Susan’s Guide to Con Etiquette

I’ve only been to a few cons so far, but I’ve noticed some things consistent between all of them. The vast majority of congoers are polite and amazing people, but there are a few that make things uncomfortable for the guests and the rest of us. Luckily, there are easy rules that make the cons better for everyone!



This list is specific to Creation’s Supernatural conventions in the US and Canada, but I think there’s a few things that are widely applicable.

Registration/Vendor’s Room/General Con Areas

Be nice to volunteers. They’re fellow fans and working long hours. If they’re not stationed in the main hall, they may miss all the panels. Thank them from time to time. Plus, if you make friends with them, you learn tricks to make your own con experience better!



People line up for everything : seats in the con hall, karaoke, the SNS concert. If you don’t see a line at the door close to a large event, look around. A volunteer has probably moved the line to keep it from blocking traffic or vendor tables.



: seats in the con hall, karaoke, the SNS concert. If you don’t see a line at the door close to a large event, look around. A volunteer has probably moved the line to keep it from blocking traffic or vendor tables. Follow general line etiquette – don’t try to cut. If you’re waiting in line, try to have most of your group there for the whole wait. Sure, people need to leave – bathroom or trash can or change of clothes or food run or something – but if one person is holding a spot in line for five, the people behind you are gonna be pissed when the whole group shows up ten minutes before doors open.



Some Creation rules are broken in every convention; the “no video cameras” rule is a major example. Pay attention and learn which ones are being broken at your con. If a volunteer tells you a rule is being followed that you’re used to breaking, explain yourself politely and be prepared to back down if they still stick to the rule. They’ve got a boss to answer to and each con is different!



Don’t be an elitist fan. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been to 100 cons and have coughed up the money for gold each time, or if you’ve been a fan of Supernatural since you were five - you aren’t any better than the person who discovered the show five months ago and decided to try out a single day at their first convention. Introduce newbies to the fandom, help them celebrate their fannishness, but remember that a single bad encounter with an elitist fan can sour a person on fandom forever. Act like the SPN family we’re meant to be!



Main Convention Hall

Don’t be THAT person. Don’t shriek out things to the guests during panels. It’s a distraction and an irritant.



person. Don’t shriek out things to the guests during panels. It’s a distraction and an irritant. Don’t overly-sexualize the guests. Sure, we do it here on tumblr and with our friends – we all have our fictional boy/girlfriends – the con is not the place for it, however! There are times the guests might overhear you and they often have friends and family that come to cons, too. It’s uncomfortable for people that might overhear you!



On the other extreme, don’t trash-talk guests you don’t like. Again, they have family and friends who come, and it’s guaranteed that there are people who attend the con just to see that person you hate. It’s okay to not like a guest or to not like them as much as other guests, but don’t be mean about it. Talk about all the guests the way you want to hear people talk about your fave.



to see that person you hate. It’s okay to not like a guest or to not like them as much as other guests, but don’t be mean about it. Talk about all the guests the way you want to hear people talk about your fave. Some guests wander the aisles. If they’ve got their hands out to do high-fives, then go for it. Do your thing. Never wash your hand again. If they aren’t offering high-fives, don’t beg for one.



Or a hug.



Don’t beg for stuff from the actors/actresses in general.



If it’s your first time at a con or seeing a certain guest, take advantage of the many past panels on YouTube. Some of the guests are quirky and it’s good to be prepared. Sebastian Roche will do his damndest not to answer more than his two contractual questions. Mark Sheppard sasses and bullies question-askers and rarely fully answers questions. Kim Rhodes and Briana Buckmaster curse and will give you TMI. (That is not a complete list of quirks, so don’t hold me to it.) You don’t have to be unpleasantly surprised about these things!



There are questions that you just shouldn’t ask.



ask. Don’t bait actors/actresses with ship-related questions. For the love of God, don’t ask them if they dig Elvis. (There are exceptions here. Kim ships Jody with everyone and will discuss it. Richard Speight, Jr, teases us with Sabriel-related answers. For the rest of them, I’ve heard ships mentioned, but let the guest be the one who brings it up!)



Don’t ask questions that get asked every single con – another time YouTube is your friend! (Personal exception: always ask Richard and Rob Benedict to imitate each other. That never gets old!)



Questions like “What’s it like working with ____?“ and “What pranks did ____ pull on you?” are doubly irritating. Guests get asked these about J2 all the time, but it also takes the focus of their panel away from them. Phrasing it like “What’s it like being on Supernatural?” or “Did you have any interesting experiences on set?” makes the question about that particular guest AND leaves it open for them to answer those other questions.



Photo Op Room/Other Special Situations

Thank Chris Schmelke for your picture. He’s amazing and works hard. If you can, buy the JPEG - that money goes directly to him and not Creation. It’s absolutely worth it!



Most guests are willing to try out fun and unusual photo poses! You only get a moment with the guest, so if you’ve got a fun idea that might be a bit complicated to explain, bring a reference photo or practice explaining the pose to a friend. It’s like getting your hair cut – it’s easy to describe the wrong thing!



If your pose involves touching the actor/actress, ask them if it’s okay first! You’d want a stranger to ask you that first, too.



Understand that the Saturday Night Special is a Louden Swain concert with special guests accompanying the band, not a cabaret for the guests. It’s rude to the band/guests to walk out mid-song (or to walk out of the concert after your fave has sung), and it’s rude to other audience members to talk during songs that aren’t your fave’s.



with special guests accompanying the band, not a cabaret for the guests. It’s rude to the band/guests to walk out mid-song (or to walk out of the concert after your fave has sung), and it’s rude to other audience members to talk during songs that aren’t your fave’s. Don’t get stinking drunk during karaoke – you’re crammed in with a bunch of other people and this isn’t a club. Don’t drink if you’re underage – no one wants Creation to have to tighten their rules for karaoke. If you’re touchy-feely while you’re drunk, it may pay to have a friend help police you so you don’t make the guests or the people around you uncomfortable.



If someone in front of you gets called to sing during karaoke, let them back into their spot after they’re done. Don’t crowd in and take their spot, no matter how lucrative it is - this is how people get crushed against the stage!



During karaoke, some of the guests run along the stage and high-five people. If you can reach the stage, high-five everyone. If you can’t, that sucks, but lunging forward to reach them is another way people get crushed up against the stage and hurt.



If you can, be a Friday Person. Life happens; you may have to work or you may not be able to afford the whole weekend – that’s understandable! If you can, however, be there for the whole convention, not just the day of your fave. You’re missing out on a lot of fun if you don’t show up all three days and the guests get more out of the con (and are more likely to become regular guests) if they see a full crowd all three days!



In summation, treat the guests like you’d want to be treated by a stranger. Treat the volunteers like people. During all panels, act the way you want people to act during your fave’s panel.

In even shorter summation, don’t be a dick.