SF/F/H Conventions: Why?

[mmerriam]

I am currently examining why I attended Conventions. Considering this year there were (are) eight cons I can name off the top of my head right here in the Twin Cities, I need to figure out what it is I want out of them, how I plan to get the things I want, and what my plan to do so should be.

So my question to you, Oh Mighty Flist, is: If you attended SF/F/H conventions, why do you go and what do you get out of them?

And yes, I am still working on a novel, thank you for asking.

Dark Water Blues

Comments

[timprov.livejournal.com]

Ditto. Mostly to get a chance to see people who I've met online and wouldn't likely get a chance to otherwise. Like ckd for instance.

[karenthology.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to go to conventions to step out of "the bubble." I belong to a writers' group down here, but it sometimes feels that I'm doing this all by myself. I understand that it's a common feeling among folks who don't have a large community of fans/writers/what have you, and although the Internet is fabulous, nothing beats face-to-face.

Fourth Street, my first convention, really put my feet back on solid ground, and it taught me a lot of things that I didn't already know. Ongoing education is well worth it.

Also, meeting people. I love meeting new people and hearing what they have to say.

[tiny-wings.livejournal.com]

Because conventions = big ass party! And you see stuff at them that you'll never see anywhere else. A hundred people dressed up as Star Wars characters to form an army? AWESOME.

Also. People are starting to recognize me from year to year. Some are even collecting my stuff! A girl last year bought dragons but no bookmarks because over the past two previous years she'd already bought all of them - she complained that I had no new drawings last year. So that's insanely flattering. And the chance to meet celebrities. I rarely show professionals any of my stuff though. The contact with the public is enough for me.

Plus I usually plan these things so it's really satisfying to plan a big-scale thing like a trip to Toronto with a bunch of people, and have everything work out.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Meeting people in real life who I have been friends with online is a part of the reason I go to Conventions.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

All quite sound reasons!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

:nods:

I can totally understand the, "you see things at conventions you don't see anywhere else" draw. I mean really, Anime Kat-Girls fighting Klingons with boffer weapons, how can that go wrong.

And people are starting to recognize me as well, though I think the shiny has worn-off the whole meeting celebrities thing.

[(Anonymous)]

I watch next to no television so it's rare that there's a celebrity at the convention I want to see. I did see Morena Baccarin, which was very cool. I also have to refrain from squealing at Johnen Vasquez too much, was at the Slave Labour Graphics kiosk just a few tables down from me. And two years ago Alice Cooper had a table almost directly across from us, so that was cool. Jue cut him off on her way to the bathroom (when she needs to pee she stops for no one)

[tiny-wings.livejournal.com]

Err, that was me.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

I go to conventions mostly to see people I don't usually see. Out of towners, mostly -- but some are locals who don't move in the same circles.

And to meet new people.

Also to learn -- sometimes from program items, sometimes from conversation.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

All very good reasons. Thanks for the input, Dan!

[pameladean]

Oh, good, I'm glad it's useful.

I'm just as pleased that no beating-down occurred. The large fans in question were quite mild-tempered as a rule, and merely had to look at him. I don't think he felt he had the moral high ground, and they did.

P.

[ken-schneyer.livejournal.com]

I am positive that I already asked you this exact question. No backsies.

[materia-indigo.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the answer I would give, but beth has worded it so perfectly I have little to add.

As for professional networking, I only do that at World Fantasy or World Horror. Everything else is a fan convention, as far as I'm concerned. Mostly I just like to make new friends and keep in touch with old friends.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[songwind.livejournal.com]

I go for a few reasons.

1) I am still getting good "writing stuff" out of them
2) They are fun
3) Cleavage.
4) Meeting authors and other folks whose work I admire

I don't think I would possibly try to go to 8 cons in one year. I know some people are really into that sort of thing, but not me.

[muneraven.livejournal.com]

At first I went because other people told me that it was a shame that someone like me who reads so much SFF and writes it sometimes had never been to a con. Then I went because it was the ONE place where my son's odd mix of geekiness, intelligence, SFF related special interests, and ability to constantly consume junk food all came together in one place. He loves cons. And then I went because there are a few local folks I have enjoyed at other cons and I am so shy that it take me ten cons to, yanno, actually say "HI" to someone. LOL.

And now I am not going. Not right now. And when I start again I will be cutting WAYYY back on the number of cons I attend. One or two a year max. Going does not help my writing, con panels have gotten repetative, and I am not built for three days of constant socializing and crowds.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

That's a great point about the professional networking!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

All excellent reasons! Thanks for chiming in.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if I'm suffering from Con burn out. I've been attending 3-6 cons a year for the last five years.

[songwind.livejournal.com]

I thought of one way I might try to go to 8 cons in a year. If I had networking to do or product to publicize, and it seemed like it would be an effective use of my money.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Right now I'm doing a minimum of 3 and sometimes as many as 5 a year. I think I need to cut back, at least until I have a novel to support.

Or maybe keep going to all the local cons, but only go on Saturdays (which is usually the biggest day of the con anyway) and skip the expense of the hotel room (except for CONvergence).

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

I left myself a note so I'd remember to come back to this.

Friends are always a reason to go, a gathering of the clan so to speak. Friends were the reason I started going to cons, but not the reason I kept going. I found as time went on and I got more serious and committed to writing my reasons changed. Going to cons also became part of the job.

And because I do view the contacts made and the networking as part of the job of being a writer, the kinds of cons I go to changed. I exchanged WorldCons for WorldFantasy, because WFC is industry focused, smaller and full of the authors, editors and agents I want to get to know. WisCon and now ReaderCon, went on the list of focused and relaxed industry cons to attend every year. I have plans to make it to 4thStreet next year come hell or high water.

I cut out all cons that were gamer, costume or media fan oriented. If I'm going to spend the money on travel, hotels, etc. it needs to go toward furthering the career I want. That doesn't mean I don't have fun, because I always, always do.

I've learned more about writing, publishing and the ins and outs of the industry in bar conversations, quiet talks with published authors late at night and even going to tightly focused panels than I'd ever have learned going to local cons. It's an education I couldn't have had any other way.

Until I have a book on the shelves to push, all local cons are off my list, with the exception of one small writer's con here in Columbus. If that wasn't $35 for the weekend and no hotel involved that might vanish too.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that networking doesn't count, but it needs to be networking with people at the level you wish to be at, not just people where you are now. Local cons will have one or two professional guests of honor, but the whole industry doesn't show up the way it does at WFC, WisCon and ReaderCon.

Those are my reasons. Hope this helps.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

This has been a question on our minds, now that we have a product to sell. It's tempting to go to more cons, because of the opportunity to sell more books! But we could never sell enough books at a single con to cover the cost of the con, so product sales are not enough of a motivator.

[songwind.livejournal.com]

*nod* I can understand that.

[ruralwriter.livejournal.com]

I've been to only one convenion and it was earlier this year, so I can offer some fresh, but perhaps limited input about why I had fun and why I'd like to go back.

1) Hearing writers talk made me feel "not so alone" as a writer. They face problems; I face problems.

2) The reader in me enjoyed hearing about books I should be reading and thinking differently about books I've read...and just being around other readers (how many Americans haven't read a novel this year, for example? some huge and slightly depressing percentage).

3) It was Different, meaning it was a change of pace from my usual routine. This may not apply to you if you go to cons frequently. I dunno. What do you think? Do different cons offer a change of pace for you?

I wouldn't mind going to another con, but it's hard for me to travel.