Conventions 101 - A Guide for Newbies

[Rave Master]

Here's a tip for newbies:

Don't sign up. Enjoying anime isn't worth the horror of a con. Well...the final day, MAYBE, if only for the dirt cheap prices! But for anything else...BE AFRAID! So many people that look, sound, and act like...ugh. Nevermind. Go join the masses, n00b. stare

[Luinecu]

Thanks for the wonderful guide!

I'm planning on going to Amecon 2006 in.. well, 2006 xd I was too young to go this year (am 15 gonk ) anoyingly. Still, at least that gives me a couple of years to round up some anime fans to go with.

[Sorin Qor]

I know about Karaoke.

Music is NOT always provided. Anime Expo has a computer with lots of music in it, as well as most of Anime Lyrics.com in the computers as well for people who come un prepared. You could still bring your own stuff since they cannot garauntee to have everything, or they might have a mislabeled song or a different version than what you are used to.

Anime Central is all "Bring your own" although if I'm there, I might have something you can borrow (usually if I have the song, I have the lyrics).

I went to Anime North in 2002. The karaoke setup there was sparse that year. They had a CD player hooked to a large travel stero boom box whatever (and the sound cut off half way through me singing and so threw me off--the fixed this error for the karaoke contest). They had a small collection of CDs available for use, but no where NEAR was Anime Expo had available.

If you bring your own CDs, DO NOT FORGET TO PICK THEM UP AFTER YOU SING. I think this happens at least once every con. Especially don't forget the CD if it isn't yours.

Karaoke contests:
Anime Expo is run with contestants entering before the con even starts, using internet to submit what songs they intend to perform so the people running it can try and get ahold of those songs in advance to prevent the misplaced CD incidents. This contest is held in 3 rounds, people being eliminated each round until we have only a few people left for the 3rd round.

Anime Central didn't have a contest this year due to help not showing up, but last year the contest was not announce until after plenty of people signed up to sing normally, and the announcement was that the first 25 people to sing were automatically considered part of the contest. The helpers made a list of the top 10 singers, and the first 5 of the list to be in the room still when the winners were determined got a prize. It was done this way so that people who got their early did not have to hang around forever and a day to see who won.

Anime North was also all determined by the judges. For singer order people drew lots, and the number they pulled was the order they sang in. The prizes weren't really a 'first, second, third...' deal, but instead was more amusing with prizes such as "best group" or "best fushigi yuugi" (mine! yay!) whatever the case may be.


Karaoke summery: bring your own stuff to be prepared. CDs, lyrics, CD player and headphones to double check track numbers and to practice.

Open karaoke is a sign up at a table with the song and track number, your name, and bring your CD (if there is one) so it'll be ready at your turn. Don't sign up a 2nd time until you have performed your first time. And yes, you can sign up as groups.

[Sorin Qor]

Tips on packing:

If you cosplay: You will be in cosplay constantly. Trust me. You won't need 2-3 changes of normal clothes if you're cosplaying. It'll be unused and just take up space in your bags. Unless you intend to go elsewhere and do something where you want to dress normally (what's the fun in that), you should only need sleep clothes, clothes to wear on the way there, and clothes to wear on the way home.

Cosplay repair kit is good idea.

Camera and extra batteries.

Music and such -- sometimes to make travel more enjoyable, sometimes to be used in the karaoke room.

mini first aid kit: headache medicine, bandaids. Blisters and headaches can happen, and it's better to have than not have.

Person neccessities: Remeber proper hygiene! At home you might be able to go a couple days without a shower, but this is a bad idea at cons. Take a shower at least ONCE during the middle of the con, and please have a shower the night before heading to a con. With all the people around, do not take keeping the air fresh forgranted. Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brush, body soap, etc. As well as any other supplies you might need be it for styling hair for cosplay or taking off makeup.

Also an extra bag is always a good idea. You never know what you'll end up buying at a con, so you better have something to pack it into. If you're bags are stuffed on the way there, odds are they'll be stuffed on the way home, and what are you going to do about all those goodies you just got? (Unless you packed alot and food and ate it all by the time the con ended.)

More about food: Don't do what my friends and I did--pack more food than we could reasonably eat. It's good to be prepared, but if everyone in the group brings more food than they can eat themselves, you might have over done it. Also if you're with friends, do not be afraid to designate something as "Mine only!" to insure that you have enough food for yourself. (I do this with my slimjims and hot cheetos. they are MY emergency food rations. Mine! All mine!)

Unpacking: either keep your stuff in teh luggage, or you can claim a drawer in the hotel room.

I personally claim one drawer as the 'food drawer' for all the food that anime can share. It's better than keeping everything on the tables and such--neater too.

More on hotel: keep the do not disturb sign up all during con if you don't want to risk your room getting clean and something inadverdantly coming up missing due to cleaning crew not knowing that it wasn't trash. (this goes back to the using a drawer comment.)

Use cell phones if you can instead of the hotel room phone -- cheaper.

okay, I skimmed what was said on the first page, so I hope this isn't repeat stuff.

[skyofnightopia]

I really love this thread. I just got back from being overseas, My da was in the Army and I had to go to High school in Germany sweatdrop , and I'm planning to going to at least on con before I finish college. So despite having been an anime fan since fifth grade I have never been to a con. Houston is having a con in October and I might go to it since I'm only an hour away so I kinda printed your fact sheet up to help me. The thing is I have to go alone since I don't know anyone yet! crying At least I'll be better prepared for it with this guide.

[clumsy_girlie]

dude i love you but heres a question, have you ever notticed how there are never anime cons in houston texas? man that really sux!!!!! i dont wanna have to drive all the way to dallas just to go to cons!!!!!!!!! i mean it's worth it, but i can't drive and my mom is definitely not in the spirit man that sux.

[RadkeJr]

Very hepful. I think i can call myself an experienced con goer now though lol

[Aha]

This was most helpfull, sense I'm going to my first con this October. I plan on cosplaying Lirin from Saiyuki, if I ever get off my lazy butt and make it. xp

[chibimajo]

Sorin Qor

More on hotel: keep the do not disturb sign up all during con if you don't want to risk your room getting clean and something inadverdantly coming up missing due to cleaning crew not knowing that it wasn't trash. (this goes back to the using a drawer comment.)

Since you only skimmed, you missed that half of your long post was already covered in my original posts.
And you also missed that I disagree with the above. Not letting maid service in to clean your room increases the stench, and thus, it's better to let them in. This will also help you keep your things organized and together, which will help speed packing on the last day.

[skyofnightopia]

millie-the-ghost

dude i love you but heres a question, have you ever notticed how there are never anime cons in houston texas? man that really sux!!!!! i dont wanna have to drive all the way to dallas just to go to cons!!!!!!!!! i mean it's worth it, but i can't drive and my mom is definitely not in the spirit man that sux.

Well now there starting to get some in Houston the firs one will be from October 22-24 at the Sheraton in Houston. the website is www.oni-con.com.

[Unmei_no_LaLuna]

I sorta disagree with the smell problem. razz we brought frabreeze :3

[MeliCat]

gonk And please, no more signs, be a little more original.

[Papple]

Fabreeze? LOL! That's too funny! *thinks* But maybe not a bad idea...

[Thunderboobs Kira]

this stuff was really helpful it might have been nice to have read this BEFORE my first con way back when... oh gosh, i remember when i first realized how smelly it gets... *shakes head sadly* and it's not just the guests either! i was staff and half the staffers smelled like they were afraid of soap *shivers* not fun when we had staff meetings!