The Ultimate Guide to Attending Comic Cons

I attended my first comic con back in 2013, and have been going multiple times a year ever since… I love them! Whether it’s smaller local conventions, huge flagship conventions, or specialty conventions for a particular fandom, I’ve tried a bit of everything. As such, I want to impart my wisdom on to you by creating the ultimate guide to attending comic cons!

I’m going to cover everything you could possibly want to know, including how to find one near you, how to interact with guests, whether or not to cosplay, how to structure your day, and more! My intent is for this to be a comprehensive resource to help you feel totally comfortable when the day comes.

What is a Comic Con?

The answer to this question now is probably very different to when they were first conceived, as comic cons have evolved considerably. Back in the day, as the name suggests, they were primarily about comics. The first known comic book convention was in New York back in 1964. And then the first San Diego Comic Con was in 1970, but it was a very different affair to what SDCC is today. It only had around 100 attendees, and was about exhibiting rare comics.

Nowadays, comic cons can cover a variety of specialties, and many of them don’t even have anything to do with comics. At their core, they’re about celebrating the media you’re a fan of with other like-minded individuals. There will usually be stalls of some kind, and there’s typically a mix of resellers, independent artists, themed lifestyle products, merch, and more.

You’ll also typically have guests. These can range from small-name comic book artists to big-name actors from huge franchises such as the MCU. It’ll entirely depend on the convention. Ultimately, whatever you’re looking for in a convention, there’ll be something out there for you, so keep your eyes peeled!

How to Find Comic Cons Near You?

First, you need to decide what ‘near you’ means for you. Some people only want to attend conventions within their local area. Others are happy to travel to anything within a couple of hours. For some, that might mean anything in their country. And some are willing to travel abroad for the right convention! Whatever your definition is, you’ll need to search for conventions in that area.

The simplest way to do it is to just Google ‘Comic con (Your City Name)’. And then just adjust that for other large cities near you. For example, if you’re in the UK, you could probably find some good ones by searching ‘London’, ‘Birmingham’, ‘Liverpool’, etc. The ones that show up on the first page will likely be the biggest ones, although of course that doesn’t always mean the best.

Another way to do it is to look for the social media pages of comic convention organisers in your country. Some of the main ones (in Europe and the US) are:

• Comic Con International
• Monopoly Events
• ReedPop
• Showmasters Events
• Star Wars Celebration
• Starfury Conventions
• Creation Entertainment
• Dragon Con

How to Find Where Your Favourite Guest is Attending?

There are three main ways to do this. The first is to follow that guest on social media. They will likely announce when they’ve been confirmed for a convention, however, this isn’t always the case, especially with larger celebrities. You may still find other fans commenting about it, though.

The second way is for if you’re only willing to travel a certain distance to meet them. You can follow all the conventions near you on social media. When they announce a new guest, they’ll post on their socials, so you’ll be able to see right away. You can also periodically check their official websites to see the full guest list.

The third way is by far my favourite way as it’s the most efficient. Let me introduce you to the brilliance that is RosterCon. This fantastic resource is a convention attendee’s dream. You can search for pretty much any actor (as long as they’re not really tiny) and you’ll find a comprehensive list of every convention they’re booked for in the future, and every convention they’ve attended in the past. You can also search for specific shows/ movies, and it’ll give you any cons that are specific to that franchise.

How to Prepare for Your First Comic Con

As silly as it sounds, the best way to prepare is to prepare. Simply by putting in the effort to think about the convention ahead of time, you’ll make it a much smoother experience for yourself. Instead of having a mad rush on the day, learn everything you can about the convention beforehand. Here are some things you can do to make your day smoother:

• Decide whether or not to cosplay – If you do decide to cosplay, make sure you get your costume ready in advance.
• Consider travel/ accommodation – If you’re driving, see where the nearest car parks are. If you’re taking the train, booking in advance will be cheaper than buying on the day. If the convention is far away, consider getting a nearby room to sleep in overnight.
• See which guests are going – The convention website will have a list of all the celebrity guests in attendance. If you want to meet any of them, budget accordingly, and try to buy autographs/ photographs in advance if possible, to avoid disappointment.
• Make a schedule – I’ll go over how to do this in a later section, but having a pre-planned schedule will make your day so much less stressful.
• Examine the venue layout – Most conventions will have a map of the venue on their website. This is super useful if, like me, you have a tendency to get lost. Knowing where things are beforehand will make it a lot easier!

What If I have Accessibility Needs?

