An Unofficial Comprehensive Guide to BotCon

Okay, so you've decided to attend BotCon, but you probably have a lot of questions. Hopefully this article can put a few of your fears to rest and answer some of those questions. There are many elements to BotCon, including Hotels, Registration Packages, Exclusive Figures, Sales Room, Panels, etc., and we are going to examine each one in some detail.


First up, Hotels and Travel:

Depending on the location, many people choose to fly to BotCon each year, others turn it into a roadtrip. If multiple collectors from your area are planning to attend, a carpool roadtrip can save everyone some money on gasoline. If flying is your preferred mode of travel, it is a wise idea to buy plane tickets early (often before BotCon Registration opens) to get the best price.

Every year, there are several hotels (2-3) that are within a block or two (or attached to) the convention center where BotCon is held. These hotels usually offer reduced prices for the convention. BotCon.com usually provides this information after the dates and location are announced. Bear in mind, however, that these are generally 4 or 5 star hotels. Even with the BotCon discount, you are looking at approximately $150 per night. Many people choose to stay at a cheaper hotel within a short driving distance. This can save you some money on hotel costs. However, you will also have to pay for parking at the convention center each day, and that can add up. Or you could take a taxi from your hotel to the convention. The major downside to an offsite hotel is that you miss out on a lot of the room-to-room trading and general hanging out that happens during the evening and nights in various hotel rooms. It's a lot easier to stay up until three am talking TransFormers if your bed is right down the hall.


Registration Packages:

Primus Package- This package generally costs about $300 (for club members. Also, prices vary slightly from year to year) and includes the following:
Full admittance to the convention, sales room, panels, and autograph lines
Admittance to the Saturday Night Awards Dinner
Five-Figure Boxed Set
One Free Attendee Figure

Minicon Package- Can only be purchased as an add-on to a Primus Package. This package ranges in price from $80-$105, depending on the year and whether or not the person is a club member. Minicon Package includes:
Full admittance to the convention, sales room, panels, and autograph lines
Admittance to the Saturday Night Awards Dinner
No figures

Protoform Package- This package generally costs between $180-200, and includes:
Full admittance to the convention, sales room, panels, and autograph lines
No figures, no Awards Dinner

Iacon Package- This package is for NON-attendees who wish to purchase a boxed set and have it shipped to their home.

General Admission- General Admission is available for walk-ins on Saturday and Sunday ONLY. Inludes admittance to sales room, autograph lines, and panels.


Picking Up Your Package: If you are enrolled in one of the Customizing Classes, you will receive your Package on Wednesday for Early Pickup. Otherwise, you may pick up your Package (name badge, boxed set, convention comic book, etc) on Thursday evening. Times will be assigned by FunPub prior to the convention, so you will know when it is your turn to get into the first of many long lines.


Customizing Classes:

There is usually one class on Wednesday and one on Thursday. They are not included in the cost of any of the above Packages. They cost extra. You will be given one figure and the instructor will walk the class through customizing it. These classes are very small and fill up quickly. If you want to get into the class, you need to register within the first hour of Registration coming online. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these classes, you will receive your name badge, boxed set, etc, on Wednesday instead of the normal Package Pickup on Thursday night.


Exclusive Figures:

The Boxed Set- five figures in a box with certificate of authenticity. These are limited in number and available only to those who buy a Primus or Iacon Package. Primus Package holders receive them at Package Pickup along with their name badge, club comic, etc.

Loose Set- Primus and Iacon Package holders have the option to purchase an additional loose set of the figures from the boxed set. Many Primus Package holders choose to buy these to turn around and sell them to other convention goers to recoup some of the cost of their trip.

Free Attendee Figure- Each Primus Package holder receives one free figure at Package Pickup. This figure is usually a repaint of a mold used in the boxed set.

Souvenir Sets- Each year, the club provides two or three "Souvenir Sets" these are additional pairs (or trios) of exclusive figures. They usually complement the boxed set and/or a previous year's set. Souvenir Sets may be purchased from the Club Store after Package Pickup on Thursday night, or anytime throughout the convention until they sell out. If they do not sell out by the end of the con, the remainder will be sold in the Collectors' Club online store.


Speaking of the Club Store:

The Club Store opens Thursday evening after Package Pickup. Once you pick up your name badge, etc, you are free to get into the Club Store line. There is usually one line for cash and one for credit. The cash line has moved slightly faster in previous years. At the Club Store, you may purchase the Souvenir Sets, t-shirts, other TF memorabilia, other Club exclusive figures (like Astrotrain, Airrazor, Nightbeat, Punch/Counterpunch if he wasn't sold out, you get the idea). Friday evening, the Club Store booth will be dismantled and rebuilt inside the Sales Room on Saturday morning, where it will remain for the duration of the show.


The Sales Room / Dealer Room:

Primus, Minicons, and Protoforms gain admittance to the dealer room for a few hours Friday evening, and Saturday morning before General Admission opens. The dealer room usually closes at 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 3:30pm on Sunday (when the entire convention officially ends).


Panels:

Many Panels are conducted on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. These generally include a Hasbro Panel (which includes sneak peeks at future figures, you do NOT want to miss this!), an IDW panel where they talk about recent and upcoming TF comics, a videogame panel to promote and discuss the latest TF videogame.

Your convention name badge will have a complete schedule of the weekend's events on the back of it. This will become your best friend.


Autographs:

Many guests will sign autographs. These are done at certain times (see the back of your name badge for times), and it is wise to get in line early, ESPECIALLY for guests such as Peter Cullen whose line will be exceptionally lengthy. Be prepared to sit in line for an hour or two. In previous years, people have been allowed to have two items signed and a quick picture taken.


Saturday Night Awards Dinner:

For Primus and Minicons only. This is the only time that food will be provided. The type of food varies from year to year. There will be food, socializing, and a small presentation that varies from year to year. For 2010, we are being treated to the induction of the first of the TransFormers Hall of Fame. 2009 was a Stan Bush concert and sneak peek at a few scenes from "Revenge of the Fallen."

The show officially ends on Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm. Of course, many people tend to mingle, say their goodbyes, grab dinner on their way out of town, etc. BotCon is an amazing experience. Despite the exclusive figures, awesome guests, huge sales room, it is the people you meet at BotCon each year that will make it worth the trip time and time again.


Well, that's all for now. I hope this guide has answered a few questions for you.