1st time going to an Anime convention, need answers:)?

Question

I'm going to janicon and it will be my first convention and I'm taking a friend.The dates are nov 20th to 23rd.Here are my questions

The site doesn't say what time it starts and ends. What are the times?

What should i know about conventions, what should i expect?

Do you have to be in the contests and skits, or can you just go and have fun and hang out?

Can you do whatever you want at conventions?

How do you pay on-site? With cash?

Do you have to be a certain age to be there without parents?

And anythingelse i need to know

Answer 1

The site doesn't say what time it starts and ends. What are the times?

Usually, at all the cons I've been to, they start at 9 AM on Friday and Saturday and usually last until about 12-1 AM. On Sunday, it'll most likely start at 9 AM and end anywhere between 4:30-6 PM.

What should i know about conventions, what should i expect?

Just have fun. Don't stress about everything or you'll never have any fun. Expect to see lots and lots of otaku roaming around.

Do you have to be in the contests and skits, or can you just go and have fun and hang out?

You don't have to be in the contests, but it is something fun to do.

Can you do whatever you want at conventions?

Every con has their owns set of rules that they will expect you to follow unless you want to get your pass revoked.

How do you pay on-site? With cash?

It's easier to pay with cash (in my opinion), but I'm sure they'll take checks.

Do you have to be a certain age to be there without parents?

I don't think so. But it doesn't hurt for your parents to see what you're interested in, even though they probably won't understand it.

Answer 2

The gaming rooms list hours at 10am to 2am Friday and Saturday and then 10am to 2pm on Sunday. (Basically gaming opens every day at 10am and then closes at 2am at night except Sunday when it closes at 2pm in the afternoon.) At the very least, that's going on.

Also, if you've pre-registered online, it looks like you might be able to pick up your badge on Thursday night and still visit the game room.

At three months out, it's likely they don't have a confirmed schedule of panels and other events. Once they do, you'll have a better feel for what times you want to be there. Just because the con is open doesn't mean you have to be there. Sometimes I'll sleep in a morning of a convention rather than drag myself to the floor if there's nothing that interests me.

They don't list what forms of payment they accept at the door, but cash  is a pretty good bet anywhere.

You are allowed to do what you're interested in at the convention. There's no set schedule for what you have to do and they don't heard you from one room to another like you're in school or anything. However, you can't just do whatever - you have to still obey Florida laws as well as con policies which are listed here:

http://www.janicon.org/?page_id=35

Note they have banned laser pointers.

Their rules don't list anything about unaccompanied minors yet, but you might want to ask them directly. I suggest you use their general forum here:

http://www.janicon.org/forums/viewforum....

They can give you official answers, so it's best to take a lot of this up with them. They'll definitely be able to give you the opening hours, what forms of payment they accept and how old you have to be to attend alone.

You do not have to participate in contests or skits. Most people don't, though a lot of people will come and watch. Often times people have the most fun just hanging out too.

Answer 3

well, it depends on the convention... but most you have tobe eighteen to have parents permission. they don't have to be there, they just have to be with you when you get there.