Ten tips for surviving an anime convention

A handy guide for the novice visitor

Photo by Laura Heimann at Unsplash

I recently had the experience of accompanying my daughter on our first foray into an anime convention. Here are ten things I learnt.

1. Take water. There may be nothing but massively overpriced warm fizzy drinks on offer. You will be there for some time. Take water.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet a lot.
3. See everything. There will be things tucked away down corridors and around corners that may end up being the highlight of your day.
4. If you want a picture of a cosplayer, ask politely. They will probably be very happy to have their photo taken and flattered that you asked. Just don’t be a dickhead.
5. Don’t take more money than you are willing to spend. You will probably spend it all, so be careful.
6. Pace yourself. Don’t just rush through everything at 1000 miles per hour. Take your time and enjoy the day. Having said that…
7. Throw yourself in. Go to the talks; meet the special guests; watch the screenings.
8. Decompress every now and then. Step outside the venue and take a breath of fresh air. Go across the road for a coffee for ten minutes.
9. If you want to get dressed up, get dressed up. If you don’t, don’t. There’s no judgement.
10. If you are a fan of anime, or comics, or cosplay, the chances are you will have been subjected to a degree of mockery. When you are at a convention, remember that these are your people and accept you as you are. Enjoy their company.