- Plan Your Dungeon Crawl

Plan Your Dungeon Crawl

Because the crowds at Dragon Con break new records every year, it’s worth taking an hour out of your day to sit and plan your schedule. You can always change it if something more exciting comes up. If you can do this using the online calendar and/or Dragon Con App before you get to the Convention, so much the better! If not, grab a copy of the pocket program and sit down somewhere for a few minutes (or consider doing this while you’re waiting in the registration line!) and plan out what you want to see. Any time you need to travel between hotels, particularly midday to early evening, plan on it taking anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes.

What Should I Do at the Convention?

Dragon Con literally runs 24 hours a day, from Friday through Monday. The Convention schedule is divided into different tracks, or areas of interest. Typically all events for one track are held in the same hotel, so if, for example, you are only interested in the Robotics and Maker track, then you might never leave the Sheraton hotel except in search of food. At the time of this writing there were 37 different tracks for Dragon Con. So as you can see, there is a lot to do and it’s not possible to do all of it! The most up-to-date listing of the tracks and descriptions can be found on the Dragon Con website at dragoncon.org.

In brief, here is a listing of the tracks:

Alternate History
American Sci-fi and Fantasy Media
American Sci-Fi Classics
Animation
Animé/Manga
Apocalypse Rising
Armory
BritTrack
Costuming
Electronic Frontiers
Fantasy Literature
Filk Singing
Film
Horror
Kaleidoscope
LAN Gaming
Main Programing
Paranormal
Podcasting and Media
Puppetry
Robotics and Maker Fan
Science
Science Fiction Literature
Silk Road: Asian Cinema & Culture
Skeptics
Space
Star Wars
Stargate: Multiverse
Table Top Gaming
Tolkien’s Middle-Earth
Trek Track
Urban Fantasy
Video Gaming
Whedonverse
Writers’ Track
XTrack
Young Adult Literature

In addition to tracks, there are special workshops that you can participate in for an additional fee. These tend to be run for and by professionals—for instance, there is Writer’s Two Day Intensive Workshop run by Jody Lynn Nye (who has over 40 published books and more than 120 short stories). It runs from 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Thursday and Friday. There are other workshops in subjects like Acting and Belly Dancing as well. These workshops require signing up early and planning ahead.

As if that wasn’t enough, there are quite a few special events throughout the weekend, including the Masquerade, the Awards Ceremony and banquet, the Parade, a number of dances, and more, so planning is essential if there are specific things you want to do.

Plan your schedule in such a way that you minimize the number of times you are running across downtown Atlanta. It’s August, if it’s not raining, it’s hot, and spending the weekend sweaty or falling over from heat exhaustion isn’t in anyone’s best interest! In addition to all of the programing, make some time to visit the Vendor’s Room (in the AmericasMart), the Art Show and Comic Alley, the Walk of Fame, and for the weapons enthusiasts, The Armory.

For those with smart-phones or tablets the easiest way to work out the schedule is with the Dragon Con App. This allows users to find the panels or events they are interested in and add them to a personalized calendar. The app will also pop-up reminders before a panel starts, and it allows users to rate the panel or performance so that Dragon Con knows who to bring back the next year! (Please take a moment to rate the panels; it really does make a difference.)

The next couple of sections cover large, overarching areas of the Convention that you will want to consider as you plan your weekend activities. The Vendor’s Hall has an entire chapter later in the book. Plan to spend at least a little while in each of these areas!

Walk of Fame

It’s a toss-up as to which is more popular: the Vendor’s Hall or the Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame is the area where media celebrities are clustered together to autograph photos and other memorabilia for fans. At Dragon Con, the Walk of Fame is traditionally located in the Marriott, one level down from the ground floor. (As a note, the musician tables are located in the lobby area outside the Walk of Fame. More about that later.) As you wander the Walk of Fame pondering which line to stand in, or which star to talk to, please keep a few things in mind.

