The question came up on Twitter today: Are cons worth the time and money?
Opinionated though I am, it’s not an easy question to answer. So here’s a quickie list of the pros and cons garnered from a scarce four years of con-going experience:
Con Pros
1) Networking. I’ve met lifelong friends through Cons. I’ve also made excellent business contacts, both in the writing business and otherwise. I’ve met a lot of really excellent people.
2) Fun. If it’s a good con, and you find your groove we’re talking Disnelyand-or-better level fun, not going-to-the-movies-because-you’re-bored level fun.
3) Vacation. This is different from fun. You can have fun at home. But a vacation is a break from reality, and Cons are definitely a place where many of the normal rules of reality don’t apply (but politeness rules do still apply: don’t be an asshole). It’s good to shake up your picture of the world from time to time, and a good con will do that.
4) Education. A well-run con will have programming in which you’ll learn new skills, get exposed to new ideas, and walk away with a slightly swelled brain. From the learning, not the cocaine.
5) Writing time. I’ve finished two novels and written several short pieces at cons.
6) Sex. If you’re looking for it, you can find it.
Con Cons
1) Expensive. Anywhere from $200 to $1000 for the weekend, depending on travel, hotel, food, and how creative you are with budgeting and buddying up. That doesn’t even get in to what you can spend in the dealer’s room.
2) Culture shock. If you haven’t been to one before, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see or hear things that offend you. Your boundaries are going to get stretched too. No matter how laid back you are, someone’s gonna push your boundaries. This is more interpersonal shock than culture shock, but if you don’t enjoy personal stretching, this could be a minor negative.
3) Con Crud. You’ll get sick–cons are petri dishes. Plan a couple days for recovery. Also, you know that thing called “sleep?” You won’t get any.
4) Sex. If you’re not looking for it, it can still find you. And follow you around. And not take anything but “you’re creeping me out, go away” for an answer.
5) Bad cons. Some cons just suck. They’ve been run by the same people for too long. They’re afraid of being edgy. They’re insular. For whatever reason, they’ve lost their spark. When this happens, it’s *depressing* as well as a waste of time and money. It’s hard to know when you’re going to run into one of these, but you’ll run into ’em.
6) Con fatigue. If you love cons, you’ll go through parts of your life when all the wonderful things about cons just aren’t enough to be worth the bother. Maybe you’re a writer at a point in your career where the panels are too elementary but you’re not ready for high-level networking. Maybe you’re transitioning from fan to pro. Maybe there’s a cultural divergence, and you just don’t fit at your local con. Maybe you’ve had a death in the family and, this year, the whole thing seems stupid. Or, maybe you’ve just gotten all you can out of the con experience and it’s time to call it quits for a few years, or forever.
— — — — —
Those are the things to weigh. A great con can literally be life-changing, just by virtue of the people you meet. A bad con is just annoying and will make you feel surly and stupid. Most are somewhere in between.
Anyone have comments or opinions on cons? Chime in in the comments!
jdsawyer
After a childhood in academia, J. Daniel Sawyer declared his independence by dropping out of high school and setting off on a series of adventures in the bowels of the film industry, the venture capital culture of silicon valley, surfing safaris, bohemians, burners, historians, theologians, adventurers, climbers, drug dealers, gangbangers, and inventors before his past finally caught up to him.
Trapped in a world bookended by one wall falling in Berlin and other walls going up around suburbia and along national borders throughout the world, he rediscovered his deep love of history and, with it, and obsession with predicting the future as it grew aggressively out of the past.
To date, this obsession has yielded over thirty books and innumerable short stories, the occasional short film, nearly a dozen podcasts stretching over a decade and a half, and a career creating novels and audiobooks exploring the world through the lens of his own peculiar madness, in the depths of his own private forest in a rural exile, where he uses the quiet to write, walk on the beach, and manage a production company that brings innovative stories to the ears of audiences across the world.
For news and free stories, sign up for his occasional newsletter. Or find his contact info, podcasts, and more on his home page at http://www.jdsawyer.net
Thank you. I’m the one who asked, and Gail was kind enough to put out the call. Transitioning from fan to pro–that’s where I am, exactly. Orycon was my first con (actually, it’s the only one I go to) as a pro with a book out. This helps. 🙂
You’re most welcome. I also was at OryCon this year–spent most of it in the bar writing stories. The transition period can be pretty weird, having a foot in each world and fitting in neither.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Dan
jdsawyer
Kim— Dragon*Con terrifies me because the only con I’ve been to is Balticon and I feel so at home there and D*C is another world.
Balticon this year was my first fan convention ever. I’d avoided cons for a long time because of the various cons you list above. And the rumors of hygiene challenged con-goes that one frequently hears.
A big part of why I went was so I could meet folks I’d only met online. I was half afraid that I’d end up lampreying onto two or three people I knew and driving them nuts by being around all the time. I think I managed to avoid that. I met so many people who were so welcoming, it seemed like if I ever wanted company, all I had to do was wander around the halls a bit.
