collectibles, get signatures from your favorite artists and actors, and meet lots of new people with similar interests to yours. Some of our best friendships have been borne out of convention experiences.
We know that new things, especially large events, can be stressful and even seem rather overwhelming to start.
But never fear, the Gambit Spotters are here to guide you with some handy tips and tricks for making your first convention go as smoothly as possible!
This series is geared toward those of you who are VERY new to the convention circuit, but may have information beneficial to all. We’re always picking up new tips along the way from our fellow con-goers!
The first segment is going to focus on things that you need to do before the event, such as finding cons, buying your tickets, arranging places to stay, getting to the convention, and the most important part: what to wear?
Find your convention:
Where do you even begin? Well, first things first - you have to find a convention that you want to go to. I’m sure by now you’ve heard of some of the bigger cons; San Diego Comic Con, New York Comic Con, Galaxy Con – but there’s a TON of smaller cons out there for you to check out as well, you just have to know where to find them!
Start by creating a list of people you want to meet: Looking for specific artists? Comic book writers? Actors or voices of your favorite characters? Start by making a list of who you want to meet someday, and then use that list to find conventions where they appear. If you’re looking to meet a Gambit actor, use our handy Actor Spotting list to help find a con where they’re going to make an appearance. Some of the creatives you want to meet may post their con appearances on their social media accounts, so you can check those too to see if they have any dates posted nearby!
Not sure of names? Don’t panic. Start by looking at old comics and writing down writers and artists who have a style you like, or checking websites like IMDb which name all the actors for your favorite shows. Be sure to note what show/comic/movie/etc they’re from on your list so you don’t forget who’s who.
Track down a convention by word of mouth: Check with your nerdy friends or social media acquaintances to see if they have gone to any conventions that you might be interested in. This can also help you start to form a group of people to go with, if you’re nervous to go alone (Plus, you can save some money by carpooling or splitting a hotel)!
Use the internet to help you find a convention: If you don’t know anyone who can point you in the right direction, the best place to start your search is websites like Roster Con which allows you to search for events by location, media type, or even by looking for a specific guest. Use that resource to discover cons in your area that you may want to attend, and follow the provided links to learn more about the conventions that fit your criteria. There’s even fandom specific cons like the Uncanny Experience in Minneapolis that is exclusively for the X-Men Fandom (and it’s a great time!).
See if the conventions have guests that interest you: Look at the guests they have scheduled to appear and see if they have their panel schedule posted yet. Many conventions start posting updates months before the actual con, with guests even being added the weeks before. Check back frequently or follow their social media for important updates. Double check your list to see if any of the guests are people you want to see! Sometimes the guests might have announcements on their socials before the conventions update their websites, so make sure to check in a few different places.
See what kinds of panels they offer: There are two different ways to see celebrities, artists, and other important guests at cons: tabling, or signing autographs/photo ops/ selling merch in the convention hall - or as panelists during the convention (sometimes, they do both!) Panels are scheduled interviews where several celebrities are asked a series of questions or discuss certain projects. Panels are in rooms separate from the main convention and occur at specific times. Panels are generally included in the ticket price (if not, that will usually be posted). Be sure to check the convention website to see what panels they have planned, and if any of these interest you. There are also fandom panels, cosplay panels, podcasting panels, and many more options put on by creatives to check out as well! Check them out, you never know what cool things you may learn!
Start making a loose plan of what you want to see: It doesn’t have to be exhaustive- just start writing down things you see at the convention that you want to do. Panels that you’d like to go to, autographs you’d like to get while you’re there - vendors or artists you would like to buy from. You may end up making a first draft list that’s more than you can manage for the schedule, but don’t panic - we’ll be getting into planning more in Part 3.
Remember to Bookmark: Don’t forget to bookmark the websites to refer back to as the con dates approach, so you can buy tickets and view the schedule when it is posted.
Buying Your Tickets:
Figure out when tickets go on sale: Most cons are annual events and announce dates/ start offering tickets for the next year as soon as they finish the current convention. Be sure to keep an eye on convention websites for important dates and times for ticket sales if you’re planning on attending.
Take advantage of early-bird sales: Shop early and see if early-bird ticket pricing is offered. Many cons will offer discounted tickets in the months leading up to their event- If you plan on going far enough in advance you can take advantage of this and save some money.
Know how many days you plan on attending: Most conventions sell daily tickets for entry but offer multi-day tickets for those attending the whole event. If you plan on going for more than one day, the multi-day ticket may be a cheaper option than buying days individually.
Check for discounts: Be sure to take advantage of any discounts you may be eligible for, including things like student, active military, or senior citizen. Many conventions offer reduced price tickets for these groups. Going with a large group? See if there are group rates available. Some conventions offer discounts if you buy multiple tickets at the same time. Available discounts should be listed on the conventions website.
To VIP or not to VIP: Confused by the different levels? What do they mean? Well, each convention does things a little differently so it really depends on the con. All offer general admission which will get you in the door. Most will also offer some kind of VIP ticket (or several kinds of VIP tickets) that allows you a range of benefits including things like early access, designated seating, shorter lines, or other perks like merch and swag. If these perks fit into your budget and there’s a benefit to spending the extra money, VIP may be the way to go for you. But be sure to act fast because VIP tickets are usually limited to a pre-designated number and when they’re sold out, that’s it!
