Hear that — the cacophony of hundreds of people walking from panel to panel, camera shutters clicking, cosplay (costume play) props slightly dragging the ground, and attendees talking with old friends and new. Once considered strange or weird, conventions are becoming mainstream events for the entire family with cosplayers, celebrity guests gaming, panels and workshops.

One of the frequent featured celebrity guests at Wizard World and many other conventions is the original Incredible Hulk himself — Lou Ferrigno. Ferrigno, a fan-favorite, has played the Incredible Hulk on television and voiced the character for movies and animated shows. Ferrigno likened conventions to Disneyland for nerd and geek culture.

“For years you had comic conventions, but now it’s getting to more of a pop culture. So kids come to the show; they play video games, they come with their parents, and they share the experience with their parents. It’s not like the older crowd when it was just comic books. Now, because of the pop culture, you have stuff on display to buy besides video games and comics. You have comic book artists and so many different celebrities. It’s like Disneyland, a world of fantasy.”

Wizard World has conventions in 16 states and a convention cruise. The pop culture con giant attracts upwards of 50,000 attendees to some of its events, with several conventions hitting 70,000 bodies in the door. With celebrity guests like cast of Captain America and Thor, the cast of cult hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer, William Shatner, even WWE Superstar John Cena and mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre, the convention producer has a big draw for almost any popular culture devotee.

Another guest with Wizard Entertainment’s Wizard World is Jackie Craft, of Jackie Craft Cosplay. Craft is a cosplay guest with Wizard Entertainment’s Wizard World, meaning she travels to several conventions a year to lead panels on cosplay, giving advice on materials, armor-building, and big “what not to dos.” She believes the prevalence of so many “nerd culture” options is what is bringing the culture further into the mainstream.

“The majority of people older than a certain age just aren’t going to understand. They may be cool about it. Every now and again you meet a cool grandmother or whatnot, but I think that the younger generations, I think it’s just going to be normal. I think that just to see a movie driven from video games lore, I think that’s just going to be the norm. They’re going to expect it. I mean that community was echoing and calling out for a movie for years, which is so strange because it’s a video game. League of Legends has 30 million different users at any given month. I mean that’s an outrageous amount population. What is that? Almost California? So it’s crazy. I think that things like that as our generation ages, younger generations will just accept it. I think that it’s going to be normal. I think it will be more mainstream, rather than just a subculture.”

Conventions ranging from toy expos featuring action figures and toy props to horror conventions featuring panels on horror makeup and workshops given on creating scary characters for books, television and the big screen are becoming more popular each year. Sci-fi and comic conventions may be the most well-known, but gaming and online video conventions such as PAX and E3 are growing each year, turning into a business machine for some, dream jobs for others, and for some just a safe place to frolic with hundreds of others interested in the same things.

Dragon Con, which calls Atlanta home, takes place across five host hotels and has yet to cap attendance with nearly a decade of steady growth, sometimes doubling ticket counts from year to year with 2016 having a projected attendee count of over 65,000 fans, dealers, artists, guests and volunteers. The multimedia, popular culture event will be celebrating 30 years in September and has recently paired with anime and gaming convention MomoCon.

VidCon, a convention for online media such as YouTube created by brother duo Hank and John Green in 2010, sold out in its first year and continues to sell out in advance even after moving from Los Angeles to a larger convention center in Anaheim, Calif.

Sinister Creature Con, a horror genre convention in Sacramento, is in its second year and looking at doubling its attendance numbers according to its Talent Liaison, Brian Jones. Sinister Creature, originally only a film festival, was created to fill a void in the convention scene. Jones stated the growth in the second year is because of how the creators approach making a convention schedule and guest list to serve convention attendees.

“Convention culture is tricky,” Jones said. “With the rise of so many conventions all focusing on one aspect of the genre it becomes over saturated. So how do you stand out? How can you be unique without compromising the quality alongside being affordable and family friendly? I feel if you approach it from that perspective rather ‘how can I make a profit’ is when you will see your convention grow and prosper.”

A more family friendly atmosphere and a turn to providing a convention for more than a single fandom may be why conventions have grown so much over the last few years. Ferrigno credits social media to the surge in attendance.

“Especially now with social media and Facebook and Twitter, everyone knows about conventions,” he said. “I think that everyone knows what’s going on at conventions. They know about the connections, the things that happen at conventions, and who’s doing it, and how fun it is. We stick with the fun stuff.”

Ferrigno pointed out that someone interested in checking out a convention won’t have to look or travel far to participate.

