Participating & Enjoying

Once you get to the convention you want to make the most of your experience. We want to provide some tips and information to help guide you to experience things to the fullest.

Sometimes panels have Q&A opportunities for fans! Look at panels you want to attend & think of questions you might want to ask the creatives! If you want to ask a question don’t hesitate when they form a line/ask for raised hands the further you are in the back/the longer you wait the less likely they are to get you & answer your question- I’ve had this happen where my nerves got the best of me & by the time I got in line it was too late so don’t doubt yourself/let your anxiety hold you back if you want to ask a question.

But accept the chance that they might run out of time. It’s a cool opportunity but sometimes panels run long or they take to long answering a question before yours. They also might not answer your question as detailed as you want- flexibility & acceptance of uncertainty is key

Exhibiting

Why do it / Benefits

You help build excitement and energy at the convention
Get your art products noticed & purchased - attendees may become your customers.
Builds awareness. The more people see you at events the more they remember you
Develop personal relations with customers beyond your product / their purchase
You never know who might show up at the booth. One of your favorite celebrities could!
Networking- meet other artists, customers, new customers, and brands looking to work with you.

The Process To Get There

Find a con you’re interested in and sign up for newsletters/alerts so you know when to apply.
New to exhibiting or your first convention it might be good to start at a smaller, local convention so you can figure out what works best for your table set up.
Financial Commitments -The table, depending on the size and popularity of the show, can cost between $50–$400.
What You Need for Your Booth- What fandom/Con Vibes? When planning your layout, think about what will get passersby to stop, look, and start a conversation.
Valuable elements: Business cards, signs, banners, and tablecloths make your table stand out. Have contact info and socials visible

Other Tips

Research on what other artists are pricing their work at.
Consider product turnaround times - you will want to have all your stuff with you before you go
Offer as many payment methods as possible -cash & card reader, that supports contactless cards and tap-to-pay methods such as Apple Pay. The easier you make it to buy, the more you sell.
QR codes are great for linking visitors to your online shop or sign up for your newsletter.
To get a higher chance of purchases consider -What’s your elevator pitch to sell your stuff to people looking at your table?

Taking photos at conventions

A super fun & a great way to capture & remember the experience! But at the same time don’t forget consent! If you want to take photos with/of others getting verbal conformation before taking the photo is super important!

Making things to give out at conventions/meetups

It's fun! Even if it’s simple people value that you took time to bring something to give to others/awesome to give back to the community me w poster I made & gave out at the Where’s Ezra meetup @ Star Wars Celebration 2019

Letting friends/followers know your outfit

Can help increase chances you run into people you know especially if you have a vision impairment like me. It’s fun to show off your look if you are doing Cosplay or have a fun outfit ~ maybe it even ties into specific panels of the day!

Personal hygiene & health is super important especially at large events / with lots of activity!

Be vaccinated
Follow masking policies
Shower regularly
Use hand sanitizer & wash hands
Brush teeth & hair etc.

If the convention has any involvement (stage) for a livestream for people at home/not physically at the event it’s cool to check that out! Not only is it fun for you but you are part of the effort to build the energy of the livestream for those who weren’t able to go!

For wearing your badge at the convention-make sure you wear a lanyard with a heavy duty/tightly secured clip part for putting your badge on. Or you could wear two lanyards with it attached to both so if it comes unclipped from one there’s backup!

You just don’t want to lose your badge it’s super important!!

Preparing your fan panel

Flexibility - You never know what could happen or how many people will be there or participate. Enjoy the opportunity of the experience even if everything doesn’t go perfect!

For podcast panels- Ways to connect to dedicated listeners & to draw in new ones

-ie referencing stuff or common things said on past episodes while not making your whole panel about what only those who already listen will understand/feel connected to. Your panel is a chance to attract new listeners too!

Think of questions you can ask your audience- either by a raiser or hands or verbal response, audience participation keeps them engaged & increases enjoyment

You could also possibly bring things to give away to give back to your audience and possibly increase engagement during your panel

Access to a screen, think of media elements you could incorporate to make your panel cooler!

Be prepared the way that works best for you - preparation is great! Whether it’s an outline of talking points or just a list of topics you want to cover, having a plan going in helps! Just make sure your plan isn’t overly flexible so you don’t get lost in where to go next during your panel!

You never know where could happen at conventions especially with how much activity they involve. When when you have cosplay you want to be prepared! Here are some things you should have that will help you manage your cosplay no matter what comes your way!

Preparing for going to a cosplay competition

Read and know the rules

Mainly what division your costume belongs to and what is expected of you

Bring reference images for your creation - that are colored and clear

Competitions may require reference images of your character for judging
- Even if you sent in reference images ahead of time, bring backups just in case.
- You can also include notes and extra references such as patterns and materials (either text or actual fabric), dye test swatches, sketches, or progress photos

Preparing your stage performance in advance - posing

Use a mirror or device with a camera and practice posing in your costume
Come up with a variety of different poses
- Poses should show your character and your costume
Check how the pose looks from different angles using a camera so you know what looks best from all angles

During the Con

Make plans to eat and drink.

If your costume is not food/drink-friendly, carry easy-to-eat snacks and straws.

DON’T go without eating or drinking. Low blood sugar and dehydration are unhealthy, can make you feel ill, and make things seem bad.

Have a bathroom plan! If necessary, have a friend available to help you in and out of your costume, or ask for help from another cosplayer.

Plan for comfort

If your costume shoes are uncomfortable, bring another pair for standing in line or running to the bathroom.

If your costume does not allow you to sit normally, either find some way to take weight off your feet (kneeling on the chair seat, carrying a camp stool, etc.) or take occasional breaks from your costume so you can rest.

If your costume is physically constricting, make sure you remove it periodically to allow for normal blood circulation and breathing room..

DON’T endure physical discomfort for the sake of a costume. If you’re dizzy, hot, having trouble breathing, sore or uncomfortable, your body is telling you that something is wrong. If you feel ill, get help from a friend or con staff, and get out of your costume for a while.