This activity does not have to be limited to cons.
My husband and I were out driving around several months ago, and saw a couple of cosplayers who looked like they were headed to the latest superhero movie opening. My husband boggled. I said “Oh, it’s just cosplayers”. Then I had to explain what cosplaying is. Then he wanted to know how I knew this stuff. Then I asked him if he really, really wanted me to explain, because I WOULD. He said that he’s probably happier not knowing. He’s been married to me for 35 years. And I can still freak him out.
Try as many activities as you can - Victorian dancing, filk singalongs, trivia contests, readings by people you’ve never heard of, watching an interpretative dance inspired by Underdog, etc., the art show, etc. You never know who you might end up having a great time meeting… behind the table (or mike) or in the chair next to you.
In the wee hours of the morning, the most wired of the con attendees are still wandering around, looking for stuff to do after most of their friends have collapsed. If you are running an open-ended event, they will continue to show up until you forcibly close the doors.
Quickly cleaning up after your group and/or putting things back where they were before you got the room scores points with the staff of both the con and the hotel.
Just because someone looks like the Star Wars kid doesn’t mean he can’t actually wield that staff/sword/bat’leth/whatever with astonishing speed and skill.
It is amazing what you can build out of stacks of chairs late at night.
And low-tech is sometime best - I use old-fashioned plastic transparencies, because a projector for that doesn’t have software or hardware incompatibilities (though if the light burns out, I have a problem).
If you need AV or special equipment, tell programming as soon as you know it. The earlier we know, the more likely we’ll have it.
Other things I’ve learned from running programming:
Rule of thumb: Panels are best with 3-6 participants. Less than three, and it’s hard to keep going. More than six and people get short shrift (I was on a panel of 8 with Gene Wolfe once; he barely got a chance to talk). (This doesn’t apply to people who want to to a solo presentation.)
Have the silliest panels late at night.
Everyone wants to be on a Saturday panel.
Mix it up. It’s better to have attendees say, “Gee, there are two great panels opposite each other,” than “There’s nothing I’m interested in for the next two hours.”
Make sure program participants have a slot to get lunch and dinner.
Try not to give anyone more than two panels in a row without a break; three in an absolute pinch (and if you know the participant doesn’t mind).
Don’t put readings next to the video room.
Don’t have two panels on the same general subject opposite each other (e.g., two panels on SF movies).
The more program participants, the better off you are.
Don’t be afraid to contact big names for GOH. We got Larry Niven, for instance, to come to Albacon (with around 200 attendees) by just asking him. Other big names at the con included Anne McCaffrey (who had to bow out at the last minute due to health), Mike Resnick, David Drake, Terry Brooks, and Peter David.
GOH etiquette: Ask only one person for each GOH slot. If turned down, ask your second choice. Do not ask anyone not currently at the top of the list.
Regular guests: since they only get a free membership, ask away. Don’t be afraid to contact anyone: writers never mind an invitation.
QFT. If we hadn’t shown up early for a Buffy panel at Comic-Con one year, we would never have discovered Hard & Phirm, who had the room before the sing-along.
RC - I met Niven for the first time at a con that had to be smaller than that. I think he showed up just because he was in the neighborhood that day!
Make sure you let your parents know what time you will be home. If staying over with friends, make sure there will be a responsible grownup there at all times.
My “Con” experience is somewhat limited, having attended a few Star Trek cons in the early 90s, and twice at a local run literary con (for sci-fi/fantasy authors) in Dallas in the early 00s.
But here goes:
I never had enough money; a winning lottery ticket would’ve helped. Some.
Do not go drink-for-drink with John Steakley (R.I.P.).
David Drake is a super nice guy.
Volunteers can get mad props from staff and Guests of Honor at small Cons. And we get into* everything*, for free!
If you’re working security and there’s a troop of Boy Scouts also staying at the hotel that weekend, keep an eye on the Boy Scouts. They can cause more trouble and damage than the entire con membership, and if you’re not careful, the con *will *be blamed.
Elevators will be slow and crowded. Be prepared to wait. A book is handy. So is a Fluxx deck.
Time is … flexible …in con space.
The best “seat” for masquerade can be had by volunteering to be a spotter in front of the stage.
