Posted By Kathleen David on August 16, 2017
I have been to a few conventions over my lifetime and I have an opinion on a couple of trends that are really making it hard to me to enjoy parts of a convention when I am at it. Some of these are old issues and some are new ones especially with the technology that is available today that was not when I first starting going to conventions.
Hey Convention, I really like that you have an app. Apps are cool like bowties. However can you please for the love of Glob make a search function that actually allows one to search and narrow down what one is searching for. I don’t want to have to scroll through three days of programming to find a certain panel that I want to see. Also maps that allow us to find our way to the obscure panel room that can only be gotten to by one elevator/escalator/staircase. It would be even better if your phone could guide you to that panel room but I know that is a way off.
And by the same token, not everyone wants to use the App you have so do have enough maps so we can find our way around.
Your personal soundtrack is invading my space. I remember the first time I heard a soundtrack attached to a costume as the wearer was walking around. It was a Ghostbusters costume where they had rigged a boom box into the proton pack. They had a tape loop (yes that is how old this is) that was playing the Ghostbuster’s sting over and over and over. First couple of times it was cute but after hearing it for over an hour, it got very old. Now with all the mini Bluetooth speakers everyone can play their music for all to hear to ‘enhance’ their costume. Stop it. The rest of us are not enamored of the same things that you are. And the cacophony of sound that ensues gives me a bloody bad headache. Think of those of us who are on the floor the entire day and have to deal with your wall of sound. This goes double for the merchants on the floor who play things too loud.
Yes, the convention has the right to tell you that you may not bring in ______________. Conventions, with very rare exceptions, are private. They are run by a group that has rented out the space where the convention is and they can say they don’t want something at the convention. There was a convention who stated up front that they were not allowing costumes at the convention. The outcry was ridiculous. The simple solution was if you can’t go without wearing your costume, then don’t go to this one convention. There are plenty out there that will embrace you with welcoming arms. I am sorry that your prop was not allowed into the hall and I know you worked hard on it, however I am not sorry that I am not ducking around your prop or getting hit by it when you turn around in a tight space. Even the fake weapons can leave bruises when the impact is great enough.
Hey conventions, might want to make sure your volunteer staff knows at least where to send someone with a question they can’t answer. Might be good if they had a map on their person and at least have been given an orientation of the area they are in. Knowing the chain of command is not bad either. They don’t have to know the entire convention center or the entire convention but the basics would be nice like where is registration or the exhibit hall or the closest rest room. I cannot tell you the number of times just this summer I have heard the words “I dunno” rather than at least pointing them to an information booth.
Fans guess what, the volunteers are just that so cut them some slack especially when they are trying to organize lines for whatever. They are trying to keep the convention from closing down because the fire marshal has walked through and said that if there is not a clear path to the exit, then the convention will have to shut down. Or so that others can get around. Yippie, your friends are here but all of you sitting in a circle on the floor is making it bloody hard for us to get around. And if they say someone is the end of the line, it was probably not their call but someone higher up so yelling at them is not going to get you any perks. I always assume line for something at a convention and am pleasantly surprised when there isn’t one. So listen to the people who are just trying to get you to where you want to go and make it fair for everyone.
Photo Op folks, I do understand the amount of money you are laying down for a photo is rather immense and you want to get that perfect picture so you have the memory of briefly meeting the talent. But there has to be a props limit at some point. This is a photo op not a photo shoot. The best shots I have seen are with those people who are clever with their use of props that don’t interfere with the next person getting in for their moment. Slow the line down and you will be pilloried by everyone behind you especially those who didn’t get their time because of your set-up time.
Please for the love of Glob don’t present 10-inch binders with your fan fiction to either the talent or the show’s creator or, in fact, anyone attached to the show. Especially if it is rated PG-13 or above. The rest of us groan either inwardly or outwardly when we see this. I have had to explain fan fiction to so many who have received these ‘presents’ and don’t know what they are. Believe me that if they have any interest, they have already found your work on the Internet. Now I don’t have a problem with say a single sheet of paper with a poem or a song but the binders are over the top. Also don’t antagonize those who have stated that they do not want fan fiction of their work. If you must write, do it quietly. Respect their wishes. Please.
Feel free to add your grumpy observations.
I am grateful to people who are polite to each other at conventions.
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