Convention terms:
Con: short for Convention
ConCom: Convention Committee, the people who organize and produce the convention
ConDom: Attending Conventions or those who attend conventions.
'nym: an alias, 'nick name' or character name. This was popularized by electronic Bulletin Boards.
FanName: same as above.
GOH: Guest of Honor. The featured guest at the convention.
Guests: The speakers or presenters of programming.
Pros: Short for Professionals. Experts in a field who have been invited by the convention. Usually the speakers at, or presenters of, programming at the convention.
Member: Someone who has paid a membership to the Convention.
PreReg: Someone who has paid their membership in advance.
Registration: The place where PreReg members pick up their badges and information packets and where people go to pay their registration at the door.
Programming: The scheduled events that take place at a con
Panel: A one or two hour discussion, workshop or lecture on a specific topic.
Persona: The character a person plays and/or dresses up as during a convention.
In Character: The act of playing a role, or the actions that affect the imaginary person or character.
Ghost: Someone wandering around the convention who has not paid a membership. They are a source of concern to Convention security. Generally they hang around the hotel lobby and halls, as no one can be admitted to Convention functions without their convention badge (as proof of membership.)
Operations / Ops / ConOps: The convention office where requests for materials are processed and emergencies are handled. Generally Convention Security is dispatched from there as well.
Video: The area set aside for viewing video tapes. Also, the channels broadcasting tapes during the convention and the listing of tapes to be shown.
Hospitality (also called Hostility): An area set aside for convention members to relax, talk and consume food and drink. Snacks and soda pop are available.
Kitty: The donation jar or dish in the hospitality suite. One is expected to make a small donation for the munchies they consume there. Hospitality is run off of these. The more donations, the more munchies.
Green Room: Functions as a private hospitality for the Convention guests. Also where they may meet to discuss upcoming panels and events they will be taking part in.
Gaming: The area of the convention set aside for playing games.
Dealers or Hucksters Room: The area set aside where one may purchase Science Fiction and Fantasy merchandise, collectibles and memorabilia.
General Terms:
S/F F or Sciffy: Science Fiction / Fantasy. The term SciFi has fallen out of favor)
Genre: The style or setting of a particular story or series. Examples: SF, Sword and Sorcery, Hard SF, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery and Horror.
RPG's: Short for Role Playing Games.
Magic: A card game produced by Wizards of The Coast Inc.
Fan: Originally the short form of Fanatic, now an admirer of a particular person, activity or thing.
Fanboy: Somewhat derogatory.
Fen: The plural of Fan
Fanzine: A not-for-profit amateur publication with original stories, art and poetry written by fans. Based on a pre-existing universe such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, or Ring World. Generally from a visual media such as movies and TV but not always. Fanzines are published without the creators' written permission, usually without their knowledge, and often skate the grey area of copyright infringement.
'zine: a fanzine
Filk / Filksongs: Generally parodies of folk or popular songs with science fiction or fantasy lyrics. Sometimes original songs on these themes.
Filking: Sitting around singing and / or writing filksongs.
GAFIATE (Get Away From It All): To leave the convention circuit for a while. Usually applied to major volunteers and organizers.
NeoFan; Neo: Someone new to Science Fiction conventions
SCAdian, SCA, Society: the Society for Creative Anachronism
SMOFS: Short for Secret Masters Of Fandom. People you go to conventions to meet and talk with. Convention Organizers and Pro Guests.
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