“The great thing about conventions is there is one in almost every state and are for more than just someone who is interested in comics,” Ferrigno said. “Don’t be shy. Go to the convention because it’s a way to connect with other people. A lot of people in the comic book world are basically very shy and very introverted. It’s the place you want to go to help with your social life, especially now with social media.”

There are message boards, Facebook groups, and Twitter hashtags for each convention and for subgroups in those conventions and fandoms, but for Ferrigno, comic books are the original piece bringing people together for many of these events.

“I think comic books bring people closer together because I’ve been to conventions all over the world,” he said. “It’s amazing. Comic books are in so many different languages. I do conventions sometimes with Stan Lee, and he’s 94 years old. The fact that he created so many comics like The Avengers of Marvel and people connect to that. No matter what age you are, you could be 90, you could be 80, you could be 15. Everybody loves to read comic book and the stories and get the chance to meet the celebrities that connect the characters to the comic books.“

Meeting celebrities, artists and authors is just one of the many things an attendee can take part in over the course of a convention. There are panels with celebrity guests, cosplayers, fans, artists, and authors. Several conventions hold dance parties, balls, charity auctions, and contests. Dragon Con has even held a “Star Wars Lightspeed Dating” event. There is something for everyone at almost any convention. For tips for first-time attendees and first-time cosplayers see the rest of USA TODAY’s convention season package.

The cosplay, or costume play, community is growing.

Getting into costume for a convention is awesome. It’s a lot of fun to take pictures with the creators of your favorite video game or comic book character, celebrities that portray those characters on screen, and other cosplayers that “nerd out” when you both dress up in the same character.

For some like Jackie Craft, of Jackie Craft Cosplay, the hobby of cosplay can lead to several new opportunities. Craft tours with WizardWorld conventions and gives panels on armor-making and cosplay. She was picked up by the event series after creating a cosplay of the Liche King character from World of Warcraft.

“I used to play World of Warcraft pretty hard for like, in college, I feel like 80 hours a week. I don’t know, could be more than that, if it’s humanly possible. I loved the game, I loved the lore, I loved the writing, I loved the community. So after I made a sewing costume, my second costume, I jumped right into making the Liche King from World of Warcraft just because it was an iconic story line and I loved the lore. That made me love the character so I took that character and turned it into a female version. It was nostalgia.”

Craft has been with Wizard World for “around a year and a half” and believes cosplay for everyone, that anyone at any skill level can cosplay.

“Every Saturday, I teach a panel where I give a handout with a list of all the materials, because the names aren’t something that would make sense,” she said. “I mean how are you going to go home and remember Worbla Fibercast XTp3D? I mean it sounds like some laboratory experiment. So I give everybody a handout, and I show them. I bring a variety of different pieces to show them how simple it starts, how easy it is. I mean, I had no formal training. The internet has so many crazy tutorials and videos. This community has been so giving with their information. I mean Adam Savage, I’d say is arguably at the head of it to some degree, has started an entire website dedicated to showing the complex ways about going about true Hollywood replicas.”

Craft made the point that cosplay doesn’t always take expensive materials or machines such as a 3-D printer. Sometimes, all a person needs is the mail.

“I had pieces made out of cardboard. I’ve worn things made out cardboard, like Amazon Prime boxes,” she said. “My Lich King’s helmet is paper and an Amazon Prime box. Like I started with something cheap.”

Not only can cosplay teach new skills with new technology like 3-D printing or creating resin jewlery, Craft believes that it is a confidence-builder.

“I recommend everyone try to put a costume on, or make one for themselves and wear it to a con, or commission someone and just wear one. What it does for self-confidence is astounding. I meet girls of all ages, and I can’t even tell you how many I’ve met that say they feel like they can actually come out of their shell when they’re in a costume. I mean young, teenage girls that have social anxiety, and their parents have said, ‘I can’t believe it. This is the first time I’ve seen her come out of her shell like this in a year,’ and it’s her first con and she dressed up and the mom helped her. Something about a costume in real life acts a little bit like a shield, like an armor, that protects you, that you feel a bit more protected from the negative kind of comments and energy. A con scene very rarely, you’ll even find a lot of negative energy. It’s a unique environment to breed confidence.”

If you are looking to get into cosplay, or even just to try it out, Craft has advice.