Actors are people. Please treat them as such.
The vast majority of the celebrities attending do this because they love interacting with their fans.
Most actors charge for autographs and photos. They work for a living and this is part of their normal income. Walking through and gawking, however, is free (and fun!).
Everyone has bad days occasionally. Give your idol the benefit of the doubt if they don’t live up to expectations.
Some actors will allow you to take their picture, some won’t, some charge a fee for pictures (and some jump in and photobomb random people!). This is how they make their living; it is a business. Please be respectful.
Almost every celebrity will have a handler at the Convention. This is the person who makes sure the celebrity stays fed, gets places on time, and helps to manage the signing line. They also are the ones that take the money for autographs.
Please do not hand things directly to the celebrities; give them to the handler, unless they tell you otherwise. There are a number of reasons this might happen—some celebrities are germaphobes, some don’t like touching people, and it also slows the signing line down.
Think about what you want to say (if anything!) before you get up there. Unless it’s a short line, there isn’t usually much time to chat with them.
No matter how much you feel like you have connected with a celebrity in the autograph line, they are not your new best friend.
Many celebrities have autograph lines on the main Walk of Fame floor, but some are so popular that they have to be put in separate rooms to help with crowd control. Make sure you double-check where your favorites are signing!

If you would like to get your picture with one (or multiple) of the celebrities that will be attending, it’s important to note that celebrity Photo Ops are handled for Dragon Con by a third party. Access to these go on sale online in mid-June.

dragoncon.org/?q=celebrity_photo_ops

The location for photo ops moves from year to year, so please keep track of any instructions sent to you when you purchase your photo.

Wait—What about Autographs from Non-Media Celebrities? Where Can I Meet Them?

Dragon Con hosts celebrities from a lot of genres including Actors, Voice Actors, Authors, Game Designers, and a lot more. Actors and Voice Actors are in the Walk of Fame. As for the rest, get up close and personal with authors on their panels, at readings, or at Autograph Sessions. The Autograph sessions or signings happen in a designated area (it changes from year to year). Autographs in the autograph area are always free! (As opposed to the Walk of Fame, where you pay for them.) And autographs are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. There are a couple of things to remember about the Autograph Sessions:

Only bring one or two things to get signed—there is a time limit on the autograph sessions, and many guests limit what or how many items they will sign for any one attendee.
For popular authors and guests the lines form early.
Just because they are autographing things does not mean they have items at the signing table for you to purchase. To be safe, purchase it in the Vendor’s Hall in advance, or bring it with you from home.
If there isn’t a line, feel free to chat!
Some of the authors and artists also have booths in the Vendor’s Hall where you can both purchase items and get them autographed.
If you attend any of the author readings, it is usually possible to get items autographed there as well, AND you can hear what new projects the author has out!

Music to Soothe the Savage Beast

There are many, many reasons to attend Dragon Con. My personal favorite is the music. Every year Dragon Con brings in music from a variety of genres that appeal to the geek at heart. Some bands appear at Dragon Con year after year, others show up once and vanish, and yet others show up every few years to tantalize audiences with their music.

Bands that have appeared with regularity at Dragon Con for the past 15 years include Emerald Rose, Voltaire, the Brobdingnagian Bards, The CruxShadows, Tom Smith, and more. Band tables are found on the Marquis level (the first level down from the lobby) of the Marriott. They are scattered around the fountain in the center, and along the edges of the walls. Most (not all) band tables are set up from about 10:00 am to about 9:00 pm (There is no official schedule for this, some of the bands are there all night!)

The bands perform all over the Convention. There are two concourse stages—one in the Hyatt outside Hyatt’s Grand Hall, and one that changes location from year to year. The concourse stages feature live music all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. In addition to the concourse stages, bands can be found performing for the various balls, for the Steampunk Track, the Filk Track, the Tolkien Track, main stage shows, and a lot more.

