To Con Or Not To Con?

Ah, the age-old question: should I go to that fan convention or not?

Let’s face it, conventions can be lots of fun… or lots of frustration. Long lines, sleepless nights, crowded rooms… awesome stars, photo ops, complete fan immersion! What you get out of a con depends on what you want and how you go about getting it.

Want to meet your favorite celebrity? Want to get that priceless autograph? Of course you do… but get ready to shell out some dough. If you want the full, up-close-and-personal convention experience, VIP is the way to go. Lots of conventions offer some sort of Willy Wonka Golden Ticket package (although with significantly less candy) which will cost a small fortune; however, you get what you pay for! Front-row seats, backstage access, autograph sessions and photo ops with the stars… real royal treatment. Companies that run conventions just love their VIP customers and will go the extra mile to make sure you’re happy with your con experience.

Of course, the average con-goer can’t afford (or isn’t willing) to break the bank just for a fan-filled weekend, and the powers that be know that. A smart convention company will offer a variety of ticket packages for conventioners on a budget (like myself). A cheap con weekend can cost you as low as $20 per day… but again, you get what you pay for. If you don’t mind sitting in the back row, craning your neck and polishing your binoculars just to get a glimpse of your favorite star, the low-cost route is the way to go. You’ll still get to meet lots of interesting people and fan your little heart out!

“Isn’t there some in-between option?” you may be asking. Of course! Lots of cons will let you purchase separate tickets for certain events. For example, you might pay the general admission price to sit in the back row for a panel, then spend a little more to attend a special concert or get an autograph… a ‘mix and match’ approach, if you will. You don’t have to spend next year’s rent money just to have fun!

Hang on now, there’s more! Let’s say you’re a reporter/photographer/blogger/big-name-fan and you want to get some juicy material for your paper/website/blog/whatever. If you’re lucky, you might be able to secure yourself a press pass to the event. What does this mean? Well, it varies from con to con – you might get full access to all the best parts of the con, or you might just be able to get up close during panels and take a few pictures. If you decide to go this route, here are a few words of advice:

» Apply early! Don’t wait until the day before the con to apply for a press pass.
» Sell yourself! Let them know who you are, where you’re from, and what kind of publicity you can offer them… they don’t just give out passes to anybody.
» Be prepared! Don’t leave your camera batteries uncharged (not that I did that or anything…).
» Make contacts! Try to buddy up to other press people, they’re fun!

Being press can be fun, but it can also be stressful. Other fans might look at you with respect and awe, but the convention staff might not give a flying fart in space that you’re there. From my personal experience, being press might get you some good material, but you might also have to sacrifice some of your self-respect and dignity to get it. If the con staff is smart (and you’re really, really lucky), they’ll recognize that you’re giving them free publicity and kiss up to you all weekend… but most likely not. Be prepared to elbow your way around the con to get what you want and need, but remember: acting like a jerk will just make it that much worse for you. Be respectful and follow the guidelines, but don’t be surprised if you suddenly become invisible.

So, to con or not to con? CON! But do it with your eyes open and know what you’re getting into! Read other fans’ accounts of their con experiences, do your research… and drink lots of water (conning is exhausting!).

Got your own con experience to share? Leave a comment! :)

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