Horror convention
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Horror conventions are gatherings of the community of fans of various forms of
Anatomy of a typical horror convention
Getting started
The first morning of most conventions, the "Opening Ceremonies" are held, where organizers and marquee guests are introduced and speeches might be made. Some conventions such as
Program
Panel-led discussions, or Panels, usually fill up the daytime hours of most conventions with typically one-hour discussions of topics related to
Evening entertainment often includes a combination of official and unofficial events, including dances, formal invitational dinners, and fandom-themed room parties. A bid party is a room party held to influence the choice of the location of a future convention by advertising its advantages.
A costume contest called a masquerade is often held where persons go on stage and compete for nominal prizes based on their skill in assembling and presenting horror-inspired outfits. This is truly more a "talent show" rather than the "fancy dress ball" that the term suggests (although British fandom sometimes uses the term "fancy dress").
Specific rooms
A Dealer's or Huckster's Room is available, where merchants sell wares of interest to fans. These include books,
Many conventions have video rooms, in which genre-related audiovisual presentations take place and/or films and trailers are shown.
Ending the event
Often the "Closing Ceremonies" on the convention's last day are dispensed with entirely. This omission is because such ceremonies would logically be held after scheduled events are over, and convention members are occupied with packing up and checking out of the hotel.
Ceremony or not, a dead dog party is likely to be held. This is the traditional winding-down party where few of the attendees are likely to have huge amounts of energy. This party is an attempt to ease people back into the real world outside of convention and can be an effective method of warding off the depression, which is often associated with the end of a major event. Analogies can be drawn to the decompression parties following large events such as Burning Man.
Notable horror conventions
- Arcana
- CREEP I.E. CON
- Crypticon
- Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors
- New York City's Horror-Fi Expo
- Fantastic Fest
- HorrorConUK
- Flashback Weekend
- For the Love of Horror
- Houston Horror Film Fest[1]
- Fantasm Orlando
- Fright Night Film Fest[2][3]
- HorrorHound Weekend
- House Of Horrors[4] Oberhausen, Germany
- Monster-Mania Con
- Monsterpalooza
- Rue Morgue Festival of Fear
- ScareFest Horror & Paranormal Convention
- Shocka-Con Horror/Sci-Fi Convention[5]
- Spooky Empire
- SPOOKALA
- Tampa Bay Screams
- Texas Frightmare Weekend
- World Horror Convention
References
- ^ http://www.houstonhorrorfilmfest.com
- ^ Jeremy Sheldon HORROR HOUND Issue #40. HORROR HOUND LTD., Publishers. March/April, 2013. p.66.
- ^ Jeremy Sheldon HORROR HOUND Issue #41. HORROR HOUND LTD., Publishers. May/June, 2013. p.59.
- ^ "House Of Horrors Convention Oberhausen, Germany".
- ^ "Shocka-Con Horror/Sci-Fi Convention".
External links
- Slasher App Slasher Horror Events Calendar
- HorrorCons.com Database of past and future horror conventions
- Ominous-Events.com The Horror Fests and Cons Database
- GOBLINHAUS The GOBLINHAUS Horror & Haunted Attraction Convention Calendar
- MONSTER FEST MONSTER FEST - A FREE 1 day "mini-con"
- MONSTER BASH International Classic Horror Movie Conference
- Horror-Fi Expo 2