 |
 You've
learned a bit about how conventions work and what they
have to offer to the attendee as far as official events.
But what about all the "unofficial" stuff?
One of the other main purposes of having a convention
is to encourage social interaction and a sense of community
among those sharing a common hobby, mission, or pasttime.
Anime conventions are no different, and the often misrepresented
status of anime in countries other than its native Japan
is something that is ideal for cultivating the "community"
purpose of a convention. Many anime fans are happy to
gather with other people who appreciate the same medium,
as the mainstream acceptance of anime is still something,
as of this writing, that is still in need of progress.
Whether or not you choose to do it, social interaction
is a part of any anime convention, and knowing about
what goes on will help.
Many
social gatherings at conventions are unofficial versions
of convention events. Some people may be holding an
anime video game tournament or an anime viewing in their
rooms. Others may sit down and discuss inpromptu anime
topics, panel-style. The "room party" is also
a common occurence, and while conventions may sometimes
officially have a "party floor" where parties
take place, for the most part room parties are held
by small groups of people who know each other, on an
"invite-only" or open door basis. Anime conventions
sometimes have bulletin boards or places for congoers
to place flyers advertising these unofficial events,
so it's helpful to look around as you walk to see what
else is going on besides the official con stuff.
If
you happen to have attended with some friends or an
anime club that you're a part of, social interaction
becomes much easier. Because you have people you know
and are friends with, you can stick together and check
out both the unofficial and official con happenings
together, and it's much easier to walk into places where
there are people that you might not necessarily know.
If you're all first-time congoers, staying together
will definitely help you get oriented to what typically
goes on at an anime convention. If you've come in by
yourself, things can be a little more intimidating depending
on how outgoing you are, but if you want to mingle,
there are things you can do to make socializing easy.
One tip involves online communities such as message
boards or mailing lists. If you're the only one in the
area going to a convention, but you're a part of an
anime message board or mailing list, you can try asking
to see if anyone else is going to the same convention
you are, and meet up with them there. If you don't have
that advantage, you can definitely still get by. Try
striking up conversations with people you sit next to
in events such as the masquerade and panels. Even an
activity such as waiting in line to get your registration
badge or an autograph is a perfect opportunity to talk
to people. You'd be surprised to see what you have in
common with other anime fans!
I've
been going to anime conventions for a while now, and
I can tell you that socializing at an anime convention
is an interesting experience, to say the least. I'll
be honest - you'll encounter all sorts of anime fans,
with all sorts of beliefs and attitudes. I've met anime
zealots and purists who bash dubs and translations,
strange fans who take their love of anime just a little
too seriously, and other such interesting people. But
any social situation will have you coming up against
these types of people, and it's best to go with the
flow and be yourself. You're guaranteed to at least
make a few acquaintances if you want to take part in
social interaction at anime conventions.
One
more lesson to go! Let's take a last look at some quick
and practical miscellaneous tips to help you through
your first anime convention, as well as a listing of
some of the major anime conventions in the US.
>>Go
to Lesson 5 - Survival Tips and Con Listings
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