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Getting Into Character

At Comic Cons across the country, fans celebrate all things pop culture!

October 16, 2017
by Jennifer Hackett

Getting a badge for a comic convention is like getting a ticket to visit all your favorite fictional worlds. As soon as you enter the convention, you might find yourself standing with Marvel and DC superheroes, magical girls from anime like Sailor Moon, and even a Disney princess or two. Fans line up early to get into panels where actors, writers, and YouTube celebrities answer questions from the serious to the very, very silly. In the Artist Alley and dealers’ rooms, artists and companies show off their wares. Be prepared to want to buy everything.  

By day I’m a Scholastic editor, but by night I’m a huge fan of everything from anime to video games—and I’ve been going to conventions for years. Fans go to conventions as a way to feel more involved in the comics, TV shows, and video games they love. Many—myself included—create elaborate costumes, or cosplays, to dress up as their favorite characters. It’s a huge thrill to walk through a convention in a costume you worked hard on and have people stop you to take your photo!

Going to a comic convention is like getting to visit all your favorite fictional worlds. As soon as you enter the convention you might be standing with superheroes, magical girls, and even a princess or two. Fans line up early to get into events called panels to hear about popular shows and movies. Actors, writers, and YouTube celebrities answer questions from the serious to the very, very silly. You can even shop in the Artist Alley and dealers’ rooms. Be prepared to want to buy everything.  

By day I’m a Scholastic editor. By night, I’m a huge fan of everything from anime to video games. I’ve been going to conventions for years. Fans go to conventions to feel more involved in the comics, TV shows, and video games they love. Many make costumes, or cosplays, to dress up as their favorite characters. It’s a huge thrill to walk through a convention in a costume you worked hard to make. Sometimes people even stop you to take your photo!

John Lamparski/Getty Images

People dressed as characters from the game Overwatch at New York Comic Con last October.

“Cosplay is a huge factor for why people love going to shows,” says Kristina Rogers, the event manager for New York Comic Con (NYCC). “It’s a way for fans to express their passion and be as geeky and fun as they want, and other fans really enjoy seeing it.”

It takes a lot of work to put on these huge events. More than 200,000 fans and between 100 and 150 celebrities will attend NYCC this year from October 5-8. That’s a big challenge for Rogers and the NYCC planning team, which is made up of only 10 people!

Many of those 200,000 will be students in middle and high school. Conventions can be especially important for young people, Rogers says. They’re a place where you can find hundreds of people who love the same things you do. “I really encourage any kid interested in geek culture to attend these shows,” she says, “because I think it’s a wonderful way for them to expand their interest and meet new friends.” 

“Cosplay is a huge factor for why people love going to shows,” says Kristina Rogers. She’s the event manager for New York Comic Con (NYCC). “It’s a way for fans to express their passion and be as geeky and fun as they want. Other fans really enjoy seeing it.”

It takes a lot of work to put on these huge events. More than 200,000 fans and between 100 and 150 celebrities will attend NYCC this year from October 5-8. That’s a big challenge for Rogers and the NYCC planning team. It’s made up of only 10 people!

Many of those 200,000 will be students in middle and high school. Conventions can be very important for young people, Rogers says. They’re a place where you can find hundreds of people who love the same things you do. “I really encourage any kid interested in geek culture to attend these shows,” she says. “I think it’s a wonderful way for them to expand their interest and meet new friends.” 

MAKING A BUDGET

Comic conventions can be expensive, so it’s important to plan ahead and create a budget for them to make sure you save enough money for all the things you want to do.

A budget is an estimate of expected income and expenses over a certain period of time. Income is money received from wages, allowances, and other sources. Expenses are money spent on products and services. 

MAKING A BUDGET

Comic conventions can be expensive, so it’s important to plan ahead and create a budget for them to make sure you save enough money for all the things you want to do.

A budget is an estimate of expected income and expenses over a certain period of time. Income is money received from wages, allowances, and other sources. Expenses are money spent on products and services. 

Use the information to complete the budget chart below and answer the questions that follow. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Use the information to complete the budget chart below and answer the questions that follow. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

You get $10 per week as an allowance. You also make $7.50 per hour tutoring. 

You get $10 per week as an allowance. You also make $7.50 per hour tutoring. 

A. What is your monthly income from allowance? Add that to the budget chart.

A. What is your monthly income from allowance? Add that to the budget chart.

B. If you tutor 2 hours each week, what is your monthly income from tutoring? Add that to the budget chart.

B. If you tutor 2 hours each week, what is your monthly income from tutoring? Add that to the budget chart.

C. Determine your monthly income and add it to the budget chart.

C. Determine your monthly income and add it to the budget chart.

Badges cost $20 on Friday, $35 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday to attend a local convention. How much is the total badge expense? Add this expense to the budget chart.

Badges cost $20 on Friday, $35 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday to attend a local convention. How much is the total badge expense? Add this expense to the budget chart.

Each autograph costs $15. If you want autographs from 3 celebrities, what is the total expense for autographs? Add this to the budget chart.

Each autograph costs $15. If you want autographs from 3 celebrities, what is the total expense for autographs? Add this to the budget chart.

You decide to buy a costume from a seamstress. She charges $25 per hour plus $50 for supplies. It takes her 2.5 hours to make it. Add your costume expenses to the budget chart.

You decide to buy a costume from a seamstress. She charges $25 per hour plus $50 for supplies. It takes her 2.5 hours to make it. Add your costume expenses to the budget chart.

You plan to spend $50 on fan merchandise in the dealers’ room and Artist Alley. Add that to the budget chart. If the convention is 4 months away, will you be able to meet your convention expenses?

You plan to spend $50 on fan merchandise in the dealers’ room and Artist Alley. Add that to the budget chart. If the convention is 4 months away, will you be able to meet your convention expenses?

What are some ways you could reduce your total convention expenses?

What are some ways you could reduce your total convention expenses?

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