Pandemic! At the Convention. Temple of Geek writer, Kristen Chavez, shares her first fan convention since the pandemic began, and offers tips if you decide to geek out and want to stay healthy.
For the past few years – in the before-times of the pandemic – I’ve gone to my local convention, GalaxyCon Raleigh (formerly Supercon). Smaller or regional conventions like this one may not have Hall H’s or exclusive screenings, but they offer an opportunity to meet some celebrities, connect with fellow fans, and support the fans and creators in your local community.
Of course, GalaxyCon was canceled last year during the pandemic, though organizers soon launched virtual experiences open to everyone around the country. But like other conventions, they’ve started to come back and offer in-person events.
I was a little wary to go. Though I’m fully vaccinated, there was still the rise of the Delta variant to consider, and the ease of mask mandates in my area. I still feel some guilt – however, warranted or not – in attending in the first place. But the convention had planned to limit capacity (though it was still the biggest indoor crowd I’ve been in since 2019); on the other hand, masks weren’t required. Despite that, I wanted to do my part to protect myself and others and wore a KN95 and doubled up with a Star Wars-inspired mask on top. (The double mask may have been unnecessary, but I wanted to represent my fandom!)
Aside from the worries of the pandemic – and seeing others in facemasks wouldn’t let you forget it – I did have a fun time. My friend Ashley and I were able to do some of our usual convention go-tos: photo ops, panels and of course walking the exhibition floor. I only attended one day, so we really tried to pack in a lot.
As with any convention, there was a lot of queues. One of the first things we did was to stand in line for autographs with Ashley Eckstein. There wasn’t any social distancing, and we were packed into a compact, bending line to keep most of the walkway clear. We stood for a good hour or two before finally meeting Ashley and chatting with her. We stayed masked the whole time, aside from the odd sip of water (no matter the convention, it’s important to stay hydrated!).
Later, we made our way upstairs to the main ballroom to hear her and Bret Iwan for their Voice Your Dreams event. It was a great panel, and a very positive and affirming moment for both my friend and I –as people whose lives have taken twists and turns sometimes for the better, it was great to hear the experiences of Bret and Ashley and how their own experiences and changes shaped their careers. It was advice about being open to change – change from your original expectations of what you wanted to be when you grew up – that resonated and would have been great advice to hear when I was younger. Bret in particular talked about his dreams of becoming a Disney animator – and now is the voice of Mickey Mouse, while also continuing to draw and design. For me to hear this – as someone who discovered a new field and developed new skills after college and took on a new career (and even taking on a master’s degree program!), it was very affirming to know that these two successful actors had their own divergences from their original career plans, and still thriving and finding ways to make it all come together.
We got two professional photo ops with actors, both of whom were making their GalaxyCon Raleigh debut. I had to see the voice of Ahsoka Tano again, of course, and Ashley Eckstein was just as kind and gracious as usual. She promptly asked if we wanted to do a ‘use the Force’ pose, which was actually perfect. And considering we removed our masks for the photo, it also felt like a great alternative to a closer, arms-around-everyone pose that didn’t feel quite as pandemic-friendly.
(You know what is pandemic-friendly? Getting vaccinated!)
Our second photo op of the day was with Tyler Hoechlin. I know him best as Superman from the Arrowverse, and as the voice of Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII Remake. As we stood in line, we got clear instructions that this would be a no-contact photo. This was no problem for us – it was perfectly understandable, and I appreciated that GalaxyCon seemed to make accommodations for each celebrity guest for their own comfort level. (For instance, Jodi Benson’s photo ops were no-contact and with a plexiglass barrier between her and fans.) Like Ashley’s photo, I figured we could do a pose – and if the three of us did the Superman pose, it’d be fun, cute, and easily avoid contact.
Then we got into the photo area, they put us onto one side of Tyler, and he put his arm around me. Hey, I’m not complaining.
Our day was peppered with a few other panels as well, including the latter half of Stephen Amell’s talk and a very interesting and intimate conversation on the intersection of faith and different fandoms. I hadn’t intended to stay for the entirety of that panel – I was thinking of popping into one of the mainstage ones – but I really appreciated the discussion, and the stories shared by the others in the room. It was a nice reminder of what fandom and convention does in bring fellow fans together and finding that connection, and how a regional convention can help that sort of conversation thrive in a smaller group. Also, the Faith & Fandom panel host, Hector, used clips from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender, so how could I walk away?!
We wrapped up our con with a final walk through the exhibition hall. There were fewer than usual with wider aisles (and I sad to see some of the GalaxyCon regulars were missing this year), but I was also glad to support the local vendors. So many businesses have been impacted by the pandemic, particularly small ones, and that is doubly true for the creators who have missed a year’s worth of fan conventions. I went a little over my usual budget for exhibition hall swag, but I was glad I was able to support some of these.
While I want to say it’s the first convention I’ve gone to post-pandemic, we are still very much in the midst of it. But overall, it went well. I later got a COVID test and was glad to confirm that it was negative, but I don’t see myself jumping to go again any time soon. I can only hope we’ll be in a better place next summer.
If you’re planning to go to a convention in the next year or so, there is a lot to consider. I’m happy to offer some advice from myself, as well as a few tips that I would do next time:
- Wear a mask. Make it a fandom one if you can!
As I said earlier, I took an extra precaution in being fully vaccinated and double-masking – but mostly so I could have the safety of an KN95, but dressed it up with a Star Wars themed one!
- Get a COVID test before or after.
I made sure to get a test afterwards, but it wouldn’t hurt to check ahead of time, too. I know this can be tricky, especially if your con doesn’t offer refunds or exchanges if you do test positive. I hope this is something that can change for events in the future, even beyond the coronavirus. No matter how much fun it is to go, no one wants to waste money or risk getting sick or sicker.
- Be patient. Be kind.
As with any con, you’re going to find lines. There will probably be last-minute changes or updates. There’s no need to take your frustration out on convention staff or your fellow attendees. Thankfully, I didn’t see any cases of this, but it’s always a good reminder.
- Bring water, and consider eating options.
Even outside of pandemics, food at conventions are typically disappointing and overpriced. But if you’re wary of eating in a common area with a lot of folks that will also be unmasked, it’s good to think of other options. We brought our own snacks, but our convention also had food trucks parked outside as another option. See what’s around town, and if it’s possible to easily re-enter.
5. Get your COVID-19 vaccine.
This is just good advice all around. As I said before, we’re still in the midst of the pandemic, and as cases continue to rise, the best way we can ensure that we’ll have “normal” conventions again is if more people become fully vaccinated. Since children and some immunocompromised people haven’t been able to receive one, it’s important for those who can to do their part and get their vaccine.
For more tips on and thoughts on what cosplayers should consider during the pandemic, check out Monica’s post.
