So what is a WorldCon like? Let me tell you my experience with Renovations WorldCon, my first ever WorldCon.
Registration for WorldCon opens up the day before the events start, allowing the early birds to get their badges and programs. Which is good when you don’t know what it is you want to see. Limited programming is available (mostly anime and movies / t.v. shorts) before the 3:00 p.m. grand opening ceremony, which is when everything really kicks off.
The panels are many and varied, including Literary Beer and Kaffeklatches with various industry professionals. One hotel is designated the party hotel (usually the offical Con hotel) wherein there are many public parties, such as one for next year’s WorldCon, book launch parties, and fan get-togethers. There are also private industry parties held to which one needs an explicit or implicit invite to get into.
Starting the first official day of the con, two newsletters are printed: one in the morning, one in the afternoon. The newsletters contain vital information like programming changes, a convention center map, information on local eateries and activities. It also contains overheard quotes, news that the attendees / industry people want to share, and interviews with various Guests of Honor. Picking up the newsletter is highly recommended as it is the mass broadcast vehicle used by con officials.
The Con Suite, open quite late and quite early (but not 24 hours), has water, soda, and treats available for the tired attendee, as well as a recharging station for laptops. In the evenings, various activities are presented in the Con Suite which give some interesting entertainment for those not interested in the various balls or other parties.
Every morning is a Stroll with the Stars (not a march, not a power walk, a *stroll*) for an hour in which fans can meet and hob nob with their favorite industry professionals. It’s also a good bit of exercise.
Oh, and least I forget, there’s the WorldCon formula. 6-2-1. 6 hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower daily. It’s a good formula presented in the first issue of the WorldCon newsletter. Why do they publish it? Because too many people try to do too much without eating or sleeping or showering, and not only can they make themselves sick, but they can get other people sick too. Good hygiene is a must at a con, and so is the adage that you take care of yourself. Yes, you may miss a panel or something you really wanted to go to, but it’s better to take care of yourself than to end up in the hospital.
For those who have never attended a WorldCon, I highly recommend making your plans the first day you get there, including when you’re going to eat and sleep. Yes, it’s fun to stay up at all hours of the night, but it will cause you issues if you try to power through the Con. Not to mention that a lot of people get rude and inconsiderate when they’re tired. And by the end of WorldCon, you will be tired, even if you do follow the formula.
When ChiCon comes around next year, remember to take your time. Enjoy yourself by all means, but also make sure you’re well rested. You won’t have nearly as much fun if you’re too tired to take it all in. In the meantime, I ended up with an incredible idea fo the IAMTW newsletter (and possibly the SFWA Bulletin) from one of the classes I attended. I can’t wait until I’m awake enough to type it all up.
