A long time ago in this very galaxy, geeks were the butt of many a cruel joke.
We were dismissed as a sad little subculture, ridiculed for our superhero t-shirts, comic book collections, and Vulcan salutes. To be a geek was to exist as the polar opposite of cool.
But times have changed. Geeks – people who are next-level passionate about a franchise, genre, or niche form of entertainment – are a powerful force in the showbiz galaxy.
We’re the reason superhero movies generate boatloads of money. We’re the reason that types of shows that were once considered too niche for primetime – shows like Arrow, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones – are now some of the biggest hits on television.
In this current climate, geeks are tastemakers of cool. Who'd have thunk it?
Not I. For much of my life, I was a self-hating geek. I nursed my geeky passions – Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X-Men – in silence. My collectibles remained NRFB and MOC in my storage space, away from prying eyes. I was terrified of scorn.
But I experienced a paradigm shift in 2012, when I attended the first-ever Fan Expo Vancouver. It was there among the cosplaying masses, energy and passion crackling in the air, that I found my geeky pride.
Fan Expo returns for its fourth edition on Easter weekend. If this year’s event is anything like the previous three incarnations, tens of thousands of Vancouverites will converge to celebrate their zeal for anime, manga, comics, sci-fi, gaming, fantasy, and horror – and it will be gloriously geeky.
For the first-timer, Fan Expo can be dizzying: waves of costumed fans; hundreds of booths selling Star Wars chachkas, rare comic books, and branded t-shirts as far as ye olde eye can see; and opportunities to meet and greet with some the biggest names in geek entertainment.
If you’re itching to wade into the Fan Expo fray, I’ve got you covered with these tips (many of which I learned the hard way):
Bring cash
Don’t expect vendors to accept credit or debit cards as payment. Many won’t be able to take any currency other than cold, hard cash (so keep those Imperial credits in your underwear drawer). Making the wrong choice could spell the difference between buying that vintage 1983 Jabba the Hutt playset you always wanted, and leaving Fan Expo the saddest geek in the world.
Bring lots of cash
If signed 8x10s are your bag, you’re going to need a lot of dough. Many first-timers are shocked by how pricey it can be to have one of the geek celebrities sign something (even if said first-timer has brought a photo or collectible from home; you've still got to pay for the autograph). Prices vary, but don’t be surprised to shell out anywhere between $40 and $70 for an autograph. And consider setting aside some cash for protective plastic covers, too (usually for sale between $5 and $10 each); you'll want to keep your signed glossies safe and smudge-free.
Patience is a virtue, young Padawan
You’re going to be standing in a lot of lines: picking up your entry tickets; waiting for autographs and photo opps; before and after panel discussions. It’s a reality of every successful fan convention on the planet, so just accept it as what it is: the perfect opportunity for people watching. And speaking of people watching…
Picture-perfect permission
It’s okay to admire someone who’s dressed up in a rad costume – and you’ll certainly be seeing plenty of rad costumes over the weekend. But it’s not cool to take someone’s picture without his or her permission (not to mention leer at, stalk, or assault anyone, like, ever). Doing otherwise is a violation of Fan Expo’s Harassment and Costume Policy. Don’t be a creep.
Weapons policy
If you're including a weapon as part of your costume, you’ll need to have it inspected at the Prop Weapon Check Desk before you can enter the main hall. Familiarize your katana- , blaster-, or wand-wielding self with Fan Expo’s Weapons Policy at fanexpovancouver.com/props-weapons-policy.
Battery power not included
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be sharing every moment of your Fan Expo experience with your out-of-town friends via social media (oh hey, follow me at @sabrinarmf!). Tweeting and Facebooking eat up a lot of battery power, and even if you’ve got your charger, electrical outlets in the Convention Centre are few and far between. I’m crazy about my portable charger, but you might want to adopt a “snap pictures now, post later” approach.
Time of the Whovian
Vancouver Whovians – that is to say, Vancouver-based fans of BBC’s long-running Doctor Who – have long bemoaned the lack of Doctor Who stars in the Fan Expo line-up. Well, Whovians, this is your year: Two Doctor Who companions – John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) – will be on hand to sign pictures, pose for snaps, and answer all of your TARDIS questions (although I’d recommend skipping, “Is it really bigger on the inside?” We already know that it is).
The icons have landed
This year's celebrity line-up is stellar: Carrie Fisher (Star Wars); William Shatner (Star Trek); Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation); Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210); Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time); Lance Henriksen (Aliens); Stephen Amell (Arrow); Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time); and a trio of actors from The Walking Dead: Chad Coleman, Scott Wilson, and Sarah Wayne Callies. There's also an abundance of impressive guests from the anime, comic book, literary, cosplaying, and animation worlds, as well as the 501st Legion in all its Star Wars costumed glory.
• Fan Expo Vancouver runs April 3-5 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