And it didn’t suck that I got to have dinner with one of the guests of honor on the first evening. 😀
I know we didn’t talk much at Balticon, but I’m glad I met you, and I hope I’ll see you again next year. This time I’ll bring my own fedora.
This is a great blog, Dan! I couldn’t agree more. Doc I think Balticon is rather special. I’m afraid is has spoiled small cons for me forever. They are all held up to it and often fail by comparison.
I am a con goer, and I also set up cons. Your right, a LOT of cons are extremely expensive, and then theres the ones (like most of the Scifi cons) that are extremely affordable. and the hygiene? *shudder* but you learn to give them a wide berth.
I to did BaltiCon this year, and it was ok, but no where NEAR a favorite. Would I do it again? maybe cuz right now its close. I much prefer ConTEXT, MarCon and AlbaCon to BaltiCon.
Now, this year I was at 23 cons, and so many offer SO much good stuff, really research the cons you are interested in. Its the only way to go to the ones that will the be the best bang for your buck.
Now, on the Con organizer side of it, I was DAMN TIRED of all the extremely expensive cons out there (Especially in romance) and that’s why I developed Authors After Dark (authorsafterdark.net). its a con that doesn’t rape you of your hard earned cash just for registration, and actually feeds you for the weekend. Consider it if your considering doing a con, because I’m a HUGE fan of fair, something that’s lacking in the industry, and AAd is all about readers.
I just went to my first con in, oh, um…a little over 30 years, back in October. 🙂 Last one was in New Jersey somewhere, and I was a starry eyed kid whose mother wanted to write, tagging along with her.
Had a good time at this one (Albacon), a small event in Albany, NY. Met lots of nice people, went to some interesting panels and some less so, but overall it was a great time and I came home with a lot of energy. I’m looking forward to hitting a couple more in 2011.
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/jdsawyer.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/jdsawyer.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Tip","payment_request_label":"","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Tip Jar","form_subtitle":"Want me to keep writing?","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":"","terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Shocked – Just SHOCKED that you didn’t title it “The Pros and Cons of… Well… Cons…”
You need to leave some room for cheese in your literary life!
In any case, I found Con Fatigue myself after DragonCon this year. 🙂
Thank you. I’m the one who asked, and Gail was kind enough to put out the call. Transitioning from fan to pro–that’s where I am, exactly. Orycon was my first con (actually, it’s the only one I go to) as a pro with a book out. This helps. 🙂
Melinsa —
You’re most welcome. I also was at OryCon this year–spent most of it in the bar writing stories. The transition period can be pretty weird, having a foot in each world and fitting in neither.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Dan
Kim— Dragon*Con terrifies me because the only con I’ve been to is Balticon and I feel so at home there and D*C is another world.
Balticon this year was my first fan convention ever. I’d avoided cons for a long time because of the various cons you list above. And the rumors of hygiene challenged con-goes that one frequently hears.
A big part of why I went was so I could meet folks I’d only met online. I was half afraid that I’d end up lampreying onto two or three people I knew and driving them nuts by being around all the time. I think I managed to avoid that. I met so many people who were so welcoming, it seemed like if I ever wanted company, all I had to do was wander around the halls a bit.
And it didn’t suck that I got to have dinner with one of the guests of honor on the first evening. 😀
I know we didn’t talk much at Balticon, but I’m glad I met you, and I hope I’ll see you again next year. This time I’ll bring my own fedora.
Doc
This is a great blog, Dan! I couldn’t agree more. Doc I think Balticon is rather special. I’m afraid is has spoiled small cons for me forever. They are all held up to it and often fail by comparison.
I am a con goer, and I also set up cons. Your right, a LOT of cons are extremely expensive, and then theres the ones (like most of the Scifi cons) that are extremely affordable. and the hygiene? *shudder* but you learn to give them a wide berth.
I to did BaltiCon this year, and it was ok, but no where NEAR a favorite. Would I do it again? maybe cuz right now its close. I much prefer ConTEXT, MarCon and AlbaCon to BaltiCon.
Now, this year I was at 23 cons, and so many offer SO much good stuff, really research the cons you are interested in. Its the only way to go to the ones that will the be the best bang for your buck.
Now, on the Con organizer side of it, I was DAMN TIRED of all the extremely expensive cons out there (Especially in romance) and that’s why I developed Authors After Dark (authorsafterdark.net). its a con that doesn’t rape you of your hard earned cash just for registration, and actually feeds you for the weekend. Consider it if your considering doing a con, because I’m a HUGE fan of fair, something that’s lacking in the industry, and AAd is all about readers.
I just went to my first con in, oh, um…a little over 30 years, back in October. 🙂 Last one was in New Jersey somewhere, and I was a starry eyed kid whose mother wanted to write, tagging along with her.
Had a good time at this one (Albacon), a small event in Albany, NY. Met lots of nice people, went to some interesting panels and some less so, but overall it was a great time and I came home with a lot of energy. I’m looking forward to hitting a couple more in 2011.