6 Tips for Taking Your Family to a Comic Book Convention

Spring is here which means comic convention season is in full swing! Comic book conventions are one of my favorite family outings. You get to see cool collectibles, purchase incredible artwork, meet celebrities, and a whole lot more. If it’s your first time attending one, here are some useful tips to enjoy your first con as a family.

Bring Cash. Being a comic book fan at a comic book convention is like being a kid at a candy store. At every convention, there’s a huge hall of vendors who sell decades worth of collectibles. Most of the sellers only accept cash, so it’s best to come prepared. It’s also a better bargaining chip if you want one of the vendors to cut you a deal, not to mention a great tactic if you’re on a budget.

Plan Ahead. Comic book conventions often have special guests, panels, and meet and greets for fans. These are great opportunities to meet your favorite artists and celebrities or get insider news about your favorite shows or movies. These are scheduled at different time slots throughout the day so if there’s something that you don’t want to miss then make sure you plan your day ahead.

Safety System. Convention halls are big and busy. With so many people rushing around, there’s a chance that your group may split up. Employ a buddy system where adults or teens are assigned to keep an eye out for little ones. You can also assign a meet-up spot if your party separates. I recommend this tip because often times there are dead zones in a convention center, so it’s best to have a back-up plan.

Dress Up to Blend In. If you want to blend in with the crowd, you’ve got to dress up. Cosplay is the practice of costuming as a character and is one of the biggest aspects of “con” culture. Whether  you dress as a superhero or your favorite movie character, when you cosplay you’re guaranteed to have more fun. You might even get stopped to take a photo and end up as an internet star!

Don’t Eat the Convention Food. Convention food is expensive and to be honest, not all that good. In addition, the dining area usually has limited seating making it difficult to enjoy your food in peace. Since conventions are usually hosted in a major city, there are often great restaurants nearby. Take a stroll down the street or take an Uber to a restaurant with better food and better prices. Cons last all day so you won’t miss much taking an hour break to grab some good lunch.

Charge Up. Your cell phone is your friend at a comic book convention. You can use it to take photos of your favorite cosplayers or play games while you’re waiting in line to get an autograph. Since conventions are all day, it’s likely that you phone battery will not make it to the end. Luckily there are rest areas in or around the convention where you can charge your phone and rest your feet. You’ll want to make sure that you bring your phone charger so you can take advantage of this common amenity.

The last and final tip is just to have a good time! Enjoy the day with your family and share some memories with your kids about what toys and characters were popular when you were young!