What do you do at conventions/Why do you go?

[kup]

Supanova annoys me because it's so crowded and in a venue that is way too small. I only go if they have someone of interest there.

I prefer Oz ComicCon due to the larger venue that is much easier to walk around in. At Supanova you literally have to squeeze through a lot of people and that is not fun.

This year I may give it a go as Jade and Ryan from CheezTV will be there but that's about it.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I don't have a lot of real-life nerd friends so I used to drag a lot of 'regular folk' along with me each year to their beusement .

I used to go to Supernova and Armageddon in Melbourne when I lived there mainly to nerd out, pick up a few rare imported TF toys and maybe a few random other collectables, dress up in my weird costumes and have my photo taken with all the other cosplayers. I'd sometimes go to a talk or something if there was one that interested me (the creator of Invader Zim was pretty good).

Always enjoyed it. Think the only time I found anything confronting was the last time I went to Armageddon. Half the caucasian girls there seem to have gone through every comic until "Yes! That girls superhero outfit is two shoestrings and an eyepatch!" - I was too embarassed to get my photo with those ones . The asian girls always had the best anime costumes - so cool!

It's one of the few things I really miss about living in a capital city. I don't get to nerd out like that in the bush

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'm a celebrity seeker, but they'd have to be involved in something I've loved, ie Carrie Fisher, Karl Urban, David Hasselhoff and Christopher Lloyd.

Crowds don't bother me, at least they're a bunch of fellow nerds who actually are enjoying the moment and having fun, rather than a bunch of tryhard pretentious douchebags you get at music festivals.

There may be the odd bit of merchandise that catches my eye, but with my focus now on MP collecting only, I can't see myself ever blowing my cash at these events.

This year I'm interested in Supanova, Troy Baker will be in Perth and I want him to sign my Art of Mass Effect book. I can't imagine there being a ridiculous line for him. Shame Christopher Judge isn't coming to Perth, my girlfriend introduced me to Stargate and we're going through the boxset of SG-1.

[gamblor916]

I go to get stuff signed in person, usually comic books and prints. I take a day off and go Friday to get the queuing out of the way and enjoy the weekend days walking around.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Went once and absolutely hated it! Too many people and not enough things to interest me -- Transformers etc is pretty much the only kind of geeky thing I'm into.

[DaptoDog]

I've never had a lot of interest in doing Botcon, but going to San Diego Comic Con is on the bucket list. Problem is it's in July every year - wish it was on during NBA season so I can catch a few Blazers games at the same time. First world problems.

[Bladestorm]

Also not all con's are the same format.

I can't speak from recent AU cons but "back in the day" (pre-kids) I attended a couple of Trek cons and a Buffy con which were a load of fun and as Gok said you could mingle a bit with the celebs and they wanted to mingle with you - meeting other like minded people was the best bit.

I hear rumour (maybe someone can confirm) Peter Cullen gets lectured by convention organisers a bit because he like to chat with the fans and gets told to "move it along" so I imagine (if it is true) even the celebs feel a bit like a production line rather than getting to enjoy themselves and can't really connect with fans these days. I've never been to a TF con but if he ever does another one that's on my bucket list if I can manage it even if I have to queue up for hours just to say hi.

In Asia (eg Hong Kong) the con's are more about the products and the cosplay and less about the celebrities. You get famous Asian singers and the odd artist but the HK con's are booth after booth of geek and anime goodness to drool over, pre-order and dream of ever having the $$ to afford as well as lining up for convention only exclusives. Then it is about the cosplay shows, the cosplay competitions and hanging out with other cosplayers. I don't do cosplay but I really love seeing them and appreciating the effort they all put in to their costumes. It's a lot more sterile than the AU cons but I still really enjoy going along because you get to see some crazy stuff, some awesome stuff and occasionally connect with like minded fans.