If you want to attend a comic con, but you’re nervous because of a disability you have, don’t worry! Most comic cons will have practices in place to make sure that people’s accessibility needs are met. The important thing is to check ahead of time, as depending on the convention, they may not be able to accommodate last minute adjustments. Most conventions will offer carer tickets whilst availability lasts, so if you need someone to accompany you on the day, you can let them know and get a free carer ticket.

Depending on your needs, and the availability at that particular con, you may be able to apply for an access pass. What this grants you varies by convention, but it will usually help decrease the stress of the day. For example, I’m neurodivergent (diagnosed autistic, and suspected ADHD), and I really struggle with standing in a queue. When I’ve attended conventions, I simply send them the proof, and they upgrade my ticket to an accessible ticket. This means that I get fast track entry into the venue, and I can join the Diamond Pass queues for guests (as long as I contact them to upgrade the tickets for all my purchases). This takes away so much stress of the day.

There are also usually quiet areas to decompress if the stress of the day gets too much for you. With my autism, I’m prone to sensory overload, so these are invaluable to me. Whatever your needs, talk to staff on the day, and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

Should I Wear Cosplay to a Comic Con

This is entirely up to you! You’re not obligated to wear cosplay, but similarly, it’s usually encouraged! Cosplay can be a great way to engage with your favourite fandoms, and fully embrace the experience. You certainly won’t be alone, and most conventions have thousands of people dressing up for the occasion. However, if you don’t feel comfortable putting on a costume, that’s perfectly okay. Nobody is gonna judge you for wearing regular clothes. You should just wear whatever will allow you to get the most joy out of the day.

If you do decide to cosplay, though, you’ll likely get plenty of compliments. Attendees are usually very friendly, and love to greet each other and acknowledge other people’s cosplays. Even if you’ve gone low budget, most people are still so supportive. I remember when I attended my first convention and dressed as the Green Arrow from Arrow. I’d done it all on a tight budget, and made the costume myself with next to no skills. My ‘quiver’ was literally a Pringles can with black duct tape around it! And yet, I still got so many people referencing the show to me and saying I look great.

I would recommend to keep it relatively small for your first cosplay, you don’t want to overdo it. If you set your sights too high, you may end up burning out. No need to get out all the fancy sewing/ carving techniques on your first go. Just pick a character you love, and either find a ready-made costume, or make a simple version yourself. Then you can always keep ramping it up for future conventions.

How to Plan Your Day at a Comic Con

As I mentioned earlier, having a schedule is a great way to make the most of your day. Here’s what you should consider:

• Will you need a priority pass? – Most conventions will have some kind of priority pass that allows you to skip the queues at autograph and photo areas. Depending on how many celebrity guests you’re meeting, this might be necessary. For popular guests, you could be waiting a good couple of hours for an autograph without one.
• Check times of panels – Conventions will release the times for all their talks/ panels in advance… Take note of these! Figure out which ones you definitely want to attend, and put them into your schedule. Then put any maybes in there, so you can attend if you’re free at the time.
• You need to eat – Remember that you’re a human being who needs food to survive. Set aside half an hour or so to have lunch. Although, no reason this has to be in a seated area, you can always eat in the queue for an autograph if you’re strapped for time.
• Be realistic about how many guests you can meet – If you don’t have a priority pass, you’re unlikely to be able to meet all the big name guests. Decide who you definitely want to meet, and mark it in your schedule so you know when to meet them. Leave at least an hour for autograph queues, and at least half an hour for photo queues. Be aware that bigger names will have longer queues.
• Arrange to meet friends – If you’re going with others, make sure to meet them beforehand, or arrange a time and place to meet inside. The last thing you want to do is waste time on the day waiting around for them to text with their location.

What to Expect When Meeting a Celebrity Guest

Conventions are a great place to meet your favourite celebrities! Many actors and actresses take part in the con circuit when they’re not busy shooting. That’s great news for fans who want to meet them! However, it’s easy to build the interaction up in your head, so avoid disappointment by knowing what to expect.

Firstly, whilst you’re a fan of them, they’re not a fan of you. They don’t know you, and they’ll likely forget you 5 minutes after you meet them. You need to accept that you’re almost certainly not going to make a lasting impression. They’re not going to become your best friend, and you need to detach from any parasocial yearning you may be harbouring. But that’s okay! Take the interaction for what it is, and make the most of it in the moment. If you can put a smile on their face, then I’d say that’s worth it.

Also, the interaction will go by quickly. For autographs, you’re probably looking at around 20-30 seconds (could be longer or shorter depending on how popular the guest is). For photographs it’s even shorter, maybe 5 seconds in total. You literally go in, pose with them, take the photo, and leave. There’s barely time to say “hi”. So if you want a short conversation with a guest, you should get an autograph rather than a photo.

