Sticky: Conventions 101 - A Guide for Newbies

[Pandakitti]

I'm going to my first anime convention next week. Im not entirely sure, but i believe that if you dress as a character, the character doesnt have to be one made for an anime. since i just found out that was going yesterday, i have no time to make a costume of an exsisting char. could my char be one that i created myself? my char is a grey wolf ninja or something like that. im letting my friends decide what clothing im waring.

[Runewolf186]

wooo hoooo XD sorry i just felt like posting something :3 biggrin

[zheanzy]

biggrin Wew! What A Nice Topic you got there! It really helped me! 10/5

[Ebony the Peacian]

Wow! I wish I had seen this before I went to my first anime convention last night. I went to Oni-Con 2009 in Houston, and had a total blast. I eventually learned some of the stuff you have up through experience and through what my friends told me, but it would have been nice to have walked in with some degree of knowledge as to what to expect. Thank you so much! I definitely feel prepared for next year now! ^__^

[kanari_izumi]

Thanx so much for posting this thread! I had a convention coming up in Feb. and it's gonna be my first. heheh, I had some money ( $28 ) and I was planning on buying a $25 Gaia cash card but after reading this I'm going to save up my money.
Even though I still want that cash card....

[latinohuslaxx13]

cvcvccvcvcvcvcvcvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

[chibimajo]

Pandakitti

I'm going to my first anime convention next week. Im not entirely sure, but i believe that if you dress as a character, the character doesnt have to be one made for an anime. since i just found out that was going yesterday, i have no time to make a costume of an exsisting char. could my char be one that i created myself? my char is a grey wolf ninja or something like that. im letting my friends decide what clothing im waring.

This is a frequent occurance these days.

[MeGa DoToX]

hi...bumbumpmpbumpbump

[SkullMan9392]

ilive in new bedford are there ever any anime conventions near here

[tikki 101]

ummmm how much would u ave to pay to get in a like the mega con

[ZoeyPants]

chibimajo

OMG, I think it's finally done!

omg i love you and you need to be my friend cuz im going to a con. this year and im tottaly lost. at least im not doing a booth this year cuz that sound tottaly crazy. plus im not doing cosplay this year. so know now that there are people *(newbies) who love and worship your guide. awsruck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eek whooXD

[cKbroken]

i want to ba a cosplayer!!!

[McSquiddy]

http://www.gaiaonline.com/demonbusters?sub=followers&user_id=10350886

[Mysteryhas1]

yo yo yo

[ll greencutie ll]

chibimajo

Recently, I became aware of the need for a new thread in this forum. From my own lurking in this forum, I've come to realize that we have a lot of newbies lurking around as well, and they have no idea what to expect at their first convention. This, will hopefully give you an idea.

I am by no means an expert. I've been to around 10 cons both big and small, some of them multiple times, and I've helped work several of them as well. I would like to share some of this knowledge to those of you who have no idea what you're getting into. Some of this stuff, you'll learn on your own, some of it, it's helpful to know before hand.

So I present to you, my Guide to Conventions. Please bear with me, it's VERY long, but I've been told it's an easy read, and has a helpful blend of common sense and information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Please don't feel the need to read every single word in here, I know it's long, read what you need to know first)

I. Definitions - some convention terms defined
II. Registration - Tips for registration
III. Hotel Rooms - Tips for rooming in a hotel
IV. Food
V. Parts of a Con - The different parts of a convention explained
VI. Guests - Types, what they do, etc.
VII. Cosplay - What it is.
VIII. Pictures - Taking and being taken
IX. How to Amuse Yourself
X. Respect and Inappropriateness
XI. Extras - Extra Info that might be helpful
XII. Helpful Links
XIII. Credits

Please feel free to ask any questions you have, or provide your own helpful tips, or mention an area I've forgotten to include. I've had several people proofreading and suggesting extra things, so feel free to add your own thoughts.


EDIT -
Minor note, with all the new upgrades and the like to Gaia, much of my formatting and linking needs to be fixed. I'm working on it. It's not done yet, please bear with me.

b***h we are not newbies ur mama is