The self-proclaimed largest multimedia convention in the universe.
The past three years at Dragon Con has taught me a few unwavering facts about Atlanta’s massive convention:
- Get in whatever elevator you see, even if you have to go up to go down (which is generally the case).
- There is always free food, water, and a place to sit in the safe haven known as the “Con Suite,” located on the 2nd floor of the Hyatt.
- Always stock up on Emergen-C and Pedialyte, because no amount of partying is worth catching the nefarious con crud.
While being prepared is the key to surviving your time at Dragon Con, it’s nearly impossible to have a terrible time at this Atlanta-based convention as long as a mere 5% of your genetic makeup includes enjoyment through socialization and partying with new and old friends.
With an attendance of over 80,000+, my weekend at Dragon Con was just as provocative as any previous year. I planned on cosplaying, a term for dressing up as one’s favorite video game characters, seeing all my friends from across the globe, and cultivating those friendships with both great food and a great deal of alcohol.
I brought three brand new cosplays for each main day—Elementalist Lux from the popular MOBA League of Legends, a Demon Hunter from Blilzzard’s Diablo, and a Marvel mashup called Anti Gwenom, which featured a spider suit designed by Brandon Gilbert based on artwork by Jamie Tyndall.
A Day in the Life….
Each day played out generally the same way. It started by waking up around 1-2 p.m. from staying up way too late the night before. After spending about an hour on social media, allowing the glowing, cool light from our cell phones to wake us up from the festivities of the night before. Once the members of my room were awake, a quick trip to the Con Suite was in order for food and coffee—both necessary components of returning back to our human form. This marked the point when the day really started, when it was time to suit up in whatever costume we had brought for the day.
Without fail, I made my way (usually stumbling) to the large archway outside the Hyatt Regency. There I could find most of my friends where we spent most of the precious daylight catching up about daily life and showing off our newest cosplay creations.
At a certain point in the day, around 6 or 7 p.m., we would all realize at once that it had been far too long since we had eaten and it was time to recharge. If the need for sustenance was urgent, I would just run over to the food court next to the Hyatt and grab something as quickly as possible, as to avoid the plague known as “Hangry.” However, if we had time to call an uber, a trip to a local sushi shop, a Japanese restaurant, or a friend’s speakeasy was in order. This phase of the day might be my favorite part of Dragon Con. This is the part when we’ve conquered the day in our costume-of-choice. We’re all feeling accomplished and proud of what we’ve created and now we’re all sitting down together to enjoy each other’s company and eat whatever delicious meal we’ve come across. It’s possibly the most satisfactory part of the convention for me.
Later, once we’ve gone back to the room to let our stomachs settle, and maybe take a short nap or two, it’s time to face off against Dragon Con’s most infamous enemy—the Marriot lobby. This is where the craziest of Dragon Con stories are born, where nothing matters except friendship, laughing, and enjoying yourself. Once you get past the wall of sweaty bodies, and the unmistakable odor of too many people in a small amount of space, this is most euphoric part of the show. Memories are conceived, friendships are strengthened and forged, and this is when you realize, as a cosplayer, that every painful and frustrating moment of crafting and wearing your cosplay during the day was absolutely worth it.
As I sit in the Uber on the way to the airport, I can’t help but feel torn. On one hand, I can’t wait to lay down in my own bed after an exhausting weekend. At the same time, however, I am sad to leave such a magical place, filled with friends and accomplishments, behind. Until next year, Dragon Con!
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