Finally, it’s worth noting that meeting guests is expensive. In the past few years, prices have skyrocketed. Guests cost considerably more than they used to, presumably owing to the increased popularity of comic cons. They know they can charge this, and so they do. Often this isn’t the choice of the guests themselves, rather their agents, and the conventions themselves. So pay the money or don’t, but don’t complain about the price.

How to Interact with a Celebrity Guest

The important thing is to remember they’re another human being. They are not a prop, they are not their character, they’re a person worthy of respect. As excited as you are to see them, always remember to treat them with respect, and to acknowledge them for who they are, not who they play on screen. Call them by their name, not their character name, and don’t push their boundaries by initiating physical contact without ascertaining consent. If you want a hug, ask them first, and be understanding if they say no. You’re not entitled to touch them.

However, you’re there as a fan, and the guest will be happy to know how much you like them. You should tell them how much their character means to you, and what you like about them. They’ll probably really appreciate it. However, bear in mind that they’re talking to hundreds of other fans saying the same thing, so try to think of an original take as well. Perhaps talk about your favourite scene, or ask them a question they might not have heard before.

Also, be conscious of other people waiting behind you in the line. Don’t monopolise the guest’s time by spending ages talking to them about anything and everything. Instead, go in with a plan in mind of what you want to say, and keep it to a short, pleasant interaction. You’ll be happy as you won’t have time to embarrass yourself, the guest will be happy as they won’t get bored of hearing from you, and the people behind will be happy as they won’t have to wait as long for their turn. It’s a win-win-win!

Tips and Tricks for Attending Comic Cons

As a veteran of conventions, I can offer you my tried and trusted tips to make the most of your day!

• Bring your own food – Venues charge insane prices for food on the day, you don’t want to get caught up in that. Check their website ahead of time, but most places will allow you to bring in your own food and drink. Packing yourself a solid lunch and some snacks can save you a fortune.
• Have water with you – Keeping a bottle of water on you is a must. With all those people in one venue, comic conventions can get really hot. You don’t want to get dehydrated, so take steady sips throughout the day. Also, it’ll stop your mouth getting dry if you talk to a celebrity guest.
• Bring deodorant – I can’t stress this enough. You will get hot. You will start sweating. You will get smelly. Bring some deodorant in your bag, and reapply generously as and when you need it. Your fellow convention goers will thank you!
• Plan your schedule – Look at the website ahead of time to find out everything that’ll be happening on the day. That way you can plan your schedule and make sure you don’t miss anything good.
• Get your autographs after the guest’s lunch – I feel like I’m shooting myself in the foot by sharing this one, but I’ll be kind and spread my secret. Celebrities are really busy in the morning, it’s rarely worth going then unless you can afford to be in a queue for a couple of hours. Instead, see when their lunch is, and start queuing 10 minutes or so before it ends. You’ll be right near the front when they come back, and you’ll see them much quicker!

Red Flags to Look Out For With Comic Cons

Unfortunately, not all comic con companies are above board. Some of them have garnered a bad reputation for putting on a bad experience on the day, or for being awful behind the scenes. Here are some red flags that let you know a convention may be worth avoiding:

• Little to no social media presence – Most conventions will have active social media pages where fans can discuss announcements, etc. If the convention isn’t on social media, it’s possible that they’re trying to avoid attendees having a place to complain about any issues.
• Inflated prices – As I mentioned earlier, meeting guests is expensive these days. However, if a particular convention is charging well above the going rate (you can use RosterCon to check how much the same guest costs at other conventions), then they may be running a scam.
• Lots of angry reacts on their posts – This suggests that customers have had bad experiences with them, often involving issues such as not refunding people.
• Posts with comments turned off – This suggests that they don’t want people to be able to publicly share their thoughts about the convention.
• Minimal details on their website/ no website – Most conventions will have a dedicated website with information about what to expect on the day. If a convention doesn’t offer anything except a link to buy tickets, it’s possible that they’re running a scam.

Conclusion

Attending comic conventions is one of the most fun experiences that you can have as a fan. I’d highly recommend for everyone to try it at least once. Hopefully this ultimate guide to attending comic cons has you feeling much more confident. There’s so much to do on the day, so planning ahead will help you make the most of it.

I’ve covered all the important areas such as guests, cosplay, scheduling, and my pro tips. But if you have any further questions about what to expect, feel free to let me know! I want this to be the perfect resource, so I’ll continually update it to reflect any changes in the industry.

Have you ever been to a comic con? What did you think? Join the discussion in our Facebook community! And subscribe to our Youtube channel for awesome videos from the world of TV, movies, gaming, and board games! Also, don’t forget to sign up to our monthly newsletter.

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