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Gaming conventions are a lot of fun. They’re packed with enthusiasts interested in trying out new games and favorites, showing off costumes, feasting, and attending all sorts of different panels and seminars. Convention “season” has changed over the years. It used to be that there were only a handful of exceptional conventions spanning over the summer months. However, now there are venues springing up all year round! Especially when you take into account local or regional conventions, which have become very popular of late.
Summer is still the period when the largest conventions take place: Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio and Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana. With those conventions in mind, here’s some pointers on how to get the most out of attending a HUGE conventions. Hopefully, these tips will make any convention more fun and enjoyable! #1. Plan, But Stay Flexible Firstly, it’s important to do a bit of planning. Look over the schedule of events, seminars, and open gaming ahead of time and figure out which ones you really want to participate in—but, leave yourself plenty of leeway to do other things that attract your attention, such as play in pick-up games, have lunch, hit the dealers’ hall, hang out with friends, and whatever else sounds engaging. If every minute of your time is planned out, you’ll possibly miss out on some things you might like to check out. So, keep your options free and clear.
#2. Be Prepared to Move Around ... A Lot Big conventions are just that; BIG! Be prepared to spend a lot of time making your way from one place to another. Whether you’re talking about running out to get some food, heading to another game or seminar, or getting to and from wherever you’re staying, there’s a lot of distance to cover. If you’re active and in relatively good shape, great! Nothing to worry about. Still, just to be on the safe side, you may want to leave extra time for yourself to get around ... or take some walks around your neighborhood in the weeks before the convention. You won’t be sorry. #3. Take Care of Yourself Game professionals and frequent con-goers often get sick after returning from a convention. They call it “Con Crud”. It’s a real deal, and it’s horrible! It’s like the worst cold you ever had, lingers for weeks, and is generally pretty exhausting. It’s better to keep from catching it, so get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, adhere to good personal hygiene (ex: wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer, cover your mouth when you cough— basically, everything your mother told you to do), and, if you’re of age, drink responsibly. #4. Be On Your Best Behavior Lots of people crammed into any space, confining or voluminous, can be uncomfortable, and patience wears thin, so chill out. Understand that everyone is dealing with the massive crowds and no one enjoys it. In order to make the most of it, be courteous and on your best behavior. There’s no need to scream and yell. It’s not appropriate to touch people without their permission. And, if you want a picture of someone who’s cosplaying, ask if you can take their picture and do it outside high traffic areas. Generally, be friendly, considerate, and mindful. We all respond well to being treated kindly and with respect, and it will make everyone’s experience that much more enjoyable. #5. Things to Bring With You These are only suggestions, but prepare for a convention by toting:
#6. Play Some New Games Publishers are happy to talk to you about their games and the exhibit floor is a great place to do that. Most booths are set up to run demos or the reps can direct you to a place where their games are being run. They’re there to sell games after all, so take advantage of that by setting aside some time to check out games you’ve been curious about. There are attendees who spend ‘The Best Four Days of Gaming’ playing demos almost exclusively. Plus, you may find something you love that you might not have given a second glance at on the store shelves.
In addition to the exhibit hall, there are usually game libraries at conventions, so you can check out games there to play with your friends and fellow attendees. Do yourself a favor and find the gaming library. You’ll never run out of things to do that way. #7. Shop on Thursday ... or Sunday The exhibit halls (or dealers’ room) are worth visiting often, as they’re packed with vendors displaying and selling all manner of merchandise for the avid or casual gamer. The best day to browse is Thursday, because the bulk of attendees haven’t arrived yet, so the booths are generally more accessible. Saturday is the most congested, because the convention is in full swing. If you prefer to wait to make your purchases, that’s fine, but some of the things you want may be sold out later in the weekend. If you really want something, buy it when you see it, because, chances are, it won’t be there later.
Sunday is also a good time to shop because exhibiters really don’t want to pack up and ship their games home. You may be able to get a great deal on stuff late Sunday, but don’t always expect that to be the case. Even so, it’s worth it to give a couple of booths a look over to see if they’re offering any deals. #8. Don’t Carry All the Things All the Time The bag you carry with you probably has plenty of stuff in it, so when you buy something new, unless you’re going to play it right away, take it back to your room. It’s no fun to carry around a 30-pound backpack all day, so give yourself a break and offload everything you’re not using. Bonus Tip: Don’t buy anything at the convention that you can pick up at home from your local game store. #9. Remember to Eat Since you’ll be so distracted, your tummy will, ultimately, remind you to eat something. The venue will often have vendors set-up at a food court for a quick bite, however, stray outside the conventions center and you’ll generally discover a number of restaurants and eateries nearby, so avail yourself of them. A number of conventions (including Gen Con) have invited food trucks to park outside, so that’s a great option. Lines are an issue, but if you can plan to eat at non-peak times, especially for lunch, you’ll do just fine…and your tummy will thank you. #10. Confused or Lost? Ask for Help. If you’re lost, confused about where something is, or just need guidance, go to any volunteer or even someone working at one of the booths in the dealers’ room and ask for assistance. Even if they’re unable to address your specific inquiry, they’ll definitely be able to direct you to someone who can. That is, after all, their job, so don’t feel apprehensive about it. Have Fun! Most importantly, you’re at a gaming convention, so have fun! There should be plenty to do (too much, actually), but with a bit of planning and the desire, you should really enjoy yourself. People have been attending conventions for decades, and I encourage you to experience it for yourself, if only to see what all the hoopla is about!
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