Basic Etiquette

Other people can smell you. Please shower regularly and use deodorant.

See also: Stay Healthy

Keep moving. Con is crowded. If you stop, so do the three dozen people behind you. If you want to go into your bag, take a picture, or chat with a friend, move to the side and keep the main walkways clear. Photography is banned in many high traffic areas for this reason.

Be courteous of people with disabilities. Getting a space in a host hotel elevator is hard. Now imagine trying to get into an elevator in a wheelchair. Hallways are crowded, be aware of people who might need more space.

Ask before photographing. Some people may want to pose or adjust their costumes before photographs are taken and plastered across the internet, if they want their photo to be taken at all. Candids aren't always appreciated.

See also: Photography

Don't cut lines. Sure, lines get long. Sure, you want your buddies to sit near you. But having one person save a spot for two hours, and 10 minutes before the panel opens, eight more people join in? Not cool. If you plan on saving spots, at LEAST make it a 1:1 ratio of savers vs. cutters. The rest of the line will consider you a lot less of an asshole.

Don't touch without asking. That includes touching costumes and glomping. Just because someone is cosplaying a character you love and is doing an amazing job of it doesn't give you the right to grab pieces of their costume, or grab them during a photograph.

Drink responsibly. Most people know their limits and behave quite well, but forget the long days, added fatigue and stimuli. These things can be a factor in regards to dehydration and illness that could spoil your fun. The person behind the bar, or in charge of the room in which alcohol is served has the right to refuse service at any time for any reason.

TIP your waiter/waitress/bartender/bellhop/valet. It may be a con, but they still survive more on tips than on their wages. They do NOT get paid more just because several thousand people are at the convention center down the road.

Follow the rules. Whether it's local state/city laws or the rules within the program guide, abide by them. Especially those pertaining to weapons and safety or minimum clothing requirements. (That last bit is usually in-line with local laws regarding indecent exposure.) It is for your safety and enjoyment as well as those around you. Besides, being arrested can really kill a con experience.

Don't argue with Security. The people that run security for conventions don't make the rules, the concom does.  Security is responsible for doing what they can to protect the safety of the attendees, guests and the conventions' assets.

If you feel that security member or volunteer is behaving inappropriately, find a con staffer and discuss it calmly and rationally with them. The faster you can let con staff know something is wrong, the faster they can get the message up the chain of command to correct it. Having the name and security/volunteer group of the person-in-question is extremely helpful. Large cons like SDCC may have as many as three different security companies and several dozen departments handling volunteers to run things.

If in doubt, ask. The people running a not-for-profit/volunteer convention are some of the greatest and most helpful people I've met. They may seem flustered and rushed from time to time, but they are there to help you enjoy YOUR convention. If you have a valid question, they can find the answer for you, or even better, direct you to someone who does.

Panel Etiquette. This goes for both panelists and the members of the audience.

• If you are on a panel you are obligated to prepare for it. This goes doubly for panel moderators.
• Stay on topic. (This goes regardless of if you're a panelist or an audience member asking questions.)
• Do not insult the panelists.
• Panelists, do not insult the audience.
• Try to be on time, or enter/leave quietly.
• If you think you might need or want to leave the panel early, please sit in the back.
• Silence your cellphone/DS/PSP/etc. If it rings (or otherwise makes noise), turn it off. If you must answer it, leave the room.
• If you are using your mobile device/laptop/etc to tweet, take notes, live-blog, or other relevant activity, try to be sensitive to others about it (in a darkened audience, sit in the back --screen glow is a bitch).
• Do not listen to your iPod. Do not play your DS/PSP/etc. If you don't want to be at a panel, leave and make space for someone who wants to be there.
• Do not fall asleep. If you are about to fall asleep, go to your room or the Con Suite. (Note: Medical conditions are the exception.)
• Come prepared with questions. The panelists will be thrilled.
• It's rude as an audience member to interrupt panelists. Raise your hand.
• Do not raise your hand and keep it up for twenty minutes (starting before the panelists have even introduced themselves).
• Don’t waste time on trivial comments. If you’re at the panel, it’s safe to say that <insert-big-guest-name-here> assumes you’re a fan, so keep your comments about how much you think <insert-fandom/actor/writer/artist/etc-here> is the best thing since sliced bread to a bare minimum and get on with your question (you're cutting into other attendees' question time).
• Don’t waste your question on something you know they won’t be able to answer. These people are usually contractually obligated to not give out spoilers. No amount of cute comments/begging/insults will change that.
• Don’t ask if you can go up and physically touch the cast. We get it. You love them. That's why you're there, but come on people, think rationally, that sort of request is just creepy.
• Respect moderator requests to move on, especially if you have brought up an adult issue during an all ages panel, something illegal, or something which, while legal, might be an extremely triggering topic for the panelists.

A general tip for all convention situations. Laws, common courtesy, responsible actions and behavior do not end when you walk through the doors of the convention.

Useful Links

Cosplay Etiquette [girlsentertainmentnetwork.com]

Presenting Sid's convention guidelines [neoengel.com]

Lycorne's Convention Tips, Tricks, and Conduct [lycorne.livejournal.com]