L.A.con IV

[FPelletier]

I have never been to any type of convention, however this one is close to home and I've always wanted to check one out.

Could anyone please share their personal experience with this convention - what it is like, is it easy to get bored, do people really attend all five days, what is your favorite part, why do you go and what do you do once you are there?

Thank you all in advance for your insight.

[tkunsman]

[Oxy]

You won't get board. Trust me. Most people have to skip things they want to do to get sleep, eat, relax, ect. (although some poeple don't bother with things like that).

WIth related to Science Fiction, Fantasy, history, and gaming, there is bound be things that intrest you.
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Shallcross

[FPelletier]

Thank you, this surely is some food for thought.

Being able to people watch and appreciate the costumes sounds right up my alley.

I confess, I love reading fantasy more then sci fi. However, being a fan of either must make it impossible not to be exposed to the other.

So, do people really go all five days?

[Suzdal]

My first con was ConFrancisco and I had a blast and was not at all bored.
With a con this size the problem is choosing what *not* to see. Luckily
I had someone suggest I volunteer and that worked out beautifully.

There used to be a great little article floating around for first-timers
but I can't find it any more. I wrote one myself for another forum and
will post if I can find it.

But yeah to all of the above posts with one important addition:

Room parties! I didn't know about them at ConFrancisco and thought
the convention ended when the center closed down. Wrong! I love the
daytime activities but for me the convention truly comes alive after the
daytyime programming ends.

Oh, and to answer the above post... heck yeah I go all five days

[Sieglinde]

Most Worldcons have 24 hour hospitality suites known as The Consuite. These have snacks and lots of people to get into odd and interesting conversations with.


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Science over Superstition

[Sieglinde]

There will be plenty of fantasy at Worldcon. Many of the Hugo awards go to Fantasy genre works. Many of the costumes are fantasy also. Plenty for the Fantasy fan to do.

In fact Publishers Weekly had an article saying more fantasy is published than SF.
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Science over Superstition

[tkunsman]

Yes, people really attend for all five days - you need almost the whole five days to see everything

some people even attend the convention longer - in helping set everything up and tearing stuff down

Of course, IMHO, the first part of the first day of the con - like until early afternoon - and most of the afternoon of the last day of the con - not much really happens. mostly because people are just getting into the con or having to leave to go back home

Oh yeah- I forgot room parties! And since the con is so close to Hollywood - we might get to see a movie teaser (hoping!)

I remember my first Worldcon - back in Boston in 1989 - there were so many things I did NOT see simply because I didn't even know they were going on!

One of the things that you will get when you come to convention, is a booklet that lists all the events by time, and where they are located. Something that I have done in the past, is after getting this book, I go sit down somewhere and try and plan out the rest of the day - by looking at panel discussions, art show times, dealers room, etc. Of course with so much to see and do, you'll find yourself looking at this book A LOT!

One last suggestion - take a look at the Noreascon Four - Worldcon 2004 held in Boston - web site at http://www.noreascon.org/index.html they have a cool website - and towards the bottom of the main page you can see pictures that people took at the convention - to give you an idea of what that convention was like.

[Sieglinde]

I don't remember the Anaheim convention area being near any movie theaters. For all those from out of state, remember LA Con is just a name. The convention is not even in the same county as Los Angeles.
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Science over Superstition

[Hazel Chaz]

[Suzdal]

Below is the post I wrote for someone else asking about their first con,
FWIW. I still wish I could find the one I saw in some con programming
book which included a suggested sleep-to-food ratio.

There's also a good one at:

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/005451.html
under Personal Maintenance


-Volunteer.... it's the easiest way to meet people and find things
to do at a con where you don't know anyone (or even one you do.)
It forces you to get out there and experience rather than sit and
wait to be entertained. It also helps to eliminate any tendency towards
"I'm-bored/shy/tired/this-sucks-I'm-gonna-go-doldrums)

-If there is a "newbie" or "con-virgin" panel, attend it. Worldcon
will almost certainly have one.