Don’t wait until the day of to buy your tickets: Sure, some smaller cons may offer day-of tickets, but if you’re already planning on going, don’t wait until you get there to pick up your ticket. Avoid suffering heartbreak at the door because the event sold out for the day.
Print your ticket or save it to your phone: Don’t lose your ticket confirmation before you get checked in to the event, otherwise you may be denied entry. Be sure to keep a copy of your ticket where you can easily access it. Do not depend on the convention to have your name on a list. At check-in, most bigger conventions will provide you with a badge to wear on provided lanyard during the convention, which acts as your ticket. You need to have this visible at all times, or provide it when asked. If you’re picking up your physical badge at the convention, have that email confirmation ready on your phone before you check in or go through security. Some bigger events may mail you your badge in advance of the convention to the address you provided when you checked out. Double check those options when you purchase your ticket so you know when to keep an eye on your mailbox.
Remember that tickets get you into the con, but certain things cost extra: Tickets generally give you access to the convention floor, artist alley, and panels. You will need to keep in mind that autographs and photos/selfies with creators will cost you more. Bigger cons will often have pre-sale packages for autographs/photos that can save you money, or help you plan your expenses accordingly prior to getting there. Creators sometimes also post their autograph prices on social media prior to the event, so check their pages to see. Some of these can be in excess of $100 - so it is important to do some research before the event.
Which brings us to another important step - remember to budget: Everything at conventions costs money. You have to pay to get tickets, pay to park the car- there’s things to buy, autographs to collect, food, and drinks … Be sure to plan your budget before you get there. Know how much you are willing to spend on big ticket items like autographs, and how much spending money you will need to bring. Keep in mind that ATM’s can be VERY expensive on site, so plan on bringing cash with you if you want to buy anything. Cash is also king in Artist Alley and the vendors on the convention floor too - it’ll be easier for you to haggle and make deals with vendors too. Having a set amount of cash ahead of time can also help you keep track of your spending and stay on budget (may have learned this the hard way).
Where to stay:
If you are traveling into the area to attend the convention, your best (and often cheapest) bet is to stay at one of the hotels recommended by the convention. Most will have a list of hotels they partnered with for reduced rates for convention attendees. These hotels are usually listed on their website, sometimes on a map, with distance from the venue listed (walk or drive time) so you can plan on how to get to the event.
The most important thing to note here: The event website will have special links to book with the event pricing already in place. Do NOT book through the hotel websites directly (unless they provide you with a code to do so) because you may not get the best rate that way. The event website will usually provide you with information on how to book from their list of recommended hotels, be sure to read information fully before booking.
Getting to the Con:
Driving: If you’re fairly local or staying close by, you can likely drive or rideshare to the convention. Most conventions do charge for parking, and that can get pretty pricey. Be sure to check the event website for parking information prior to hitting the road so you don’t find out the hard way when you arrive how much it costs and that they only take cash (learn from our mistakes, new ones). Many events do have drop-off spots for popular rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft as well if those are options to you. If you are at a busier convention or in a larger city, you may be able to find a quicker and/or cheaper rideshare if you walk a little ways away from the convention center during the busier parts of the day.
Public transportation: Public transportation may also be an option, depending on the convention location. Most major convention centers in big cities are fairly close to public transportation (bus, light rail, etc). Be sure to look into those options early so you know what kinds of transport and timetables are available to you. Some hotels may even have shuttles that can take you directly to the convention center from your hotel!
On foot: If you live close by or are staying close by at a hotel, walking to the event is always an option. Many convention centers have walking paths or signage to get you to and from nearby hotels. Map your route before the con starts to make sure there aren’t any issues and that it gets you to the right entrance.
Make sure to check the usual weather: Nothing stinks more than booking an accommodation further away and then realizing it’s going to be 100 degrees outside or pouring rain when you are there. Check the usual weather for that time of year to make sure that walking from the hotel to the venue is feasible without overheating or arriving sopping wet. Have a backup plan (like an uber or public transport) if walking conditions aren’t great.
To cosplay or not to cosplay:
Too intimidated to cosplay? That’s ok! You don’t have to commit to cosplay to attend comic-cons. You can go just as yourselves and still have a great time. The main thing is to be comfortable! If that involves you in comfy sneakers, jeans, and a nerd shirt, then so be it.
Going in street clothes the first time or two lets you experience navigating a con without a costume complicating your plans - and can help you understand what it will be like getting around a con in cosplay in the future if you decide to give it a go.
If you DO decide to cosplay, make sure that it’s something you can be comfortable walking around all day in. (We’ll dive deeper into some tips and tricks for navigating cosplay at comic conventions in Part 2) It’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes in a bag/your car or have a plan to go back to your hotel if you need to bail out partway through the day. There’s no shame in that at all!
Remember the goal is to have fun!
What’s next:
In the next segment we’re going to cover what you should bring to your first convention, compiled from a host of con-goers speaking from real-life experience, so stay tuned for Part 2!
Here’s a handy checklist for Part 1 for those who love lists:
Make a list of who you want to see
Find a convention you want to go to
Check dates for the convention
Check the weather for that location/time of year
Look into travel/public transportation options
Plan your budget
Buy tickets to the convention
Print/save your tickets somewhere safe (or see when they’ll be mailed to you)
Book your hotel (if you’re getting one)
Start planning your cosplay (if you are going to cosplay)
Start looking at panels and making a rough plan/timeable of panels/things you want to see.