Hello darlings!
I thought I had finished with my Convention Survival series, but I went to Comicon this weekend and realized I'd missed a very important thing: panel etiquette.
I attended a lot of panels this year, and while it was generally a positive experience, it only takes one rotten apple to spoil a whole bin, and so I felt the need to add one more article.
Panels are one of my favorite parts of a convention. They're a great way to learn about something new, and if you host a panel, it's a great way to teach someone about something you love. :)
Things to keep in mind for when you attend a panel:
Arrive a few minutes early. This will give you time to not only find the building if it's a venue you aren't familiar with, but also to find a seat and get settled in before the panel begins. I usually give myself between 15 and 30 minutes, longer if the panel is a popular one and I know it will be packed. Seats can fill quickly and many venues prohibit you from standing in/blocking the walkways because of fire codes. Make sure you don't get stuck and miss the panel!
Bring a notebook and pen to take notes, if applicable. I like to attend costuming and cosplay panels, or panels that are more informational/lecture formatted. I always bring a notebook and take notes, because I know I will never remember everything, there's too much to do at a con to keep it all straight in my head. :P I take detailed notes and review them the week after the con, when I've recovered and my head is fresh.
Practice common courtesy. Do not speak when a panel host/lecturer is speaking. It's incredibly rude and also distracting to the people around you who are trying to listen to the panel presentation. Be polite. If you want/need to talk, leave the room quietly.
Turn off your phone! Beeping and ringing cell phones are just as distracting to the people who talk during a presentation and it is disrespectful to the panel host. Put it on vibrate or silent mode, or simply turn it off.
Try not to leave the panel before it ends. It's distracting to other attendees and not exactly polite. However, things happen, and if an emergency comes up and you must leave, do so quietly. Try to wait until there's a pause in the presentation to leave, if you can.
Do not block walkways or seats with your cosplay props. This is especially important if the panel attendance is maxed out. Taking up a whole seat with your prop is rude if the panel is crowded and other attendees are looking for a seat and blocking the walkway/aisle is often a violation of local fire codes, so security won't allow it. Most rooms have a place for you to put your prop if you can't tuck it in a bag or under your seat.
Do not let your children run around the panel room unsupervised. Let me preface this by saying I think it is AWESOME when parents bring their kids to cons, especially when the kids cosplay too! Cons are tons of fun for kids, and more and more cons are offering activities for kids. Or perhaps you can't get ahold of the sitter because they're cramming for finals or something. Life happens. But unfortunately unruly kids can ruin a panel for everyone. Not only is it rude, it is dangerous. Children running around making noise during a presentation is distracting to attendees, disrespectful to the panel hosts, and in a split second your child can run out the door and vanish, especially at larger conventions. A couple of my friends bring their kids to cons and they make sure that they pack snacks and activities for them to keep them occupied(charged DSs and coloring books are favorites). As is the norm for parents, stuff happens: If you have a fussy baby or a kid who is just not having it and is tired and/or wanting to throw a tantrum, PLEASE take them outside to calm them down or deal with the tantrum.
Do not use a panel as a rest stop. This might seem like an odd one, but it happens, and it is perhaps the most disrespectful, rude, and low-class behavior you can exhibit at a con. I rank it on the same level as people who photograph cosplayers without permission, or creeps who don't understand cosplay is not consent.
I was at a panel at Phoenix Comicon when a couple came into the panel halfway through the presentation. They spent most of their time loudly flipping through the program and discussing other panels/events to attend during the presentation! Several of us had to change seats so we could continue to hear the panel and we shot some angry glares their way. If you attend a panel, do so because you are genuinely interested in the panel. If you need a place to stop, get your bearings, and plan your day, do it elsewhere.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments. As always, stay fabulous!
-Vik