“I would definitely say don’t pick something that is extremely elaborate and expect to finish it in a week or so. Give yourself time. You have to give yourself time,” she said. “There is not that will discourage a crafter more than giving themselves an unrealistic deadline and pushing to try to meet that deadline and burning yourself out really. It happens to all of us. I have a deadline right now, and it’s sitting in front of me, taunting me to finish. But I’ve given myself enough time to finish. I try to tell people that don’t stress yourself the night before.”

She also recommends to not start all the pieces of a cosplay at once. Start with something small and finish it from beginning to end. When finished, take a look and see what looks right and what might need work, and learn from that.

“One small piece can build a lot of confidence. Once you see it all the way finished, there’s some kind of gratification that will catapult you into the next skill level and help you finish the next pieces.”

Craft notes that even with all the information on the Internet, there’s something that she thinks isn’t talked about enough: safety precautions.

“I can’t even tell you how many young kids I’ve seen burn foam in small enclosed bedroom or casting polyester resin without a respirator in their bedrooms,” she said. These are terrible, terrible things. This community is growing so rapidly and it’s becoming so mainstream, that there’s so many people making on the Internet now and I feel like safety isn’t out there in the front as often as it should be. I say just Google. Google the material you’re working with. Find out if it’s safe or not, or read the box.” She also believes that fear shouldn’t discourage from a great experience.

“I definitely try to encourage people to just get their hands in and start somewhere. Once you get a grasp of the idea, I feel like all the skills and techniques kind of just come together. It feels natural to be that creative.”

Other tips and advice for new cosplayers are:

1) Don’t be intimidated by all the photos on social media. Don’t be afraid to be a beginner. There are some that have turned their hobby into a serious art form and there are some that wear store-bought costumes. Be comfortable with yourself and remember you’ve picked a character you love. There will be others at the convention that will love the character as much as you.

2) Make sure you can go to the bathroom easily in your cosplay. You don’t want to be stripping down completely just to use the bathroom.

3) If your character is barefoot, do not go barefoot in a convention center. Not only is it not hygienic, you can step on something sharp and get hurt. There are tutorials on the Internet to make clear shoes. Clear jelly flip-flops also work.

4) If you have a heavy costume, a large costume, a costume with a train, or large props, consider a handler. Grab one of your friends at the convention that may not be in cosplay and have them help you navigate through crowds, carry your train, and carry your hotel key and extra items.

5) If it is hot outside and you have a heavy costume, find time to take parts of it off in order to cool down. Larger cosplays such as armors and costumes such as Darth Vader can also get hot just by wearing for long periods of time. There are tutorials on how to incorporate battery-powered fans into your cosplay so you don’t overheat.

6) Create a budget for your cosplay if you are creating something with expensive materials. This will help to not overspend.

7) Keep motivated by posting to social media and using hashtags such as cosplay, wip, workinprogress, and cosplayworkinprogress.

8) If you are making a large prop, build it so it can come apart for travel. Make sure when traveling to make a list of all props and costume pieces.

9) Don’t forget to work on all parts of the cosplay, from wig, to makeup, to clothing, to shoes.

10) Practice getting into and out of your cosplay. Practice posing in it. Practice your makeup, especially if you have full-body paint, scars, wounds, or zombie makeup. A great cosplay can look a little washed out in photos if your makeup isn’t finished.

11) Comic book and anime characters aren’t required. Craft cosplays as both comic book characters and video game characters. Everything from books to movies to anime to comics can fall under the cosplay banner.

12) Feel free to twist a character. If you want to meld Spider-Man with Captain America, go right ahead. Character mash-ups are the newest trend in the community. If you want to make a Disney Princess into a Jedi, go right ahead. If you think it would be awesome to make a ballerina version of Black Widow, do it. Cosplay is all about creativity.

13) Lastly, have fun. Pose with others in the same character costume. Make silly photos. Enjoy yourself.

Conventions of all types are seeing a steady rise in attendance with several, such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, capping attendance.  There’s a convention for almost every nerdy, geeky or niche interest, including a He-Man toy and comic book event. Check out the following events for a convention for your interests near you!

