Fan convention

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.