Ok.  So you've made it to your convention with (hopefully) little difficulty.  Now what?

First rule to remember, What happens at con, stays...  wait, wrong panel.

The most important thing to remember is that "Lines happen."  You need to move with organizition.  Your first act is to get checked into your hotel.  No point in lugging a weekend's worth of baggage through con registration.  Check in, get your stuff up to your room, take a minute to organize (hang stuff up, throw a few things in the dresser, etc), then take a minute to sit and relax.  If you've just spent three hours on a plane and another thirty minutes in a cab  or wrestling a rental through traffic, you need to take minute to get into a con frame of mind.

Once you are settled into your hotel room, you need to get your con badge.  This can go quickly.  (Man In Kilt made it through Dragon Con registration in 10 minutes)  Most often, it takes a while.  (He spent over 30 minutes in line at Archon)  You have two choices; bitch and moan about it, or cope. 

If you decide that griping is all you can do, then you'll find that you (and everyone around you) will just end up in a bad mood.  Trust us, the registration folks are as fast as they can.  If you cope, not only will you and those around you walk away feeling better, you'll find it doesn't feel like it took as long.

Our recommendations; Bring a book.  Anything you like.  Something that you can lose yourself in for a bit.  Or, you can chat with those around you.  Are they regulars at this con, are they costuming or gaming, where are they from, etc. People stuck in a line together tend to bond, given the chance.

 

"You have to give respect to get respect"
In convention society, respect is paramount.  Respect for people, places and things.  People, in particular.  If you think a costume is good, it's easy to say to the person, "That's a sweet cosplay.  Excellent work."  The hard part is looking at a cosplay that you think isn't so good and saying, "That's not too bad."

Now, if the person says, "It's on, I know it needs work.  Tell me what you really think," then by all means, offer suggestions on what you think needs work.  Otherwise, keep your opinions to yourself.  One of the worst displays we ever witnessed, was an experienced costumer looking at someone who was at their second convention, ever, and saying, "Your color scheme on that is all wrong.  You suck.  Why are you even here?"

Remember, not everyone is an experienced seamstress.  Anyone who takes the time to make their own costume, no matter how bad you think
it looks, deserves respect for their effort.
 

Ok, we all grew up with the boys being told to respect the girls, and that still applies.  However, it all works in the opposite direction, too.  Ladies, if a guy isn't interested, don't follow him around.  Oh, and if you try to chat up a girl and find out she's a he, don't freak.  Just say, "Oh...   good costume," and move along.

Large crowds, serveral people walking around in the same costume...   mistaken identities will happen.  Man In Kilt seems to remind everyone of somebody else.  When you walk up to someone you think you know, just use a normal greeting.  No grabbing, smacking or shoving.  Heaven forbid you have the wrong stormtrooper.

School girls/boys

Yup, lots of anime features kids in school uniforms. It's not meant to be perverted, it's just the Japanese culture.  Most anime is geared towards teenagers, and in Japan, schools require uniform dress. Hence, anime with teenagers has them in school uniforms most of the time. One bit of advise, though. Please wear your skirt long enough to cover your butt.

Purchases
Part of the fun at conventions is perusing the dealers' hall. You'll find everything from books to movies and even food in your convention DH.   Yes, this includes weapons.  If you are buying a weapon for a costume you are wearing, please make sure it has any needed sheathing.   Ask the dealer you are buyiong from if he can peace-bond it for you.  If not, ask if he knows where to go to get it done.

If you are buying for something other than costuming, then do everyone a favor? When you leave the dealers' hall, please take everything to your hotell room immediately.  Most security will not trouble you if you are carrying half a dozed bags and a large battle axe towards the convention center exit.  They might take exception to you wandering the con with an unbound axe.
 

Strangers approaching you
 

Let's be honest; convention dress is not streetwear.  You tend to stand out.  People will come up to you out of the blue for a variety of reasons.  They want to take your picture, compliment you on your outfit, ask where the Ladies Room is.  If you are in the middle of a crowd of people, don't freak out if someone you don't know tries to talk to you.  Find out what they want forst, then use your judgement.

Attention, getting your pic taken

And speaking of pictures, yes, they will be taken.  If you are in jeans and a t-shirt, and just checking out the con, then probablly not, but if you and your boyfriend are dressed as Revy and Roc from Black Lagoon, expect people to want to take your picture.     Now, many people don't want their picture taken for a variety of reasons. They can range from just being snobbish to religious beliefs (photographs capture the soul and all that).  If you don't want your picture taken, politely decline. No harm, no foul.  If you are trying to get someone's picture and they refuse,  then let it drop.  They have their reasons; respect them.