Fun Convention activities?

[Heath]

I go to a very small convention every year in Lake Charles called BayouCon. I've gotten to know the organizer a little and he has asked me in casual conversation if I had any ideas to make the convention better. Specifically, he's looking for activities to provide attendees an enjoyable time. There is the typical costume contest and gaming area, panel discussions, celebrity guest panel, etc. I haven't been to a lot of cons (just this BayouCon the last few years, and the recent Space City Con) and I'm not really a "group activity" type person to begin with so don't really have any ideas.

For those of you who are more experienced con attendees than I, what are some of the fun convention activities you might have taken part in or maybe at least heard about?

[Elveen]

Get as "big" a guest or guests as you can.
Be organized, easy in and easy out for everyone. Make sure your attendees can get their tickets easy. Make sure the lies are as organized as possible.

But for an attendee, most important..... guests guests guests.

[nscc]

Get as "big" a guest or guests as you can.
Be organized, easy in and easy out for everyone. Make sure your attendees can get their tickets easy. Make sure the lies are as organized as possible.

But for an attendee, most important..... guests guests guests.

Funny you were the first reply.

I have yet to be to any con... but I really like the description/pix you've posted, so I would suggest to bring out Elveen to this con!

Happy customers will be assured

[Heath]

Get as "big" a guest or guests as you can.
Be organized, easy in and easy out for everyone. Make sure your attendees can get their tickets easy. Make sure the lies are as organized as possible.

But for an attendee, most important..... guests guests guests.

Organization, in all of those areas, has always been great from my experience. My only complaint is with the guests. The first one has Richard Hatch from the original Battlestar Galactica which was awesome. After that, people I had never heard of or barely knew who they were, but they seemed to be pretty popular with other people. I guess he does as good as he can given his budget for guests (attendance is typically around 800-900 people, but I don't know how that is counted). But I do wish he could get some bigger names.

Last year his big guest was Vic Mignogna. I had never heard of him before and almost didn't go but the con has become somewhat of a traditional get-together with one of my best friends from high school so I went anyway. He's done a lot of anime voice work, and drew a lot of anime fans. Also turns out he's a huge Star Trek fan and has launched his own fan production called Star Trek Continues which everyone should check out because it's awesome. A much better production than Star Trek Phase Two, although I enjoy both. So I actually really enjoyed meeting him. I almost didn't go and it ended up being my favorite.

This year the "guests of honor" are Cliff Simon and Jeremy Inman. Cliff was on one of the Stargate shows and Jeremy is another anime voice actor. I've never heard of either of them.

In addition, he usually has some other people like Larry Nemecek (who any Star Trek fan should know of). Plus a bunch of local (or somewhat local) authors, artists, etc.


Some suggestions I had were screenings of cult classic films like Rocky Horror Picture Show and a late-night dance with a DJ or band and perhaps have alcohol available.

[Beware Cyclops]

... Make sure the lies are as organized as possible....

There's nothing i hate more than an unorganized lie.

[Elveen]

... Make sure the lies are as organized as possible....

There's nothing i hate more than an unorganized lie.

Elveen =

[Jace]

Gotta agree with my boy Elveen, guests, guests, guests ... I will go out of my way to go to any con that has an artist or artists that don't attend cons regularly. Also if they are so popular at the big cons that they are swamped then catching them at a smaller less crowded con is ideal. George Perez at the Sacramento Con this last year is a great example, even though I wasn't able to go because of work. His SDCC line was fairly lengthy, but the wait was much less so at SAC Con or so I heard.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Definitely guests, that's my main reason for going. Not the tv guests, but the comic artists, I'm a huge fan of getting sketches.
Also, cosplay. They should encourage it, as it just brightens up the whole atmosphere of the place. Maybe a cosplay contest at night?
Exclusives, if that's something the promoter can afford might also be a draw. Or, a screening of a hard to find movie, and panels are good too. Hope that really broad scope of things helps!

[Blood of Heroes]

I usually only go to a con if there is a VEI presence.
Just sayin'