It took me a few conventions to figure this out, but now, even if I have to walk past rows of seats filled with people, I’ll make my way to the front of the room to find an empty chair.

Reasons to sit up front (especially at panels)

• You can see the panelists faces since no one is blocking your view
• You can read the panelists name cards/tents
• You can easily hear what the panelists are saying, even if there is trouble with the microphones

anyway you can

And a final reason to sit in the front row – the panelists can see you.

It’s unlikely they can read the name on your badge, but they will have seen your face. If you’re taking notes during the panel, they might remember that. If you asked a question, they have a face to the voice.

So when you see them again, be it during an autographing session or in the bar, they will have seen you before, and may even remember you.

It’s a touch point, a shared moment, a topic of conversation.

The rest is up to you.

Fhloston Hostess: You have a seat reserved, front row, next to RU-BY RHOD! He’s so talented, don’t you think? I just love him… he’s so sexy…
- The Fifth Element

forgot someone?l

Admission - Most conventions happen around the same time each year. For example,
World Fantasy is held at the end of October. Cons will often have ‘early registration’ discounts on their admission tickets, so check out the con website as soon as you know you want to attend to buy your ticket.

Hotel - Depending on the size of the convention, there may be multiple hotels, some of which are cheaper, but you may have to walk or take public transportation between them and the main hotel to attend most of the activities. For very large conventions, like DragonCon, the main hotels can sell out quickly (within hours), so keep an eye on the con website. If you can share a hotel room with friends, that cuts your costs. If you can share a friend’s house, use the money you save to take them out to a nice dinner.

Travel - How are you getting to the convention? If you are driving, make sure to account for gas costs, and a check-up on your car if you are going a large distance. If you are flying, keep an eye on airfare sales from all airlines, consider joining a frequent flyer program, or, if you can afford the time, take a flight with stops instead of direct. Don’t forget about travel to the hotel if you are flying. Does the hotel have a free shuttle? Or will you need to pay for a taxi or schedule a shared ride?

Food – Plan for at least 2 meals a day. Convention websites do a good job of listing other eating places than what is located inside the hotel. And gas station convenience stores and Starbucks also carries sandwiches.

Fun – Bring a bit of cash to have some fun. If that means buying a photo-op with a celebrity, or getting the latest hardcover collection to be autographed by your favorite author, make sure you have some extra money to spend on you. And maybe some souvenirs for your friends who couldn’t make it out to the con this time.

Now that you have an idea of the main costs of attending a convention, you can start setting aside the money you will need. Whether it’s a total of $100 or $1757 dollars, you can make it happen … if you want to.

Jeeves: Travel is highly educational, Sir.
- Jeeves and Wooster

merry halloween

For most conventions, there is some kind of kick-off event that usually happens the evening of the first day. That event is called “opening ceremonies”.

If you can handle it, go to opening ceremonies*.

Because one of the great things about opening ceremonies is that the guests of the convention are introduced. Maybe you are already familiar with each guest, and could easily spot them across the room. If not, this is your chance to put a face to the name, and hear that name pronounced correctly.

I find this immensely useful, especially if the guests are people whose faces I usually don’t see on the book jacket, such as agents, editors, and publishers.

Sometimes the convention program book will contain photos of guests and other panel attendees. Sometimes those photos were taken several years ago and their facial hair, haircut, or hair color has changed.

Going to opening ceremonies takes the guess work out of it because you see them as they are at that convention.

* Note for Introverts: It took me at several years to get to the point where I would take a seat close enough to really see their faces. Open ceremonies are a popular event at most conventions, so there will be many folk there, just so you know.

Butch Cassidy: That’s not an outlaw name. You don’t have an outlaw face, either. You better do something about that.
- Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

robot flowers

As I am interested in writing fantasy and science fiction, there are two local conventions I attend every year, ConDFW and FenCon.

For the past two years I have attended the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) and this will be the first year I go to the World Fantasy Convention.

Since joining the DFW Writers Workshop, I attend their writing conference every year as well – great place to pitch an agent, BTW.

Conventions are a great place to meet authors, sometimes agents and editors, and other people who like the same kinds of things you do. You don’t have to attend the parties, you don’t have to go to a panel every hour, and it’s okay if you don’t hang out at the bar. Some day you may want to do one or more of those things because they can be fun. It’s taken me a few years to get to that point myself, so it is possible.

But you’ll never know until you pick a convention and go to it.

Grail Knight: You have chosen… wisely.
- Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade

PROS

• easy access to your room if you need a break from the masses
• a close place to store all the stuff you buy in the dealer’s room so you don’t have to haul it around all day
• you never know who you’re going to see or meet

CONS

• may also be the “party hotel” so be prepared for late night noise
• elevators can get overloaded and sometimes have a line
• likely more expensive than other hotels associated with the convention

goal one

For me, the last Pro – you never know who you’re going to see or meet – outweighs all the Cons.

I don’t enjoy loud, crowded parties, so my chance to talk and meet with people happen during the day-to-day activities of a convention.

Talking to John Picacio in an elevator at Worldcon, sitting and listening to Bernard Pearson tell stories in the courtyard at the first North American Discworld Convention, having dinner with Peter S. Beagle and Connor Cochran at ConDFW are moments I treasure.

And all of those happened because I stayed at the main hotel of the convention, and was at a right place at a right time.

I can control what hotel I stay at. The ‘right place at the right time’ is something I trust will happen on it’s own because I’m making the effort to be there and be engaged in what’s going on. And it does.

Mr. Ecko: Don’t mistake coincidence for fate.
- Lost, “What Kate Did”