Hate long lines? Do not go to Fan Expo. Hate congested atmospheres? Do not go to Fan Expo. Hate spending a lot of money? Do not go to Fan Expo. Hate being overwhelmed with so much to do with no idea where to start? Do not go to Fan Expo. However, if you are someone with an interest in any or all things related to geek culture, then Fan Expo Toronto is certainly the place to be on that fateful Summer-concluding weekend.
This year marked the 19th anniversary of the convention, an event that boasts the largest gathering in the country of comics, gaming, horror, sci-fi, anime, and more recently, sports. This year also marked a record-breaking turnout with over 100,000 guests attending throughout the entire four-day weekend. And most importantly, this year marked the first time I had attended any sort of convention myself, and boy did I have a riot.
Prior to the weekend, I was warned about conventions. “Go early”, they said. “Plan your day”, they said. “Make sure you dress up”, they said. “Be prepared to spend a lot of money”, they said. To anyone contemplating going to a convention for the first time in the near future, I recommend that you listen to these wise words. While I have dealt with many long lines and large crowds at music festivals, theme parks and such, there’s nothing quite like a geek line. These people will sometimes camp out overnight if need be. When it comes to this kind of thing, there will always be people in front of you. Going early is a must if you intend on beating the rush and participating in as much as possible while avoiding extended waits.
Plan your day. There is so much to do and so much to see, that it is impossible to get to everything, especially in one day. Meticulously analyze the schedule, as well as the floorplan, and compose an itinerary for your Fan Expo adventure. Even just knowing the times and locations of the specific things that interest you is a significant help. Trust me, you will not regret it. The numerous panels throughout the weekend can be incredibly interesting, but keep in mind that they take up quite a bit of time out of an already hectic day. Also, be wary when incorporating wait times, especially if you plan on meeting any celebrities.
In terms of dressing up, or “cosplaying” as most would call it, I’m not sure if Fan Expo would have been quite as fun without it. There’s a certain charm to walking around like an attraction, and being stopped every so often to be flattered with compliments and pictures. Even to behold the amazing costumes people have come up with all around you – it’s like Halloween all over again! My brother and I dressed up as Moonlight Knight and Tuxedo Mask, respectively; much of the fangirl attention we received was extremely adorable and passionate, and altogether an endearing contribution to making Fan Expo an actively engaging event. It was also entertaining to vigilantly be on the lookout for any Sailor Scouts to take pictures with.
Memorabilia at Fan Expo is not necessarily pricey, but you will likely find so much neat stuff that you want to buy, it adds up quickly. From Keyblades, to Master Swords, to toys, posters, and comics, Fan Expo has all of your bases covered. Browsing through the Artist’s Alley will take enough of a toll on your wallet – it’s like walking through an art gallery where everything is on sale. The prints you can purchase are beautiful, and what seals the deal is the fact that the artists are right there for you to meet and have sign their work. Keep in mind that cash is crucial here, and that ATM lines can be very long, so keep a bunch on you! It’s also smart to bring snacks and beverages to the convention, as refreshments can be expensive and you may want to nourish yourself while waiting in line. I was lucky enough to meet Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor from the Terminator franchise), Veronica Taylor (the voice of Ash Ketchum from Pokémon and by far the sweetest woman I’ve ever met), and Toby Proctor (the voice of Tuxedo Mask/Moonlight Knight from Sailor Moon), so most of my money went into getting photos/autographs from them.
Fan Expo exceeded all of my expectations. I assumed that going on the Saturday (advertised as the busiest day) was going to result in absolute chaos, but I was wrong. The energy at Fan Expo is not a chaotic energy, but a pleasant and positive energy, teeming with nostalgia. From my experience, everyone was extremely nice and respectful. It felt like one of the few places where one could flaunt their guilty pleasures proudly and not feel judged. Everyone was there to share and indulge in the things they loved, and ultimately to just have a good time – camaraderie at it’s finest. This was my first convention and definitely not my last. You can bet that you’ll find me there next year, costume and all!