So before we start, it's important that we answer some basic questions in case you aren't sure of certain things before we handle the specifics.

What ARE "cons"?
Cons, short for conventions, are themed events in which people with the same general interests come together in big rooms and talk about stuff. There are business conventions, car conventions, but most importantly, gaming conventions. These generally last for multiple days and con attendees can be seen within a two mile radius of the convention center.

What is typically at a gaming convention?
Besides a butt load of people, there are always a lot of booths. They act as small shops and typically sell art, merch, collectibles, cosplay props, food (mostly from japan), and all kinds of other geeky things. There are also a lot of panels, which can include q+a's with a show's cast or a discussion panel about a certain topic. Some of my favorites are panels that make a themed game exclusively for con attendees or those that have the audience interacting. You can also find gaming rooms and a couple outdoor activities like a zombie hunt as well as places to get autographs with celebrities.

What is Cosplaying and is it required to get into a convention?
Cosplaying is when you dress up as a character from a TV show, movie, video game, anime, etc. and you create the costume yourself. There is emphasis on creating the costume yourself because it shows that you are dedicated and that you genuinely  like to participate in conventions. However, there is no reason to be upset if your cosplay isn't as good as some you have seen because the people attending will still appreciate your effort and it shows that you tried. Your cosplays will begin to look better as you continue to make them. On a side note, you do not have to cosplay in order to attend a convention as a lot of volunteer workers wear normal clothes and some people just come with their friends/children or to just look around. Some may even come as escorts to help those who has very large pieces to their cosplay (wings, armor,etc.).

Are people at conventions nice?
Of course! A lot of people have the belief that cosplayers are creeps or that they are anti-social, but most of them are very kind and are insanely easy to talk to. Since many people are kind of introverted, they are not nearly as intimidating as they seem. I have hung out with groups of complete strangers for hours and we had so much fun. Another thing to know is that a lot of cosplayers are into theatre as well, and use their experience of making props/set pieces to make their costumes.

Are there any unspoken rules to conventions?
Yes, and these mostly have to do with respect and kindness.

1. If you decide to cosplay, try to make as much of it by hand as possible.  This doesn't mean that you have to hand make the clothing, but more so that you shouldn't just buy the costume online. Repurpose old clothes and random junk in your house and make it into a costume. These type of costumes tend to look better anyway.

2. Do not make fun of someone's cosplay or point out the cosplay's imperfections in a way that hurts their feelings. This includes quality, makeup job, or racial, size, or gender-based errors. Conventions allow for people to express their love for a character without judgement, so it is inconsiderate to point out things that a person can't control or fix immediately. Either give constructive criticism (compliment, future improvement, closing compliment) or follow the 5-minute rule (If they can't fix it in five minutes, do not mention it).

3. Don't be too obnoxious with your cosplay.  Although you are playing a character, don't get too in their face without permission.

4. Do not take/post pictures of someone's cosplay without their permission.  Although taking pictures with people is accepted, please respect their wishes and ask beforehand.

Now that you know the basics, we will now start to cover the specific aspects of conventions and cosplaying. If you have additional questions, please let me know in the comments.