Convention Etiquette 101 — Glamdom Fandom

On our recent podcast episode, we discuss all things related to fan conventions. We attend lots of Cons and we have witnessed a ton of things, good and bad. If you are a convention goer like we are or if you are considering attending one for the first time, we would like to offer up these basic rules of etiquette. Some of these may feel like common sense, but people still manage to break these rules constantly. (The list is in no particular order. )

1. NO WITCH HATS DURING PANELS or any large headpieces, if you wear them, please remove them during the panel. There are some talented people out there and part of any good pop culture con is the parade of these artisans/performers. Rock your look all over the convention hall. Panels often have limited sight lines to begin with, especially in the smaller event spaces. Be kind to the people around you and behind you… take off anything that may inhibit someone else’s view. Who wants to be hated? If you do this, people will HATE you. The biggest offenders have been at LeakyCon. It is hard to throw shade on our fellow Potterheads but ladies, take off the dang witch hats! If you are unable to remove your headpiece for some reason, kindly find a seat in the last row.

Hey guy wearing the red shirt… put your phone down, please.

2. Do not hold your recording devices in a way that will obscure the views of the people around you. This is a big one and speaks to a larger issue in our society. For some reason, people have forgotten to think outside themselves. We see these offenders all the time, at concerts, theatrical performances, and anytime ANYONE is on stage. These videos seldom turn out good. The best way to go is to be present in these moments and really take in what the panelists have prepared. Chances are pretty good that they will have a videographer that will be posting the entire panel on YouTube. Think about the people behind you that may have waited HOURS to see the panel and now all they can see is your phone. It is also mildly distracting to the panelists. If you MUST snap a pic or record something, do it quickly and hold it no higher than your neck.

3. Wear deodorant (especially at really crowded cons). Yes, we should all be doing this at all times but for some reason, this especially needs to be stated for Convention goers. We have heard rumors that San Diego Comic Con is the smelliest of all the conventions (heat + crowds + lots of people wearing non-breathable fabrics = lots of bad smells). We can confirm this fact! Wear deodorant, people.

4. Unwrap your candy and/or snacks BEFORE the panel starts. Imagine that your uptight Mother is sitting next to you. Would she want you to be making a lot of unnecessary noise? I don’t think so.

5. Try not to swear. Most of us are guilty of having a potty mouth from time to time. But conventions like D23, LeakyCon, WonderCon and VidCon are family friendly events. We know you are excited to be there. Just respect the folks around you and put a filter on your language.

6. When waiting for panels, do not hold the spots of dozens of your friends. One or two is fine, but after that, you are just being a jerk. Convention queues can be nuts. Like, sleep all night outside, nuts. You don’t want to do this alone because everyone needs to take a bathroom break from time to time. But if you invite a flock of friends to join you in line right before the panel is to begin, it will mean that other people that have waited for hours may not get into the panel. If your friends want to see the panel with you, have them park it next to you in line. Otherwise, don’t be shocked when people riot against you.

We were thrilled to meet James A. Janisse at VidCon ‘19. He was happy to take a photo with Ella.

7. Ask permission before taking photos of Cosplayers/Celebrities/Infuencers. Chances are really good that they will want to meet you and will be open to taking a pic with you, so just ask. Respect the space of celebrities and influencers. You may feel like you know them but they don’t know you. Say “hi”, ask for a pic and no matter what they say, honor their answer and keep moving. Also, many Cons have set meeting times with panelists and celebrities and because of this you will probably not see them walking the floor. There is often a fee associated with this. Check out your Con’s rules and regulations before you go.

These Con of Thrones Cosplayers spent most of the Con taking photos. Our friend, Rennie didn’t miss her chance to get in on the action. (Nashville 2017)

8. Walk through all convention spaces. Be aware of elderly people, small children and people with disabilities. There are a lot of people heading in multiple directions. Some move slower than others. It is really hard to move slow when you are in a hurry but consider the safety of the people around you. It is also a really good idea to not look at your cell phone as you are walking. This creates a lot of congestion. Step aside and take a moment to look down at your device.

9. Try not to take large strollers into small narrow places such as the convention floor. This has really become a problem in recent years. If you need to push your children in a stroller, be aware of the spaces around you. Convention stalls in marketplaces are especially tight. Please do not restrict other people’s access. Perhaps consider tag-teaming with a partner or friend in these congested spaces. They can hang with your little ones/stuff while you shop or vice versa.

One of the best parts of any fan convention. MERCH!

10. Don’t resell things you buy at the cons. We get how tempting this can be. You have spent a lot of money on tickets, lodging and transportation. You may feel like you need to recoup some of those expenses and selling merch may help. This is big business for some, in particular when it comes to exclusive and limited edition convention offerings. It also causes a lot of problems for fans, especially at D23. The lines are LONG, often several hour queues. Things do sell out quickly. If you are scooping up merch to sell, it means that the folks who are also in line with you may not have the same opportunity to purchase these items. We have witnessed people getting in the same lines, over and over again, for the sole purpose of selling what they get on Ebay. It just feels wrong. It is okay to pick up gifts for friends and family, though.

11. Be patient. You will be waiting in A LOT of lines. Don’t complain, just embrace it as the weekend’s reality. Consider bringing a folding stool, snacks, water and anything that will keep you distracted. Just please, for the love all around you… wear headphones. No body wants to be around a Negative Nelly. Everyone hopes that the lines will move faster but sometimes these things are out of our control. Just remember that we are all in it together!

12. Try to only ask one question at panels. Don’t overtake the conversation, if you can help it. Be aware that the people running the panel have spent a lot of time planning it and they probably do not appreciate having it derailed. This especially applies at more informal panels, like the ones at LeakyCon. The smaller panels are part of what makes the convention great. The robust exchange of ideas related to fandoms can be exhilarating. Sometimes people agree and sometimes they may not. In these instances, it is okay to vocalize how you feel but let the conversation continue to flow. Always let the moderator or panelists direct the topics.

13. Panels are not babysitting services. Parents, please keep an eye on your kids. If your child is there, you should be as well. We get the desire to divide and conquer but sometimes our younger ones have a harder time with impulse control. Obviously, you know your kid best but it will really help the moderators/panelists out if they can keep things running smoothly and with minimal distractions.

14. Be respectful of the opinions of others. There are a LOT of passionate fans out there. And lovers of pop culture seem to be a very well educated group. They read all the books, they watch their favorite shows over and over. They are really knowledgeable about lots of things. Just remember that your opinion is as valid as someone else’s. We live in a very antagonistic world. People seem to gravitate toward all of the extremes. We need to get back to a place of listening to one another and being okay with the fact that everyone doesn’t think the same way. Remember that most of these Cons are built around fictional art. Being moved by a particular story is one of the greatest joys of life and we are thankful that there are Conventions that celebrate these things. It is okay that people like Fantastic Beasts and it is also okay that people feel let down by J.K. Rowling. We can all exist, peacefully in the same world together.

Please leave us your feedback in the comments below. Let us know if we have forgotten anything!