Fans meet at big parties.
They talk about things they love. You can dress up in costumes. People play games and have fun. It is a happy time to be together.
Would you like to go?
Fans meet at big events called conventions.
They gather to talk about things they love. Some fans like science stories. Others like games or cartoons.
You can dress up in special outfits. This is called cosplay.
Some events are run by fans. Other events are big businesses. You can meet famous people there.
It is a fun way to be together.
Fans gather at big events called conventions.
People meet to talk about things they love. They might love science stories or video games. They might love cartoons or comics too.
Some events are small. Fans organize them as volunteers. Other events are big businesses. These can be held in hotels. At these events, you might meet famous people. They may sign autographs for fans.
Some fans even ask them questions using a microphone.
Many fans love cosplay. This means dressing up as a favorite character.
These outfits can be very detailed. Some fans enter a contest called a masquerade. This is a show for costumes.
Science fiction fans started this trend. They held meetings in the 1930s. Since then, many new kinds of events have grown. There are meetings for anime and for gaming. There are even meetings for My Little Pony fans. One such event is called BronyCon. It grew from 100 people to over 10,000 people!
A fan convention is a special event for people. Fans gather to talk about things they love. These events are often called "cons." They focus on specific interests like books or games. People share their passion for a certain topic. This creates a sense of togetherness among fans.
There are many ways these events work. Some are run by volunteers for no profit. These are often called grassroots events. Other conventions are run by businesses to make money. Commercial events often take place in large hotels. They might feature famous stars or performers. Fans can sometimes ask these guests questions. They might even get an autograph.
History shows us how these gatherings began. Science fiction conventions started in the late 1930s. They set the pattern for all other types. In 1939, Morojo and Forrest J Ackerman wore costumes. This happened at the First World Science Fiction Convention. This was one of the earliest examples of cosplay. Cosplay is when fans dress as characters.
Many different kinds of conventions exist today. You can find anime or gaming conventions. There are also meetings for furry fans. Some groups have their own special names. For example, My Little Pony fans are called bronies. Their first big meeting was BronyCon in 2011. It started with only 100 people in New York City. By 2015, it had over 10,000 people!
Many things helped these events grow so fast. The 1970s was a very important decade. During this time, many major events were made. The rise of superhero comics helped a lot. Television shows like Star Trek also grew. People also started using home video tapes like VHS. Later, the Internet helped fans connect even more. These tools made it easier to meet up.
A fan convention, often shortened to a "con," is a gathering for people who share a common interest. These events allow fans to participate in discussions and activities related to their favorite topics. Conventions are usually organized around specific fandoms, media franchises, or genres. They provide a space where people can connect through their shared passions. This sense of community is a central part of why these events matter to participants.
There are two main ways these events are organized and managed. Many conventions are grassroots events. These are organized by volunteer fan communities on a nonprofit basis. Other events are commercial enterprises. These are run by businesses to generate profit through ticket sales and celebrity appearances. Commercial conventions are often held in hotels and can be quite expensive. They frequently feature tight security to protect famous performers from potentially fanatic fans.
Activities at these gatherings vary depending on the type of convention. At commercial events, performers may give out autographs to fans. Some performers might even sing songs to entertain the crowd. Many conventions also feature award presentations for specific genres. For example, the Hugo Awards have been presented at Worldcon since 1953. Another popular activity is cosplay, which is the practice of dressing up as favorite characters. Some events even hold a "masquerade," which is a formal costume competition.
Science fiction conventions established the template for many modern gatherings. These early conventions emerged in the late 1930s. They focused on science fiction as a mode of literature rather than visual media. Traditional science fiction conventions do not typically include paid appearances by famous personalities. They also maintain less of a social divide between professionals and fans. From this foundation, many derivative types of conventions emerged. These include anime, gaming, filk-music, and furry conventions.
Costume wearing has a long history within these specialized groups. In 1939, Morojo and Forrest J Ackerman wore costumes at the First World Science Fiction Convention. While this was an early example of cosplay, it was not always the main focus of such events. Today, cosplay is a widespread and highly visible part of many conventions. Fans often spend a lot of time and money to assemble elaborate costumes. This practice has become a defining image of comic book and anime conventions in the media.
Specific media franchises have even created their own unique convention types. The My Little Pony fandom, also known as the brony fandom, created its own gatherings. These "brony cons" or "pony cons" began around the series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The first major event, BronyCon, was held in New York City in 2011. It initially attracted only 100 attendees. However, it grew dramatically to over 10,000 attendees in 2015 and 2019. Even though the original series ended in 2019, these conventions continue worldwide. Other examples include Treklanta for Star Trek and LeakyCon for Harry Potter.
Several historical factors caused fan conventions to expand rapidly. The number of establishments grew slightly in the 1960s and increased dramatically in the 1970s. One reason was the Silver Age of Comic Books, which saw the return of many superhero franchises. Television adaptations like Star Trek also helped drive interest. The growth of role-playing in the 1970s and 1980s also played a major role. This included tabletop, live-action, and eventually video gaming. Additionally, the rise of home taping with VHS allowed fans to watch more serials at home. Finally, the development of the Internet and computerized communication helped fans connect more easily.
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