Captain N said:
I'd like a fan's account on the matter: What can I expect? What exactly happens?
Last month's con was my first. I'll describe it for you.
There were the advertised features:
-Plenty of DVD and manga merchants, often featuring special offers,
-All sorts of merchandise,
-gaming exhibits,
-flyers,
-DDR and Street Fighter IV battles,
-Discussion panels (of varying topics),
-Special guest signings,
-The ADV raffle.
There were also a few things I did not expect to be common at conventions:
-Free hugs offered by certain cosplayers;
-The longest and most exciting queue I can remember standing in,
-People slaving away with pencils in the drawing alley,
-Talking to industry salespeople.
And a few additional quirks:
-a lack of personal space,
-sweat,
-cosplayers gleefully signing release forms for photo compilations,
-a higher density of nerds using the public transport in and around the Docklands,
-fanboys/girls abound,
-A little intimate contact being offered by a few brave attendees in the form of 'glomping'.
Basically, there's one huge hall for queueing, another even larger one full of stalls and booths. Each features either material to buy, or new things to promote and demonstrate. One wanders around at one's leisure. Food is available in the central corridor inbetween the two halls, where a convivial atmosphere seems to gather.
£10 on the door was the price this summer. I'd recommend it, simply as a means of affirming one's fandom, and also that of the UK fanbase in general.
There was a Riddler cosplayer when I went, so provided you're happy with getting your costume down to the ExCel centre, you'll fit in well. Expect photo requests if it's a good one.
Keep up with the news
here. I'm tempted to go again provided essays don't get in the way.