A Newbie's Guide to Getting Around at a Convention

A Newbie's Guide to
Conventions

(For those who've never been
to a convention, and asked.)

You've heard about conventions from a friend, a web site, or flyer. Now, you've found a convention you'd like to attend. You've sent your money to the convention committee, and have received a schedule of dates for the convention, directions on how to get there, if you're driving, or have contacted your travel agent for plane tickets, and have received a schedule of shuttles to the convention hotel.

Here's what to expect.

1) When you pack for the convention make sure you take enough clothing, underwear, deodorant, toothpaste, and whatever else you would normally take on a trip. Do not forget your money, checkbook or credit cards. Make sure you have enough money set aside to pay for your hotel bill, gas (if your driving) and food, and some to spend on the goodies for sale at the convention. Please remember that not all dealers are able to accept personal checks and most cannot accept credit cards: you might want to take along some traveler's checks just to be on the safe side.

2) When you get to the hotel, register for your room and get settled. It's important to do that first. You can find out if your roommates have arrived and, if the room is what you ordered when your hotel reservation was made. You can call housekeeping and have the extra cot put in the room, if it's needed, or have maintenance hook your VCR to the television in the room, if you brought one. You might want to leave messages in your room for any roommates who have yet to arrive. You might even check to see if your room has a refrigerator or coffee maker or if you need to run to the store for a Styrofoam cooler so you can keep perishables fresh and drinks cold. For many fans, their room is their home for the weekend, so it's important that it be comfortable and convenient.

3) Ask at the front desk where the con suite (convention suite) is located. The con suite is the main headquarters for the convention committee at the hotel. Usually food and other goodies are kept there for tired attendees. You can find out convention schedules or get help there. Sometimes they'll show videos, and it might be the location of the 'dead dog' party at the end of the convention.

4) Ask at the front desk where the function rooms for the convention are. If you've never been to that hotel before, you might need directions. There should be signs in the lobby telling you where registration and the function rooms for the convention are located, but it's always good to ask in unfamiliar territory.

5) Feel free to wander down to the convention function area. Even if you're early and nothing is open yet, you can scope out the area and find out where everything is located (like the bathroom) before the big crowd gets there. There might be signs on the doors or a sign board set up, telling what each room is to be used for. It's especially important to know where registration is located because that's where you'll get your convention packet with all the pertinent information you'll need to enjoy yourself at the convention.

6) You might also try to find where the flyers will be set out. There will usually be tables or an area for flyers. Everybody takes flyers home with them. The flyers might have: information on ordering or submitting stories to zines, information on other conventions, information about charities or local areas of interest, such as nearby restaurants.

7) There'll probably be other fans wandering around the convention area or the lobby or any other public areas of the hotel. After you've been to one convention, you'll be able to spot fellow fen just by looking at them. Walk up to anyone who looks like a fan, ask if they're there for the convention and strike up a conversation. Most fen a very friendly and more than willing to help a newbie.

8) You should have gotten information in the mail telling you when the convention starts and when you can go to registration. If you didn't, on your wanderings through the function area, look for signs telling you when registration is open, or ask a fellow fan.

9) If the convention suite is open, you can get information there on when everything starts. Warning: if you wander into the con suite you may be put to work putting together convention packets or similar work. Hey, somebody's gotta do it and most conventions are run by volunteers.

10) When registration is open, you'll need to stand in line to get registered and to receive your convention packet. The packet will have such things as: your convention badge, the convention schedule, tickets to special events, directions to or lists of local grocery stores and restaurants, next year's registration card, and, usually, other little goodies from the convention committee.

Convention badge. This badge will have your registration number, and a place to print your name or pseudonym. Badges are usually distinguished by color or colored dots, or something similar. It depends on what kind of badge it is: a one day pass, dealer's badge, convention committee person, security, gofer, general attendee's badge, etcetera. The badge might have this year's logo printed on it. Your badge must be visible and pinned to your clothing at all times when you are in the convention area. In many cases, it is the only way you will be allowed into the convention function rooms.

Convention schedule. This is a booklet or list of all the events at the convention: times, room numbers, and guests should be listed. There might be list of dealers, and even a layout of the dealers' room, so you can find your favorite dealers quickly. There might also be a short list or ads telling what each dealer has for sale.

Tickets. Some events at the convention may require a ticket to attend. A special meal with your favorite star, or a punched ticket to photo or autograph sessions, or the cabaret might require a ticket. It depends on the convention.

Directions or lists. There will usually be directions to local grocery stores, malls, and restaurants in the packet. This is a great help in an unfamiliar area; it keeps you from wandering around and getting lost. The list might be included as part of the convention schedule booklet.

Other goodies. A lot of times the con committee will get freebies from movie or television studios in the form of buttons, posters, and the like, which they'll pass on to the con attendees in their convention packets.

Next year's registration card. This might or might not be in the packet; it depends on how registration is handled for the convention you're attending. If you plan to attend the convention the following year, though, it's nice to have a card all filled out ahead of time.

There are other things a packet might contain, of course, but it varies from convention to convention.

11) After you're done wandering around the hotel, you might want to go on a munchie run. Munchies are the staple of fandom. If you're not close enough to the convention to bring your munchies with you, then you'll need to buy them after you arrive. You'll want your favorite soft drink, or bottled water, or whatever: Running around a convention is thirsty work, and you don't want to get dehydrated. You might want to get your favorite chips, candy, veggies, fruit, or even cheese and crackers; whatever you like to snack on. Food is usually shared among roommates, and you might even have each roommate bring something different, but that isn't always the case. In some cases, your munchies might be all you eat the entire weekend, so make sure you have some healthy food mixed in with the treats. If you have a car, great, you can go to the store whenever you like, otherwise you'll need to bum a ride off another fan.

12) You're registered. The convention has started. Have fun!

[General Definitions] [Zine And Story Definitions]
[Convention Definitions] [Newbie's Convention Guide]
[Do's And Don'ts At Conventions And On Sets]
[A List of Conventions To Go To]

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