A lot of people ask, what is “Filk”? Filk is fandom music created by and for the fans. Per Wikipedia, “Filk music is both a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s.” Amusingly, the name came about because of a typo at a convention in the ’60s, folk became filk, and it stuck!

At Dragon Con the Filk Track is very active, both before and during the Convention. Before the Convention you can preview the bands with the Instafilk podcast (filk.dragoncon.org), at the Convention you can attend concerts in both large and small rooms, and at the end of the night, if you still want music, attend the open filk (much like an open mic night!) and be ready to sing!

If you are a music lover, make sure and stop by the Marriott and support the bands!

Art Show Etiquette
Specialization: Art Appreciation & Culture
+2 Intelligence Rolls Involving Conversation

The Art Show at Dragon Con is located in the Hyatt Regency, Grand Hall West on the Exhibition level. It fills the need many of us have to adorn our walls with pictures of dragons, fairies, ghosts, goblins, half naked women and well-muscled barbarians. Whether you’re just browsing, or you go with the intent to buy, there are a few things to keep in mind.

The Art Show is a cool place to visit. Make some time to stop by and see all the pretty things.
Need a present for your significant other? Other than the Vendor’s Hall, this may be the best place to find it.
The Dragon Con Art Show functions as a silent auction. You bid on the pieces you want and come back at the end of the weekend to see if you won.
Do not photograph the art. Cameras are not allowed in the Art Show.
Do not touch the art hanging in the gallery. It may not be as well attached as you think.
Avoid bulky costumes in the Art Show. You don’t want to knock over a display by accident.
When talking to an artist, unless you’re Michael Whelan or the like, (look him up, you’ll thank me) don’t say “Oh, I bet I could do that!” It invalidates the hard work they put in, and is rude.
When you have the funds to buy, and you see something you like, put in a bid. You may never see that piece again, otherwise.
If you’re broke, like a good majority of us, the Art Show may have prints of the piece you like available. Check in the Print Shop next to the Art Show.
The Art Show tends to be one of the calmer places at the Convention. Please keep that in mind and act accordingly.
Frequently there are concerts and art demonstrations in the Art Show, check the schedule.
If you like a piece but cannot afford it, many of the artists are there, ask them what else they have. There might be a smaller piece you can afford, or a print.
Comic Alley is adjacent to the Art Show. You can walk easily between them.

Comic & Pop Artist Alley

Per the Dragon Con website: Dragon Con Comics & Pop Art is a celebration of comic book illustration and writing, lowbrow, pop surreal, and pop-culture inspired contemporary art.

Dragon Con brings in over 120 creators and artists every year, and provides a venue for attendees to discover new materials and chat with their favorite artists. Comic and Artist Alley is adjacent to the Art Show. Take some time to wander through and discover some new comics and artwork to add to your collection.

The Armory

The Armory is located in the Inman and Kennesaw rooms of the Hyatt Regency on the Atlanta Conference Level. It came into being in 2010 and presents an opportunity for Convention attendees to see weapons from books, movies, television, and games up close. The Armory hosts weapons ranging from historical swords and knives up to mounted machine guns. As such, the security on the Armory is 24/7 with both Dragon Con staff and members of the Atlanta Police Department. The lectures that the Armory hosts are frequently standing room only. As a note: If you are wearing a costume that includes any sort of weapons (fake, peace tied, or real) you will not be allowed into the Armory. Plan on leaving those items in your room or with a friend.

The Armory, along with the Palmetto Knights hosts a full contact sword and armor tourney that goes on Saturday and Sunday at the Convention. Registration is free, and is handled via an event posted to the Palmetto Knights Facebook page. facebook.com/palmettoknightshsct.

Rules for the tournament are also posted in the Facebook event. Sign-ups for fights may be available at the Convention in the Armory depending on how many people sign up online. (The tournament is limited to 16 people at present, and is a single elimination event.) All armor must be inspected 2 hours prior to the event. All gear except swords must be provided by the individual. Please contact the Palmetto Knights via Facebook or at palmettoknights@gmail.com for exact details.