Information:

• Con Type: Gaming
  
• Events: Painting contests, "War College", flea market, over 300 games.
• Tickets: Start at $40

Information:

• Con Type: Comicon
  
• Guests: Sean Astin, Lee Majors, Gates McFadden, Ralph Macchio
• Events: Writing workshops, Masquerade costume contest, cosplay workshops
• Tickets: Start at $15

Information:

• Con Type: Anime
• Guests: David Vincent, Austin Tindle, Matthew Mercer, Rika Muranaka
• Events: Artist Alley and art show, Masquerade ball, Steampunk ball, Costume contests, Doll A-Kon
• Tickets: Start at $40

Information:

• Type: Hybrid (Comics, sci-fi, horror, gaming, anime)
  
• Guests: Chloe Bennett, Peter Mayhew, Stan Lee, William Shatner
• Events: "Ghostbusters" live script reading, "Jay & Silent Bob Get Old", Geekfest Film Festival, Costume contest
• Tickets: Start at $25

Information:

• Type: Comicon
  
• Guests: Rudy Obrero, Mark Roberts, Alan Oppenheimer
• Events: Costume contest, toy exhibits, comic exhibits
• Tickets: Start at $25

Information:

• Con type: Pop culture
  
• Guests: Dean Cain, Reggie Jackson, Hayley Atwell, Jewel Staite
• Features: 'Jurassic World" IMAX screening, "Drink & Draw" contest, official afterparty
• Tickets: Start at $39.95
• Photo Contribued by Wizard World

Information:

• Con type: Online video
  
• Guests: Ian Hecox, Anthony Padilla, Gavin Free, Anita Sarkeesian
• Events: Festival concerts, community panels, creator panels, variety show
• Tickets: Start at $150

Information:

• Con type: Hybrid (Comics, pop culture)
  
• Guests: Billy Dee Williams, Ric Flair, Nichelle Nichols, Barbara Eden
• Events: Photo ops, Costume contest
  
• Tickets: Start at $17

Information:

• Con type: Comicon
  
• Guests: Ernie Hudson, Rochelle Davis, Linda Ballantyne, Larry Hama
• Tickets: Start at $15

Information:

• When: July 1-3
• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, CinnamonToastKen, Greg Wicker
• Events: Cosplay contest, fashion show, formal ball, maid café
• Tickets: Start at $35
• Illustration contributed by AnimeBlues Con

Information:

• Con type: Multicon
  
• Guests: Morena Baccarin, Karl Urban, William Shatner, Nancy Cartwright
• Events: Gaming tournaments, cosplay contests, Geek Film Festival
• Tickets: Start at $25
• Photo contributed by Florida Supercon

Information:

• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: Chika Anzai,Naoshi Arakawa, Michi
  
• Events: AMV contests, premieres, Fashion show, karaoke
• Tickets: Start at $50
• Photo contributed by Anime Expo

Information:

• Con type: Multicon
  
• Guests: Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Danielle Panabaker
• Events: Walking Dead Experience, autographs, photo ops
  
• Tickets: Start at $35
• Photo contributed by Heroes & Villains Fan Fest

Information:

• Con type: Horror
  
• Guests: Elvira, Josh McDermitt, David Morrissey, Scott Wilson
• Events: Photo ops, Walking Dead Experience
• Tickets: Start at $45
• Photo contributed by Walker Stalker Con

Information:

• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: Cristina Vee, Scott McNeil, Richard Ian Cox, Eric Stuart, Kirby Morrow
• Events: Anime Human Chess Match, Fantasy Masquerade, Massive Rave/Dance
• Tickets: Start at $30

Information:

• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: Brina Palencia, Todd Haberkorn, Tiffany Grant, Elizabeth Maxwell
• Tickets: $15

Information:

• Con type: Gaming
  
• Features: Free play arcades and game consoles, gaming tournaments, video game vendors, artists, musical performances
  
• Tickets: Start at $10
• Photo contributed by Classic Game Fest

Information:

• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: Garry Chalk, Jason Narvy, Khary Payton, Wendy Powell
  
• Events: Red Carpet Affair, Scanvenger Hunt, Cosplay Chess, Cosplay Competition
  
• Tickets: Start at $45

Information:

• When: Aug. 3-7
• Con Type: Literature
  
• Guests: Kerry Adrienne, Andrew Grey, Jenn LeBlanc, Milly Taiden
  
• Events: Panels, reception, book signings, gift basket drawings
  
• Tickets: $200
• Illustration contributed by Authors After Dark

Information:

• Con type: Sci-fi
  
• Guests: Midori Snyder, Andrew Lazo
  
• Tickets: Start at $60
  

Information:

• Con type: Multicon
  
• Features: Celebrity Q&A’s, autographs, photo ops, a variety of panel programming, cosplay, film and TV screenings, exhibitors, video and table gaming and comics creators
  
• Tickets: Start at $35
  
• Photo contributed by Wizard World

Information:

• Con type: Anime, gaming
  
• Guests: Cristina Vee, Jennifer Cihi, Rachael Messer, Tiffany Grant
  
• Events: “Wonders of Wonderland”, Formal dance, Melee Tournament, Cosplay Contest
  
