Hard to believe, but the biggest SF/fantasy convention in the Southeast (and a consolation to those of us who cannot attend next weekend’s San Diego Comics Con) is less than a month and a half away. I’m referring, of course, to Dragon*Con, which takes place in Atlanta on Labor day weekend September 4th through the 7th.
This year looks to be even bigger than last year, with media guests such as Battlestar Galactica‘s Eddie Olmos and Mary McDonnell (as well as many other of the actors from the show), Monty Python alum and director Terry Gilliam, Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard himself), Karen Allen (Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark), some guy named “Leonard Nimoy” (who I think I saw on some show he did a while back – not that familiar with his work) and a host of artists, writers, you name it.
Well, a friend of mine asked me if I had some hints or tips and I realized that, gee, I actually did! So, I’ll share with you what I shared with him (hopefully this may be helpful to you if you plan to attend).
The “must see” is the Dragon*Con parade on Friday Saturday – if you are able to get in early that morning to see it, definitely do it. The feast of costumed creatures is unparalleled, and I particularly love the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers marching through downtown – ’tis the definition of awesome.
If you are there with “younguns” (9 or below) consider taking advantage of the daycare services the con offers. Saturday is CRAZY crowded and if you think your son or daughter would be sensitive to the crowds, I suggest either dropping them off at the daycare or avoiding Saturday afternoon all together… Another advice when it comes to kids is simple: don’t push them, and put them to bed at their normal hour. A lot of the more “adult” activities start after 10 anyway (along with the equivalent hall costumes) so if you don’t want them exposed to a woman wearing duct tape (and little else) then get them to bed on time or early.
Best advice if you have a problem with crowds is this:
- Hit the convention early on Friday (or Thurday afternoon/evening if you can) if you can and pick up your registration badge before the lines grow.
- If you are there for autographs get as you can on that day (keeping in mind most celebrities will be charging $20 – $65 per signing)
- Go early Saturday, have a late lunch away from the maddening throng if you can and then come back for the masquerade (unless there’s a panel you REALLY want to go to on Saturday afternoon).
- Sunday is another good day to go early as many of the con goers will be “sleeping it off” and the crowds won’t be as bad.
- Monday is usually dead (see “sleeping it off” comments, above) so if you are there that day it’s a good chance to get any autographs or do any activities you may not have been able to before then.
Getting there early any day also has the benefit of allowing you to grab a parking spot easier – the hotel parking WILL be filled up by the end of the day Friday (even if you are staying there), so you’ll have to rely on other local $7-12 a day parking – which also fills up quick.
Keep in mind Saturday will ALSO be the day of the big SEC Alabama vs. Georgia Tech game, just a few blocks away at the Georgia Dome so traffic, crowds and parking will be REALLY CRAZY starting around 2 in the afternoon (the game is at 8 PM).
Prepare for lines – if you want to go to a popular panel, go early, as the line starts forms for the big panels as early as an hour before and seating, obviously, is limited. Bring water and snacks in a backpack or messenger bag, and game systems or books for the kids so they (or you) won’t be bored.
If you get the opportunity to ask a question of a celebrity at a panel, don’t forget two simple things: It’s not about you, and actors are not their characters. Too often, I have seen fans ramble on and on about their love for the actor’s work once they get an open mic (great, nobody cares) or ask trivia like “why did your character do so-and-so in such-a-such episode?” Again, they are actors, and they often either don’t remember their character’s motivation in a particular scene shot many many months or years earlier, or didn’t have any clue about it in the first place. If you don’t have a specific question (that doesn’t fall into the above category) then ask about their craft, ask what their favorite moment as an actor/writer/producer/what-have-you was… or set them up like the late great Johnny Carson often did: “anything funny/strange/unusual happen when you were working on that project?” Everyone has such an anecdote, and they’ll deliver.
Another autograph hints: some dealers sell color prints of the celebrities that are attending, but don’t buy them in the dealers room: all the celebrities have color prints that come as part of the autograph fee they will sign (and sometimes they have a better selection than the dealers do).
Finally, check out the daily updates the con volunteers post and publish (and be nice to them, they are working REALLY HARD) and have fun – meet new people, play games, enjoy yourself.
UPDATES: The pocket program is out on August 24th, available now so go to the Dragon*Con site to get it then (final programming subject to change). Also, this year programming is starting at 10 AM on Friday (previous years programming started at noon or 1 PM) and one of the first panels is a Galactica panel with Laura Roslin and Admiral Adama – Mary McDonnell and Eddie Olmos – on stage together, potentially the ONLY panel both of them will be on together. So plan accordingly.
MORE UPDATES: The only panel that William Shatner (added in August as a guest) and Leonard Nimoy will be on together is also at Friday at 10 AM – so if you are a fan of both classic Trek and Battlestar, you have a hard decision to make.