How to attend your first (or 50th) con

By Katie Nickolaou

Over the years, comic cons have become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. From Hollywood celebrities and comic books to artists, cosplayers, and more, there’s something for everyone at these conventions.

With Capital City Comic Con coming up in Lansing from July 10-12, now is the perfect opportunity to explore a con for the very first time. 

Here’s a detailed guide covering what you need to know before attending any comic con.

What are comic cons?

Modern-day comic cons are celebrations of fandoms from major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars to more niche ones like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The cons bring fans and curious people together for a weekend, or a day, filled with the fandoms they love.

Comic cons vary from a few hundred attendees to over 130,000, and from hotel ballrooms to massive convention centers.

Finding a comic con

The best way to find a con close to you is to go online and search for your city or state’s name followed by “comic con” or search wherever you can drive, fly or bum a ride.

Luckily for Mid-Michigan readers, Capital City Comic Con happens annually in downtown Lansing at The Lansing Center, so you don’t have to travel far.

Buying tickets

Comic cons typically allow attendees to pre-purchase admission tickets online. There’s also the option to buy tickets at the door, though there’s the chance they could sell out.

Plan ahead

In the weeks and months leading up to a convention, follow that con’s social media pages and check their website regularly as they’ll make frequent announcements regarding the celebrity guests they’ll have that year.

It’s a good idea to set aside money for autographs and photographs. Some celebrities have options for as low as $30, while others charge $100 or more. Celebrities often offer combos so you can purchase their autograph and a selfie for a reduced price.

While on a con’s website, check to see if they’ve published the schedule for the convention. This typically happens a week or two before the con and the schedule lists all of the available activities. Take note of the events you want to attend and plan your day accordingly.

Another thing to plan for is parking. Finding a parking spot at cons can be difficult, so look for multiple parking garages nearby; that way you have backup options in case one or more are full by the time you arrive.

What to bring to the con

Having a bag or backpack to hold your items will make your life much easier, especially as you purchase items throughout the day. And check on the venue and convention bag policy; you don’t want to find out too late that it’s clear bags only.

If you plan on purchasing an autograph or photo, consider getting a photo protector to keep it safe. They can typically be found at local comic book stores, or you can find them for sale at booths inside the con, but expect to pay more on-site.

If you purchase tickets online, be sure to print out any barcodes or QR codes they send you in case you don’t have cell service inside the con.

Arriving at the convention

The first thing you’ll do is head to Registration to pick up your wristband or badge. Normally there will be signs and con volunteers that will help guide you to Registration.

It’s a good idea to check the schedule for updates throughout the day. Sometimes last-second cancellations occur, so be sure to stay tuned to the con’s website and social media pages for changes.

Meeting celebrities

Normally, conventions group all of their celebrity guests into one area, which makes it easy to find them. Most cons prohibit taking pictures or videos in this area unless you pay for a selfie or video with a specific celebrity at their table.

The first thing you’ll do is join the line for the celebrity you want to meet. Some of these lines are short and only last a few minutes, while others have 3-hour waits or longer, depending on the size of the con.

When you get to the front of the line, you’ll likely see two people behind a table: the celebrity and their handler. You’ll go to the handler first, and they’ll take the money for any purchases you wish to make.

Some celebrities will let you say a quick hello without purchasing anything, while others require you to purchase an autograph or a photo to talk to them. It’s always best to ask their handler if you can “just say hi” or if you need to purchase something first.

Each celebrity will have a sheet of paper on their table that lists what they offer and their prices. Once you decide what you’re going to get, you’ll pay the handler, then move forward in line. Most celebrities have a selection of 8×10 photos available and you can pick from those. You can also bring your own item, like action figures and other memorabilia, though they may charge more to sign larger/custom items.

(Editor’s note: the cover image shows a photo of Nickolaou getting a clarinet signed by Star Trek actor Garrett Wang)

When meeting a celebrity, it’s important to remember that they are not their characters. So while they may play a super talkative and energetic character on screen, the actor may actually be quiet and reserved in real life. Of course, the opposite can also be true.

Since you’ll only have a limited amount of time with the celebrity, be sure to think of what you want to say to them beforehand. Do you have a burning question you want to ask them? Perhaps you want to tell them how a specific role of theirs impacted your life. Before you meet them, figure out what you want to say and make sure that it won’t take too long to explain.

If you purchase an autograph, make sure the ink/paint has fully dried before putting it away or you could smudge it.

Professional photo ops

While most celebrities have the option to buy selfies at their tables, some of the larger conventions also offer professional photo ops.

These can either be purchased ahead of time on their website or at the convention itself, though be aware they can sell out.

These photo ops move fast, usually taking less than 20 seconds, so you won’t really have time to talk with the celebrity. If you would like to talk with them more, then it’s best to purchase an autograph.

Attending panels

There are two kinds of panels at conventions: Celebrity Panels and Fan Panels.

Celebrity Panels are typically Q&A style, with a moderator asking the guest questions before opening it up to questions from the audience.

Fan panels are run by non-celebrity attendees and can feature a wide array of unique topics from all types of fandoms.

Exhibit Hall shopping

Comic cons offer incredibly diverse shopping options for fans of all kinds. Some vendor booths sell collectable items and comics while others sell costumes, handmade art, food, trinkets, and more. It can take a surprisingly long time to walk through an entire Exhibit Hall, so be sure to set aside enough time to see everything.

Costumes and cosplays

While walking around the convention, you’ll see many people dressed in costumes. 

Some even take it a step further and assume the role of the character they’re dressed up as, acting like them as they interact with people at the con. This is what’s known as cosplay, which is a combination of costuming and roleplay.

Most conventions host cosplay contests, giving attendees the chance to compete and show off their creations on stage. From Han Solo to Spock, Ronald McDonald to Thor, and so many more, there’s no limit to the kinds of costumes and cosplayers you’ll see!

Board games and video games

Many conventions set aside a specific area for people to sit down and play their favorite board/video games. Some even host tournaments throughout the con that attendees can compete in.

After-hours events

After the normal programs and panels conclude for the day, some cons host after-hours events, including concerts, workshops, and special events with celebrity guests. These are listed in the convention’s schedule.

Whether you’re a seasoned con-goer or it’s your first time, attending comic cons gives you the opportunity to have a blast while celebrating the fandoms you love.