• Tickets: Start at $25
  
• Illustration contributed by Delta H Con

Information:

• When: Aug 20-21
• Con type: Comic con
  
• Guests: Dennis Rodman, Tim Russ, Zach Galligan, Adrian Paul
  
• Events: Celebrity meet and greets, discussion panels, workshops, screenings, demonstrations, events, gaming
  
• Tickets: Start at $15
• Illustration contributed by Pensacola Comic Con

Information:

• Con type: Multicon
  
• Guests: Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland
  
• Events: Exclusive panels, celebrity photo ops, obstacles, games of skill
• Tickets: Start at $40
• Photo contributed by Heroes & Villains

Information:

• Con type: Anime
  
• Guests: ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D, Yumi Fujiwara, MINT, Stephanie Sheh
  
• Events: Hall Cosplay, Cosplay Show contest, Formal Dance Masquerade, 2 informal electronic dances
  
• Tickets: Start at $54.75
  

Information:

• Con type: Comic con
  
• Tickets: Start at $30
  

Information:

• Con type: Pop culture
  
• Guests: Charlie Cox, Karen Gillan, James Marsters, Michael Stackpole
  
• Events: National Puppet Slam, Labyrinth Madquerade Ball, Dragon Con Burlesque
  
• Tickets: Start at $120
  
• Photo Contributed by Dragon Con

Information:

• Con type: Gaming
  
• Features: Opening keynote speech from an industry insider, game-culture inspired concerts, panels on game topics, exhibitor booths from independent and major game developers and publishers, a LAN party, tabletop game tournaments, and video game freeplay areas.
  
• Tickets: Start at $45

Information:

• Con type: Pop culture
  
• Guests: Gil Gerard, Felix Silla, Jeffrey Weissman, Chris Marrinan
  
• Tickets:  $15
  
• Photo contributed by Colossus Con Merced

Information:

• When: Sept. 16-18
• Con type: Multicon
  
• Guests: Dana Snyder, Amanda C. Miller, Debi Derryberry
  
• Tickets: Start at $30
  
• Illustration contributed by Animate Florida

Information:

• Con type: Toys, comics
  
• Guests: Billy Dee Williams, Brent Anderson, Tom Yeates, Tom Beland
  
• Features: 200 booths of comics, toys, artists alley, panels and Q&As
  
• Tickets: Start at $15
  

Information:

• Con type: Multicon
  
• Guests: James Marsters, Sebastian Stan, Danny Trejo, William Shatner
  
• Tickets: Start at $39.95
  
• Photo contributed by Wizard World

Information:

• Con type: Comic con
  
• Guests: Jeremy Bulloch, Steve Cardenas, Honky Tonk Man, Chuck Huber
  
• Tickets: Start at $22
  
• Photo contributed by Louisiana Comic Con

Information:

• When: Oct. 15-16
• Con type: Horror
  
• Guests: Robert Kurtzman, Ve Neill, Naomi Grossman, Katherine Isabelle
  
• Events: Live make-up demos, sculpting, painting, workshops
  
• Tickets: Start at $15
  
• Illustration contributed by Sinister Creature Con

Information:

• When: Oct. 28-30
• Con type: Horror
  
• Guests: TBA
  
• Tickets: Start at $35
  
• Illustration contributed by Walker Stalker

Information:

• Con type: Sci-Fi
  
• Guests: George R.R. Martin, Peri Charlifu, William Malone, Geoff Notkin
  
• Events: Educational panels and workshops; anime viewings; manga panels;  a costume competition ; a hall costume contest; steampunk tea dueling; performances by musical guests and burlesque artists; a live action role play
  
• Tickets: $55

Information:

• Con type: Comic con
  
• Guests: Sam Jones, Dana Snyder, Mark Bagley, Allen Bellman
  
• Tickets: Start at $30
  

Project layout by Scott Armand

First time convention attendees can sometimes be a little overwhelmed by large events. Going to a convention is often treated like going to a theme park, and attendees have different ways of experiencing it. Some create a plan of attack for attending as many panels as possible and meeting as many celebrities as possible. Others just make a list of items on the schedule they want to make and then just get to what they can. But much like a theme park, many attendees who have more than a single convention under their belt have tips and advice for getting the most out of the convention. Below are several submitted words of wisdom from con veterans:

• “Go to the panels, because you’ll sit beside someone to your left and to your right that understands the culture the same way you do and you start a conversation, and you may find you may make a friend or someone to give you insight (on) what the con is like. Talk to all the cosplayers. You’re not going to meet anyone that doesn’t want to tell you how they made their costumes. I mean these people dress up because they want you to see what they’re wearing and they want to be able to talk to you about it. They’re not going to just grab strangers and start talking so it’s your job to ask them. I would say definitely, find as many costumes as you like, and ask them how they did it. Ask them how long it took, how they got started. Just enjoy yourself. Everyone is going to experience a con differently. Some people go for the celebrities, some people go for the crafting, but I think, experience it the way you want to.” — Jackie Craft, Jack
  
• “Hydrate! Bathe at least once a day, and Axe doesn’t take the place of bathing. Make sure you take time to eat so you don’t pass out. Test drive your shoes! Wear them around the house for a few days to make sure they won’t cripple you. Also, take a second pair of shoes to change out. Even the most comfortable shoes make your feet hurt after standing and walking in them for 8 hours.” – Dianne Rentz
  
• “Remember that you can’t do it all. Enjoy yourself! Have fun!” – Kayla Parrish
  
• “Wear comfortable shoes! And always practice walking in your cosplay shoes a couple of months before you wear them.” – Kimber McDermott
  
• “If the mundanes try to make fun of your costume, just remember that when the zombie apocalypse comes, their knowledge of sports trivia will be a lot less useful for survival than your sewing skills. And also, you have a sword.” – Dougal Campbell
  
• “For 1st time con goers, bring a back pack with snacks and drink plenty of water refill every day. You can get dehydrated pretty quickly.” – Brian Quinn
  
• “Proper hygiene is important. People may ask for money to crash on their hotel room floor, but I never had one ask for money to use their shower.” – Clint Fishback
  
• “Please don’t grumble or protest if a staffer asks you something reasonable like “please don’t sit/stand there” or “the like for x hasn’t started forming yet” because a) you’re probably the twentieth person we’ve said that to, so we’re not singling you out and b) it’s not our personal rule, the rule comes from above us - con rules stated in the programming book you got at registration, or even fire code. Rules are there to keep everyone from a catastrophe that would ruin your con. (And we sure won’t object to a high-five when we’re closing up, because that’s one of those things that makes staffing worth it.) - Kitty Farling
  
• "Don’t EVER room with strangers. Try not to even room with a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who really needed crash space, because you never know what kind of person they are. This includes drama llamas, shower hogs and party people. Room with your like ilk that you know well enough to feel safe sleeping in the same room and establish room rules way ahead of time. Don’t let anyone sleep in the bathtub. If you stuff a room, take cosplayers into consideration." - Kitty Farling
• “Look at the schedule of events before the con. Make a rough outline of the things you want to do and have it on you each day of the con. That way you have a cheat sheet of the things you want to do but make sure to be flexible with it. Sometimes you end up stumbling upon something cool or get invited to events you didn’t know about before. – Tiffany Karp Alvord
• "If you’re dressing up make sure to test wear everything before the con. If you have something big/bulky have a buddy come with you to help you get through crowds, point out when someone asks for a picture, and can help carry things or just keep you hydrated." – Tiffany Karp Alvord
• "Take plenty of breaks to sit, eat, drink water, or even just breath. You won’t be able to do or see everything and that’s OK." – Tiffany Karp Alvord
  
• “Don’t be afraid to go up and say hi or ask to take a picture of someone’s cosplay. 98% of the time they want people to take a picture or even pose with them. Just ALWAYS make sure to ask for permission first and ask consent if any pose involves physical contact." – Christy Rivera
  

Other pieces of advice newbie attendees should consider are:

Research food options near the convention center. Some have food courts or are within walking distance of restaurants. Be sure to carry snacks like a protein bar with you to prevent hunger-fueled frustration or “hangry” feelings.

2) Stop at an ATM before you even get to a convention. The artists and vendors may have Square or other mobile credit card machines, but with so many people in one place, the wireless and mobile data can be limited. ATM’s at the convention can also have long lines and run out of money.

3) If you make a stop at the vendors or artists and intend to purchase something, carry a messenger bag or backpack. It will be easier to carry items that way.

4) Bring extra memory cards for cameras, chargers for phones and cameras, batteries, etc. If you have an external battery, carry it with you.

5) If you are disabled, check the with the convention staff. Many conventions have accommodations for the deaf and disabled and have worked to make everything accessible to those in wheelchairs. Some conventions, like the Wizard World events have scooter and wheelchair rentals.