-Remember Fan run Cons are interactive experiences, that's why
you're get a membership rather than a ticket.

-Read the schedule, if they supply a portable one take it with you.
As often as not you'll find the panel you're in isn't as fun as you thought
it would be. It ain't a movie, just leave it to find something more interesting.
A lot of people panel surf. (Sit near the edges if you find
yourself doing this a lot, though)

-Read the daily newsletter, any programing changes will be in there.
Other stuff as well, but most importantly: Parties! Parties are like
panels, no one expects you to stay for the entire thing, wander the
parties, enjoy yourself.

-Eat, drink (water), sleep. Eating and drinking are probably more
important than sleeping, IMHO. It sound obvious but it's easy to get
carried away and not realize you're sleep deprived and haven't had a
proper meal in eight hours. You'll only realize it can be because you
find yourself irritable and not having fun. Avoid that.

-Find the consuite. At the least there will be snacks. At the most
(esp. at small cons) it can be the place where all the interesting
conversations are happening.

-Figure out the convention facilities and get an idea where everything is.
It kinda sucks to reach the last day and realize you *just*
found the filk/gaming/anime
room that you wanted to visit.

-You're there to have fun. Another obvious one, you'd think, but it
bears repeating: If you find yourself not having fun figure out why and
address it. Nap, eat, drink or chill. Remove yourself from the situation/person
that's stressing you out.

[Oxy]

It was an LA can that ran all three of the first star wars right?

But ya, most cons have movie rooms, and even a lot of regionals have 24 hour movie screenings.
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Shallcross

[magnusfalkirk]

I attended LA Con III and remember seeing the pilot episode for Dark Skies before it was on TV. I also remember the gentleman who introduced it saying that what would actually air would be a little bit toned down from what we were seeing.

So, yes there is a chance that we might get a sneak peek at some new stuff from Hollywood before it either airs on TV or runs in the theaters.

Dean

[kb1cvh]

Then there's other events -
such as the Hogu Ranquet - usually held at a nearby McDonalds.

Besides the room parties - which can get pretty extraordinary -
1989 had Louie Wu's Birthday party (see http://www.noreascon.org/n123/boxboro.html)
Anyone else making an effort ?

There's the Hugo Loser's Party. At Brighton, Dave Langford let me hold the two Hugo's he won.

The best part of the convention is seeing your friends. The con is full of friends you haven't met yet. We'll be everywhere.

I don't know what the hotel's in Anaheim are like, but a con can turn a mundane event into something really special - just hope that someone doesn't put dish soap into the pool. That may be briefly fun, but tends to sour releationships with the venue.

We had lots of fun with paper airplanes at the Atlanta Marriot during Worldcon. The Consuit was on the top of an high rise open atrium.

There's tons of official functions at the Con to have fun at. There's tons of unofficial fun too!

[JYaskowich]

Another thing that happens, usually late at night and on till dawn, is the Filk Singing or "Filking". Songs about SF/F/fandom, often set to existing music or original compositions. You don't have to be a professional to get a turn, you don't have to sing if you don't want to (I can't sing but love going to the filking). Many of the participants bring overflowing song books you can look at or there will probably be lots for sale in the Huckster's Room. If you play an insturment, bring it along and join the fun, or just join the fun.

If this 'Con is like others, look for gaming rooms where everything from D&D, Warhammer, poker, BattleMech, to new games not even released yet can be played.

There will probably be an InterNet lounge where you can surf or check your emails.

I want to emphasis that at least a third of the activities happen outside the "normal" hours. Just because the sun has gone down does not mean that things are over. There are things happening pretty much 24 hours.

And I second the comment about being a volunteer at the 'Con. Everything, from Security to Registration to Tech support to the Masquarade to Art Show auctioneer, is done by volunteers. Even if you only put in a couple of hours they will be MUCH appreciated and you will be in the thick of things and meet lots of interesting people.