Gaming at Dragon Con

Gaming at Dragon Con is one of the things that, if you want to participate, it’s worth planning ahead. There are role playing games, board games, video games, card games, and LARPs (and probably more than that!) For many of the games that require a Game Master there is a small fee to participate ($3–10 per game). There are also new game demos, and a board game library where you can check-out games to try out. Bring a group of your friends and see what’s new!

If there is a particular game you want to try, make sure to sign up early. (Signups are online at gaming.dragoncon.org.) RPGs and Tournament games fill up fast. There is usually a Magic the Gathering tournament or two every year, as well. It is possible to join pick-up games, if you have time to hang out in the gaming room for a while. Pick-up games are when a few people get together and need one or two more players to round out the set and ask the room at large, or wait for someone to wander by and look interested.

To see the schedule of games and to register, keep an eye on the Dragon Con gaming site at gaming.dragoncon.org.

There is also a Yahoo Dragon Con Gaming announcement list. They send out information on pre-registration deadlines, major schedule changes, etc. The link for that is also on the Dragon Con gaming website.

The Parade

The Dragon Con Parade is an annual event. It usually happens around 10:00 am on the Saturday of the Convention. The Parade covers about four blocks of Atlanta, and traditionally comes down Peachtree Street, turns the corner at the Hard Rock Café, and continues up Peachtree Center Avenue, between the Hyatt and the Marriott. (Yes, there are a lot of Peachtree streets in Atlanta) It features cosplayers, decorated cars (frequently you’ll see the Batmobile and the Ghostbusters Car) the 501st Battalion, and many more groups. Spots to watch the parade along the parade route fill up very quickly, and the balconies overlooking the parade route are prime spots to watch it in comfort. If you don’t want to brave the heat, the Parade is also broadcast on Dragon Con TV, and you can watch from the comfort of the hotel.

Registration to walk in the Parade closes very early. (As an example, in 2015 Parade registration was closed and full by April 13th). The Parade also has a Facebook page facebook.com/groups/dragonconparade, and a twitter account @Dragonconparade where you can get the most up to date information!

Tips for Getting around the Convention

Now that you’ve decided what you want to do, here are a few tips for actually getting to your events!

Don’t plan back-to-back events unless they are in the same room or immediately adjacent to one another. It can take 15 to 45 minutes to get around within the Convention.
The Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott Marquis all have what are affectionately termed habit-trails, much like those used for hamsters. These connect the three hotels and also connect to the food court at Peachtree Center. Avoid using them during peak times, as they become extremely congested. (If you don’t do well in enclosed spaces, definitely avoid them!) If you are physically able, use the stairs and travel between the hotels outside—it’s much quicker that way, and much less crowded.
If you are in one of the habit-trails and someone in a wheelchair, on crutches, or with a walker is trying to get through, get out of the way. They have the right of way.
Particularly in the Hyatt and the Marriott, if you need to get somewhere on the first three floors of the hotel, take the stairs or the escalators. Avoid the elevators if you can.
If you can’t avoid the elevator—the rule of thumb is, what goes up must come down. If the door opens, get on it. Some of the hotels try to help with the elevator problem, and elevators only stop on specified floors. This does make them less congested, BUT make sure to keep a close eye, or you won’t get to the floor you need.
In the Hyatt, if you need to get between the International Tower North and the International Tower South during peak times, the quickest way is to go all the way down to the lowest basement level and make your way through the warren of rooms. Be advised, it IS a maze down there, and you might get lost the first time. Just ask and someone will direct you, or enjoy getting lost and discovering all of the nooks and crannies of the Convention. (For the Dungeons & Dragons crowd, think of it as your own personal dungeon crawl.) This area is another good place to go if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the crowds and you need to find a quiet moment nearly to yourself. (The Sheraton and the Westin also tend to be quieter hotels if you need to escape the crush of people.)

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